At 20,000 miles, our long-term Jetta TDI needed new brake pads, per the service techs at Neftin VW in Thousand Oaks, California. VW recommends replacement when there is 4 mm of remaining wear in the pads, which measure 11 mm when new. Cost for the fresh pads was $158.09.
The second service-an oil change, full inspection, tire rotation, and cabin air filter replacement-was free, part of VW's 3-year/36,000-mile no-cost maintenance. "Gone are the days of my dad's clunky, smoky, and slow 1983 Mercedes 300TD," says Martinez. "This diesel is as smooth and quiet as any gas- drinking car. It feels quicker than most too. Thanks to its torque curve, I frequently chirped tires without much enticement of the skinny pedal."
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI |
| Months/miles in service | 11/21,718 |
| Avg econ/CO2 | 35.1 mpg/0.63 lb/mi |
| Unresolved problems | None |
| Maintenance cost | $0 (2 - oil change/inspection/rotate tires, replace cabin air filter) |
| Normal-wear cost | $158.09 (replace rear brake pads) |