Ask the Car People.SM


Diesel MiniVans

144 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2012 at 8:31 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Diesel, Van

Messages Page 15 of 15

#135 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [gagrice] by qbrozen

May 29, 2008 (8:48 am)

Replying to: gagrice (May 29, 2008 6:22 am)
It is a vehicle used to enhance whatever Sport you may like to do. Fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, camping, etc etc.
 
Yet, I don't consider any of those things "sports."
 
Which still brings me back to my point. Since rarely can people agree what an SUV actually means or does, I call lots of things SUVs. I'll give you one point to think about. If someone's idea of an SUV is that it must be good off-roading, then I contend that a Subaru Forester is a FAR better offroader than a Suburban.

#136 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [qbrozen] by ateixeira

May 29, 2008 (10:34 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (May 28, 2008 7:48 am)
I used Consumer's Guide for pricing so it could be outdated. It's a hard copy, magazine.

#137 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [gagrice] by ateixeira

May 29, 2008 (10:37 am)

Replying to: gagrice (May 28, 2008 10:38 am)
Well, I agree the categorizations are a bit different, but my comparisons are valid for the way 97% of buyers will actually use them.
 
I bet the Vue has more room than a Grand Cherokee. Highlander, too.
 
If you need to tow, the Tahoe hybrid is actually a good choice. And it's a lot roomier than the Touareg.
 
Besides, this is a minivan thread, how are we now getting picky about talking about truck-based SUVs only? LOL
 
Plus, anyone browsing this thread is presumably considering a minivan, so an AWD Vue, Escape, or Highlander would be as capable if not more so even for your criteria.

#138 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [ateixeira] by qbrozen

May 29, 2008 (11:17 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (May 29, 2008 10:37 am)
Besides, this is a minivan thread, how are we now getting picky about talking about truck-based SUVs only? LOL
 
ummm... uhhhh... ahhhhh....
 
i got nothin'.

#139 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [qbrozen] by ateixeira

May 29, 2008 (11:21 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (May 29, 2008 11:17 am)

 
And how that we bring that up, why no diesel or hybrid option on a minivan?

#140 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [ateixeira] by gagrice

May 29, 2008 (11:42 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (May 29, 2008 11:21 am)
And how that we bring that up, why no diesel or hybrid option on a minivan?
 
Excellent question. Seems Toyota and Ford both said about 5 years ago they were going to hybridize across the line-up. The EU has several choices of diesel mini vans. Same issues with the diesel mini van as with all small diesels. The CARB carrot is hung out just far enough to keep the automakers from reaching it.

#141 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [gagrice] by ateixeira

May 29, 2008 (12:01 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (May 29, 2008 11:42 am)
Ford abandoned the minivan segment entirely, though some may argue the Flex is a minivan in drag.
 
Toyota may eventually sell one here.
 
A friend of a friend had a Renault (IIRC) diesel van, diplomatic tags, and took me for a spin. I was impressed with how flexible the seating arrangement was - basically 5 seats anywhere you want to mount them. So you could have 2-2-3, or 2-3-2, or take some out and use any combination.

#142 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [ateixeira] by gagrice

May 29, 2008 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (May 29, 2008 12:01 pm)
It probably would not bother me so much if I did not see these in both cargo and passenger configuration with the big TDI on the back. There are a lot of them coming across with Mexican Nationals driving on our highways. So it is illegal for me to have a 35 MPG diesel van, but not someone from across the border driving in CA. Most likely driving on $2 diesel that is not ULSD. Why would they pay our high prices. There is a station just across the border selling diesel for $2.16.

#143 of 144 Re: Newbie, frustrated minivan mom [gagrice] by ateixeira

May 29, 2008 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (May 29, 2008 1:22 pm)
Same in Brazil. Diesel is cheaper than gas (1/2 the price a year ago), but it's not nearly the same quality we get here in the US.

#144 of 144 Re: Where are the diesels? [hansienna] by wv_engineer

Mar 23, 2012 (8:31 am)

Replying to: hansienna (Apr 25, 2005 9:46 pm)
Obviously you haven't noticed the diesel car passing you and fuel stops on the highway. Because, you did not know that they were diesels. Next time you see a VW look for the letters TDI on the back. If it does not go wizzing past you getting 40mpg.

Messages Page 15 of 15

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement