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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / May 2007

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Diesel Autos

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Mike - 04 May 2007 16:02 GMT
What diesel autos are generally available in the US as of May 2007?
Any plans for additional models and if so, when?

Thanks,

Mike
cuhulin@webtv.net - 04 May 2007 18:35 GMT
I don't know.But I don't doubt more diesel engine equipped vehicles are
sold in Europe and other Countries than in America.Diesel engines last
longer and get better fuel mileage (miles per gallon) than vehicles
equipped with gasoline engines.Sheesh,I would think diesel engines would
be catching on big time here in Ameica.You can run a diesel engine on a
dead cat.
cuhulin
HLS@nospam.nix - 05 May 2007 14:26 GMT
> I don't know.But I don't doubt more diesel engine equipped vehicles are
> sold in Europe and other Countries than in America.Diesel engines last
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> dead cat.
> cuhulin

Lots of cars are available in Europe with diesel engines. Not only are they
more
fuel efficient, the slightly lower price of diesel (in my part of Europe at
least) is
a bit of an incentive.

I can't see any reason why these cars could not be imported directly into
the US
market, EXCEPT for the EPA/certification issues.
Steve W. - 05 May 2007 16:13 GMT
>> I don't know.But I don't doubt more diesel engine equipped vehicles are
>> sold in Europe and other Countries than in America.Diesel engines last
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> the US
> market, EXCEPT for the EPA/certification issues.

"EXCEPT for the EPA/certification issues" Which is a MAJOR item. Many of
those vehicles won't come close to EPA levels with the current equipment
on them. That means that the entire engine has to be gone through to
design a US compliant version. Not worth it when your past experience
says that they won't sell in the US.

And the fact that earlier diesels made the market wary of them.
And the environmental nutjobs statements about how dirty they are.
Mileage means NOTHING to the folks who believe them.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York
NRA Member
Pacifism - The theory that if they'd fed
Jeffrey Dahmer enough human flesh,
he'd have become a vegan.

asdf@asdf.com - 05 May 2007 19:57 GMT
>>> I don't know.But I don't doubt more diesel engine equipped vehicles are
>>> sold in Europe and other Countries than in America.Diesel engines last
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> design a US compliant version. Not worth it when your past experience
> says that they won't sell in the US.

Yup, but there are ways around that by importing one yourself and
keeping a low profile... Of course, it'll still be difficult to pass
your state's emission test. MB, VW, and BMW are coming strong with their
"bluetech" (urea, basically piss) emission cleaned diesel engines though.

Personally I wouldn't mind owning a 330d E46. Slightly faster than my
535 E34 but twice the mileage...

> And the fact that earlier diesels made the market wary of them.
> And the environmental nutjobs statements about how dirty they are.
> Mileage means NOTHING to the folks who believe them.

Ulf
HLS@nospam.nix - 05 May 2007 20:21 GMT
> Yup, but there are ways around that by importing one yourself and
> keeping a low profile... Of course, it'll still be difficult to pass
> your state's emission test. MB, VW, and BMW are coming strong with their
> "bluetech" (urea, basically piss) emission cleaned diesel engines though.
> Ulf

I am of the impression that urea injection is only needed on the high
performance
versions of  these cars. Is this the case?

This, to me, is a tweaky fix and would be a PITA to deal with.
asdf@asdf.com - 05 May 2007 21:19 GMT
>> Yup, but there are ways around that by importing one yourself and
>> keeping a low profile... Of course, it'll still be difficult to pass
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> performance
> versions of  these cars. Is this the case?

I assume it's required for all the "bluetech" engines, not sure what
other ways there are to reduce the NOx emissions enough, but I could be
wrong.

>  This, to me, is a tweaky fix and would be a PITA to deal with.

Yup, but PSA (IIRC) has developed a way to produce urea in the catalyst
without any additive. Having driven a truck with a urea (Adblue)
emission system I didn't find it different, the urea tank lasted three
diesel fillups. No big deal really.

Ulf
Steve W. - 06 May 2007 02:18 GMT
>>>> I don't know.But I don't doubt more diesel engine equipped vehicles are
>>>> sold in Europe and other Countries than in America.Diesel engines last
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> your state's emission test. MB, VW, and BMW are coming strong with their
> "bluetech" (urea, basically piss) emission cleaned diesel engines though.

The state won't care. They won't have to put you in there jail. It is a
Federal crime, they are the ones who will be talking to you. Unless you
have already paid an import agent who will be tearing it down and
refitting it with approved parts AND certifying that it meets Federal
emissions standards.

> Personally I wouldn't mind owning a 330d E46. Slightly faster than my
> 535 E34 but twice the mileage...
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>>
> Ulf

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York
NRA Member
Pacifism - The theory that if they'd fed
Jeffrey Dahmer enough human flesh,
he'd have become a vegan.

HLS@nospam.nix - 05 May 2007 20:17 GMT
> "EXCEPT for the EPA/certification issues" Which is a MAJOR item. Many of
> those vehicles won't come close to EPA levels with the current equipment
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> And the environmental nutjobs statements about how dirty they are.
> Mileage means NOTHING to the folks who believe them.

Agreed, the certification issues are major.  And the fact that the American
public is probably not quite ready to lose the guzzling high HP SUVs,
pickups, etc is clearly another.

But there is no valid reason why these vehicles could not be made available
quickly if we are in a fuel dilemma.
Harry Smith - 04 May 2007 19:42 GMT
> What diesel autos are generally available in the US as of May 2007?
> Any plans for additional models and if so, when?

The only passenger cars diesels available as-of-now are VW's TDI and
Mercedes-Benz's E300D (or whatever they're calling it exactly).  The
TDI is available in a range of cars, such as the Beetle, Jetta, etc.
while Mercedes only offers the one.

Pretty much every car maker is talking about diesels.  I read
something about a new Hyundai diesel engine coming down the pipe in
the near future.  As for who actually comes through here, it will be
interesting to watch.

Peace,
Harry
cuhulin@webtv.net - 04 May 2007 20:43 GMT
I did a search for, Diesel Engine Automobiles America

I think I saw something about BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werk) offers,or
will be offering) some diesel engine cars in America.

Many years ago,I read about Rudolph Diesel and his invention.At first,he
tried to get his invention to run on coal,but the engine blew up.Later
on,he was on a Ship going from America to Europe.He disappeared from the
Ship before it reached Europe.To this day,no one knows what happened to
him.
cuhulin
Steve - 04 May 2007 23:12 GMT
>>What diesel autos are generally available in the US as of May 2007?
>>Any plans for additional models and if so, when?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> TDI is available in a range of cars, such as the Beetle, Jetta, etc.
> while Mercedes only offers the one.

The Jeep Liberty CRD was sold for a while, went off the market for a
while (due to a change in emissions regulations), and I think is
supposed to come back again. Also the Dodge Sprinter (full size fan) is
available as a diesel. And of course the there are the millions of
Dodge/Cummins, Ford/Navistar, and GM/Isuzu diesel pickups.
Mike - 04 May 2007 23:38 GMT
All,

Thanks for the responses.  I did some Googling and the VWs seem to be
about all there is and they seem kind of vague about what is available
where.  I'll have to ask them.
Steve - 09 May 2007 16:05 GMT
> All,
>
> Thanks for the responses.  I did some Googling and the VWs seem to be
> about all there is and they seem kind of vague about what is available
> where.  I'll have to ask them.

US diesel automobile emission laws are in a state of change right now.
Some of the European diesels that were available last year can no longer
be sold as they don't meet US emissions right now (the VW TDi and the
Liberty CRD fell in that trap, IIRC). US diesel fuel itself is also in
the middle of changing over to ultra-low sulfur diesel, which will
ultimately allow more engines to meet emissions because additional
emission controls that are damaged by high sulfur content can be added
to the engines. Once everthing settles out, there should eventually be
*more* diesel cars available than before the changes, but probably not
until late this year or early 2008.
Harry Smith - 06 May 2007 23:43 GMT
> > The only passenger cars diesels available as-of-now are VW's TDI
and
> > Mercedes-Benz's E300D (or whatever they're calling it exactly).  The
> > TDI is available in a range of cars, such as the Beetle, Jetta, etc.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> available as a diesel. And of course the there are the millions of
> Dodge/Cummins, Ford/Navistar, and GM/Isuzu diesel pickups.

Heh, well, I did specify "passenger cars" and "as-of-now."  I thought
the Jeep CRD was an excellent idea and was very dissapointed when they
killed it.  Diesels are perfect fit for mid-size SUVs and its a shame
it didn't have a chance to catch on.

Peace,
Harry
Steve - 09 May 2007 16:09 GMT
> Heh, well, I did specify "passenger cars" and "as-of-now."  I thought
> the Jeep CRD was an excellent idea and was very dissapointed when they
> killed it.  Diesels are perfect fit for mid-size SUVs and its a shame
> it didn't have a chance to catch on.

Blame the eco-whackos. But in all honesty, expect the Liberty (and other
 mid-size and small diesel vehicles) to be back once ultra-low sulfur
diesel is available market-wide and the builders can count on that for
their emissions systems.
Rui Pedro Mendes Salgueiro - 09 May 2007 12:22 GMT
> > What diesel autos are generally available in the US as of May 2007?
> > Any plans for additional models and if so, when?

> The only passenger cars diesels available as-of-now are VW's TDI and
> Mercedes-Benz's E300D (or whatever they're calling it exactly).  The
> TDI is available in a range of cars, such as the Beetle, Jetta, etc.
> while Mercedes only offers the one.

Are the TDIs really available ? When I saw the original question I looked
at the VW USA web site and it seemed to me that they didn't sold TDIs in
the USA. (I didn't check all the models, but I checked the Jetta and now
the Eos and the Passat.)

Hmm, searching for TDI in the web page I found this:
    http://www.vw.com/dictionary/en/us/html/detail_105.html
"In 2008 VW will offer the new Jetta TDI in all 50 states."
So it seem they are not yet available, but they will be next year.

If they are available, then you have acess to some of the best diesels
(specifically in terms of power versus consumption). I have one and
the only real downside is the embarrassing clouds of black smoke that
it produces when you use full throttle. I think VW now has a particle
filter, which should solve that.

> Pretty much every car maker is talking about diesels.

And in Europe they are selling them (depending on the country and the
market segment, the diesels can be more than 90% of the cars sold).

Apart from European brands that are present in the USA, like Mercedes,
BMW, Ford/Volvo, the Japanese are catching up with the Toyota's 2.2,
177 HP and Honda 2.2 140 HP being good examples.

Signature

http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

.pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
       Europe |    Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Steve - 09 May 2007 16:11 GMT
> Hmm, searching for TDI in the web page I found this:
>     http://www.vw.com/dictionary/en/us/html/detail_105.html
> "In 2008 VW will offer the new Jetta TDI in all 50 states."
> So it seem they are not yet available, but they will be next year.

For the umpteenth time:

The TDi was sold here for a number of years. There are thousands on the
roads, you see them every day. Then emissions laws changed, so now it is
not sold in the US. But it will be back once the changeover to ULSD has
been completed and the new emissions systems that need ULSD can be applied.
Joel - 09 May 2007 18:50 GMT
> > Hmm, searching for TDI in the web page I found this:
> >    http://www.vw.com/dictionary/en/us/html/detail_105.html
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> not sold in the US. But it will be back once the changeover to ULSD has
> been completed and the new emissions systems that need ULSD can be applied.

I had a 2000 VW jetti TDI 5spd for 4 years, I averaged about 45mpg and
limited problems, brakes and tires and oil changes.  I would gladly
get one again.  I have nothing bad to say.  I believe that the newer
version of the engine has more HP, so the automatic may be ok.  With
more than 2 adults in the car, you could feel the difference...

Enjoy,
Joel
 
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