Diesel Passenger Cars in the U.S.

gsganzer · May 6, 2004

I think Isuzu is planning on putting some diesels in their product line. Isuzu makes the Duramax for GM trucks.

I'm interested in a VW Jetta TDI, but Consumer Reports gave it a poor reliability rating. So I'm doing a little more checking. Everyone I've talked to that owns one says they've had no problems. I don't know where CR is getting their data.

Hambone · May 6, 2004

I found this interesting from the Jeep site.

CRD engine will not be available in California, Massachusetts, Maine, New York or Vermont.

MikePA · May 6, 2004

Everyone I've talked to that owns one says they've had no problems. I don't know where CR is getting their data. 
CR surveys the people who have a subscription to their magazine. My wife drives a 2000 Turbo Beetle and while it's been a nice car to drive and solidly built, there have been some annoying things that it's had to go back to the dealer for. For example, the passenger side window fell off the track because a part broke. (I could hear the motor running but the window would not go back up.) It's been back to the dealer for 2 recalls dealing with elecrical issues. The issues were not serious and did not prevent the car from working, but they were not things I could let as is until the next state inspection or get it fixed the next time I had the car in for regular service.

When you fill the CR survey in, they ask about these things.

AndyM · May 6, 2004

I found this interesting from the Jeep site.

CRD engine will not be available in California, Massachusetts, Maine, New York or Vermont. 

Mercedes-Benz makes the same claim about their new 2005 E320 CDI model. Is this true with the Volkswagen models as well?

After digging around on the internet a little more, I found that Chrysler has been putting diesels in their minivans and Jeep Cherokee models for several years for export to Europe and Japan...

_RaT_ · May 6, 2004

California has for years restricted the use of diesels in passenger and light pickups in the familiar 1/2 ton and smaller range. I think they will start testing diesels in the near future for emissions using a whole different set of criteria upon which to judge them. Most of the old Mercedes, GM, VW etc., all had what I thought were pretty anemic diesels. That has really changed. I would love to see alternatives to gasoline sooner then later. It's coming, no question about it.

RobS · May 6, 2004

DC used to make Jeep Cherokees and Chrysler Minivans at a plant in Graz, Austria (right next to the Steyr Daimler Pugh plant where the G-Wagen is built). Most of those Cherokees and minivans had a turbo-diesel four cylinder and a manual trans. Yes, a manual trans in a Chrysler minivan /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif This was in the early 90's, not sure if they are still made/available over there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

AndyM · May 6, 2004

Yes, a manual trans in a Chrysler minivan

Aren't they available in the U.S. anymore? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I assume they discontinued that option in the U.S. due to lack of demand for it... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
My inlaws used to have a Plymouth minivan with a manual transmission. It was one of the early models.
That was back when you also still had to pay extra for air conditioning and an AM-FM radio!

rockyridgefarm · May 6, 2004

You will SOON be able to get any engine you like in a PT Cruiser! A V6, a Diesel. a Hemi, Heck even the Viper V10!!! Ask around and you'll hear it all!

Course if you look under the hood, no one can figure out how they got that little 4 banger in there, how they are gonna fit something bigger... It was an engineering marvel just getting a turbo in there...

The Diesel Liberty is a go. The Doge Sprinter replaced the old Dodge B Van, and is re badged Benz, of course only comes with a Benz Diesel. Point is that the crossbreeding between Daimler and Chrysler is really getting going. The Crossfire is practically all Dutch.

RobS · May 6, 2004

When Chrysler first introduced the minivan a manual trans was available. Not sure when it was dropped in the US but I'm sure it didn't sell much. A friend of mine has an older Ford Aerostar with a manual. We were minivan shopping a couple of years ago and there was not one minivan available in the US with a stick, not even the the VW Vanagon /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

fishman · May 6, 2004

Check out Countrybynet for a LONG discussion on the Toyota Prius, a hybrid powerplant car. I rode in one the other day and it was very peppy and surprisingly roomy . . . and I was the big guy in the back seat.

The VW Jetta diesel looks pretty neat. I read of RonL's problems and they were pretty bad. There is a VW tdi forum website that I visited a few weeks ago that had lots of information, most positive. I'd be a little gunshy as I said, but I'd be looking at one right now if the nearest dealer wasn't 75 miles from my house.