The Volkswagen TDI models uses a glow plug to help with cold weather starts. When starting the car, I turn the ignition until the dash lights come on with icons for each of the VW systems. Then the computer runs the diagnostics turning off each system icon as it check out OK, at which point the car can be started. This all takes about 10 seconds, which is ample time for the glow plug to warm the engine to get it started.

Because the TDI is very efficient, it takes longer for the engine to warm, so in cold weather, it could take 10 or 20 miles of driving before the heater come up to full temperature. My TDI has the cold weather package (eg bun warmer built into the seats) to provide instant heat until the heater come up to full strength.

Texas, where I live, has a very moderate winter, and since I purchased my TDI on December 27, 2005, I haven't had a chance to drive it in cold weather. From what I've gathered visiting the many VW forum on the web, cold weather starts are not a problem, even in places like Canada, where winters can be very cold.

The VW TDI engine is very reliable and once started it just goes, so the reliability feature was more of a force in my decision to go with the VW Jetta Wagon, than savings on petrol. The VW TDI maintains a very high resale value, so if I decide to sell or trade my Jetta in a year or two, its value would be high. It can take up to 60,000 miles of driving just to break in a new TDI engine, and seal it up to full compression. When new the engine is around 475 and will come up to 550 in compressions as the seal become seated, so the engine get better with use, rather than depreciating from wear and tear.

The diesel will burn just about anything for fuel. For example, if I get caught out in the country and run out of gas, but have a spare quart of oil on hand, I could just pour the oil into the diesel tank to make it to a station for a refill.

Also, I like the idea of being able to drive 600 to 700 miles between filling up the VW with another tank of diesel, so it save a lot of time and effort in this regards. With a 600 or 700 mile range, I can make most highway trip on a single tank of petrol. This long range on little petrol helps keep the price of U.S. petrol low for everyone by reducing US demand and dependency on foreign sources of oil.

Regards,

LelandJ