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Comments
It was like 750 miles on one tank hyper-mile kind of thing from England through France and then back.
Not sure on the details. I have a meeting so....ttyl.
If it is anything like the Subaru Outback CVT I would hate it. That "Rubber Band" feel is just not to my liking. Engine racing to get you up the hills is just the opposite of a diesel that is as happy at 1500 RPM as it is at 3500 RPM. I'll take the 8 speed with no engine racing to get you up to 75 MPH. Interesting thing is the Japanese build excellent transmissions. Why do they cheapen their cars with a sleazy CVT?
According to Aisin the 8 speed in the Touareg is the same transmission Lexus uses in their top of the line LS460.
A CVT mated to a non diesel (SUBIE) is really off topic. However that being said,...
I just recently (2 months ago) had feed back from three test drivers (same family, be that as it may) about the Subie's CVT's they were considering. NONE of them are so called "car people, but each listed the " rubber band" effect prominently. It was a prime reason for them to move on and test drive other cars, despite me saying it was probably one of the best made cars in the US . The SUBIE dealers were dealing also.
Not to say that your point is wrong, of course. Those who are not taking care of their diesels or running them improperly give a bad impression.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Indeed, 2006 mandatory (mandated) diesel fuel (ULSD) is 99.99% to 97% LESS pollutive than its predecessor. (LSD)
So from that point of view, RUG/PUG is 2 times to 13 TIMES dirtier than ULSD !!!! (RUG/PUG can be nominally delivered @ the pumps up to 90 ppm sulfur (off line fees paid for over 30 ppm standard) It is more than interesting DIESEL gets the BLAME.!? This is especially true since the VAST majority of so called "GROSS" polluters run environmentally friendly RUG/PUG !!!
Visual smoke on a TDI, guarantees instant failure !
Either way, it'd be nice to see some enforcement taken against the stinkers. Rarely see any reports of that.
The differences between domestic light truck (3/4 ton domestic diesels are this size and UP) and passenger car emissions are not published as prominently as EPA C/H for example. Finding the differences and the resulting discussions are problematic, aka OPAQUE !! BUT I think anecdotally (cski's observation for example) indicates the "literal and proverbial trucks" can be driven through the "differences."
All passenger TDI's (i.e., VW Touareg CUV's, European diesels) have to meet much more stringent diesel passenger car standards. Indeed domestic oems cite costs to meet US market passenger diesel standards being .... prohibitive. I hope most folks can see this HUGE incongruity.
The other reason if I go for Japanese & "boring" I will most likely stick with Honda is that the dealer I service our Pilot at is excellent.
There have been WAY too many delays with Mazda's SkyActiv-D engine for my comfort level.
I don't particularly care for the way the new BMW 3 series drives. Plus I'm trying to cut expenses (monthly & overall).
The VW diesels have been around as have the DSG transmissions. I'm willing to give them a shot based on what some of my poster friends have written.
The poor VW dealer I visit & tell him I want to drive a GTI, GLI, Jetta TDI, Golf TDI, & Passat TDI;)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
It would be nice if the over paid CHP did their job in citing the dozens of beaters coming up from Mexico blowing nasty exhaust. You see both big trucks and older cars with Baja plates. I have never seen one stopped.
It was also common to see contractors with big tanks in the back of their PU trucks going to Mexico for cheap diesel. Now the prices are comparable according to a friend that lives in TJ.
"The Department of Transportation says every Mexican truck is already held to the same safety and pollution standards as U.S. trucks." (NPR)
(er, don't mention my name to the "nose-blowing" folks over in the Liberty CRD discussion. :shades:)
See page 32 in this months issue (Upfront tech department article)
Honda claims 70% less fuel consumption than a conventional gas powertrain and 46 to 80% drive-line friction reduction.
What is the system called? " Two-motor Sport Hybrid Intelligent multi-mode drive/plug in" WHAT?
They are gonna need a LOT of room on the boot to slap that name on it.
This is why we need these diesels in America sooner than later! One motor, great MPG, and only two letters are needed. TD.
Rather than my anecdotal experiences, (only ranges of 44 to 62 mpg) let me point to both the Taylor's and Wayne Gerdes experiences. Now Gerdes does not really detail his strategy to get 77 mpg for that X country trip. Needless to say he is a know hyper miler. Nor do the Taylor's for that matter in shooting for 84 mpg. (both used the 6 speed manual 12 VW Passat). They do say however they go 5 under the speed limit, which presumably is 65 mph: so 60 mph.
Then you are left with a decidedly less sporty two motor plug in hybrid-laser dark matter flux star fighter, or whatever the damned thing is called.
....and another thing. I am tired of sport being all over things that aren't at all sporting.
I am cranky. Having pneumonia and at working sucks.
Although NAFTA provisions were supposed to be fully implemented by January 1, 2008, concerns about security and safety coupled with opposition from U.S. Teamster unions initially prevented the U.S. from enacting trucking provisions within NAFTA. After the U.S. cancelled a pilot program designed to fulfill its NAFTA trucking obligations in 2009, the Mexican government retaliated by raising tariffs on select U.S. exports. These reprisals encouraged the U.S. to reevaluate its position on Mexican trucking companies. The United States and Mexico signed an agreement on July 6, 2011 to resolve these issues, and the first Mexican trucking companies began crossing into the United States in October 2011.
http://www.cfr.org/mexico/mexican-trucks-allowed-cross-us-border-agreed-upon-naf- ta/p31004
Correct ! You might get a GOLLY and we can flat bed it to the nearest Honda dealer .......
GEEZ, you got the P word? Seriously guy, if you do, get it looked at. I am told by doctors that most "older folks" (no disrespect meant to anybody) die mostly of the P word !!!!
I feel like an entire market has been stolen from us in America. There are so many cool Diesels in Europe, including the new Mercedes GLA hatch back and even the 1.7 turbo offered in the European Kia Optima... of which I own a gas model.
So listen up EPA. You can buy ANY THING YOU WANT IN AMERICA, except a 50 mpg diesel that doesn't have VW or Audi on the back. That is bull****!
1. mass market, i.e., US Passat, Jetta (both decontented from European versions, aka lower price points, hopefully higher volumes and percentages)
2. US market (taste of) German cars. (Golf, Touareg, etc)
So if VW( the number 1,2,3, in an given year WORLD oem) is "constricted," it just really shows how effective US legislative and regulatory agencies, like the EPA are at defacto manipulating the markets, driving up costs and keeping out unwanted products like 50 mpg diesels. A few snuck through, albeit the Mk IV generation, app 10 MY's ago, albeit EPA H of 49 mpg.
As you have mentioned there are multiple (world wide and European) TDI engines and drivetrains options. US markets seem to only have one TDI engine option per model. ONE if you discount the 3.0 L, the 2.0 L 140 hp/236# ft TDI over all.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
So for example, I have no doubt this "smaller"TDI engine can cruise all day @ 100 mph. But at the same time if most (87%) are commute miles (13,728/15,750 miles, 27 miles o/w 54 miles r/t per day @ speeds of between 18 mph and 36 mph, times of 40 min to 105 min) better fuel mileage is the majority of the priority? As you know, the VW Polo as been out for a while and posts 75 mpg .
Indeed @ 73 mpg, 13,728 commute miles will use 188 gals yr.,@4 per=$752.yr./12 mo= $63.00 per mo.
(vs 332 gal @ 4 per=1326/12=$111.mo) or 43% CHEAPER ? Conversely the systems are happy that even though diesel is cheaper it does cost 76% more !?
You really have to ask the enviro cons, legislative and regulatory systems, for as much hot air as they invest extorting and flogging us all to "use little to no energy" why they have kept stuff like this off the US markets and make it damn near impossible to get.????????
Don't forget that VW is far and away the most profitable auto maker in the World. They have deep pockets and put their money where they believe the future lies. Small companies like Mazda are bleeding red ink. So they cannot afford to make any mistakes.
Of course IMO Chevy would be wise to put a 3.0L diesel in their Silverado and watch the smiles on the owners faces. But they will wait until Ram steals a lot of their sales, and scratch their heads.
Oh did I forget?... Do the biggie two think the American taxpayer (F.... ) idiots for pulling their bacon out of the literal and proverbial fire???????? Thanks for sharpening my focus on the issue. What is that, fool me once, shame on YOU. Fool me twice.....
2014 Ford Ranger T6 Dakar, unavailable in the U.S.
With a twist of the knife, Ford makes us lust for the rest-of-world Ranger.
They've applied a little of the SVT Raptor magic honing formula to the Ranger T6 quad cab we see here. That involves—among a lot of other little cheaty details, which probably won't be disclosed by Ford—a Ford quad-cam V8 displacing 5.0 liters and making around 350 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque.
Although the T6 Ranger is offered in 180 markets globally, it is not currently planned to be sold in the United States or Canada, due to the new platform being too close in size and cost to the F-150, and due to overall declining sales of compact pickups in North America. (wiki)
But they are under my boycott anyway, so even if they did offer their diesel Ranger here, I'd still tell them to stuff it where the sun never shines. Of course it would be tempting if they did everything right with it. Although that would involve such simple tasks as getting the left foot dead pedal positioned in an ergonomically correct position...something they can't even get right on their F150. Plus their vehicle interiors smell like burnt garbage..LOSERS. Looks good on 'em..
Maybe Ford is trying to go Green and using recycled garbage for the plastic interiors. Based on my last Ford I am not a fan. It was a Ranger with FFV V6 that was absolutely gutless. When I bought the used Nissan Frontier with V6 it was like night and day. That said I would probably give them another chance. Right now my thinking is to keep the Nissan until the wheels fall off. It does not get driven near as much since it has a new stable mate that is diesel. Only the short 3 mile trips around locally. Wastes electricity opening the garage door to get out the Touareg.
haha, that must be a big ol' door..
But yes, you are right in not being too anxious to replace the Frontier given its use now. Plus, short trips are quite hard on diesels, so is even more reason to keep it for utility duty.
That is precisely the reason I drive the gas PU the 2-3 miles into our local village.
What's that all about (other than short trips being hard on any car)?
It is good that he (Gimmesdtranny) hits on a pretty central issue ( operations protocols) for LONGEVITY. Drivers of any stripe, be they: gasser, gasser hybrid, E85, plug in electrical, STEAM (Jay Leno's STANLEY STEAMER) , TDI should try to develop their own (longevity) protocols. This can easily start with 30 mins + of up to (design) temperature driving. Good post !