Originally Posted By: cos
This just might be a deal killer:
From the March '10 issue of C&D:
"Once running, the diesel engine barely created enough heat to affect coolant temperatures. As a result, the heater struggled to produce warm air, even on 40-degree days. One stingingly cold morning, at 10-below, the Jetta’s coolant needle didn’t move at all, even after driving 20 miles. “Thankfully this Jetta has heated seats, otherwise I might be frostbitten,” a staffer reported. To deal with this shortcoming, Canadian models come with an electric heater that will blow warm air even when engine temps are too low to produce any heat. Our U.S.-spec TDI was not thus equipped, so we shivered our way to work on cold days."
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/..._the_joy_page_2
My '09 has the electric heater....they all did in '09. I would assume the newer ones do, too.
I have driven my '09 at single digit F temps. No problems getting immediate warm air from the electric heater and then hot air after the car hit operating temp (20 miles or so at those low temps).
I have 85k miles on my '09 and have averaged 45.6mpg so far. I drive mostly highway...not the best for mpg. My best mpg comes at 45 - 50 mph in 5th (low 50s w/out the AC).
I love this car and would buy another in a minute.
Tim