VW not the only one in small car diesel market?

[Ncostello]

Sounds like what I was thinking yesterday. We've got some 3 cyl Kubota diesels here at work (light plant generators) and I was thinking of stripping a Toyota mini pickup and seeing just how lightweight and how many miles to the gallon I could get out of one.



The public needs an option that provides basic transportation and the ability to fill up normally for now. Thats until better alternatives can be had. Waiting and claiming fuel ecomomy will go up to higher standards in 10 years is bull. Do it now. This isn't Disney Land and there is no "world of tomorrow" needed. Better fuel ecomomy now I say!!



VW's got that neat 1. 0L 1-cyl diesel car that gets 225 mpg. Its not big, its only a two seater, and its alot of aluminum and carbon... but thats just an example of what can be had today if they wanted to.



Do you think 100mpg is possible in a compact car size? What are EU diesels getting?

 

[Jdonoghue]

The other problem we have here is also EPA-driven. European diesels can get better milage because they allow higher PM and NOx emissions on diesels. Over here, we have to retard timing, burn excess fuel (Cummins 600 'third injection event'), and have stupid things like EGR (can you say 'Short Engine Life'?), all to make the diesel meet GAS emission standards
Remember the late 1970's and early 1980's gas engines? Poor milage, poor performance, because they had to be 'de-tuned' for emissions. This is what the diesel is going through right now.
I wish these people would wake up and realize if we relax diesel emission standards a bit, we'd burn a lot less fuel, and have less overall pollution from having to refine less fuel. But Detroit doesn't want it, and the oil companies are very happy with all the gas we guzzle.

 

[JARichard]

OK from the little I know about Europe I want to add this in. Yes, European diesels have less retarded timing and are more efficient because their diesel is better refined and has a higher cetane rating than in the STATES. If the STATES moved to more diesel powered vehicles it wopuld just raise the price of DIESEL. So let's let idiots be idiots and drive GASSERS and let us have 30 cent per gallon cheaper diesel.

 

[Ncostello]

Its not about the price of diesel to me personally... its about the US getting 20 mpg better for every car and truck made... then telling the middle east to stick it cause we don't HAVE to buy their oil any longer.



Its just my hope that someday soon the US will make the move to become self sufficient in terms of fueling vehicles. Our economy is oil based and thats not a great thing.

 

[Headshot zod]

The coolest diesel car I've seen so far is the Mini Cooper diesel. Unfortunately, you can't get it here due to the crappy diesel fuel we have. If you are on the west coast you can get a London Cab with the Ford 4-banger diesel. This is about the best car on the planet.



http://www.ltna.com/



I think the door hinges are guaranteed for 200 slams a day for the life of the vehicle. Great if you have kids. It can make a u-turn from curb to curb (this is for UK streets) and comes ADA accessible from the factory for wheelchairs in the back seat. So if your mother-in-law has her own set of wheels you can still have a diesel Its tall on the inside because there is a 80 something year old taxi law (UK) that states that gentlemen should be able to get in and out of taxis w/o removing their tophats. So that would cover Texans I guess.....

 

[JeffreyHahn]

London Taxis

I checked on the prices of those several monthes back. As of 01/28/04 the "Civilized Taxi" base price is $51900 and the London Executive Sedan base is $56900. There are very few options, so I guess that price is about it.

 

[MCummings]

$57 Grand !!! I think I'd get a Duramax instead.



Merrick

 

[Headshot zod]

Everything pretty much comes with it. I think the only way to option it is "taxi" or "sedan"

 

[DJW]

If people had the Clout given to Lobbyists we'd get listened too, perhaps reminding our Representitives who's covering them, we'd be counted even Before Elections. People have the Power but they fail to use it, discounting Pressure Groups. Since 1991 the US has fought two Oil Wars, the rest of the World's discription of the Wars fought in the Oil Rich Middle East, perhaps they know something we don't. Scrum Down