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Comments
I feel that the public has been bamboozled by the refiners and the corn industry into believing that ethanol is the savior of the spark ignition engine. However, the vast majority of E85/flex fuel vehicles consume 20 to 25% more fuel to cover that same mile when using E85 versus straight gasoline. So where is the savings? E85 has it's own nasty issues to boot.
Biodiesel will eventually come into it's own with a few years. It is still a grass roots industry and until the American public gets really sick and tired of paying out the butt for gasoline and getting miserable FE, will diesels start to really take off and so will the biodiesel industry. The unfortunate thing about the biodiesel industry is that it is fixated primarily on soybean oil while other good sources, such as waste vegetable oil and tallow from slaughter houses go to waste.
By the way, my Jeep was delivered with B5 in the tank. I get B5 fuel from time to time and my Jeep runs more smoothly on it. It costs the same as regular dino diesel.
Take a look at Message #2358. It looks like some meat processors are getting into the business.
You can bet that if that concept (Tyson is teaming with Conoco Phillips to convert waste product to bio-diesel) works, all other food manufacturers will see an opportunity. Slaughter houses will be .001 on the scale of input compared to high output manufacturers who produce alot of fried goods(think virtually all frozen heat-and-serve meals).
I've just driven the new Bluemotion versions of the Volkswagen Passat and Polo in Berlin, and they are both quite brilliant, returning an official average of nearly 60 mpg and over 70 mpg respectively. What's more, the Polo - now the world's most fuel-efficient mainstream car - embarrasses Japanese petrol-electric hybrids by making them look comparatively thirsty, filthy and expensive. All the while that proven diesel experts such as Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT, BMW, Mercedes, Peugeot, Citroen, Land Rover and Nissan continue to produce some of the finest diesel cars in the world, motorists will buy them. At least they will if they've got any sense...
Really, they're so damn good that I wouldn't care if I never drove a petrol-powered hatchback, saloon, estate, MPV or 4x4 ever again. The rise and rise of the diesel must continue - because they are the cheapest vehicles to run and among the least polluting. And that brings me on to another bugbear - so-called global warming.
seriously, though, VW gets a bad rap here mostly through word of mouth. I can't think of much bad press at all, frankly. If anything, they get ALOT of praise in the media because their cars test well (mostly praise about interiors and "feel" and that sort of thing). Its the long-term reliability that hurts them and only the owners can speak to that.
'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
Having followed posts here at Edmund's and other sites, I have read just as many complaints on Toyota as VW. Yet rags like CR praise the Japanese cars and poo poo the rest.
I am not saying that VW has not had problems. I am saying all cars have problems. Take the Jetta for example. It has a rating of 9.1 by 350 owners and a 7.3 by the Edmunds editors. The new model Camry has an 8.7 rating by 350 owners and a 9.0 rating by the Edmunds editors. I consider that a pro Toyota bias. I give more weight to the buyers than an editors review.
'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
Further I own all three currently, and all three in the past. VW's dating back to 197O to currently: 2003 models have been real good. I can not say that for example about the Toyota's I have owned; even as I am satisfied with the current crop. So indeed what are the statistical chances of VW sending me all good ones, while I got several BAD ones from Toyota? Highly suspect at best!!!
Why are you confused about my distaste for consumer shopping magazines? Its just my preference. Its pretty much the same reason I don't listen to top 40 music for the most part. And why I don't vote Democrat or Republican. I typically don't agree with the majority of the voting public, whether it be for music, politicians, or cars.
'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
Sorry to get off the subject. I am cheering for VW to bring their diesels to all 50 states. I would be especially interested in a Touareg with a V6 diesel. I may even consider a Passat wagon TDI again.
Insofar as the media conspiracy thing, I think VW is typically behind the 8 ball so to speak from a media point of view. So in that sense, I would agree with Gagrice's take.
So for example, I clearly am not saying that you should agree with consumer shopping mags or top 40's or vote demo or repub, nor am I asking for any agreement.
However, it is just this juxapositioning of information that led me to the VW Jetta TDI ( coulda woulda shoulda been a Beetle)or even been a Golf or Passat.
This makes all the sense in the world!! I remember reading something like 25-32 mpg!?
I actually wondered why the regulators let in the MONSTER V10 with something like 550# ft of torque and 350 hp?
Well, that's exactly what I'm saying. I mean, when you say "automotive media," that's who I think of. I don't think of a published poll of owners as "the media."
And don't mistake my position as a bash on VW. I went to the dealer to look at a Jetta diesel. They just weren't very cooperative.
'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
The American consumer is so ready for something other than "business as usual" from the auto industry. I want a VW diesel to make a guzzillion dollars because other companies will follow suit. I think more than ever diesel is the way to go.
What do you mean? Not the three toned diesel part, the lemmings part.
Every car can have problems but this car was leaking transmission fluid on day 3 and had the gas tank and a door latch replaced during the first month. Later in life the ABS module was replaced, the interior door cable on one of the doors came undone twice, the keyless entry stopped working, the cam seals and valve gasket were replaced twice due to oil consumption, the coolant sensor was replaced and it was towed at least 3 times as it either wouldn't start or couldn't be driven.
I counted it up at one point and in those 7 1/2 years, it made 20 something trips to the shop for 15 or so different problems, not including any scheduled maintenance or to replace wear items.
It was a nice looking car with a high quality feel, but it earned every bad thing I ever said about it. Consequently, I'll likely never buy another VW nor will friends and family who shared my experience. :sick:
..."Consequently, I'll likely never buy another VW nor will friends and family who shared my experience. :sick: "...
I had similar feelings about a 85 Toyota Camry. Indeed counting secret warranty items the repairs to the vehicle were not ONLY as drawn out as yours (multiple trips) but the repair costs greatly exceeded the price of the vehicle. While I did not discount buying another Toyota, I did have a bias against 4 cylinder engines that continued to the buying of a 2003 VW Jetta TDI (18 years).
I had owned 2 other VW's and really had no real or trend problems (one had the A/C repaired under warranty after it failed in the Everglades,FL in of course, August with 4 people in the vehicle) . However due to the reputation VW had garnered since my last year's VW (1978) I was at best hesitant when considering the 2003 Jetta TDI.
Did the diesel engine give you a lot of problems in your Passat?
My other BAD car was a 72 Chev Vega...
The CONNECTION between the two was that Consumer Report said they were good and were recommended... I have long ago quit letting CR make car decisions for me. I have never had a bad American car/PU since.
Those were the only 2 vehicles I just couldn't get to over 100,000 miles...
I just wanted to chime in with a real-life example of VW woes.
So for example, the faults that were deal breakers (for me) for the TDI VW were really mainly about gasser motors 2.0 (normally aspirated and 1.8T. Since this was a diesel engine, the real research was in how good or bad the 1.9 TDI was.
Also, In my years in auto repair the frequency and types of repair we dealt with tracked CR's owners survey results very closely.
As far as the new VW Diesel; although diesel would not be my choice for a long term city owned vehicle, I think the engine will prove to be at least average or better in reliability. The rest of the vehicles components are where most of the weaknesses seem to appear. However, even an average car today is as reliable as the best cars of a decade ago.
Finally; we should remember in all of the anecdotal statements, as in mine about my 100K Pinto sold for more than I paid used, that they can not be used as recommendations or as a barometer for anyone else's likely experience. I know the Pinto was junk for almost everyone.
On the diesel front, I'd like to see either Nissan or Toyota produce one for the N.A truck market, not only for the full sized, but also for the compacts.
In the case of diesels, most Americans still remember the converted Olds V8s from nearly 30 years ago. In seven years of production, they simply didn't get any better, and Americans assumed that diesel cars were junk, because after all, even GM couldn't do it.
It will take a long run of successful sales and operation for that to change. Someone will have to take the plunge to offer a full line of diesels in this country, 50-state legal (not 45), and make sure they're just as reliable as anyone's gasoline engine. After that happens, diesels will become acceptable to mainstream America.
kcram - Pickups Host
On the one hand, all have been in the game for quite a while in their 250/2500 models. What has been hidden in plain sight is the fact that those diesel models have been 50 state legal the whole time. Indeed they have NEVER NOT been 50 state legal. So certainly it is FAR from being new. The 5/10k premium has probably kept a fair portion of folks who would buy a diesel, away, if the 3% or less diesel passenger vehicle fleet population is any indication.
kcram - Pickups Host
Indeed I think the (US car makers ) bets have been on being late to the party! The only real competitor in the segment has been VW and they have been losing money for most of those years they kept the diesel flame alive. When you couple that with VW's reputation, the only thing that could really motivate them is if VW's inventory were overwhelmingly diesels and they all sold for MSRP!
They could suddenly offer 25-30mpg vehicles in the class and size that Americans apparently want to buy. But what do they do? Nothing.
I think this might be a case of selective memory. When the change from leaded regular to Unleaded regular happened, the (unleaded) gasser cars were simply hideous, bad fuel mileage, low reliability, no power, you name almost any metric: it was deficient. Yet no one said unleaded gasser cars were junk and refused to buy them, making them virtually extinct like diesel cars!?
The local Dodge dealer told me they sell 70% of their Ram trucks with diesel engines. Even with the big diesel premium.
I "dis lexed". The quote is projected to be vice versa, 125,000 for the fronts and 150,000 for the rears.
kcram - Pickups Host
But in that sense diesel is/was still diesel.
Mr. Midgley also found out that TEL is highly toxic when many of his colleagues and he himself had to suffer from severe lead contamination causing neurotic disturbances and partly loss of memory. In 1940 he finally got sick with infantile paralysis and died four years later at the age of 55.
Regardless this, GM ignored the warnings of many established scientists and massively pushed production and
distribution of leaded gasoline (from 1924 on in cooperation with DuPont). Only 50 years and over 30 million tons of lead-dust in our atmosphere later, fearless EPA slowly started campaigns against TEL until it was finally abolished in the mid 1980´s.
I guess the conspiracy theory failed to account for these pesky truck diesels.
Which conspiracy theory?
I look at it as more of an ignorance theory on the part of CARB. Tell me would you rather have a small PU with a diesel cruising your neighborhood or a 1 ton monster truck with a 500 HP diesel engine? Either one would get most jobs done that PUs are used for. CARB only thinks the big diesels should be on the roads.
Retail giant Wal-Mart has taken delivery of its (and the industry's) first hybrid Class 8 big rig. The Peterbilt Model 386 Hybrid is the result of a partnership between Peterbuilt and Eaton, latter of which was tasked with developing the truck's hybrid system. There are no surprises in how it works. Braking energy is recovered and stored in the batteries, which in turn power an electric generator/motor that's used to supply added punch, increase range, and, in certain situations, allow the rig to operate on battery power alone. The batteries also supply power to the truck's electrical and accessory systems, and the projected fuel cost savings to owners is around $9,000 annually based on the current price of diesel.
Kudos to the Wally World people
Ontario Canada just recently adopted CARB standards. I expect that rational trend to expand.