Diesel cars

[1dollardog]

I was surfing Ebay.co.uk last night because I was board and I've seen everything there is to offer in the U.S. I noticed they had alot of cars and suv's over there that we have here in the US only they are offered with more efficient diesel engines over there. Why is this? Many cars like my Chevy Tracker (suzuki vitara) which is strickly offered in a gas engine here but is offered in a diesel engine over there and gets 40+ mpg. If the same company produces them both why can't we get them here? I saw a suzuki swift (still being made over there apparently) with a 4 cyl diesel engine that produced 60 mpg. I'm sure the british gallon is different that is still great milage. Gas prices are killing me and I sware I am going to change to a diesel and run one of those veggi oil conversions or something. Why can't we get these more fuel efficient cars in the usa?

 

[87grandnat]

Dude I have a 03 VW jetta TDI (look them up) and the last time I checked my milage I got 48mpg...sticker claims 56 and I have read about people getting 60 to the gallon, it is a great little car and the next car I purchase will be a diesel powered car....I really like the volvo xc70 (i think thats it)

my car is a 5 speed and has gave me a problem one time, besides that it is awsome....full leather interior, heated seats, sun roof, huge trunk for such a small car.

Joshua

 

[UNGN]

I was surfing Ebay.co.uk last night because I was board and I've seen everything there is to offer in the U.S. I noticed they had alot of cars and suv's over there that we have here in the US only they are offered with more efficient diesel engines over there. Why is this? Many cars like my Chevy Tracker (suzuki vitara) which is strickly offered in a gas engine here but is offered in a diesel engine over there and gets 40+ mpg. If the same company produces them both why can't we get them here? I saw a suzuki swift (still being made over there apparently) with a 4 cyl diesel engine that produced 60 mpg. I'm sure the british gallon is different that is still great milage. Gas prices are killing me and I sware I am going to change to a diesel and run one of those veggi oil conversions or something. Why can't we get these more fuel efficient cars in the usa?

In 1997, Clinton's EPA said that in 10 years, Diesel cars (less than 6200lbs GVW) needed to basically meet gasoline cars particulate emissions standards.

European cars won't have to meet these standards until 2010. Very few Diesel engines currently meet the US standards and none in any cars that are less than $40K.

If Bush had postponed the EPA requirements to 2010, Dodge, GM and Ford had Diesel cars they could have sold in the US, but he would have been demonized for causing asthma in babies and giving people lung cancer, so I don't blame the guy. But that is the reason we don't have those cars in the US.

 

[87grandnat]

I have wanted to take a diesel engine out of a jetta (1.9 litter)and put it in something smaller and lighter to create a even more efficiant vehicle. I read in a article they had a 4 cylinder diesel in this car that weighted 1440 lbs (i think it was from lotus) but it got to 62 mph in 8 seconds and got 94 mpg!

Joshua

 

[Bens87tr]

Because they are dirty, just like UNGN said.

 

[1dollardog]

Dude I have a 03 VW jetta TDI (look them up) and the last time I checked my milage I got 48mpg...sticker claims 56 and I have read about people getting 60 to the gallon, it is a great little car and the next car I purchase will be a diesel powered car....I really like the volvo xc70 (i think thats it)

my car is a 5 speed and has gave me a problem one time, besides that it is awsome....full leather interior, heated seats, sun roof, huge trunk for such a small car.

Joshua

Yeah I'm not saying that we don't have any good diesels here but we should be allowed to have a better selection. The cars I spoke of are probably manufactured in the same plant as the cars that are shipped over here so why could they not be equipped with the same emissions equipment as cars that we already accept into the US? Wanna sell your Jetta cheap?:tongue:

 

[87grandnat]

I really enjoy my car, and you are right about the selection of cars. The only reason I got the jetta was because I made up my mind that I wanted a diesel powered car and the Jetta was the only one in my price range (I paid 13k for it about 2 1/2 years ago) it had 80 thousand miles but I knew that wasnt nothing for a diesel. The moment that GM makes a diesel powered car that will get 45mpg and is as nice as my Jetta I will trade it in, but until then......

Joshua

 

[bazkook]

I wouldn't mind having a early 80s Toyota pickup with a diesel. I've got an 81 Yota pickup now with a 22R. The 22R is one of Toyota's greatest gas engines so their diesels have got to be awesome. Plus the fuel mileage would be great in a truck as light as that.
My former boss had a 04 or 05 VW Bug with a turbodiesel 4 cylinder that got close to 50 MPG. Her husband was contemplating putting on a new exhaust and a K&N filter for even more gas mileage.

 

[UNGN]

Because they are dirty, just like UNGN said.

They actually aren't that dirty compared to a Cummins, Powerstroke or Duramax. In fact, they are 10X cleaner.

They just are dirtier in fine particulates (carbon ash) than a 2.0L gas powered car.

Clinton's EPA was solving a problem that didn't exist. If you go to any major European city, over 50% of the cars are "dirty" Diesels and people aren't dropping dead from the fumes, the trees aren't dying and nobody is blaming them for their kid having Asthma.

If we would have just gone along with the Euroweeny standards, instead of saying "they aren't aggressive enough" we would have millions more Diesel cars on the road and be saving Americans Billions of dollars in annual fuel charges.

But it was "for the children".

 

[UNGN]

Yeah I'm not saying that we don't have any good diesels here but we should be allowed to have a better selection. The cars I spoke of are probably manufactured in the same plant as the cars that are shipped over here so why could they not be equipped with the same emissions equipment as cars that we already accept into the US? Wanna sell your Jetta cheap?:tongue:

VW didn't Import any Diesels into the US in '07 because even they couldn't meet our emissions stds. Europe doesn't have to meet our stds until 2010, so eventually all of the Euro Diesels will be available here, but they will be 2011 models.

They only Diesels that can meet our stds are in larger vehicles (because they get emission breaks) or vehicles that have expesive pollution controls (even with a cat and a particulate trap, the US small car limit is VERY tough to meet).

 

[turbofish38]

You want have some fun? Check out this link. Chevy Worldwide: Chevrolet
Click on the individual countries and see what they have for diesels. My favorites are in South America. Diesel powered Colorado trucks and micro cars capable of 50+MPG. Oh what I wouldn't give to be able to smuggle in one of those into this country.

 

[Jbenn911]

One of the other big problems was the fuel.. Until this year(??) we didnt have the "low sulfur" diesel that they run over there... Truly some interesting rides. When I visit my daughter in Germany, never ceases to amaze me.. I had a diesel Toyota Corolla and a little tiny VW called the Lupo, it had a 1.0 3 TDI engine, and was supposed to get 65+...at almost 8 bux a gallon(in our money) anything to save some pennies !

 

[sawmillman]

I have a friend with a vw diesel rabbit pu that is hitting 45-50 mpg I thought he was full of it until I saw the milage and the fill ups on a trip .

 

[UNGN]

One of the other big problems was the fuel.. Until this year(??) we didnt have the "low sulfur" diesel that they run over there...

The year that our Fuel actually had 1/2 the sulfur of European Diesel Fuel (2007), not one European Diesel under 3.0L's met the US emissions standards in a car (Only the Dodge Sprinter did, but that is because the GVW was Greater than 6200lbs).

Our Fuel was "too Dirty" was the excuse always used, but the only excuse left now is "Clinton's EPA were idiots".

 

[John Larkin]

UNGN - "for the children", I love it. Everything we have to unwillingly comply to is "for the children". The ultimate political spineless cop-out. High schools that look like university campuses, etc. Back on topic, diesel technology is great. I think Germans even made it out of coal in WWII. The black-smoke-puking 70s models left a bad impression in people's minds. I would have one in a minute but the wife has a sticking point on the oily smell of the fuel.