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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?
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"The W123 models surpassed their predecessor, the W114 and W115 models, as the most successful Mercedes, selling 6.7 million cars before replacement by the W124 after 1985"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W123.
I'm not sure I have the time or patience to find exact sales in 1983 by each model, but I think it's safe to say that if the 5 cylinder 300D was the most successful Mercedes of its time with (and perhaps ever) then it sold more than the 380 series 8 cylinder gas models in 1983. Add in the 240D sales, and I think the 60% diesel percentage in 1983 that my friend estimated is a heck of a lot closer to reality than the 5% number you pulled out of ......wherever.
BTW, in addition to all of the diesel models there were a few gas engine models in the W123 series, but NONE of which were sold in the US in 1983.
Probably true an equivalent 240D today couldn't be sold for 23K, or even for the price of a C-class - as although the car lacks toys, it was built to an insane standard and was a real tank. It's more about how the car compares to the rest of the industry. The cars have huge survival rates. Early 80s MBs were much more different from other cars than new MBs are today.
Highline brands working down = increased profits. You know how this works. You can sell 10 units with a $250/unit profit, or 100 units with a $50/unit profit. The highlines are making money hand over fist with the latter strategy, and it doesn't seem to have tarnished image any,
"knows their place in society"? Seriously? Things like that make me hope and pray we finally get capital punishment for financial crimes, including treachery. It also seems like we have a societal contingent who want a guaranteed ROI on gold they often didn't really "build" (even if they chant otherwise), and want to make theirs aided by an expensive system they will then flee when the maintenance comes due. And after they've climbed that ladder that doesn't exist anymore, they will sneer and look down on those who come later who can't climb that now toppled ladder. I might be exaggerating a tiny bit, but maybe not :shades: :sick:
On the social commentary, ah... perhaps another discussion. From what you are implying or from what one would surmise from what you ARE implying: perhaps the 2003 (Jetta) TDI's are great US market available examples. If one wanted to get more up to day, perhaps the US assembled2012/2013 VW Passat TDI.
Those older Jettas do seem to have higher mpg claims than later models. For the other commentary, I was only replying in kind :shades:
It is amazing that the @ 10 my's ( 2003 Jetta TDI and 180,000 miles) era is rapidly approaching "THE GOOD OLD DAYS" !!!
I have a car roughly the age of that Jetta, that has 54K miles on it. Not a diesel though, it has probably burned about the same amount of fuel over its life :shades:
Dan Neil = both.
WSJ is for New Yorkers who don't even drive. Those who don't take cabs or the subway are chauffer-driven.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/19/subaru-best-cars/
With AWD on every car as a handicap to CAFE numbers, it's hard to believe they won't soon bring one here.
Their current sold-in-Europe diesel does not meet CARB emissions standards, though. They would need to add urea injection.
They just passed 300k sales for the first time in history on December 1. Another record year.
We were admittedly concerned that clatter from the TDI might be off-putting in a model with no roof, but the engine is so well behaved that passengers probably won't even notice that your ride gets fuel from those other pumps
Having said that, the 328i I drove with the 2l turbo had a DI clatter that was no better.
I can tell you that I have owned many vehicles over the last 40 years or so and my Subaru Baja turbo is absolutely the very best vehicle I have ever owned. Heck, even the spare-tire is mounted on stainless-steel hardware. I know many people with Subies with over 200K miles (this INCLUDES many Vermont winters and salt-covered roads which make lesser vehicles rust into oblivion.)
Dont get me wrong... my wife's 2003 Jetta TDI is still our choice for long-distance travel.
Oh - I can say the manual xmission on the VW is MUCH better than the Subie... but we all know that VW manual xmissions are world-class.
A3 sales up 14.9% over last year.
Sales of Audi Q7 increased 91.9% compared to November 2011; YTD sales up 17.8% compared to previous period.
All I could find on Mercedes is this blurb:
"As the post-storm rebuilding gets underway, we're seeing a strong sales pace for the industry at large which will carry MBUSA to its highest year on record," said Steve Cannon, U.S. CEO, in a statement.
Diesel model sales for the year are up 7.9% to 13,738.
10:36AM EST December 3. 2012 - Volkswagen says it sold 36,728 vehicles in November, 29.3% more than in November a year ago and its best November since 1973.
Sales of its Passat mid-size sales and Tiguan SUV were best ever for November.
Jetta compact sedan, once the shooting star, was down 3.4%.
Diesels were in 19.6% of all vehicles sold. Passat diesels were 24% of all Passat sales. VW says it could provide diesels for about 30% of Passats.
No news on BMW diesels. Though it looks like they may offer more soon.
We don't need tiny cars, even. Just give us the CDI/TDI/etc versions of the same car we have over here.
VW Touareg 2012 ytd sales
I had read that Touareg 2011 diesel sales were 23%. While I could swag the same, %, right now its a real unknown.
240,000 twin turbo diesel 3.0 L, I- 6 ?
You wonder if diesels would have sold more had they had better supply.
The policy is/has been alternative fuels and "oh by the way" they HATE alternative fuels (diesels being one @ 5% of the pvp). For as much as they cheerlead/policy wonk for hybrids and plug in electric, the pvp's are pretty limited.
Now and then, E85 requires massive reengineering and costs as the alternative fuel ethanol is damaging to 90/95% of the NEW cars designed for RUG/PUG. Incidently, E85 products posts app 25% less fuel mileage than either RUG/PUG. Diesel on the other hand exceeds RUG/PUG products and can easily match to exceed gasser/hybrid products. But we know that.
VW Touareg has an example of each: 1. PUG/ hybrid EPA H 24 2. RUG EPA 23 3. TDI EPA 28.
I really do not wonder at all. I think the reference to 30% diesel capacity for VW Passat total capacity with a diesel % below, but close to it (30%) says they planned pretty well.
It's very relevant.
Any how...
Ethanol blends can work in warmer climates (Brazil for instance) but here I think it's largely political. Then we end up with expensive corn, which hurts almost every one. :sick:
And there's got to be subsidies in E10/E20 gas because 87 is at $3.55 while diesel is $4.31 at the Shell near Montgomery Mall. You have got to be kidding me.
There's no freaking way diesel costs that much more to refine, it's ridiculous.
I realize heating oil demand drives up diesel prices, but how much subsidy goes in that ethanol? It's like the fed is giving the ethanol for free to water down (literally, less BTUs) gasoline and help special interests.
Let me just cut to the chase. TDI's with 75 mpg and $1.85 per gal are NOT here!
Even during that "greedy oil man" as POTUS: BUSH. diesel fuel was $1.85 . That is after 8 years.
FF to the oil industry "HATER" POTUS BO. diesel is @ 4 per gal+ !! That is of course after 4 years. What do you guess it will be after ANOTHER 4 years?
I don't think there is any real secret why they don't want to teach math skills in K thru 12 :sick:
http://www.carbonmotors.com/
http://domesticfuel.com/2012/11/30/aaa-leaves-e15-facts-stranded-on-the-roadside- /
FWIW my mileage dropped when MD shifted to E10 blend year-round. It used to be a seasonal blend, mostly used in winter.
I don't recall diesel here being anywhere near that, either. In my area it usually paces premium, which I have been putting in my cars for eons. Mot expensive fuel I bought was late summer 08...
Me? I like the 1.85 per gal /50 mpg=.037 cents per mile driven fuel. As much as I like that, 75 mpg would be .... better? .0247 cents per mile driven fuel. Specifically 33.3% BETTER?
Be that as it may, $4.00/50 mpg is .08 cents per mile driven, aka 116.2% MORE/4= 29% per year more!?
link title A reality check. 119 days ago gasoline in Saudi Arabia was .91 cents USD. Now that would be nice @ 50 mpg that is .0182 cents per mile driven. :shades:
And to think, part of that Saudi Arabia price is enabled by the (relative) regional stability funded by the American taxpayer.
So, they're testing, for now, a new system that replaces the state's gasoline tax with a tax per mile driven. "...
The above is just another data point for the points I have been making.
OR? next USA?
Not to pick on CA, but the CA state legislators have long since past laws to use the funds marked by law for (roads) infrastructure maintenance and improvement ONLY, for their petty cash for anything BUT ROADS !!!! We already have the highest fuel taxes, fuel prices , and state income taxes AND they are going to go up to a max of 13% from 9% or 44% HIGHER still !!!!! Oh and I forgot we have some of the worst roads in the NATION.
The current system rewards diesels and hybrids naturally. Use less, pay less.
Switch to pay per mile and every one will be driving a full-size pickup or SUV, and OPEC will rule the world.
While it sounds great and I actually wish it so, it is more like use less, pay a LOT MORE. Again, using grade school math, I have posted verification more than once. It is approaching a MGAP (mudderhood, God and apple pie) type of issue. Actually it is more like religious doctrine; than .... religious ..... doctrine.
Yes, all fuel taxation should stop. This would mean that the price per gal would plummet !! So for example, the USLD I bought for $4.00 would be a minimum of .75 cents cheaper or 3.75. Can't have that can we !? :lemon:
Slow news diesel day. I had to do a rolling parking lot bumper to bumper commute today. Mpg dropped to 29.5 mpg (VW Touareg TDI) for the ordeal.
Corner store prices 3.59 R, 3.79 P, 3.99 D2.
This may help pass the time:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/05/2014-audi-a3-sportback-first-drive-review/
This redone A3 model weighs between 100 and 165 pounds less than last generation
New math or California public schools? Just kidding, no offense.
Actually it is a national obsession. Funny how cutting government spending is seen as jumping off the fiscal cliff.
In conjunction with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi is presenting the new top model of its recently revised Q5 model series - the Audi SQ5 TDI. Boosted by two turbochargers, its 3.0 TDI produces a brawny 230 kW (313 hp) and 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque between 1,450 and 2,800 rpm. The Audi SQ5 TDI will roll into dealerships in the first quarter of 2013 and is the first S model in the history of Audi with a diesel engine.
The Audi SQ5 TDI sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.1 seconds; top speed is 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Fuel consumption is on average just 7.2 liters per 100 km (32.67 US mpg). Innovative thermal management, the start-stop system and the regulated oil pump all contribute to this top figure. A fast and smooth-shifting eight-speed tiptronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with torque vectoring transfer the power of the brawny V6 diesel to the road.
SQ5 would be in the 50s easily, once equipped.
The state is taking a serious look at possibly charging drivers for every mile they drive as a way to boost transportation coffers that are drying up while cutting gas taxes at the same time.
Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond told KIRO Radio’s Ross and Burbank show Wednesday that the so-called “road usage charge” could replace Washington’s gas tax altogether, which is one of the highest in the country.
A 2010 report found that vehicle miles traveled in the Puget Sound region more than doubled between 1980 and 2009. But, Hammond said the increase in the number of fuel-efficient cars that can go farther on a gallon of gas has cut into gas tax revenues across the country.
The Washington State Road Usage Charge Assessment Steering Committee issued a report last week which found that a road usage charge (also known as a Vehicle Mileage Tax) is a feasible way to wean the state off gas taxes.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/road-usage-charge-study-washington-182245901.htm- l
link title
Full court press by government agencies to drastically CUT fuel use and now they are crying the blues because they make less monies even as fuel prices go up a min of 29 % per year and the actual taxes PAID for the last 4 years. This is absolutely perverse.
BMW is recalling 29,800 2009-'12 BMW X5 xDrive 35d diesel vehicles because they may unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, according to NHTSA.
BMW also ordered a delivery stoppage of the vehicles in the U.S.
The recall is expected to begin in January.
link title
It's pretty far down the list in terms of danger to the drivers, but it's nice to see them taking a highly proactive measure to address it. Ten years ago (actually, I should probably just re-write that as "in the past"), that was not the order of the day!
IF it only affects the bolts used on diesels, I am sure the BMW dealers will get a lot of recall inquires from the "unaffected" BMW X5 35 owners. (non diesels)
I once had a Honda Cvicc Wagon 4X4. It had several recalls...but Honda made it a point to proactively perform the repairs when it was in the shop. (They offer FREE annual Vermont State inspections to all customers!!!) No other dealership in the state offers that. (yes - I have asked them)
I had a Dodge once too.... I had to complain loudly and often before they would agree to fix a recalled issue.
The difference between the 2 automakers was STRIKING!!
Not only that... I once asked to look at the Honda shop manual for a few minutes... the dealership INSISTED that I take it home for the weekend and copy the pages I needed. I realize this is more of a DEALERSHIP difference - but this also shows how hard they work to keep customers. (Too bad Honda does not offer a diesel in the USA.)