Diesel Passenger Cars in the U.S.

NIXON · May 6, 2004

My daughter has an03 TDI Jetta . When she visits us , or we go down to where they are stationed I grab her keys every chance I get ! Very peppy , quiet and just fun to drive .
She hates it when I do that ,as She has to drive My f250 psd /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Watching her try to park it is always worth a grin or two . John

Bird · May 6, 2004

( I think Isuzu is planning on putting some diesels in their product line. )

I guess you know they used to have both sedans and pickups with 4 cylinder diesels, and darned good ones, too. I assume they quit selling them in this country because of emission standards, but don't know that to be a fact. Our '82 Isuzu I-Mark sedan with diesel engine and automatic transmission was still running great at 158,000 miles, but the body and upholstry were getting in bad shape.

milkman · May 6, 2004

I think that the thing that killed the diesel in the states was the disaster that GM called a diesel, for a lot of people, that is the only association they had with a diesel vehicle, and it turned them off.

BubbaJr · May 6, 2004

I was talking to my Ford dealer the other day. He said he just got back from Las Vegas and the new vehicle debut for 2005 (might just have been Ford, I didn't ask). Anyway I asked him about the diesel in the F150 for 05, and he said it will be available. I plan to get one next March when my lease expires, if the reviews are good. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BubbaJr · May 6, 2004

Using untaxed diesel in a road vehicle is illegal as you know, and they probably won't pull you over to check. But what if you are in an accident with a leaking tank or have some other fuel leak that requires the establishment to get involved. They will probably report you to those organizations that will want a lot of your money. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

CTyler · 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. )

I was looking at a site that said 0-60 under 12.5 seconds. Thats not peppy at all if the numbers are right. Knowing electric motors there is a nice probably a nice torque feeling right at first but flat acceleration.

TresCrows · May 6, 2004

I am told that the Liberty will have a diesel next year by the dealer when I took my wifes car in for a replaced windshield.
Ford is also--maybe--going to have a diesel Bronco which is built on the Escape platform with front wheels drive and rear assist.
Americans don't like diesels. Some places have no diesel fuel and when there is it is a single pump and it is always filty and the stuff stinks. Sometimes you even have to fill out special paper work here to buy diesel--it is crazy. The notion diesels get better mileage is bascially wrong. I won't go into it cuz it will cause a fight challenging popular opinion /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. Small engines wih turbochargers be they diesel or gasoline with computer controls get better mileage regardless of the actual fuel used. SMALL engines.
Hey, I thought y'all all liked big trucks with big engines? This summer or next when gasoline hits 3.00 dollars a gallon I bet there are going to be some bulging eyeballs when the guys with the quadcab Hemi Dodges pull up to refuel and realize they still owe 4 years of payments and they are upside down on their trade value /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. I will feel your pain /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif as I pull up in the 250,000 mile Toyota and fill her up, it is like growing money. I won't mention the "T" word again but I expect some diesels from them also, after all they have outfitted most of the world with diesels from Iraq to Australia but not here. That was a diesel armored "T" Land Cruiser Jeraldo was shot at in.
Oh, something interesting that shows the decline of civilization, several car companies are planning to sell armored sedans as an option to who ever wants them. it will be an option just like leather seats. An armored package /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Don't know if they be diesel or not. J

NIXON · May 6, 2004

TresCrows .
As to mileage . You might be right . But Iknow my PSD gets around 18-19 on the highway . But my 76 highboy (ford )got around 9 . But then technology has advanced a bit since then /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
As to Toyota building a 3/4 ton pick up with a Deisel ......
Can't wait ! I want one ! Should be a world beater . John

Cliff_Johns · May 6, 2004

The new gas stations going in all around me do not have diesel pumps. That, I think, is one reason americans are not quite so interested in diesel. I've got to drive by 8 gas stations to get to the one that has a diesel pump. There are probably 30 stations closer than that one, but none carry it. The one that does charges $1.99US for it.

Cliff

RobertN · May 6, 2004

My one complaint(well, not just one, but...). Lotsa places do not keep thier diesel pumps clean.

Since I tow the tractor, and fuel it too, it is a pain also when ya gotta manuever to the only pump they have for diesel, in lanes made for compact cars /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I think I get better mileage than a similar gas engine pickup. With auto, and 4.11's, a gas engine aint gonna get 15-18mpg. It is not true in all automobile comparisons though. I think you are right; a small engine tends towards better mileage in a small package.

I am really glad I have the diesel, even though they really jab it to you here in Calif for prices right now, as well as the additioanl tax we pay(as _RAT_ mentioned).

Toyota is good, but does not own the market on fuel economy. Still, those folks with the big motors are gonna be hating it; sure most are already /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif