What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

gagrice

ruking1 said:

I've come across a few articles about WW settlement $$'s balloning UP to $ 30 B, from original estimates of $15 B to a maximum of $20 B. The realities are actually very opaque! I can only guess.

I think they may have hit a brick wall getting CARB to settle. Money talks and BS walks. Bet the owners get left out and the various thieves in government get the bulk of the money.

The $3 billion charge is a huge number given the total number of vehicles involved in the U.S.: It's roughly $6,200 per vehicle. It brings the total hit to VW from the Dieselgate scandal to about 25 billion euros, or roughly $30 billion.

http://host.madison.com/business/investment/markets-and-stocks/a-billion-charge-for-volkswagen-as-dieselgate-drags-on/article_985639a1-3aab-5471-8a5f-28b92fae5c08.html

ruking1

Quick math would indicate 10 x that amount (6,240), or app $ 62.240 PER vehicle!

gagrice

ruking1 said:

Quick math would indicate 10 x that amount (6,240), or app $ 62.240 PER vehicle!

Pretty crazy Eh?

gagrice

I should add it does not seem to have hurt VLKAY stock I bought at $23. It is over $34 now. Went up 53 cents today after the $3 B kick in the pants.

ruking1

Life is good! VW seems to be moving forward! But it seems that was always the plan. It's great to be 47 % ahead in a short time! I'm liking the 2015, 2016, 2017 gains !

Let's pray for those affected in the latest Las Vegas, NV evil domestic terrorist event, with probale international involvements!

gagrice

Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VLKAY) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday, September 23rd. The brokerage currently has a $38.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Investment Research‘s target price points to a potential upside of 12.41% from the stock’s current price.

https://stocknewstimes.com/2017/10/02/volkswagen-ag-vlkay-stock-rating-upgraded-by-zacks-investment-research.html

gagrice

This is not diesel specific. Just specific to my current two diesels. When making trips I try to get all the bugs off the grill and front end of the vehicles. With the VW I had to get a product the detailers use to clean off the bugs. I tried Windex and no go. With the GMC Canyon a shot of Windex and a rag and they wipe right off. Is it the paint or wax or what?

ruking1

Windex type products may be way too aggressive for car care (paint, rubber, plastic, glass, etc) especially longer term.
I'm not sure that this is helpful, (least aggressive stepping up only when required) but I normally keep a plastic spray bottle with a higher concentrated car wash & H20. Spray the affected area. I try to GENTLY remove with a dampened 100 % cotton rag/towel or tested good quality "synthetic" towel. Let the car wash formula do the majority of the work. Another key is to "doctor" the offending area as soon as it happens , or as soon it's discovered.

ruking1

It must be natural (& man-made) disaster season! CA Environmental open space FIRES have exploded last night past 35,000 acres (1 sq mile=640 acres) & are now ripping off where the fires want to go, in the north, Napa, Sonoma Counties (CA) areas.

Update: The fires have added two counties to the governors' emergency declaration. At 10:50 AM there is zero containment. Acres burnt are now inxs of 57,000. To give some cities scale to this: IF this happened in San Francisco, it would totally be burnt: TWICE!! San Jose would be approximately half burnt.

Environmentalist still don't understand that giving fires like this massive amounts of fuel is insanity, (given their "mantra" ! policies) ! Parts of a city, Santa Rosa CA now have been evacuated! In some cases, people have been given literal minutes to evacuate

In the South Bay ( San Jose, CA) the winds bring smoke from these fires. So of course, they're all " surprised" when the air-quality is now awful.

Unfortunately, the policy makers need these LARGE scale disasters to even start discussions!? ( that's assuming they are smart ) So for example, the Lake Tahoe, CA/NV area needed approximately $2 billion FED $$'s) to just recover from environmentall policies gone bad !

https://youtu.be/FDhGS4EJS8M

So in comparison, ULSD desels are LESS than ZER0 measurable on the air-quality scale !

De facto its the environmental policies of leaving huge amounts of (natural) fuel in open space areas for the fires to consume! This is a YUGE component in bad air quality. So sad, there are already disaster tourists combing in the area !

andres3

Fontana Speedway won't sell racing high octane gas to "streetable" cars, even if you are not on the roadways of CA (being at the Speedway facilities!)!

You have to have a non-street-able car, and if you want to fill up containers, the containers need to be labeled for "off-road use only." Basically your not supposed to burn 100 octane gas on the street, so your limited to off-road competition type use. However, I don't think a label on a container is stopping anyone.

Other tracks recognize this, and their private property sovereignty, and let you buy high octane racing fuel if you want it.

ruking1

Light air planes have little to zero emissions controls & use high octane fuel!

The real cover up: N0x levels will not go away even if there is a 100% EV PVF !!!

gagrice

Have friends in Napa that were evacuated. Too much fuel and non indigenous trees in California. My guess the winds blew down the Eucalyptus into power lines starting the fires. Let's hope it was not arson. I will not miss the fire danger leaving CA. None where we are moving. I pay about an extra $100 per month for insurance to cover for fires. Lucky to even get insurance. Most won't write in our area due to fire hazard.

andres3

gagrice said:

Have friends in Napa that were evacuated. Too much fuel and non indigenous trees in California. My guess the winds blew down the Eucalyptus into power lines starting the fires. Let's hope it was not arson. I will not miss the fire danger leaving CA. None where we are moving. I pay about an extra $100 per month for insurance to cover for fires. Lucky to even get insurance. Most won't write in our area due to fire hazard.

Speaking of insurance, my home insurance annual renewal bill came and was up like 25%. Am I paying for the claims in TX and FL and Puerto Rico? What the heck.

gagrice

andres3 said:

gagrice said:

Have friends in Napa that were evacuated. Too much fuel and non indigenous trees in California. My guess the winds blew down the Eucalyptus into power lines starting the fires. Let's hope it was not arson. I will not miss the fire danger leaving CA. None where we are moving. I pay about an extra $100 per month for insurance to cover for fires. Lucky to even get insurance. Most won't write in our area due to fire hazard.

Speaking of insurance, my home insurance annual renewal bill came and was up like 25%. Am I paying for the claims in TX and FL and Puerto Rico? What the heck.

I doubt it. Mine have been going up steadily over the last 10 years. My current Home owners with NO Earthquake coverage is $2300 per year. My larger newer home in Nevada is $650 per year. Both with Farmer's insurance. No one else would sell me homeowners in CA due to fire hazard.

ruking1

The news (Fox local channel 2) 10 minutes ago was 68,000 acres ( 106.25 sq miles.) burned, with zero containment.

Everything is fast moving & needless to say, chaotic. 10 deaths are confirmed.

The wife just reported a 4.4 earthquake felt @ Foster City, CA centered @ Alum Rock, San Jose CA.

fintail

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

gagrice

fintail said:

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

You better keep that one, if Aunty likes it.

fintail

Might be a good omen. I'm on a 1000+ mile road trip right now, and the car never disappoints as an excellent cruiser. I've been forgetting to check my mileage.

gagrice said:

You better keep that one, if Aunty likes it.

ruking1

Here's to a fun & safe trip! Well, think of it as your chance to post both the computer/half tank full figures!

The diesel's / 6,7,8 speed AT & 5 speed MT makes me want to keep going & going! ! I loved the 40,36,32, 48 mpg highway mpgs. ! I've been on extended trips in all of them.

How about a TDI outboard boat motor? http://newatlas.com/yanmar-dtorque-111-turbo-diesel-50hp-outboard/51675/?ref=yfp

fintail

Funny thing, I never run it to empty, I can't do that on any car. When it gets below half a tank, I get a little itchy for a refill. I just use the trip computer, and assume it is maybe 5% optimistic.

imidazol97

fintail said:

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

fintail said:

Funny thing, I never run it to empty, I can't do that on any car. When it gets below half a tank, I get a little itchy for a refill. I just use the trip computer, and assume it is maybe 5% optimistic.

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

xwesx

I guess I ran old trucks for too many years, or at too young an age.... A full tank would net me maybe 250 miles if I was running downhill (or with the wind at my back)! So, I became accustomed to running the tanks to about 1/4 or less. To this day, unless there are extenuating circumstances, that's still how I roll.

Happily, that translates to ~500 miles on the Q7 (rather than <200!).

andres3

Costco has me hooked, so I'll run to empty on occasion. They are few and far between; not on every block. Of course, there's a dummy fudge factor in modern gauges these days. Empty probably means you have 2 gallons left. I know 0 miles left on my last two cars meant at least 5 miles.

fintail

Ha, she actually has a hearing aid which acts up now and then, as the day after she got it, she took it apart to "fix" it. 85 years old, dives into electronics, is fully on the internet, drives, still lives in her own house, and this morning I assisted her in moving a large heavy ancient Victorian china cabinet in her shop (oh yeah, she's also into woodworking and furniture) because she didn't want to drag it out of where it was stored. I've seen less active 50 year olds - we should all be so lucky. Her car is also a 4cyl 1990s era Stratus, so that might be part of it.

I filled up above half a tank today. Computer claimed 42 mpg, that was with some ~80 mph driving, a couple of hilly passes, and small town driving.

imidazol97 said:

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

andres3

fintail said:

Ha, she actually has a hearing aid which acts up now and then, as the day after she got it, she took it apart to "fix" it. 85 years old, dives into electronics, is fully on the internet, drives, still lives in her own house, and this morning I assisted her in moving a large heavy ancient Victorian china cabinet in her shop (oh yeah, she's also into woodworking and furniture) because she didn't want to drag it out of where it was stored. I've seen less active 50 year olds - we should all be so lucky. Her car is also a 4cyl 1990s era Stratus, so that might be part of it.

I filled up above half a tank today. Computer claimed 42 mpg, that was with some ~80 mph driving, a couple of hilly passes, and small town driving.

imidazol97 said:

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

Good God! A 90's Stratus must have more parts squeaking and rattling than it does parts that are silent.

I hope I'm that "with it" at 85. Given her old car, I suppose no relatives will be fighting for a spot on the will? At least not for the car.

fintail

She's had no problems with it, but I think it has fairly low miles.

I don't think she's short of funds, but the car probably won't be the subject of any fights, no. She has 6 (!) kids, so it will be interesting, but at this rate, she probably has 20 years left.

andres3 said:

Good God! A 90's Stratus must have more parts squeaking and rattling than it does parts that are silent.

I hope I'm that "with it" at 85. Given her old car, I suppose no relatives will be fighting for a spot on the will? At least not for the car.

imidazol97

fintail said:

Ha, she actually has a hearing aid

So she hears better than I do! I don't have hearing aids--yet. LOL

imidazol97

fintail said:

She's had no problems with it, but I think it has fairly low miles.

Those Chrysler products can last forever when given care.

xwesx

fintail said:

She's had no problems with it, but I think it has fairly low miles.

I don't think she's short of funds, but the car probably won't be the subject of any fights, no. She has 6 (!) kids, so it will be interesting, but at this rate, she probably has 20 years left.

Wow; good for her! People who are active like that well into their later lives tend to go pretty fast. So, whether she makes it that far or not, she's going to make great use of the time she has, no doubt!

andres3

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:

She's had no problems with it, but I think it has fairly low miles.

Those Chrysler products can last forever when given care.

"CARE" in this case being defined as never going over 3,000 RPM or 60 MPH. And changing the transmission every 65,000 miles.

ruking1

I'm sure there are CARE lists! To the TDI nexus, I've been very impressed & for a long time with so called late models! So "proper" TDI rpm are detailed in any number of places. The 4 transmissions mated to each (of my) TDI have lifetime oils! If I decide to be paranoid with one TDI, I might do a transmission oil change @ 250,000 to 300,000 miles!? In addition, I've run 30,000 miles OCIs after included dealer maintenance. A lot of what helps TDI cars to last a long time are common to gasoline.. So even to the most paranoid gasoline operator, 20,000 miles is really the new practical synthetic OCI standard.

Anecdotally, late model TDI & gasser batteries are a crap shoot; lasting anywhere from 4 years & 100,000 miles to 10 years & 120,000 miles.

ruking1

Again it really comes down to: any (gasoline, diesel hybrid, EV etc., for our discussion) car should be able to go 100,000 to 150,000 miles with normal scheduled maintenance & little unscheduled maintenance after warranties! Indeed, one issue I am the most impressed with is that diesels scheduled maintenance can be stretched way beyond normal OEM recommendations. So for one example, a normal oem 10,000 mile recommended OCI, I do @ 30,000 miles!

ruking1

Indeed, if the 12,000 to 15,000 mile per year & 12 year old averages are true, the average car logs between 144,000 miles to 180,000 miles. Realistically just keep the battery on a trickle charger can let the years go by on the rest of the car. Who really knows how long these poorly manufactured batteries will last.

gagrice

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

fintail said:

Funny thing, I never run it to empty, I can't do that on any car. When it gets below half a tank, I get a little itchy for a refill. I just use the trip computer, and assume it is maybe 5% optimistic.

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

I ran this tank until it kept warning me of impending doom. Still said I had 47 miles left when I filled. Took 20.008 gallons in what GMC claims is a 21 gallon tank? Drove 523 miles, 330 were highway mostly 75 MPH. Rest in town short trips. I am more than happy with 26.14 MPG. Better than the 23 MPG EPA estimate. Oh, and the truck was loaded to the gills. Boxes etc above the cab. Lots of tools and books. Does not seem to make much difference to the diesel engine. Most times just cruising along under 2000 RPM. CC price for Smith's diesel in Pahrump is $2.72.

Michaell

gagrice said:

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

fintail said:

Funny thing, I never run it to empty, I can't do that on any car. When it gets below half a tank, I get a little itchy for a refill. I just use the trip computer, and assume it is maybe 5% optimistic.

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

I ran this tank until it kept warning me of impending doom. Still said I had 47 miles left when I filled. Took 20.008 gallons in what GMC claims is a 21 gallon tank? Drove 523 miles, 330 were highway mostly 75 MPH. Rest in town short trips. I am more than happy with 26.14 MPG. Better than the 23 MPG EPA estimate. Oh, and the truck was loaded to the gills. Boxes etc above the cab. Lots of tools and books. Does not seem to make much difference to the diesel engine. Most times just cruising along under 2000 RPM. CC price for Smith's diesel in Pahrump is $2.72.

That's a pretty decent MPG number.

Were you aware that the feds have certified the Ram EcoDiesel for sale?

houdini1

andres3 said:

Costco has me hooked, so I'll run to empty on occasion. They are few and far between; not on every block. Of course, there's a dummy fudge factor in modern gauges these days. Empty probably means you have 2 gallons left. I know 0 miles left on my last two cars meant at least 5 miles.

I had a 1972 Ford Gran Torino and when that gauge hit the E, you had to start walking. Only car that was ever that way.

ruking1

I've documented on 4 separate diesels (2003, 2009, 2012, 2014) that refueling (shortly, up to 100 miles) AFTER the low fuel lamps lights up were both done regularly & seamless no brainers. In app 426,000 miles, we've never run out of fuel.

"FEAR", habit of stopping to fill @ half tank, etc., reverses the ratio & times. Why stop for fuel 80 times, when 159 times will do? (66,000 miles)

(2012 VW Touareg TDI, 32 mpg, 66,000 miles, 26 gal tank (26.4 gal) 13 gal= half tank)

ruking1

Interesting TESLA article? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-fires-hundreds-workers-part-annual-reviews-162348850--finance.html

Funny response: I hope the unemployment office is less than 40 miles away.

All I can say, VW would be blissed out, if it had 450,000 orders for just one of its US model lines!!

gagrice

ruking1 said:

Interesting TESLA article? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-fires-hundreds-workers-part-annual-reviews-162348850--finance.html

Funny response: I hope the unemployment office is less than 40 miles away.

All I can say, VW would be blissed out, if it had 450,000 orders for just one of its US model lines!!

You can almost bet a lot of the layoffs were rabid UAW people, trying to push the company to go union.

I wonder how many of those pre-orders will back out when they find the high miles models are way more than $35k. The 310 mile range M3 is $44k. $9,000 to go 90 more miles. Not to mention they have built 84% fewer cars so far this year than predicted. Lots of excuses from the Number one snake oil salesman of the 21st century.

gagrice

Michaell said:

gagrice said:

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:

Took my 85 year old aunt out in the Bluetec today. She doesn't quite understand diesel, but she raved about the car, saying it rides like she is on a cloud and she can't hear any noise from the engine.

I'm probably like your aunt and I wouldn't hear as much noise from the engine due to age-related and Deere hearing loss. Your aunt may also have that. LOL

fintail said:

Funny thing, I never run it to empty, I can't do that on any car. When it gets below half a tank, I get a little itchy for a refill. I just use the trip computer, and assume it is maybe 5% optimistic.

I only feel comfortable on top half of tank.

I ran this tank until it kept warning me of impending doom. Still said I had 47 miles left when I filled. Took 20.008 gallons in what GMC claims is a 21 gallon tank? Drove 523 miles, 330 were highway mostly 75 MPH. Rest in town short trips. I am more than happy with 26.14 MPG. Better than the 23 MPG EPA estimate. Oh, and the truck was loaded to the gills. Boxes etc above the cab. Lots of tools and books. Does not seem to make much difference to the diesel engine. Most times just cruising along under 2000 RPM. CC price for Smith's diesel in Pahrump is $2.72.

That's a pretty decent MPG number.

Were you aware that the feds have certified the Ram EcoDiesel for sale?

I read where Chrysler had the go ahead on the Jeep GC and Ram 1500 diesel. We do have a Jeep Ram dealer in Pahrump. So who knows. I would be surprised if the Ram 1500 gets close to 26+ combined MPG. I don't need a larger PU than the Canyon. I may consider the Jeep GC diesel if VW buys back my Touareg TDI. It is sitting safe and sound in my Pahrump garage waiting for VW to decide what they are going to do.

ruking1

If I can pull the compact Toyota Prius into this discussion, it's taken app 1.5 decades to demonstrate the gas hybrid's (its) reliability & durability. The 2004 Prius flopped the 60c/50 H mpg @ 40-42 mpg. The Prius 2003 fell off the radar. Gas hybrid products used on small to large CUV's/SUVs simply do not provide diesels' price/performance advantages. How long EV's will take to demonstrate reliability and durability are anyone's guess. Most already know without government tax credits, price/performance advantages are simply not there.

The TDI in your chosen compact truck has been a no brainer & for a long period of time. So I, among others are glad you seem to have flawless TDI operation @ this mileage & time period! 30% + mpg over the like model gasoline compact truck, while still breaking in can be taken to the proverbial bank.

ruking1

The misguided, delusional, dangerous & unsafe CA environmental policies have GRAPHICALLY come HOME to roused in the CA wine country (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, etc.) conflagrations shape shifting into monster inferno wild fires!

The insane environmental policies defacto let fuels gather in (obviously) YUGE amounts in many areas, i.e., open space. Then, the Moonbeam Club: Governor Brown, Senators Feinstein, Harris & the rest of overwhelmingly demo CA legislature feign "surprise" when hell is naturally, accidentally lit, or done by arson.

The air quality has been the absolute worst EVER measured. ANY wild fire will affect/marginalized air quality EVERY time any wild fire ignites: naturally & obviously sustainable, accidentally or by arson! Fires (now obviously) will search for the dead natural (then YUGE) fuel mandated by environmental policies!

Stop the over all serial destruction insanity! Stop the CARB/EPA murder DIESEL PVF insanity! Save the precious right to chose!

One Las Vegas, NV shooter? Sounds like a play book from a 1960's comic book? https://youtu.be/ny2vw9vAuXI

ruking1

This miight be a bit boring, but it explains fuel taxation & EV!? https://youtu.be/7n-xhFLkgiE

fintail

Computer claimed 43.6 mpg on the way home today, a little lower than I had hoped, but I drove a little fast, and I don't know if the near-freezing temps for part of the drive impacted it (yay for heated seats).

Put around 1200 miles on the car in 8 days, all of the cruising was pleasant with the smooth little diesel.

Watch out for youtube wackjob conspiracy theorists, they are a rabbit hole that consumes people

ruking1

Oh yes! Everybody knows Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman! Chief Justice Earl Warren proved the single bullet theory! I'm just po'd it's taken me till now to get Cuban cigars,...legally.

gagrice

Took the Canyon on a cruise across about 12 miles of washboard road to Ash Meadows National Wildlife preserve. Very interesting place with more to see than we took the time for. Will go back again this winter. Found out we could have eliminated about 10 miles of the washboard roads. Oh well the Canyon road well and stayed in the 26 MPG range.

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ash_meadows/

ruking1

So why diesel is @ app 37% advantage can be seen in like-model comparison and its gasoline competitors, so for example: 2017 Toyota Tacoma @ 19 mpg (fuelly.com has the more TMI). @ 15,000 miles per year, the math indicates 577 gal va 790 gal. I@ $3.000 per gal, 2 years, that's app $639 year/$ 7,668.

Here's a Ford 2022 gasoline doomsday scenario? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ford-could-face-doomsday-scenario-161117482.html

fintail

I saw a good diesel today, an early 80s 300SD smoking a bit - well, probably no more than a typical 2008 era diesel pickup, but it was visible. Keeping that old tank on the road for probably 400K miles has probably been friendlier than making new cars to replace it.

I have today off, and ran some errands this morning. I have to wonder what the dramatic types who twist their knickers at the idea of diesel pollution think of the enormous pollution that must be created via inefficient traffic controls. Red light after red light, plenty of "public sacrifice for private profit" (as I call it) housing-related traffic delays, too. I suspect one state worth of poor traffic controls harms the planet much more than every cheater VW will in its lifetime. Where's the outrage?

fintail

Cuba would be a cool place to visit - some really interesting workmanship there, relatively modern diesel powerplants dropped into 40s-50s cars. Unfortunately with 45, it might be harder to take a trip there, but at least our counterparts in more evolved or mature areas can do it.

ruking1 said:

Oh yes! Everybody knows Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman! Chief Justice Earl Warren proved the single bullet theory! I'm just po'd it's taken me till now to get Cuban cigars,...legally.

ruking1

Even if the current Cuban & next regime were to go instantly go capitalistic, it would probably take easily 3 generations to break out of the economic "funk" that has permeated every level since dah revolution! They need to radically ramp up exports. It's hard to make the case that world wide Cuban rum & cigar sales will propel them into the next economic generation.