Silly contest.
I beat the piss out of my 1998 Passat TDI at 180hp and still get over 700 miles on a tank. I've done 800.
all the responses above are exactly what annoys the heck out of me about TGUSA. The most ive ever done on my 86 1.6 is about 620 miles, but just like everyone else, it should be fairly easy to actually do it, and quite easy given the version of the car you choose.
Problem is I haven't found a single person who actually watched that whole show, everyone tuned out, so I don't know who won.
Its because TGUSA is so lame in comparison to Jeremy and the British crew
the show is strictly entertainment with nothing really there for true car enthusiasts. Even their comparo's have no real definitive conculusions, like the first car episode where they smashed the clean diesel caddy. When they wreck the 3 cars together the one in the middle is hit by 2 cars and they say it doesn't do as well in wrecks, really? it was hit on both side while the others were hit on only one side. It's really sad adam corolla didn't get to be on the show, i'm sure he would have made sure that some true tech info was a part of the show, not to mention adam by himself would be funnier than those 3 put together. i will give ruthledge props for having a presence on vwvortex tho, and also i saw him come into a thread where the show as getting drug through the mud and he put up a pretty good defense.
I like Tanner the most being he has actual driving stills, as well as does have moments when he presents things well from a technical standpoint. But every time Adam Fererra talks I want to punch him, and Rutledge is a such a baby sometimes. Their worst offense is that their group doesn't jive as good as the Brits do. I did like the episode where they re-sell past commercial failures. I remember thinking Adam acts just like a typical shady used car salesman does, and it was awesome that Rutledge bought Tanner's Merkur.
Hmmm.
Next project: Merkur TDI!