Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
Daimler's system, called BlueTec, uses a catalytic converter and specialized filters to reduce harmful nitrogen-oxide emissions. The company is betting BlueTec will turn U.S. drivers on to diesel and give hybrids fresh competition. The reason: Mercedes clean-diesel cars will cost less than an equivalent hybrid while offering greater power and acceleration, plus up to 40% better mileage over conventional gas engines. That's a lure for Americans who love big cars and off-road vehicles. And diesels can go 500 miles without a fill-up.
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/feb2006/bw20060208_539996.htm
M
I posted a link to Honda's diesel advertising in UK in the Hybrids and Diesels Deals or Duds topic and lo and behold, I'm not the only one who took notice of Honda and it's diesel marketing, now there is a article at Businessweek.
I am hoping that I can get in early before the general public catches on to the new diesels. Maybe get it at a discount. It doesn't sound like I will be in a Honda though, I don't plan on waiting so long.
John
Diesel is getting a lot of play in the press, now I just need to see some actual diesel cars available for sale beyond VW and Mercedes.
I think to put things a bit more into context, some statistics might be helpful.
There is a passenger vehicle fleet of 235.4 M. (NHTSA registered vehicles) "WE" buy app 17 M vehicles per year. The average age of the PVF is 7.5 to 8.5 years. The annual vehicle salvage rate is 7 to 7.5 % The current DIESEL passenger vehicle fleet is between 2.3 to 2.9%. Most are light truck diesels. Depending on how you measure this, it took 20-25 years to reach this percentage.
So my swag is diesels of all stripes (in the PVF)will probably go the trajectory of (NHTSA) SUVs of 12% of the PVF. This of course took the better part of 20-25 years. So FAST growth will be .5% per year or 1/2 of one percent per year.
Rocky
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Diesel beats hybrids for achieving president's goals
President George W. Bush is scheduled to be in Auburn Hills today to push his agenda for breaking what he calls America's addiction to oil.
In a visit to solar panel maker United Solar Ovonic, he'll tout the advantages of alternative energy devices to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. That's in line with his promotion of alternative fuels and gasoline-electric hybrid engines. Like solar power, they're trendy and sexy stuff.
But the old workhorse diesel engines are the better short-term answer for cutting oil imports, and the president ought to be doing more to encourage diesel use.
Diesels deliver fuel economy up to 40 percent better than any other engine on the market, are easy to install in current makes and models, and don't require the construction of a new fueling infrastructure.
But the biggest draw is that diesel technology is proven and available now. In fact, more than half the European automotive fleet is powered by diesel engines.
Hybrid vehicles have become the choice among some consumers thanks to generous federal subsidies and marketing campaigns that grossly overstate fuel economy numbers. There are questions about hybrid battery life and replacement costs as well as their durability.
In a true head-to-head match-up, diesels compete favorably with hybrids' reported gas mileage numbers and in some situations better. Bush should add a strong diesel component to his push for cutting oil dependency.
He should move to modify the emissions standards for cars and trucks that are being phased in through 2007 by bringing them more in line with those supported in Europe. Soot and particulate emissions standards vary by state and sometimes cities in the United States, unlike in Europe where centralized standards generally exist.
Also, unlike the United States, which places emissions burdens on the petroleum companies as well as the auto companies, European emissions rules are more centralized and mostly achieved at the refinery through lower sulfur content for diesel fuel. Similar standards are being required for refineries in the United States by 2007, which eases the transition toward uniform guidelines.
Clean-diesel technologies exist in the United States. DaimlerChrysler, for example, has built a diesel engine it says will meet emissions standards in 45 states, including Michigan. But the continual constriction of soot and particulate regulations makes it difficult for automakers to keep up in America.
The path should be cleared to convert the American fleet to fuel saving diesel.
Hot of the Press !!!!!!!!
Rocky
There are plenty of examples.
John
The other skitzoid gig is one can buy NEW DIESEL pick up trucks from the biggie 2.5 such as Cummins, GM, FORD, etc.
That's it.
John
John
The very reason I bought a gas PU over the Diesel I wanted. I really did not have that big of a trailer that the V8 gasser would not handle it. You can buy a lot of gas for $8000. The same reason that hybrids are not such good buys.
"We are developing right now two highly modern diesel motors that won't just fulfil the Euro-5 emission standards, but the more stringent Bin-5 regulations in the USA," GM manager told Automobilwoche.
article here
The more choices, the better!
Agreed, but if you had to chose between a GM and another diesel, where would you go?
Unfortunately GM has left a nasty diesel taste in many people's mouths.
John
I think most of GM diesels are Izusu currently. A V6 Duramax in a 1/2 ton PU would be sweet. I think GM learned a lot from their mistakes back in the 1980s. Some of those old GM diesel PU trucks are still running. My fear is that the EPA will load them down to where they just won't run. We are having fits with our 4 new 6.0 Powerstrokes. All fuel and sensor problems in extreme cold.
Duramax in the US and the CDTi in the Vauxhall in Europe had very good reliability and performance.
I would have to evaluate any future GM offerings based on their merits, not based on the 5.7 GM diesels of the late 70's early 80's.
Would also need to consider where the engine was being manufactured and which assembly location. GM quality is equal to the best of the best depending on location.
I would take a Mercedes diesel first. Then likely a Cummins or a Caterpillar in the US brands.
My tractor has an Iveco diesel. Seems ok. We had a couple huge dune hopper Iveco diesels in Magirus trucks in Africa. These engines have been around forever.
I think the smaller engines are where the US '07+ market is going to be, not the 5.0+ liter v-8's. So I think there will be new products out there that aren't currently mainstream. Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, they will all be looking to bring stuff in.
It should be interesting in the next few years.
There was rumblings in the industry to charge for fuel by btu. That would kill most of the incentive to own a diesel vehicle other than for towing. They know that biodiesel is ready to come out of its shell. That is an even bigger problem than ethanol.
I don't expect the government to do anything as they only see lost revenue from better mileage vehicles. Why else would they push ethanol so hard. More tax money from lower mileage.
Diesel claims Pole Position
Diesels are FAST!
I can't help but think they're going to dominate a long race if they can solve the reliability issues, because they will have better fuel economy than the other cars--diesel has significantly more joules/L than ordinary race fuel
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
However, other engine manufacturers have disels they could toss in, or source from audi. Honda and BMW have great diesels, as does merc.
In any case, i hope audi wins and i hope that diesels dominate for awhile.
Good luck to Audi at the 24 hours of LeMans!
It's funny that the makes don't have such a bad rep in the UK, but I think people are more tolerant there of oddball cars.
And then there was the choice of cars they sent us. The absolutely worst car was the LeCar. Citrons were a hydrolic nightmare and Peugeots made much better bicycles.
dave
CRD is being accepted into the marketplace.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11809771/
What this means to you:
Who ever said McDonalds was really bad for you is a liar. :P
Rocky
Somewhat humerous (to me:) article about diesel, the recent Audi win, and the press.
Oh my gosh, wish I could afford this for weekend fun!
Subaru The diesels are coming, the diesels are coming!
Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Daimler, Subaru, Audi are all planning to offer diesel in North America. Hello Ford and GM, anyone still awake
Also important to note is the tie up between Subaru and Toyota and the use of Toyota hybrid drivetrains by Subaru.
Gunma Prefecture the site of Subaru diesel engine manufacture
Good publicity for diesel.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Now, add in the high tech aspect of some of the diesel engines (turbocharged, intake cooled, multiple injections, valve timing, etc.) and each engine model is different as well.