How is the diesel an advantage anymore with the price of diesel being more expensive than gasoline? And the pricks in the EPA adding $$$ emissions equipment onto the engine? Sure back in the day the Cummins 6BT and ISB prior to common rail injection, diesel ruled. That was however several years ago when diesel was also 20% cheaper instead of 20% more expensive .
I'm pretty sure you know the technical performance advantage (tq) of a diesel. In terms of emission control, we are at about 1979 with diesels - you may be old enough to remember what gas motors were like then. Agreed, PITA.
So, price.... perhaps that is a problem at your end of the province ? Here, there is no way diesel fuel is consistently 20% higher cost. It does move in a different price cycle than gas, and is occasionally a bit higher than gas here, but also prices lower at times too.
I think you reside in ON; unless you do a lot of personal long distance driving in the USA I don't see the price argument.
Aside from purchase cost, I own an older diesel for some of the reasons you cited. Everybody has different needs; I do know I would not want to own the truck I do, with a gas motor.
I live in the commuting belt around Toronto. Once somebody is in one, you'd need a large caliber gun to get most long distance commuters out of their VW tdi. Even with USA fuel pricing, tdi's have a following there too.
As good as the tdi's are, even there they've had EGR issues
. I'm hoping the newer road diesels continue to improve in terms of emission reliability. Still, many commuters here won't give up their tdi. Solid platform, reasonable engine reliability, fantastic mileage.
Diesels aren't for everybody. For the people that do like them, I hope the choices in the Can/USA market keep growing.
Rgds, D.
