Should I just run or no? I am looking at one of those value edition Jetta diesel manual models.
My other option is to just spend 5-7k on a used 30mpg-ish model of something else. My commute is going to be 5 days a week at 180 miles round trip.
Why say ye all?
GOOD LUCK.
Ugh. I used to have about the same commute. Brutal...
No opinion on VAG, though my aunt has a turbo wagon (previous gen to todays, what, 5th?). Not sure if she's had any issues, never talk car stuff with her.
Why not a skyactive mazda 3? Cheaper fuel, almost the same highway mpg (not enough to make a difference compared to fuel costs IMO). Plus not needing to deal with VAG badness/unreliable
In reply to HiTempguy:
Will it last past the payment book?
Yikes! That's along commute 
Make sure whatever you end up with is comfy to sit in.
you're considering a VAG product, but are concerned with how long a Mazda will last?
In all honsesty, I don't know how long a 2.0 skyactiv will live, there's not a lot of precident. No worse than a jetta though.
What year? New or used? I can't tell from your post.
I have a 99 Golf (MK4) with 250K. It's been ok, but I searched long and hard for the unicorn, manual everything. As little electronics as possible. Naturally, every issue I have on my Fix It list is.....electrical. Every thing I've repaired on it has been .....electrical.
In reply to DrBoost:
The value edition is a "new" stripped down model for '14.
Electrics really don't bother me as all the vehicles out now have electrical problems, don't care who makes it.
In reply to belteshazzar:
If they just would get off their ass and just produce the damn diesel........ It wouldn't be an issue.
In reply to 2002maniac:
I already drive a bench seat truck that distance at least once a week....
Stripper SkyActiv, as mentioned, much cheaper to buy, run, etc.
As long as all you care about is the vehicle running, it will be worth it. Keep up on timing belts, water pumps, hoses, carbon cleaning, clutches, ETC, and it will probably pay for itself on the commute. FWIW you can buy an immaculate, upgraded Mk4 TDI for 5-7k right now that will also knock back awesome MPG.
If little problems get to you, like blowing taillights weekly and other electric crap, it will drive you INSANE and you should probably skip any VAG product.
HPFP, Intercooler icing, DPFs.
Not necessarily electrical but you have to look out for VW's own engineering mistakes on HARDWARE.
Prius C? I know its not a manual and its a PRIUS but after my TDI crapped out at 22k miles at VW bought it back from me I bought a Jeep Wrangler. I have a 7 mile commute. I know its boring but Prius have been more reliable than any TDI I have been around over the last 10 years.
IME, the Mazda seats aren't as comfortable nor as durable as the VAG products. We all like Mazdas, but if we are honest with ourselves, the cars fall apart around the motors. The VAG diesel does the same thing. My 5 ate itself in 8 months on New Orleans roads with no issues before then. My 626 started imploding at the 180K mark. No engine issues, just nickel and dimeing you to death.
Honestly with that kind of commute, comfort 1st, reliability second, fuel economy third. If you can get into a $5K car run it for 3 years and then get another $5k you would be wayyy ahead of spending $18k to $23K for a new one. With the mileage you are going to rack up, none of them are going to be worth much when you are done anyway.
You are looking at 43K a year if it doesn't move an inch on the weekends. I would just flip used.
LOL at the VAG hate.
2009 TDI Jetta owner here, have had it since new, and have talked about it many times here. None of the issues are as bad as the internet wants to make them. NHTSA found the HPFP issue warranted no recall, percentage of failure is quite low compared to the numbers produced. TSB fixed/alleviated the intercooler icing issue, which wasn't really an issue South of the Mason-Dixon. I will not deny that there were/are failures, most investigations often fault gasoline contamination and or water on the HPFPs. Having said that, I still run 4oz of Stanadyne Performance Formula in the tank 90% of the time, bought in bulk it's cheap, and it's cheap insurance/lube for the modern "dry" low sulfur diesel.
I just did the 80K mile service on ours, only maintenance I haven't done myself are the now 2 DSG transmission services (every 40K miles) that have been farmed out to the dealer.
Ours has been mostly trouble free, only 1 CEL, I replaced a pricy glow plug ($150) at about 73K miles, was easier than some spark plugs I've replaced.
I've replaced both low beam bulbs, 1 around 60K miles, the other around 70K miles, they're on constant with the DRLs. I also replaced a license plate bulb around 70K miles. So I guess it's burning through bulbs constantly. 
Oil changes are annoying, the splash shield must be removed to access the drain plug. I finally gave in and bought a Mityvac to suck the old oil out of the dip stick tube. Easy peasy.
The original Bridgestone Turanza tires were kind of crapy, though I've had worse, we replaced them around 40K miles with some much better Continental Pro Contact DWS, and they've still got a ton of life left in them.
Consumables are more expensive than your typical Corolla, special VW Spec synthetic oil (only every 10K miles though), wiper blades are pricy, ~$20 fuel filter every 20K miles, etc.
Ours is obviously the previous generation A5/MkV Jetta, but the same Common Rail CBEA/CJAA TDI that's in the A6/MkVI, so a lot of the above is still applicable to the current model.
We lived with a '13 2.5 SEL Jetta rental for an entire month, 31 days, while ours was in the body shop, after being rear-ended. Disregarding the fact that the rental was a gas burner, and doing my best to openly and impartially compare the two, I feel that the A5/MkV is far superior to the new ones. Of course the rental was, well a rental, so it in all likelihood, had a rough life, but it only had 30K miles on it, had a lot of interior parts falling off/broken, and everything felt "cheaper" than our '09 TDI.
That's what I know. I'd find a '10 because I like the older model better, a Cup Edition with full on Thunder Bunny kit is right up my alley, though the '15 GTD will be high on the want list when finally available here in 'Merica.
My brother in law has owned three VWs (Passat and cc)with the gas 4cyl turbo. He commutes 110 miles daily. All three cars were replaced around the 200k mark at which time they where driven by his sons(one got totaled when parked the other is approaching 300k). I never hear my BIL complain about the cars and he was a die hard chevy guy before.
SWMBO just read what I wrote above, the Jetta is HER car. In her words, "I was way to nice about the rental, that thing was a piece of E36 M3."
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
I'm curious, do you remember about how much the DSG service cost? At some point I'm likely to buy something sporty with a dual-clutch trans, so VAG is definitely on the list.
I have 80k on my Mazda5, it's a 2012. I commute a similar commute and often travel out of state for work. I've had to replace a wheel bearing at 77k and two synchros at 52k but they blamed that on my short shifter. I'd go for the skyactiv 3 if you can afford the payments and depreciation.
bigdaddylee82 wrote: TSB fixed/alleviated the intercooler icing issue, which wasn't really an issue South of the Mason-Dixon. - Lee
Mine happened before and after the TSB "fix" from VW.
In Atlanta.
Again, this isn't "VW Hate". It is firsthand experience with a MKVI TDI like the OP was looking at buying. I'll stand bymy original post "Good Luck".
VW treated me very well, even FedExed me my full purchase price back in a check. Nice people but the product wasn't ready for primetime.
My $.02
I would go with a high-mileage Prius if I was in your situation.
No Toy-lets.
bigdaddylee82 wrote: None of the issues are as bad as the internet wants to make them.
Possibly, BUT, the collective of the internet is not wrong.
VAG products are not nearly as reliable as their japanese (and arguably american) counterparts. That is fact. As I said previously in another thread, it probably won't ever leave you stranded, but stupid crap will always be wrong. Who wants that in a DD?
No one ever said that VAG products were bad. But there are better options out there. Diesels were great before direct injection, and due to higher energy density, are better in trucks. I wouldn't go TDi for the simple fact that gas options are essentially the same now.
Of course, as stated, the BEST way to go is used. The difference between 35 to 45mpg is pretty meh, but $15k depreciation on a new vehicle is a bitch!
Flight Service wrote: IME, the Mazda seats aren't as comfortable nor as durable as the VAG products. We all like Mazdas, but if we are honest with ourselves, the cars fall apart around the motors. The VAG diesel does the same thing. My 5 ate itself in 8 months on New Orleans roads with no issues before then. My 626 started imploding at the 180K mark. No engine issues, just nickel and dimeing you to death.
Mazdas have changed A LOT from your 626 experience! That won't be an issue on the newer Mazdas.
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