Cruisin' With a Cruze...um, uh, Diesel
10-04-2013, 04:21 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Cruisin' With a Cruze...um, uh, Diesel
Just took delivery of my first diesel in a long time. We weren't happy with our GMC 1500 fuel mileage and wanted a really good fuel mileage car and I feel confident, we got it.
Coming back from the dealership, 150 miles we ran the best of 55.9 and averaged 54.6. We "Cruzed" at 72 on the interstate where we got the 55.9 and the rest of the trip was from 65 down to 30 mph. All-in-all, I am very impressed with the power and build quality of the Cruze. With the savings, I can afford to drive the Vette more often...and that's a good thing.
Coming back from the dealership, 150 miles we ran the best of 55.9 and averaged 54.6. We "Cruzed" at 72 on the interstate where we got the 55.9 and the rest of the trip was from 65 down to 30 mph. All-in-all, I am very impressed with the power and build quality of the Cruze. With the savings, I can afford to drive the Vette more often...and that's a good thing.
10-05-2013, 02:07 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
No mods needed, everyone needs something to drive when you don't want the Vette gettin' wet. Besides, the Cruze is surprisingly peppy for 151 HP, but with 264 pounds feet of torque. Besides that, the fuel mileage is more than double and almost triple the mileage on the vehicle it replaces.
10-06-2013, 04:04 PM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
There's a $1000 rebate on all Cruzes through the end of October. I had sunroof $900, Pioneer audio $900, navigation, lit door sills ($550, a waste), black granite premium paint $250, and Cruze diesel convenience package $350 which is improved interior bits and pieces.
The diesel comes automatically with the 2lt package with upgraded suspension, 4 wheel disk brakes, and 17 inch wheels, it also includes leather upholstery. Total cash price would have been $28,020 after the rebate. The dealership gave me the employee price on the car which was worth an additional $800 discount.
It didn't come with fog lights which is kinda strange, but I bought the GM OEM kit off of eBay (free shipping and no sales tax) for $175 from Abernathy Chevrolet and will have a dealership install it for $125 to retain the warranty. The dealership was asking $380 for the kit after sales tax and 2 hours labor to install.
My wife just came back from a 400 mile round trip using less than half a tank of fuel. The tank holds 15.5 gals. We really like it...it's no Corvette in performance, but it is comfortable and gets awesome mpg.
The diesel comes automatically with the 2lt package with upgraded suspension, 4 wheel disk brakes, and 17 inch wheels, it also includes leather upholstery. Total cash price would have been $28,020 after the rebate. The dealership gave me the employee price on the car which was worth an additional $800 discount.
It didn't come with fog lights which is kinda strange, but I bought the GM OEM kit off of eBay (free shipping and no sales tax) for $175 from Abernathy Chevrolet and will have a dealership install it for $125 to retain the warranty. The dealership was asking $380 for the kit after sales tax and 2 hours labor to install.
My wife just came back from a 400 mile round trip using less than half a tank of fuel. The tank holds 15.5 gals. We really like it...it's no Corvette in performance, but it is comfortable and gets awesome mpg.
10-06-2013, 08:14 PM
#6
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St. Jude Donor '12
2012 Election Contest Winner
$28k???
Damn, that is rather lofty price for a cruze. Local VW dealer sent me a letter offering a 2013 passat tdi with dsg for $25k. Their letter also offered a 6sp jetta dti for a shade over 20k.
Damn, that is rather lofty price for a cruze. Local VW dealer sent me a letter offering a 2013 passat tdi with dsg for $25k. Their letter also offered a 6sp jetta dti for a shade over 20k.
10-07-2013, 08:28 AM
#7
Drifting
Thread Starter
I looked at the Passat since I currently have a sport wagon, but it didn't have the content the Cruze did...like plastic upholstery and I didn't like the looks. You could only find 2013 models and they only get 40 mpg vs 46, less hp and much less torque. When I built one the way I wanted it, it was closer to $30k for a Passat. The closest dealer for free maintenance was 100 miles away. They were offering 0% interest, though. Had I not found the Cruze we bought, the next look was the Passat.
10-07-2013, 06:49 PM
#8
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St. Jude Donor '12
2012 Election Contest Winner
I looked at the Passat since I currently have a sport wagon, but it didn't have the content the Cruze did...like plastic upholstery and I didn't like the looks. You could only find 2013 models and they only get 40 mpg vs 46, less hp and much less torque. When I built one the way I wanted it, it was closer to $30k for a Passat. The closest dealer for free maintenance was 100 miles away. They were offering 0% interest, though. Had I not found the Cruze we bought, the next look was the Passat.
10-08-2013, 01:52 PM
#10
Just took delivery of my first diesel in a long time. We weren't happy with our GMC 1500 fuel mileage and wanted a really good fuel mileage car and I feel confident, we got it.
Coming back from the dealership, 150 miles we ran the best of 55.9 and averaged 54.6. We "Cruzed" at 72 on the interstate where we got the 55.9 and the rest of the trip was from 65 down to 30 mph. All-in-all, I am very impressed with the power and build quality of the Cruze. With the savings, I can afford to drive the Vette more often...and that's a good thing.
Coming back from the dealership, 150 miles we ran the best of 55.9 and averaged 54.6. We "Cruzed" at 72 on the interstate where we got the 55.9 and the rest of the trip was from 65 down to 30 mph. All-in-all, I am very impressed with the power and build quality of the Cruze. With the savings, I can afford to drive the Vette more often...and that's a good thing.
10-08-2013, 01:53 PM
#11
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
10-08-2013, 04:41 PM
#12
Exactly how expensive is a Vette to run? The OP talked about being able to "afford to drive" his Vette. I assume his monthly payment and insurance remain constant no matter how much he drives it.
$28k is at least a $500/month note and you're spending that to get back money at the pump?
$28k is at least a $500/month note and you're spending that to get back money at the pump?
10-09-2013, 08:15 AM
#13
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
Exactly how expensive is a Vette to run? The OP talked about being able to "afford to drive" his Vette. I assume his monthly payment and insurance remain constant no matter how much he drives it.
$28k is at least a $500/month note and you're spending that to get back money at the pump?
$28k is at least a $500/month note and you're spending that to get back money at the pump?
'Vette + Cruise Diesel is cheaper than 'Vette + Toyota Camry
10-09-2013, 09:36 AM
#14
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St. Jude Donor '12
2012 Election Contest Winner
Clearly, the OP was set on buying a diesel car and I'm sure the cruze, while not the best economical solution, is a great car that OP will love.
10-09-2013, 09:44 AM
#15
Race Director
According to Consumer Reports, the most economical car to own is the Toyota Prius, but the Camry Hybrid is not far behind.
But really, it's almost always less expensive overall if you get a used (reliable) economical vehicle, but let's face it, today's vehicles are safer and have far more amenities as standard equipment. I think we should understand if someone wants a brand new car, even if in a strictly financial sense, it is not the best choice.
But really, it's almost always less expensive overall if you get a used (reliable) economical vehicle, but let's face it, today's vehicles are safer and have far more amenities as standard equipment. I think we should understand if someone wants a brand new car, even if in a strictly financial sense, it is not the best choice.
10-09-2013, 01:56 PM
#16
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
I wouldn't go that far. A camry hybrid can be had for less than $28k, it also offers more interior space and it gets 40mpg combined. Add the higher cost of diesel fuel and spectacular resale value and the a hybrid camry is a better deal all around.
Clearly, the OP was set on buying a diesel car and I'm sure the cruze, while not the best economical solution, is a great car that OP will love.
Clearly, the OP was set on buying a diesel car and I'm sure the cruze, while not the best economical solution, is a great car that OP will love.
10-09-2013, 07:53 PM
#17
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St. Jude Donor '12
2012 Election Contest Winner
Ok, be it your way, lets take camry. It is sold for about $8k less and gets 28mpg in a combined cycle. The diesel cruiz is rated at 33mpg in a combined cycle. The 20% improvement in mpg will be on part with the premium for which diesel fuel is sold for in my area. For instance, regular gasoline goes for $3.2/gal vs. diesel at $3.8/gal.
10-09-2013, 08:49 PM
#18
Le Mans Master
I'd love to test drive one sometime. It sounds like GM did a good job on the Cruze Diesel. Apparently, they put in a lot of effort into quieting the interior down, and it paid off. I believe it has the highest real world highway mileage of any car.
Michael
Michael
10-10-2013, 09:52 AM
#20
When I was in Romania we had one of those small diesel cars you mention and got about 47 MPG HWY with 3 people in it. It was a manual trans car about the size of Ford Fiesta
