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

1503 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 1:11 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

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


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#819 of 1503
Re: Craigslist [bumpy] by plekto
Jan 10, 2009 (8:53 pm)
Reply

Replying to: bumpy (Jan 10, 2009 3:39 pm)

Ah - I forgot about them. The more modern 190Ds are also good. But hard to find as you noted.
 
http://www.kenrockwell.com/190d/index.htm
30-35mpg. Acceptable as an alternative to a typical compact car. Anything with a larger engine, though, is going to be not very thrifty.
 
Oh, and they have made a 30-40 second 0-60 time TDI already. The VW 1 liter car.
Okay, it gets 210MPG, not 100... heh.
#820 of 1503
Another SUV diesel announced by gagrice
Jan 10, 2009 (8:59 pm)
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It looks like VW will bring a 3.0L TDI Touareg to the USA this Spring. VW is getting the jump on the Domestics and Japanese. Diesel is the only way to go for good mileage in a heavy SUV. The hybrid SUVs are not much good off road and cannot tow much. I say bring em on. Never too many choices.
 
http://www.vw.com/touaregtdi/en/us/
#821 of 1503
TDI in the Winter? by investor27
Jan 12, 2009 (9:15 am)
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How are these TDI in the winter? I was up north in Wisconsin and didn't see a single Jetta TDI or BMW 335ix for that matter. Are diesels and turbos a bad idea for us people living in the northern states?
#822 of 1503
Re: TDI in the Winter? [investor27] by gagrice
Jan 12, 2009 (9:55 am)
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Replying to: investor27 (Jan 12, 2009 9:15 am)

The Arctic is a much colder place than Wisconsin. You will not find a gas truck in the Arctic. ALL DIESEL, mostly Ford with a few GM and in 25 years up there I only saw One Dodge PU truck. Ford has 3 warranty places. Makes them the truck of choice.
#823 of 1503
Re: TDI in the Winter? [investor27] by gregg_vw
Jan 12, 2009 (10:24 am)
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Replying to: investor27 (Jan 12, 2009 9:15 am)

This is my 7th winter in Wisconsin with my 2003 TDI (bought in 2002). Never had a problem getting going, even with the real temp (not wind chill) more than 20 below 0 F.
#824 of 1503
here's an interesting option... by nippononly
Jan 13, 2009 (8:02 am)
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Sure, diesels are practical. But fun? Volkswagen sets out to prove the two ideas are not mutually exclusive with the Concept BlueSport unveiled here today.
 
Equipped with VW's signature TDI clean diesel engine, the midengine roadster concept has an average fuel consumption of 42 mpg, or 50 mpg on the highway. In theory, the roadster can go 710 miles between fill-ups while meeting emissions standards in all 50 states.

 
http://www.autonews.com/article/20090111/ANA02/901119989/1115
(registration link)
 
If this ever makes it to the States, it would be the first fun-to-drive diesel car sold here, even as we await the first fun-to-drive hybrid car, which looks like it will be the Honda CRZ, debuting next year. Of course, the CRZ hybrid will make better mileage than the Civic hybrid sedan it shares parts with, and that model can be had for $22K and ALREADY makes an average fuel consumption of 42 mpg. The CRZ is promised to start under $20K, and will probably match the VW TDI roadster for average and highway fuel economy. I think odds are that the Honda will find more buyers than the VW, as people are getting more used to hybrids all the time while diesels cannot fully shake off their bad rep from the 80s.
 
As hybrids expand, the question remains: will there be enough potential diesel car buyers to make it worth it for automakers to invest in making more available?
#825 of 1503
Re: here's an interesting option... [nippononly] by steve_ HOST
Jan 13, 2009 (8:47 am)
Reply

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 13, 2009 8:02 am)

Clean diesel - is that like clean coal?
 
Good question about having enough potential buyers to justify selling it in North America. Hybrid sales have crashed along with the price of gasoline. But the diesel tech shouldn't be as expensive to implement as the hybrid stuff I'm guessing, so maybe VW could price it right.
#826 of 1503
Re: here's an interesting option... [nippononly] by ruking1
Jan 13, 2009 (8:52 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Jan 13, 2009 8:02 am)

Given the twisted logic and catch 22's syllogisms, unfortunately MORE customers have to actually BUY diesels (US market) to get the potentially "other oem's" to RISK bringing more diesel models to (US) market here.
 
VW (one of the standard bearers) has and will continue to benefit; and in fact is constructing a TN plant to put out least 1 US made diesel model. This is not to say they did not have to suffer along the way (multi million to billion $ losses), due to the over whelming bias AGAINST D2 passenger cars. (less than 1/5 of 1% of the passenger vehicle fleet ( of 254.1 M) is D2 )
 
So I am sure VW finds itself in a catch 22 situation. They want diesel models to take off, but want NO real competition!? VW will probably TRY to make as much hay as they can while the D2 issues are in the so called "perfect storm" scenario.
 
Almost all the oem's that have signalled an interest in bringing D2 passenger cars have let their schedules slip.
 
2009 VW TDI's are really the only game in town. BMW is less than 5 per dealership to must order. I called one BMW dealership to inquire and they flat said ZERO inventory, but please come down (see the gassers in stock) to order a D2 BMW 335 D twin turbo. A day later, they had located one from another dealership and had it delivered and I was able to demo; first customer test miles.
#827 of 1503
Re: TDI in the Winter? [gregg_vw] by investor27
Jan 13, 2009 (10:14 am)
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Replying to: gregg_vw (Jan 12, 2009 10:24 am)

Where are you in Wisconsin? Did you find driving the TDI adequate or would an all-wheel-drive be a better choice? We are moving to Wisconsin and my wife wanted an all-wheel-drive vehicle. But if the new Jetta TDI is fine for winter driving up there with winter or all-season tires then I would rather get the TDI. Thank you all for your assistance.
#828 of 1503
Re: TDI in the Winter? [investor27] by gagrice
Jan 13, 2009 (10:59 am)
Reply

Replying to: investor27 (Jan 13, 2009 10:14 am)

VW says they are bringing the Touareg with V6 TDI to states this Spring. It is one heck of a 4 wheel drive vehicle. If money is no object go for the BMW X5 35diesel. It will be the top of the line for awhile in the all wheel drive market.

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