The 2009 TDI is a LEV vehicle...
Using the same methodology for the T2B5 (LEV II) Jetta TDI â" 0.012 g/mi (direct) + 0.000025 g/mi (vehicle evaporative - calculated from ULEV II certified Jetta 2.5 gasser evaporative emissions) + 0.00037 g/mi (gas station ancillary HC emissions) = 0.0124 g/mile total HC emissions.

Much of the rating problems ahve been fully addressed, and really, a broken power window is annoying but nothing compared to the fuel line coming OFF your car like the PT Cruiser. Chrysler's ranked FAR ABOVE VW but has FAR WORSE recalls and issues. Ask me how I know!

You're 100% wrong. The EPAs tests rated my vehicle 31/40. I've never seen less than 38mpg from day one and I drove the hell out of it. I think they drove like a normal person, because the gas Insight could get upwards of 100MPG tailing a larger vehicle. Also the Jetta TDI set the world record for most efficient non-hybrid vehicle in a cross country road trip: 58mpg. As for power; The R10 basically proved that diesels are cleaner, faster and more efficient. My puny 140hp (chipped, 100hp stock) diesel makes 300ft/lb at low RPMs. That means I jump off the line long before your V6 pony gets anywhere near it's peak power -- enough to let me win a 1/8 mile race up to 70mph. I'll get about 38mpg in the process. You will get at best 18.

VW's suggested oil change runs about $60 every 10,000 miles and I've got UOAs that suggest 15,000 miles is OK on the oil.

Most cars use a 3000-5000 change interval @ 30-40/pop. I fail to see how they're more expensive. Are you complaining about the $30 fuel filter you replace every 20,000 miles? Or is it the $50 glow plug you replace every 100,000 to 200,000 miles? You do know that 500,000 - 750,000 miles is a normal life expectancy for a diesel engine, right?

Pretty much any diesel engine built before 2007 imported into the USA will EXCEED the emissions requirement of the USA.

Turn by turn directions. Google maps does not do this. By turn by turn, I mean, the device in real time shows your moving location and propts you audibly and visually that your turn is ahead. It also does route recalculation if you miss a turn, you must re-plot your route manually with Google. This is inherently superior to Google Maps in terms of every day use to get to a destination.

Office 2010. Really? It's about time. They had it BEFORE the OS X switch.

What I want to know is RANGE. How far can this puppy go on a single "tank" of fuel running that generator to power the electric motor? My current car goes 750 highway miles, if it tops that it's a contender, if it can't what is the point? From my perspective, of course. I realize others don't know what to do with a 700-mile range on a vehicle.

Because the vehicle uses a gas engine to extend the electric range, thus it uses a liquid consumable. Also, you have to have some kind of comparison to other vehicles that don't use such fancy tech. Just wait the EVs will be the first to pay per mile; while the rest of us pay per gallon in road taxes.

But, again, we have cars from VW and others that get 40-50mph WITHOUT any need for electric assistance.... and they cost about half as much. I don't see this being LESS than 40k to start with.

Really? Clarkson loves the VW Golf TDI and considers it the bar that all other cars must meet. Most of Europe tends to agree with him, considering that hatchbacks are often referred to as "Golf-class" vehicles, at least in England. He compared the R32, An Alfa Romeo and something else, he said the VW was the smater choice but he wanted the Alfa for the stupid things like hand stitched wheel, but then said look at how it wobbles after a few test runs! It's totally unacceptable but I love it. I think you need to read between his lines sometimes; but I also feel that his comparison of the BMW vs Prius was factual: Switch off that electric motor and let the Prius run head to head against a car with more power and it gets worse fuel economy. At speeds above 60, the electric motor isn't used anyway -- so his test was rather fair, if you ask me.

Ok, so I meant to say: "Given some circumstances, I can exceed the range of this vehicle in a single day, but in optimum conditions it might last two days."

Based on my experience with custom made EVs and OEM EVs (like the Electric Leopard), a 100-mile range is optimum in slow environments without any extra draw on the vehicle. How did they come to the 100 mile figure? With the AC on? With fast or slow acceleration? A 55MPH or 70MPH highway speed limitation?

I didn't readily see these things available, and while I've Googled about to get answers, I've yet to get them. So this leads me to believe that 100 mile range is in optimum conditions -- which are anything but real world. So I stand by my statment that I can exceed it's capabilities in a single day. Sorry, I think these little EVs are basically useless and R&D is best spend in hybrid vans and small passenger diesels. As for the attitude, when the EPA rates your car 31 city and 40 highway, but it gets 40 city and 48 highway you've earned your right to get angry at these small wonder toys that aren't practical for a large number of individuals.

I end with, do you do the exact same amount of miles every, single, day? Do you have no abberations in your routine? If so, how do you do it? An average day would be half the alleged range of the EV; yes, but in the winter I doubt they get 100 miles on a charge (cold affects batteries), so if this was hypothetically set on my birthday in January, I'd actually be right. But I'm splitting hairs now :) Sorry to come off as so crude, I deal with a lot of brain washed folks who think that my car is some kind of evil creation that never should have existed and we all should make do with 100-mile (and some even LESS range, if you believe it) EVs that "don't pollute at all." Which I hope we both agree is hogwash; they just don't emit anything out the nonexistant tailpipe but they are anything but "0 emissions" in the grand scheme.

My car also isn't the best in it's class for economy; see here for more example of people who never really need to fill their vehicle up: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=253204 See what I didn't mention is that I have no problem at all taking longer to get to work in the am, or shifting time so I avoid traffic. A lot of people can't/don't, but when you look at a car that gets at wost 38mpg and as high as 53mpg, does it really matter anymore? I fill my car truthfully every 12 to 15 days; on some weeks where I'm in more hectic times and/or I can't run slower speeds it may be every 7-10 days; but I have never had to fill the car on a Saturday and refill it before more than a week has lapsed; unless I'm taking a road trip. 100mi range; not functional for me. Not functional for a large number of people I work with. But for those who can, I think this is a good start.

I'd rather have seen a hybrid minivan with better than 35mpg highway and 45 mpg city; but hey what do I know about fuel efficient cars and what people need? I only drive 40-50k miles a year and work with breeders.

Um, no I didn't Here's the proof jackrabbit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zDvSgg5QIY Thats running 75. With the air on.

Running 60mph to and from work I get better than 46mpg; but taking the hit in traffic my average is only around 43mpg over 15 gallons that is 645 miles to the tank. 775 miles is my record; and if I took the non-highway route to work and ran 45, i'd return 53mpg constantly which = 795 miles to a tank.

Better luck next time. Google "Jetta TDI Guiness world record" (here I did it for you: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/30/vw-jetta-tdi-sets-guinness-world-record-for-u-s-gas-mileage-at/ )if you simply can't fathom that cars DO and HAVE had a 600+ miles capability since about 1977 in the United States under the VW brand.

I'd venture to say that MILLIONS of people would agree with the thinking on the car.