The more I stew on it, the more I want a diesel. I mean I really want a diesel car. This is getting serious.
I want a diesel !
- Thread starter Dually
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Pablo, those Opel/Saturn cars mentioned in your previous link state that Europe gets 9 different engine combinations but the US will only get one. It won't be a diesel.
I just love my VW TDI but it's getting old. Hopefully someone will offer a affordable diesel in the next three years that I can replace my Golf with. I certainly don't plan on spending $30,000+ for a commuter car so the BMW's and MB's aren't really a viable option.
I'd love to see the Saturn product line offer diesels and manual transmissions across the board. One of the biggest disappointments with the new Aura was the lack of drivetrain options. It looks like that Astra is following in the big brothers steps.
I just love my VW TDI but it's getting old. Hopefully someone will offer a affordable diesel in the next three years that I can replace my Golf with. I certainly don't plan on spending $30,000+ for a commuter car so the BMW's and MB's aren't really a viable option.
I'd love to see the Saturn product line offer diesels and manual transmissions across the board. One of the biggest disappointments with the new Aura was the lack of drivetrain options. It looks like that Astra is following in the big brothers steps.
No on Friday they said they would come with the diesel option. I'm serious.
Up until a year or two ago, Australian diesel had way too much sulphur and very few diesel passenger cars were available. Now there is a federal cap on max diesel fuel sulphur levels that puts us on par with Europe and most manufacturers have a diesel option.
I recently bought a new car and looked into the diesel option but couldn't see the value in it for the following reasons:
- diesel engines add approx $AU 7000 - $AU 10000 to the price of a small car. It would take the average driver 10 years to break even when taking economy benefits into account
- in Europe, diesel is a cheaper fuel but in Australia it is as expensive as 98 octane unleaded which further erodes economy benefits
- even with the fancy exhausts they have now, diesels produce approx 20 times the particulate pollution compared to petrol engines (these are nasty and cause lung cancer and are actually dangerous compared to the harmless carbon dioxide).
- Most diesels do not come with automatic transmissions because the transmissions in small cars are so weak and poorly engineered. If there is an auto, the diesel engine is detuned to reduce torque compared to the manual (eg Opel Astra). The only exception to this I found was VW who mate their DSG to the TDI but you are looking at $AU 40,000 for a Golf with 2L TDI with DSG trans
I say ethanol is the way to go. Fully renewable, great fuel, low pollution and would be great for the failing agricultural sector. No more money going to the Middle East and most cars simply need the rubber seals replaced in their fuel system to use almost 100% ethanol.
I recently bought a new car and looked into the diesel option but couldn't see the value in it for the following reasons:
- diesel engines add approx $AU 7000 - $AU 10000 to the price of a small car. It would take the average driver 10 years to break even when taking economy benefits into account
- in Europe, diesel is a cheaper fuel but in Australia it is as expensive as 98 octane unleaded which further erodes economy benefits
- even with the fancy exhausts they have now, diesels produce approx 20 times the particulate pollution compared to petrol engines (these are nasty and cause lung cancer and are actually dangerous compared to the harmless carbon dioxide).
- Most diesels do not come with automatic transmissions because the transmissions in small cars are so weak and poorly engineered. If there is an auto, the diesel engine is detuned to reduce torque compared to the manual (eg Opel Astra). The only exception to this I found was VW who mate their DSG to the TDI but you are looking at $AU 40,000 for a Golf with 2L TDI with DSG trans
I say ethanol is the way to go. Fully renewable, great fuel, low pollution and would be great for the failing agricultural sector. No more money going to the Middle East and most cars simply need the rubber seals replaced in their fuel system to use almost 100% ethanol.
Andrew,
locally, diesel is 2c/litre lower than regular unleaded.
But I get your point.
I disagree on ethanol. Most cars need a lot more than seals to get them to work, as air fuel ratio is vastly different.
It would replace Sydney's carcinogenic benzene levels with formaldehyde.
Last thing we need is subsidised agriculture covering the land (and rivers) in more fertilisers, using more water to produce monocultures for fuel.
If we can come up with an agricultural/metropolitan waste to fuel process, then I'm all for it.
BTW, although nearly all of our fuel comes from the middle East, if we were to ban middle east oil, my understanding is that we'd only have a shortfall of 10%...our oil (good stuff) is sold at a higher price than our imports cost.
locally, diesel is 2c/litre lower than regular unleaded.
But I get your point.
I disagree on ethanol. Most cars need a lot more than seals to get them to work, as air fuel ratio is vastly different.
It would replace Sydney's carcinogenic benzene levels with formaldehyde.
Last thing we need is subsidised agriculture covering the land (and rivers) in more fertilisers, using more water to produce monocultures for fuel.
If we can come up with an agricultural/metropolitan waste to fuel process, then I'm all for it.
BTW, although nearly all of our fuel comes from the middle East, if we were to ban middle east oil, my understanding is that we'd only have a shortfall of 10%...our oil (good stuff) is sold at a higher price than our imports cost.
I agree with Shannow - ethanol isn't the answer. Germans are complaining about the cost of their beer going up and there is talk about corn becoming more expensive in the US. Until they can use switch grass or something not in competition with food products it is a lost cause.
When the government gets involved, things always get worse.
lately, i've also fallen into the diesal frenzy. Just like Pablo, this is getting serious for me, i go to bed and i think about Diesal. Really.
My friend is the one that got me into them. These things are just sick. All they need for power is fuel! no fuel? get a chip BAM you just made like 60 horses. Still too slow? get bigger injectors, get better engine managment BAM your making 30 more horses with 40 mpg.
I was at the race track last week in Commerce GA and this guy with a huge PowerStroke on lift kits got paired up with me.
I'm in my turbocharged jetta, this guy looks like he's about to have me for brunch. I take one look at him, then i take one look at my dash...then i shake my had and he gives me a polite smirk haha.
That thing wooped me.
My friend is the one that got me into them. These things are just sick. All they need for power is fuel! no fuel? get a chip BAM you just made like 60 horses. Still too slow? get bigger injectors, get better engine managment BAM your making 30 more horses with 40 mpg.
I was at the race track last week in Commerce GA and this guy with a huge PowerStroke on lift kits got paired up with me.
I'm in my turbocharged jetta, this guy looks like he's about to have me for brunch. I take one look at him, then i take one look at my dash...then i shake my had and he gives me a polite smirk haha.
That thing wooped me.
There are so many diesels here I wonder when they will pass petrol engined vehicles. Wom't be long I think
I can't help but think some of you guys are looking at diesel through rose colored glasses.
The fuel economy difference does not overcome the increased cost IMO.
Diesel will NEVER sell well with women in the USA. I have known two women that have had diesel VW's and they HATED using the diesel pumps because of the grime and smell. My wife despises diesels because they stink.
Diesel vehicles belch black smoke which is a turn off for me. I just don't want a unneeded engine option that sounds like it has rocks in the crankcase and farts black smoke all the time.
The fuel economy difference does not overcome the increased cost IMO.
Diesel will NEVER sell well with women in the USA. I have known two women that have had diesel VW's and they HATED using the diesel pumps because of the grime and smell. My wife despises diesels because they stink.
Diesel vehicles belch black smoke which is a turn off for me. I just don't want a unneeded engine option that sounds like it has rocks in the crankcase and farts black smoke all the time.
I see brand new diesels that smoke like a farm tractor. I don't see brand new gasoline cars doing the same.
It is not my opinion it is fact.
Maybe you should quit trying to place me in the 1970's for stating what is happening TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not my opinion it is fact.
Maybe you should quit trying to place me in the 1970's for stating what is happening TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's good that the legislators and tree-huggers know how stupid we all are. They have put a stop on the diesel for passenger cars. We could stop all this if they would allow us to use facts. No science either and certainly no economics either. Repeat after me, "I'm a bad boy for wanting a diesel". And that Accord diesel in England, it's a mirage created in a studio. Honda is trying to trick us. It's a plot to destroy California.
PS, I'd buy an Accord diesel in a heart-beat.
PS, I'd buy an Accord diesel in a heart-beat.
Have you considered importing a European vehicle to the United States?
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