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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 721 of 933

#7195 of 9316 Re: Low Emission Zone [gagrice] by fintail

Nov 17, 2012 (9:27 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Nov 16, 2012 8:26 pm)
More old cars in France than Germany, but indeed, but I would easily guess less than 10% of the fleet is so old - and probably less on brutal urban streets. Desperation move by overmonied goody goody bleeding heart politicos who probably own multiple vehicles with large engines and live in undeserved energy swilling mansions.
 
France is very lucky to have people who work living next door.

#7196 of 9316 Re: Low Emission Zone [fintail] by ruking1

Nov 19, 2012 (9:22 am)

Replying to: fintail (Nov 17, 2012 9:27 am)
Modern urban planning has long since had the policy of separating the people's and the peoples living and working locations. In many cases , any to all systems are anathema to combine/combining them. France for example has many cities/urban locations 240 years and older. Needless to say this is older than our country (1776). Although, I have lived in places where people talk like The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was not a real long time ago.
 
So for example, the modern day "outer edge" so to speak is app 1.5 miles per trip 3.0 miles R/T (radius/SL). Another reality check is out of say 100 folks who follow this board what is the break down of folks who live or less than 1.5 miles? Out of those that actually do live 1.5 miles or less to work, what percentage of those actually do walk?
 
Since you have politicized the discussion, i.e., how many MAYORS of say major cities (NYC, WASH DC, Chicago, SF, LA, Boston, etc) walk to work?

#7197 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ruking1] by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (9:47 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 17, 2012 8:49 am)
The Ody Touring is overpriced, most vans sell for high 20s low 30s. Mine was just $25k.
 
The Sprinter is not refined enough, too big, too costly to be truly mainstream.
 
I'd be more interested to see Ford's new small van with a diesel.
 
Fuelly's average is just 16.9 mpg for the Sprinter, not exactly numbers to brag about.
 
I'll be nice and not compare those average to my 30+mpg trips since that's apples to oranges.
 
But no way, no how is a Sprinter using 20% less fuel than I do. Far from it.

#7198 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ateixeira] by ruking1

Nov 19, 2012 (10:31 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 19, 2012 9:47 am)
Yes I think that point is past painfully made, albeit, unknown consequences to Honda.
 
Sprinter not refined enough? I think you are ignoring the bullet proof ness and purpose built attributes.
 
It seems that attitude is rampant, in Ford diesels' case prohibited from hitting US markets.

#7199 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ateixeira] by gagrice

Nov 19, 2012 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 19, 2012 9:47 am)
Where did you find mileage figures for the MB Sprinter diesels. I think they are better suited to airport shuttle and Fedex delivery. Though my RV conversion was quite comfortable out on the highway. With this one you could take the whole team in luxury.
 
http://sprintervans.fusz.com/?gclid=CMazyJfs27MCFXCmPAodw3IAZg

#7200 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ruking1] by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (2:00 pm)

Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 19, 2012 10:31 am)
It's a sledge hammer when most people just want a regular claw hammer.
 
I'd rent a Sprinter if I had a large group of more than 8, though.
 
For day to day use, it would be a squeeze to fit in my car port and I'd have to move the recycling bin and trash cans.

#7201 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [gagrice] by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Nov 19, 2012 1:15 pm)
Just used fuelly, I'm not surprised since they are a lot bigger, too big for most uses.
 
I agree with you that they make a perfect shuttle.
 
I've rented Ford E series vans for big family reunions and those are awful - trucky, bouncy live axles that make the kids get car sick after a while. We had 2 kids get sick last summer in that manner.
 
We had a caravan with my Sienna, and rented Sienna, and older 2002 Ody, and a big E series van. The kids would virtually fist fight to see who got to ride in the other vans.
 
If we did that trip again I'd look for a Sprinter instead of the E series, which feels like a 30 year old design.

#7202 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ateixeira] by ruking1

Nov 19, 2012 (2:58 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 19, 2012 2:00 pm)
We obvious disagree here, even as if it is bigger. If that had been available in (1987/1991/1994) another time frame, I would have actually have gotten IT, instead of the various TLC's. Larger (15/150/1500 etc) large vans were available then as now (time era that you describe). They were and remain far, far "more crude" than the MB Sprinter TDI you label as "crude".
 
This is just a guess on my part but given its 25 mpg (vs anywhere from 10-15 mpg) it would have been way more economical to keep it for 400,000 miles+ !! Again just on mileage and mpg that is 16,000 gals vs 40,000 gals to 26,667 gals.
 
On the mpg metric alone 4 per gal the savings are anywhere from$ 42,668 to $96,000. I think you would agree that would be a no brainer.

#7203 of 9316 Honda's new diesel by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (2:47 pm)

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/honda-unveils-new-diesel-for-overseas-civic-w- ill-it-come-here/
 
118 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It is made up of aluminum block and cylinder heads, and according to Honda, is the lightest diesel engine in its class.
 
fourth-generation Garret turbocharger, which features a variable-nozzle design. The speed of the turbo is also electronically controlled to optimize fuel efficiency and minimize turbo lag
 
The first RD-X had a turbo like that and turned out to be not-so-good on gas, so we'll see.

#7204 of 9316 Re: C-Max real world - so far [ruking1] by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2012 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: ruking1 (Nov 19, 2012 2:58 pm)
I'm comparing the current Sprinter, which is very much a truck. A nice truck, sure, but still a truck.
 
Then look at the car-based Odyssey, drive then back to back. It's like driving a tall Accord, not at all trucky.
 
There's no way the average soccer mom (or dad) would be as comfortable driving a Sprinter.

Messages Page 721 of 933

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