Practicality of a diesel VW on the island

I can't answer anything about a reliable VW diesel mechanic but I can say that you may not notice the difference in MPG down here. Not knowing you're current situation, I would wager you will be driving way less living down here.

Two questions:
What year is it and is it paid for???

Two questions:
What year is it and is it paid for???

Does that make a difference relevant to the question(s)?:S

Two questions:
What year is it and is it paid for???

Does that make a difference relevant to the question(s)?:S

It might,.....if it's not paid for, most lenders will not allow the vehicle to be shipped to the island. if its newer and paid for, it might be better to sell it on the mainland and buy a good, easily serviced vehicle on island. Plus, isn't there a higher import duty on foreign manufactured vehicles when you ship them from the mainland?

Maybe someone on St Croix knows (or can locate) Baldwin Hendricks who's a diesel technology instructor mentioned in this article:

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2014/09/14/school-ctec-makes-mechanics

Two questions:
What year is it and is it paid for???

Does that make a difference relevant to the question(s)?:S

It might,.....if it's not paid for, most lenders will not allow the vehicle to be shipped to the island. if its newer and paid for, it might be better to sell it on the mainland and buy a good, easily serviced vehicle on island. Plus, isn't there a higher import duty on foreign manufactured vehicles when you ship them from the mainland?

All true what Pdmargie says. I think, German made cars have a 6% customs import duty. I'm sure someone will correct me if I've erred.

The price of gas, much less diesel, is more expensive here in the islands so that might be a consideration tho you'd get more miles
per gallon than on a gas engine. There are diesel mechanics around so I'd imagine you could get your vehicle serviced tho not sure tho if that would be at a service station or a boatyard.

Maybe someone else will know. My yard maintenance company's owner has a diesel truck here on St. Thomas and complains about fuel costs.

All true what Pdmargie says. I think, German made cars have a 6% customs import duty. I'm sure someone will correct me if I've erred.

That info has been posted here countless times - the VIN number is the determining factor as to whether the car has foreign parts or is foreign made. But that's not what the OP asked and hopefully someone can provide the information he's looking for. I wouldn't imagine finding a mechanic would be difficult and maybe someone out on their rounds on STX can check what the price difference is between gasoline and diesel.

2013 Passats are made in the USA. Don't know abut the previous years.

The diesel engine in his car is not your average diesel found in boats and other vehicles here. The TDI is much more advanced and requires special training for a tech.

I spoke with a friend in the states last night that just purchased a new car. She said there is so much new technology in her car she felt as if
was driving a star ship. Since I drive a 1997 Toyota Tacoma, I am not remotely qualified to give an opinion on your new diesel car aside from recommending checking the cost of diesel in STX.

Hi, we are planning on moving to St. Croix in the next few months, and was wondering how practical it would be to bring down my Volkswagen Passat TDI. finding diesel fuel should be no big deal, but finding a mechanic should things go wrong in the next few years is a different issue. Are there any reliable mechanics on the island that deal with TDI engines? Or would the cost of owning a diesel car in St. Croix outweigh the cost of just buying a new gasoline vehicle? I would go from 48 mpg to around 30 mpg. Thanks for any information!

donnellyjeff,

I am planning on bringing a 2006 Beetle TDI when my wife and I move down there early in 2016. We are on our second Beetle TDI. I have done all of the maintenance on our cars. Working on TDI's is not extremely difficult, especially when you have the TDIclub.com forum as major source of info. My biggest question, is auto diesel readily available at gas stations on the island. Btw, what year is your TDI. The name TDI has stayed but the engines have changed greatly over the years.

Beware gigantic potholes!

There is plenty of diesel available on island. Besides being used in cars many people have diesel powered generators for their homes.

Beware gigantic potholes!

The Beetle was hugely popular for years here - the first car I drove on STT in '84 was one and they were all over the place. There's still a quite large number of Beetle aficionados on STT and I believe also on STX who lovingly take care of and restore their older models and have regular get-togethers. Never heard of them having any more problem with the potholes than any other compact - and yes, there's diesel at just about every gas station and I think when I checked the other week it was about $1 more expensive than regular.

There were less potholes back in the olden days.
A Volkswagen was one of my first cars.

There were less potholes back in the olden days.

We have WAY different perspectives. I lived up by Bakkeroe my first couple of years and the road then (as now) between the Reef and Havensight/town was fine but as soon as you got off the main routes the roads were as miserably pothole-laden as they are now. In those pre-internet days, "snail mail" was the communication norm for friends far afield and I used to chuckle at the time realizing that so many of my letters mentioned the crappy roads here! 😀

There were less potholes back in the olden days.
A Volkswagen was one of my first cars.

My 1st dozen or so cars were all VW's - every mechanic knew how to fix them and we all had one of these books to DIY.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

I know there was a lot less traffic and heavy trucks - pre-desal plant there weren't many water trucks - we didn't have many dumpsters and a lot less tractor trailers.
People today complain about a few bumps on the road I live on but when I moved to this house the road was just 2 skinny strips of concrete going up the hill - it is wide as a super highway today in comparison.

it's a 2013, and it's paid for.

It's a 2013 with 60,000 miles. I love it. I just wonder about finding the right oil for it as everything is so specialized these days. PLus at 120,000 miles the Diesel particulate filter needs replaced. That sounds like more of a job than I can do.

VW says the 2013 diesel Passat must run on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. The EPA states that all diesel fuel sold in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico and the USVI as motor fuel must be ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, so,.......apparently you are good to go as far as that is concerned.

AdBlue for VW Diesel engines?

http://ask.cars.com/2012/11/why-do-some-volkswagen-diesels-use-adblue-and-others-do-not.html

Been thinking about your conundrum. I'd sell the excellent car you have and buy one on island. No shipping hassles or cost, no import duties, no worries about finding a high tech TDI engine mechanic or parts, no Adblue, particulate filter or actual low sulfur diesel fuel to worry about. The mileage advantage of a diesel will be nullified because diesel is more expensive than regular gas in the USVI AND you'll be driving A LOT less and virtually no highway miles. The car will deteriorate quickly in the harsh environment (bad roads, salt air, tropical sun). Seems to me, a good, easily repaired, higher ground clearance island vehicle would simply make life easier. Just my 2 cents,....your mileage may vary. Lol! Good luck and keep us all posted!

Was in STX last week and think ppg was 3.79. I do know some good mechanics over there for diesel engine stuff...