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Hybrids & Diesels - Deals or Duds? - READ ONLY

5196 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 6:55 AM

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What is this discussion about? Alternative Fuels, Biodiesel, Hybrid Cars


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#2944 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [micheals] by gagrice
Mar 18, 2006 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: micheals (Mar 18, 2006 3:37 pm)

A 2003 Prius with 70K miles goes for $17,590
 
I think you will find that a dealer may be able to snag a buyer for that much. If you were trading that same vehicle in. You would be real lucky to get $10k-$11k for it. Same goes for the VW TDI models that are in demand. I think the fear factor goes up with the miles more so on the hybrid than the diesel. There have been two or three posters on here that had sad stories buying high mileage Prius. Not that it is limited to hybrids. Just more things to go wrong after the warranty is up.
 
On the VW TDI after 2007. I posted an article that addresses that subject. The question is will people be willing to pay the extra cost to bring the TDI to SULEV compliance. It will be expensive. Not as expensive as the hybrid premium. I don't know if people will pay extra to get a super clean diesel. If the price of diesel remains higher than unleaded it is doubtful.
#2945 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [micheals] by ruking1
Mar 18, 2006 (5:18 pm)

Replying to: micheals (Mar 18, 2006 3:37 pm)

Essentially that is NOT what John is referring. So if you are making a case for essentially everything being unmeasurable (vague), why are we even talking? More directly why are any of your assertions any more valid than anyone elses? If you consider 49.5 and 50 as being vaque, then I am not sure what you consider precise.
#2946 of 5196
Audi Diesel no DUD!!! by gagrice
Mar 19, 2006 (8:33 pm)
Audi Sport North America made history Saturday as the diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The new prototype is the first diesel car in the world to win a major sports car race.
 
Diesel Rules
#2947 of 5196
Diesel attention getter! by gagrice
Mar 19, 2006 (8:37 pm)
Audi produced the car in large part to get the attention of U.S. car buyers. While diesel engined cars are popular in Europe, largely because of their extremely good fuel mileage, they are not nearly as popular in the United States. In this country, gasoline/electric hybrid engines have become the powerplant of choice for those interested in saving fuel.
 
Part of the reason that diesel hasn't taken off here is that diesel engines are perceived by American consumers as slow, noisy and smelly, experts say.

 
Diesel Audi
#2948 of 5196
Re: Diesel attention getter! [gagrice] by jkinzel
Mar 19, 2006 (8:50 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 19, 2006 8:37 pm)

Good news for everyone, except maybe, well, I won't mention any names.
Although it makes me wonder if a hybrid would ever make it in Sebring.
#2949 of 5196
Re: Diesel attention getter! [jkinzel] by gagrice
Mar 19, 2006 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: jkinzel (Mar 19, 2006 8:50 pm)

I would think it would be up to Toyota to enter one in a race. They are unable to be competitive with their gas engines in F1. So it is not likely. I am sure their attitude is why bother when people are lined up to buy the Prius. Diesel is the technology that needed an image booster. I wonder if racing will ever be the same?
#2950 of 5196
Re: Diesel attention getter! [gagrice] by ruking1
Mar 20, 2006 (7:29 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 19, 2006 9:28 pm)

Again even in the full light of day, one major diesel advantage over gas goes unrecognized: "37% fuel efficiency advantage over like gassers.
 
Do folks remember that woman rookie almost winning the Indy 500, sans a man's math miscalculation on the fuel MPG?????
 
So say an Indy car gets 4 mpg. A 37% advantage pumps that up to a whopping 5.48 mpg. She would have made history.
#2951 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [gagrice] by winter2
Mar 20, 2006 (7:57 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 18, 2006 5:10 pm)

Your point about the cost of bring a VW TDI or any diesel to SULEV compliance is not really meaningful.
 
To bring any car, gas or diesel powered to SULEV compliance costs money. I am sure that if you took off all of the emissions systems from any car, the price of that car would drop several thousand dollars. Gassers have had emission systems for years and we have become accustom to paying for them. I believe that a good portion of the yearly price increase in new cars/trucks is related to the increasingly stringent emissions requirements.
 
I feel that if diesels were presented to the public as nice green cars/trucks with great fuel economy, performance, durability and simplicity then they would probably sell like hot cakes.
#2952 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [winter2] by ruking1
Mar 20, 2006 (8:08 am)

Replying to: winter2 (Mar 20, 2006 7:57 am)

"I believe that a good portion of the yearly price increase in new cars/trucks is related to the increasingly stringent emissions requirements. "
 
While I understand and actually agree with the point you are making, of which the above is a part, the increase in new cars/trucks (year to year) is really the cost of "SEX". This is in addition to the fact the auto oems want to keep up with the cost of inflation. Generally year to year presents no radical design changes. This would be in stark contrast with say the 2006 Honda Civic vs the 2005 Honda Civic. (next generation)
 
So what you are saying about the "costs" would be true if they were trying to jump one category, i.e., have to meet more stringent requirements.
 
I would make this swag and please note I am no where near an emissions guru, but I would dare say the emissions for the Prius it NOT radically different from the Corolla. However since the Prius engine is smaller and combine with they hybrid action that makes the gasser engine run app 20% less, that is probably enough to let the Prius get the numbers it does.
#2953 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [winter2] by gagrice
Mar 20, 2006 (8:35 am)

Replying to: winter2 (Mar 20, 2006 7:57 am)

I totally agree with you. A catalytic convertor for a Prius is $2000 plus. It's only purpose is emissions. I think the article was showing VW's concern about adding another $1000 or more to the TDI with nothing but improved emissions to show for the money. I don't think the average buyer would pay the difference if it was an option on any car. For example Toyota does not offer SULEV II on the Corolla. I wonder what the difference in price would be. Their Scion line does not even offer any EPA rating over a 3. What would the additional cost be to upgrade a Scion xb to SULEV II. I would guess at least a couple grand.
 
The safety and emissions is probably 35% of the cost of a vehicle.

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