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Nick |
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#1
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Member ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 144 Joined: 25-June 04 From: Washington DC Member No.: 2,250 ![]() |
Just got back from a month long R&R in Italy and France and I must say I was amazed by the quality of our econo box rental car and a little annoyed that the Europeans seem to get much better products from Ford than we do in the small car category. We were driving around in a Ford focus diesel that was so refined that you couldn’t tell it was a diesel at idle or cruise. Very torque fast car with 4 people and there luggage. Handled great on the twisty roads of Tuscany and was rock solid at 160 KPH + that Italians cruise down the highway at. Returned over 50 mpg over the entire trip. For daily driver a nice diesel Ford like this would be great. Shame they are not available in the US it really was eye opening how good diesels have become. Why have the complexity of a hybrid when a simple diesel gets great MPG is fast comfortable etc. Maybe the US will get over its diesel phobia.
Nick |
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yenningComity |
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#2
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Newbie ![]() Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 27-August 07 From: Carmel Indiana Member No.: 8,047 Region Association: Upper MidWest ![]() |
Eh, I think it is a bit less interesting a reason as that. Europe has a cleaner burning diesel. It costs more to make in the first place and also requires more modern refiners. The reason europe has it, is because their emissions laws have mandated it. That engine may not burn clean enough here for it to be viable. Another reason is that diesels just do not sell. My family has owned 2 vw jetta tdi's, 2 passat tdi's, and even a 330 diesel sport *while in england*. VW stopped making the passat tdi here because it just won't sell. My sister still has a TDI Jetta and Diesel costs more than gas right now. Once you figure in the cost of the extra maintenance they require the savings is moot. Sadly, mechanics charge through the nose to work on the cars with little reason, for example oil changes cost her double what a gas engine would.
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lotus_65 |
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#3
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Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region ![]() |
Eh, I think it is a bit less interesting a reason as that. Europe has a cleaner burning diesel. It costs more to make in the first place and also requires more modern refiners. The reason europe has it, is because their emissions laws have mandated it. That engine may not burn clean enough here for it to be viable. Another reason is that diesels just do not sell. My family has owned 2 vw jetta tdi's, 2 passat tdi's, and even a 330 diesel sport *while in england*. VW stopped making the passat tdi here because it just won't sell. My sister still has a TDI Jetta and Diesel costs more than gas right now. Once you figure in the cost of the extra maintenance they require the savings is moot. Sadly, mechanics charge through the nose to work on the cars with little reason, for example oil changes cost her double what a gas engine would. actually, you made my point. thanks. the key is your word "mandated". that is the evil "anti-market-driven-capitalism" ideology that is behind this mess. it will only be after the fact that our leaders will recognize those mistakes. don't get me wrong, i believe in capitalism, but we have gone way too far down a "self-governing" or "market-driven" economic policy. |
brant |
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#4
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914 Wizard ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 11,641 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains ![]() ![]() ![]() |
QUOTE actually, you made my point. thanks. the key is your word "mandated". that is the evil "anti-market-driven-capitalism" ideology that is behind this mess. it will only be after the fact that our leaders will recognize those mistakes. don't get me wrong, i believe in capitalism, but we have gone way too far down a "self-governing" or "market-driven" economic policy. lotus, I think you are misinterpreting the word mandated in europe the gas tax is significantly less for diesel versus gasoline. so they could be "mandated" in the US too if we would only hike up the gasoline tax by $1.00/gallon (maybe $2) then suddenly people would feel "mandated" to buy the cheaper diesel fuel brant |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 17th June 2024 - 06:58 AM |
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