Diesels in the News

Replying to: ruking1 (Oct 02, 2008 4:01 pm)

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• ruking1 (Oct 02, 2008 4:27 pm)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Oct 02, 2008 4:20 pm)

"You need to have a longer wider view"...
 
That is why I got a TDI. I am shooting for a min of 500,000 miles, but it is still a babe 110,000 miles. (although I am still running the oem tires)
 
If the Prius offered full battery replacement for 600 or so, after lasting between 200,000 to 300,000 miles, that would be an attractive alternative.

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 9:10 am)
  • larsb (Oct 03, 2008 9:44 am)
    • ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 10:15 am)
• alltorque (Oct 03, 2008 10:51 am)
  • ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 11:01 am)

Replying to: larsb (Oct 03, 2008 8:49 am)

I am scratching my head a bit. Not that doubt what the article is saying, but for me 59 mpg is a can do easy and SURPRISE, when I had to keep at 75 to 80 mph during a trek through a 5 car, 3 state highway patrol customer service round up. Indeed I did nothing special, but keep between 75-80 mph and turned off the inferno radar detector for it was going off almost literally coming over EVERY crest of each hill (ok every other) .

Replies to this message:
• larsb (Oct 03, 2008 9:44 am)
  • ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 10:15 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 9:10 am)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 10:15 am)

Replying to: larsb (Oct 03, 2008 9:44 am)

Replying to: larsb (Oct 03, 2008 8:49 am)

Yes, that's impressive but go to the site that larsb posted the link for. Look at some of the other records, (World Record Drives). Astounding; 3600 miles around Britain in a Daihatsu Charade diesel at 103mpg, (Imperial, of course), and that was way back in 1991.
 
I just have to believe that the latest 48 States record is capable of being taken to pieces by a number of the Euro/Japanese/Korean diesels currently in production. That's not to diminish this Jetta record but I think it should be viewed as as a great starting point, not a likely long-lasting record.

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Oct 03, 2008 11:01 am)

Replying to: alltorque (Oct 03, 2008 10:51 am)

Indeed, half seriously, I have said (on more than one occasion) the Jetta TDI is a fuel guzzler ( 44-62 mpg) . The glazed looks can be truly indicative that the American (gasser) buying public is narcotized to believe in fuel crisis, while fully made to believe or conned or even willingly embracing the 27 mpg and defacto 22 mpg current (gasser) metrics.!!??
 
Again it gets back to what I have been saying: it is hard to do differently when there are no real (higher mpg) choices!! For example one OEM (VW) that does diesel is really not much of a choice. (no disrespect to VW intended)
 
On the other hand, Prius is seen as a savior of the western world (as WE know it) when it gets 45 mpg. This EVEN after they adjusted the EPA standards because the Prius owners complained about it not getting 60 city 50 mpg highway. We are either biased or math challenged.
 
It will be interesting and instructive to see what the year end fuel consumption winds up being, and compare it to the last 5 years! Really was it worth the so called per gal pain and "700 Billion dollar bail out" and endless T Boone Pickens commercials stating the common sense obvious, 1 M times?

We now have the new generation VW-group diesels on sale in Europe. It comes in the form of a 2.0 ltr TDi CR, (common rail), rather than the old TDi PD engine. It's a 4-pot delivering 170bhp/258lbft and good economy/low emissions.
 
It has appeared in the new Skoda Superb, (Skoda is one of the 4 VW-group makes; Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT and Skoda predates the others as it was originally a maker of luxury cars in Czechoslovakia. Under post-WWII communism it became a real joke car maker............."what do you call a convertible Skoda ? A waste skip". Following VW's buy-out they now produce a range of cars that regularly outperform VW/Audi/SEAT in JD Power ratings etc and came 1st in the '06 Top Gear readers survey. You get the idea. The Superb is based on a lengthened Passat floorpan and is actually slightly larger, W x L, than an Audi A6 so it's no subcompact and comes with all the toys; incl a trick rear end that you can open as a trunk lid OR a full hatchback. Interior space is close to A8 standards. Google skoda uk if you want a look.
 
Back to the point..............The new TDi CR 170 engine gives this car an "EU Combined" economy rating of 48.7mpg, (Imperial or circa 40.7mpg US), with the 6-spd manual or 46.3mpg Imp, (38.7mpg US), with the 7-spd DSG 'box. This for a saloon car weighing 3340lbs yet still gets 0-62mph in <9.0secs. In addition the CO2 output is exactly the same as for the "old" 2.0 TDi PD 140bhp engine. Just for the record, the other economy figures are Urban = 36.7mpg and Extra Urban = 58.9mpg, both Imp Gals with the 6MT, slightly less with the 7-DSG. I guess "Extra Urban" maybe similar to your "Highway" ? Now I think that's pretty good and it will be on my shopiing list when it's time to change the Volvo S60 D5. Hopefully this engine will cross the Atlantic for you guys and you won't just be used as a dumping ground for old-skool TDi PD's. Of course the Superb comes with other engine options; 1.9 TDi PD 105bhp, 2.0 TDi PD 140bhp plus gassers - 1.4TSi 125bhp, 1.8TSi 160bhp and 3.6 V6 260bhp ( ). The 170bhp diesel and 3.6 gasser can also have 4x4 transmission which is, of course, nice Mr Audi's Quattro set up. All the Skodas are cheaper than their nearest VW or Audi equivalents. Can't see Skoda's ever hitting USA but I'm sure you'd like 'em if they did.

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Oct 04, 2008 7:30 pm)
  • alltorque (Oct 05, 2008 11:31 am)
    • ruking1 (Oct 05, 2008 5:46 pm)

Replying to: alltorque (Oct 04, 2008 11:55 am)

Replies to this message:
• alltorque (Oct 05, 2008 11:31 am)
  • ruking1 (Oct 05, 2008 5:46 pm)