Chevy Cruze diesel

[DonFitzwater]

I'm looking for feedback from people that own/drive a Cruze diesel. Good or bad, let's hear it. I test drove one for the first time last Friday and I was thoroughly impressed. Seemed like good road manners and typical diesel torque. It had more snap than the TDI that I drove last spring.

 

[DAN V]

I actually sat in one for a few minutes several months ago. It was not bad. The only problem that I saw was/is it does not come with a spare tire. If you open up the trunk and flip up the carpet you are looking right at the fuel pump. This is the only thing that did not impress me. I am waiting for the Toyota w/ the CUMMINS in 2016 to see what it will be like.

 

[RVTRKN]

I just can't buy American cars anymore, you spend a lot of money, and end up in a shop most of the time. My last brand new American car was a Dodge Shadow and the trans fell apart in 30K miles and when it was replaced under warranty, that one failed as well. Gave it to my daughter and I got so fed up trying to keep it drivable, I took her down to a Toyota dealer where she bought a new Corolla. My truck has had its problems as well unfortunately, regen issues and the G56 trans has soured me to buying a new American truck as well, but I think the CTD is the better option for HD light trucks. I just spent a lot of money dumping the DMF that failed because the reflash that Dodge came out with in 2009 causing my engine to surge during regen, took out my stock clutch.

 

[mwilson]

It's probably ok, I looked at one this spring...BUT I would wait a few years to see what issues may pop up. GM likes to finish the field test of a new product offering by using the motoring public and then trying to squirm out of warranty.

GM and I don't have a pretty history when it comes to the diesels that they have offered over the years.

Plus I thought the darn thing cost a lot of money. I can buy a boatland of gasoline for a car that costs a quarter as much.

Mike.

 

[Jim W]

I'm looking for feedback from people that own/drive a Cruze diesel. Good or bad, let's hear it. I test drove one for the first time last Friday and I was thoroughly impressed. Seemed like good road manners and typical diesel torque. It had more snap than the TDI that I drove last spring.

Here is a link that you may know about; but if not this link may answer some of your questions.

http://www.thedieseldriver.com/

This is an on-line report of diesel vehicles for sale in the US and Europe and long term vehicle road test.

Hope this helps?

Jim W.

 

[DAN V]

When I went to look at the cruze dzl several months ago I still had my Passat TDI. The cruze did not even compare to The TDI back then and probably never will in the MPG field. I was getting 46 to 48 mpg with that car. I ended up dumping that car due to it being too small and always being crushed by the seat belt pillar when I was driving. One more thing to note about the TDI is when you get to 40k you will have to shell out $700 for the transmission service or buy special tools and do it your self. Just my opinion on the TDI. If the TDI was the same size as the 300 I have now I would have kept it. Good luck on your adventure. There are other diesel powered cars out there to look at.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

That $700 transmission service is for autos only, not manuals.

 

[DAN V]

Yes I know.

 

[E7mack96]

i test drove a cruze diesel- its the same class of car as my Dart - but was way smaller on the inside - i could not fit in it comfortably. and I get 41 mpg in a gas car, so the diesel #'s were not impressive with the extra costs.

 

[jgillott]

I had a Cruze as a rental for several days on a business trip. Nothing major to report.

 

[DonFitzwater]

My plan is to wait until spring and see how they have done here during a winter. Alaska has a funny way of killing off garbage engines in short order. The main reason I won't buy one now is because of the Liberty CRD we used to have. It ran great and got good mileage with tons of power but as soon as winter hit, BAM! EGR failures weekly. They kept plugging up no matter what I did and since the Cruze also has a VM engine, I'm going to watch from a distance for a bit.

Thanks for the info and opinions guys.

 

[Wayne M.]

Not a big supporter- just relaying what I know. This Cruze is almost all Opel (Germany). I'm not positive on the platform, but it's not as American as you think. A co-worker has a old Cobalt that was involved in the ignition switch disaster and when he responded to the recall, they had no parts (sound familiar?!), so they gave him a brand new top line Cruze to use- no strings attached- until his was done. I really think it was a ploy to get him to trade but it didn't work. He's a gearhead (and CTD owner) like most of us, and he loved it. Said the transmission was the best part and the fit n finish was real good. I've read up on the Diesel engine, and it's a proven piece in europe. If I were in the market, I'd consider it.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I read about the cruze having Opel DNA. I liked the transmission and how it shifted. Then I read it's an Aisin........more to like. I probably wouldn't buy it if it had a "GM" built engine. I don't care for much that GM builds these days with the exception of this one little car.

The bad thing is that the local dealer isn't ordering any of these. Is demand for VW TDI that strong that people won't accept another player in this market?

 

[RVTRKN]

VW TDI is expensive.

 

[SnoKing]

So does it use the same troublesome Bosch injection pump as the TDI??? That would be a non starter! SNOKING

 

[RVTRKN]

Judging the car because it more Opel than GM is like judging a G56 manual Trans because it's Mercedes built. That was my thinking when I chose a German designed Trans over a Japanese auto Trans.

 

[DonFitzwater]

So does it use the same troublesome Bosch injection pump as the TDI??? That would be a non starter! SNOKING

I haven't checked on that yet. I've only read about the TDI pump failures on the net and haven't met anyone that has actually had the issue. I know at least a half dozen folks that have VW TDI's of late year models and non have had injection issues..............DSG issues but no fuel system problems.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Judging the car because it more Opel than GM is like judging a G56 manual Trans because it's Mercedes built. That was my thinking when I chose a German designed Trans over a Japanese auto Trans.

I could care less who makes the basic design of the car, I just don't want to end up driving the modern equivalent to the Chevy Chevette diesel! How many of you guys remember those little turds? :-laf

 

[mwilson]

OMG, Motor Trend did a comparison of the Chevette Diesel vs. the Cruze Diesel....

Check it out....

http://wot.motortrend.com/how-does-...ck-up-against-the-chevette-diesel-328189.html

 

[mwilson]

Be sure and check out the photo gallery.....