The new MKVII Golf is looking great, but will be delayed til 2015 model year. Good news is we'll probably get the GTD finally, and according to the UK site, it's priced about the same as the GTI which is interesting, since the GTI here is cheaper than the TDI and the GTD is better than the TDI. Unfortunately the GTD will arrive here even later than the MKVII Golf, about 6 months later making it FOREVER until it finally arrives. So.. really not an option, unless I lease something for a couple years then buy the GTD if possible, or keep my current car that long. A lot of this will be decided when the Mazda 6 diesel pricing is announced, I think.
PLEASE, Do NOT purchase ANY Mazda Diesel Engine car 'if' you only do short distance driving of less than 20 minutes...Mazda's revolutionary Skyactiv Diesel Engines use a self cleaning or renewal DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) which burns off diesel particulates rather than storing in a replaceable DP Filter or urea add like many other makes.The Mazda DPF system requires a hot engine (@ full operating temperature) and is also clean cycle controlled by cars ECU or PCM.Fuel Wash can also occur and give a high Oil Level readings as engines are not getting hot enough (with less than 20 minutes driving or use) and can in some cases add unburnt Diesel Fuel with Engines Oil resulting in a higher Oil Level on Dip Stick and Dash Warning Light or CEL.ALL Mazda Skyactiv Diesel Engine are what is called a CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE.IF you drive less than 20 minutes from turnkey each time, then re-think a purchase of a Diesel Engine Mazda, go for their brilliant Skyactiv Gasoline (Petrol) Engines, which are equally high tech and revolutionary.
NO DIESEL ENGINE should EVER be used for short distance driving.Do not purchase a Mazda Diesel car IF you do less than a 15 minute trip.
A Diesel (or Rotary) are not, repeat not for short distance driving.
Like all those Leaf owners that sold their cars back to Nissan?
So.. After doing more research, it's not ideal for gas cars to do short trips either, but they do better than diesel/rotary. I guess it's go gas and hope the short range driving doesn't do any real damage. I'd say hybrid is the only answer, but that still involves a gas motor, perhaps that is what I'm down to though since I can't afford an EV. The only one close is a Leaf and I'd have to do some creative work to get the bank to cover the incentive until tax return (if it works how I hope, still need to look into that). The lease pricing isn't too bad on them atm, $2k down and $200 a month, but I'm not really a leaser. $9200 for 3 years of gas free driving and rent a car for long trips, only 3 per year atm. Spending near $1000 a year on gas, about $150-200 of that would be put into rental cars so really only saving ~$800 a year. $6800 for 3 years after gas reduction, also should be completely maintenance free so no oil changes 2-3 times a year and none of the fluid services I still need to do on my current car totaling around $600. Hmm..I'd say fuck it and keep my car for longer trips and get a bicycle for work commuting (only 2.6 miles away), but there is no biking culture here in OK. People have no clue how to drive around them and I would really be risking my life. I'd be crossing an expressway that is pretty wide.
