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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

9316 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 9:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Biodiesel, Diesel, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Hatchback, SUV

Messages Page 598 of 933

#5963 of 9316 Re: Diesel news from Canada [ruking1] by lemmer

Jun 15, 2012 (11:52 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 15, 2012 7:12 am)
My problems with it don't have anything to do with the diesel engine. The problem is that it is a heavy bulky vehicle. All that weight means lots of expensive tires, brakes, etc. It is big on the outside and small on the inside. It is ponderous and uninvolving to drive. Not to mention it is expensive and repair-prone.
 
I'd take a Jetta Sportswagen TDI long before this beast.

#5964 of 9316 known killer by steve_ HOST

Jun 15, 2012 (11:52 am)

"Risking an election-year backlash from Republicans, the Obama administration is proposing new air quality standards to lower the amount of soot that can be released into the air.
 
The move by the Environmental Protection Agency won immediate support from environmental groups and public health advocates, who said the EPA was protecting millions of Americans at risk of soot-related asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart disease and premature death.
 
Soot, made up of microscopic particles released from smokestacks, diesel trucks and buses, wood-burning stoves and other sources, contributes to haze and can burrow into lungs. Breathing in soot can cause lung and heart problems."
 
EPA proposes stricter standards for soot pollution (Mercury News)
 
I'm not sure what the politics really are since it was a federal court that ordered the EPA to propose a new rule by midnight Thursday. Sounds like Obama is trying to appear greener than he is by "proposing" something the courts ordered.
 
Probably won't help the economy up here in the UP where wood burning stoves and furnaces are a big business, as is wood cutting.
 
The question now is whether the new rules will have any impact on diesel passenger cars.
 

#5965 of 9316 Re: Diesel news from Canada [lemmer] by ruking1

Jun 15, 2012 (1:09 pm)

Replying to: lemmer (Jun 15, 2012 11:52 am)
The host/s know this better than me, but really that is why there are 585 models on the market on/in any given year/s. Wildly, it seems to increase from year to year despite a pretty slow culling.
 
For sure, all that/those NON diesel considerations, have their ...considerations.
 
So for example, on the 03 TDI, tires lasted app 112,300 miles on literally a 23/25 rated set. The second set 62k looks GTG to 120,000 miles 175,000 miles, I swag the rotors and pads to do a minimum of 250,000 miles for fronts and rears (huge back story here 2950 #'s). The only thing on the Civic that is anywhere near a neck and neck swag horserace are its oem DRUM's and shoes 280,000 miles (swag again) Even as the 09 TDI is FAR porkier, (don't quote me but feels like 300#'s more 3,250 #'s) #'s) the tires (probably worse than the oem 03's) will easily do (swag of course ) 85,000 miles. I am also swaging the rotors and brake pads will easily do 150,000 miles. To expect any of these numbers on the GLK 250 BlueTec (4,200#'s?), ML350 BlueTec (5,000 #'s), VW Touareg TDI (4974 #'s) , I am sure you would agree with me, are probably DREAMING !
 
This is sort of a long way of saying IF you are in the market for a crossover utility vehicle (CUV?4,200 #'s PLUS), it is a pretty darn good ticket.

#5966 of 9316 Re: Diesel news from Canada [ruking1] by ateixeira

Jun 18, 2012 (10:36 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 15, 2012 7:12 am)
makes the majority of so called "economy cars redundant.
 
If only it came with an economy car price...
 
Not too many people shopping for a Spark or Sonic can afford a GLK Bluetec.

#5967 of 9316 Re: Diesel news from Canada [ateixeira] by ruking1

Jun 18, 2012 (11:05 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 18, 2012 10:36 am)
Perhaps another reason for the 585+ models ! I mean really if all you wanted was some of the inexpensive and trooper commute vehicle which would you chose (04) Civic, Prius, Lexus 430? Of course USED gives even better bang for the buck.
 
One real premise all along has been the advocation of many more diesel options.
 
Since we are finally finding out we have been hoodwinked about being energy paupers vs better than the middle east (NATURAL GAS), I look to natural gas options becoming more viable past custom systems and the Civic Nat Gas option 4,000 per year and of course lip service.

#5968 of 9316 Re: Diesel news from Canada [ruking1] by ateixeira

Jun 18, 2012 (11:17 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 18, 2012 11:05 am)
For my daughter, who will be driving in 3 years, probably a (beater) Civic, something like that. I actually prefer the Fit over a Civic.
 
TDI wouldn't be a bad choice if diesel didn't cost so much more around here. Plus used ones don't depreciate, same as hybrids around here.
 
Just drove to the Eastern Shore and saw gas for $3.22. I didn't think it would ever be that cheap again. Cheapest diesel I saw was $3.57. That's 11% more, but still cheap compared to the $4.09 in Potomac, MD.

#5969 of 9316 SQ5 is a ... diesel! by ateixeira

Jun 18, 2012 (11:38 am)

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/audi-sq5-released-with-313-hp-twin-turbo-dies- el/
 
Great efficiency given that's not even the point of the vehicle to begin with.

#5970 of 9316 Spoiler Alert by ateixeira

Jun 18, 2012 (12:18 pm)

Skip this if you Tivo'd LeMans...
 
Did you guys see the diesel-hybrids? Unreal how quick they are. Scary quick.

#5971 of 9316 Re: SQ5 is a ... diesel! [ateixeira] by gagrice

Jun 18, 2012 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 18, 2012 11:38 am)
I think Audi, BMW and VW are making a mistake not adding a 4 cylinder diesel CUV to their lineup. The X5. ML and Touareg diesels all have far more than enough power to catapult a person into the flow of traffic. I would love to try and get 40 MPG out on the highway in an SUV/CUV. If the GLK Bluetec is the only game, they should do quite well selling them. The local MB salesman bought his wife a GLK and wishes he had bought the ML 350 Bluetec. He likes the GLK size just not the gas mileage. What is amazing, the ML 350 gasser is higher EPA rated than the GLK 350 gas.

#5972 of 9316 Re: SQ5 is a ... diesel! [gagrice] by ruking1

Jun 18, 2012 (4:27 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Jun 18, 2012 1:39 pm)
I also would agree.
 
I think that for both Audi and VW they have found the 2.0 L both a bullet proof and reliable work horse. At the same time, with not too much fanfare they have for a lot of years, set the bars again and again for both mpg (40 - 43) and torque (236 # ft). BMW has to in effect put out a TDI that has to fit between and among all the many superlatives products (X5 in the CUV's case) it has garnered over time AND hit better mpg targets.
 
It would seem that what MB has done with a 2.1 L CDI with 369 # ft, might be bested or even matched by Audi, VW and BMW with a 2.5 L 4 cylinder TDI. The Tiquan would be a natural. It would be a yippee yahoo with 275 -360 # ft of torque !! Upgrade that with a 7 speed DSG to 8 speed A/T. WOW !
 
Really a tad too close to call as the 6 cylinder 3.0 L TDI/CDI is not far away. I mean really there is not much difference from 369 # ft to 406 # ft, and 425 # ft with BMW 335 D monster. I think MB really needed it in that its 3.0 CDI puts out 455# ft. (monster) and is rated 27 H epa.
 
Really the 3.0 L TDI (VW Touareg) really moves deceptively and effortlessly FAST. That is on top of the 2.0 4 cylinder TDI ( Jetta) already moving deceptively and effortlessly fast.

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