Honda is bailing on the US Diesel

[Wayne M.]

I just caught this...





http://www.autonews.com/article/20081110/ANA03/811100303/1182



The picture is not good for more diesels.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I can't blame them. I just wrote letters to my state congressmen asking them to investigate diesel fuel prices. On tuesday of this week in our town I could buy gasoline at $1. 43/gallon - the lowest price around for diesel was $2. 86/gal. 100% more expensive. That makes the 35-40% increased fuel mileage a moot point. I tied it to the information that the big 3 have spent a ton of money developing 1/2 ton diesel engines that are supposed to hit the market in a year or two and that they probably won't sell ANY at the current fuel price discrepancy.

 

[MA2LA]

you ever feel like you just can't win, People i know have been debating the cost of diesel vs gas and such and it comes down to what you need. 4 me there is no other choice. the power and durability and economy and just shear fun of these trucks especially when a few things are added just can't be matched.

 

[Tractorat]

Im convinced that there is a concerted government effort, along with the liberal wing, to get rid of diesel altogether. Have you ever seen the little kids tv show, about Thomas the train engine ? They really put down the "dirty diesel engine" They dont want any "dirty diesel" around here.

 

[SBall]

Im convinced that there is a concerted government effort, along with the liberal wing, to get rid of diesel altogether.

I too am convinced it's a government effort, but not to get rid of diesel altogether. I would go as far as to speculate that it's governmental collusion between the US and Europe.



If a barrel of crude produces 19 gal (+or-) of gasoline, and only 9 gal (+or-) of distillates, (diesel/kero/etc), we all can't be fueling our cars on diesel or there would be a huge glut of gasoline bi-products going unused. If we all fueled our cars on gasoline, there would probably be a large amount of distillate bi-products sitting around. I think our governments all realize that some of us have to use the gasoline, and others have to use the diesel.



It is no secret that a large portion of the cars sold in Europe burn diesel. Europe exports large amounts of gasoline to the US which is most likely due to the fact that they don't want it. We do, and we want cheap gasoline. We in turn export some of our distillates to Europe to satisfy their thirst for diesel and realize the benefits of exporting at least something to ease our trade deficit. (It's my theory and I'm sticking with it. )



If Honda expected to see a growing diesel market in the US, I'm sure they would bring their diesel vehicles here. Something certainly influenced their marketing decision.



I was really hoping to see that Honda diesel.

 

[Dieselnut59]

That SUCKS! My CPA has been anxiously waiting for this engine's arrival.

I see the introduction of more diesel engine vehicles as a good thing for fuel prices. It would create more price competition among the stores, as more "average" people start using diesel, not just truckers and farmers.

I believe Honda should at least try it, especially since it is already in a production vehicle. Jeep "test marketed" the Liberty CRD and its sales FAR exceeded expectations, even though it was offered in limited form (automatic and 4x4 only). The CRD is an impressive engine. This Honda engine is supposed to be even more refined and efficient. I would LOVE to see it offered in USA!

 

[Wingate]

When the new body style Accord came out for this year, we went and looked at one for my wife. I had already heard the rumor that Honda was going to have a little clean burn diesel available for the Accord in '09. I REALLY wanted to wait and get her one, but then she found a Grand Cherrokee that she just HAD TO HAVE!!. Too bad it wasn't a diesel either.

 

[jwgary]

Have you ever seen the little kids tv show, about Thomas the train engine ? They really put down the "dirty diesel engine" They dont want any "dirty diesel" around here.

Yeah, because coal-fired steam engines are so clean! :-laf

 

[guldam]

I'm a liberal and I'm all for clean diesels that get great mpg.



So, kindly stop generalizing about what Liberals stand for, because you are wrong.



GulDam

Im convinced that there is a concerted government effort, along with the liberal wing, to get rid of diesel altogether. Have you ever seen the little kids tv show, about Thomas the train engine ? They really put down the "dirty diesel engine" They dont want any "dirty diesel" around here.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If a barrel of crude produces 19 gal (+or-) of gasoline, and only 9 gal (+or-) of distillates, (diesel/kero/etc), we all can't be fueling our cars on diesel or there would be a huge glut of gasoline bi-products going unused.

It's only that way here because that's how they setup the refineries that run here. Europe's refineries are the other way around. They produce more diesel and less gas per barrel of oil.

 

[Tractorat]

Guldam,
Sorry, I really meant that comment more of a "tonge and cheek" remark. I guess thats the problem with message posting. You really dont get the full gist of some comments. But, have you ever seen the Thomas and Friends" kids tv show ? It is pretty PC skewed. And they do make a very obvious effort to teach kids that diesel is bad. (yes, diesel trains can be pretty dirty, older diesel technology. but, I think the message is that diesel is smelly and bad. Not try to improve and use a cleaner diesel technology.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Wayne M.]

Regarding the Thomas the tank engine, and Diesel. I think diesel is more a bad guy because diesel is what killed steam- and he is the oddball. I won't take away the theory tractorat has though.

 

[Buffalo]

Saturday, I spent the entire day at the Car Show, here in Phoenix. I asked about the new diesel at the Honda exhibit & was told that the engine was to "hit the shore's" in the Acura (TSX, I believe. The same platform as the Honda Accord). It is to show up in late '09 or '10.



GULDAM:



Could you please explain how 'tractorat' was wrong? What side is seriously trying to limit the use of fossil fuels? Severely limiting new drilling off-shore, drilling in ANWR & other parts of the country with known reserves? What about "no more" nuclear power plants? "No more" new coal mines with the threat of bankruptcy, if you try? Clean coal fired power plants? What was Pres. /elect Obama saying when he thought $10. 00 gasoline (diesel) would be OK with him? Ten Dollar a gallon diesel seems like a serious attempt to "get rid of diesel, altogether", to me!!!



Other than Sen. John McCain not wanting to see oil wells in the Grand Canyon or ANWR (I believe he changed his mind after speaking with Gov. Palin), where do you see the Conservative/Right trying to limit or remove any of these energy sources like the leadership of the Liberal/Left wants to do?



I mean no disrespect to you or your opinions however, after reading your post & "tractorat's" apology, I felt compelled to ask where he was wrong in his opinion?



Respectfully,



Joe F.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

We true Americans are about to become the minority in another election or two. If enough true Americans had got off their dead rears and voted we could have stopped the nonsense. I am 80 and have watched this country in steady decline since I was in High School. I spent 5 years in the Military (Korean War Vet) and 7 years in Civil Service. 16 years driving 18 wheelers. The rest of my 44 working years at various jobs. Not to say I know a lot but I have seen a lot. Enough to know the future is not very bright unless you are a Communist. Communism has made much progress and still some Americans choose to sit on their dead rears and not vote. Nobody cares about the things that matter the most. During and after WWII until now 1/2 MILLION Military personnel have come home in a COFFIN. The least we could do is HONOR them and keep this country as they would want it. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE AND THEY WILLINGLY PAID THE PRICE FOR US. Those were the ONLY heroes. Fine young people are volunteering to serve their country knowing the risk up front. Yet we have politicians that want to throw stumbling blocks in their way. We sit home and don"t vote the two legged rats out. 30 plus years they blocked drilling and the building of new refineries. I don't need to tell you whose side they are on. Non independent thinkers have spoken with their wrong votes and their non votes. I fully realize I accomplished nothing writing this. Some will agree and some won't. Exercise your freedom of speech while you still are allowed to. -- email address removed --.

 

[duckcarvr]

Ford is not bringing their small diesel here either. . It does not make sense. my sisters vw bug tdi gets 45 to 50 mpg. my 2L kia is suposed to get 31, the most I'v gotten is 27. If the new diesels put out more pollutants as the same size engine in gas do they factor in the difference in mph? It soesn't appear so. robert

 

[BigPapa]

Joe and J. , I agree totally. I had typed up a nice long rant about people being "PC" and getting their feelings hurt and others feeling that they should apologize for standing up, then I said naw, and just hit the back button. Wish I had let her rip.



Tracorat, you weren't wrong, don't apologize.



GulDam, you don't like getting lumped in with all the other liberals, change your affilliation. Kind of like saying "I'm a pig but I don't like the smell. "



Joe and J. , RIGHT ON!



I saw this somewhere yesterday:

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson

Scott

 

[Wayne M.]

Ford is not bringing their small diesel here either. . It does not make sense. robert

I was watching Fox news tonight, and they had Steve Forbes on talking about the Detroit problem. Mr Forbes had a lot of good info and seems like he has the best handle on what's going on, more so than any other taling heads I've seen lately. One thing he went on about was why won't they (especially ford) bring in their own european models? I guess that would include diesels. Maybe Mr. Forbes can be a point man if he were made to understand the US mandates such as Crash testing etc.

 

[Tractorat]

BigPapa,

Dont take my "apolagy" to seriously. There are liberals, and there are "liberals". I think that a lot of folks that call themselves liberal would agree with me. So, in the context of my remark, I probably should have qualified that.



Wayne M. You are probably right about the steam vs diesel on Thomas the Train. But no matter what the intent is, What the kids are hearing is "dirty smelly diesel"



TRat