??

Think it will get "better" when low-sulfur fuel comes to the U.S.?

 

I think they will become more popular in the near future, but right now, when John Q Public thinks Diesel, he thinks noisy smelly, smoky, and slow. Sales will climb as people become aware of the improvements in recent technology that have enabled diesel engines to be nearly just as quiet and smoke free as gas engines, while offering better fuel economy and more power. Until then, we're just kooks out on the fringe.

 

As long as diesel prices are as high as they are now they won't become popular for a while. Actually, I don't really want them to become popular. That would drive diesel prices up even more.

 

I have to agree with Hoss... Everyone tell others that diesels suck then we can keep it to ourselves

 

What if you want a car, SUV, or small pickup though?

Your only choice is to move to another country...

 

I have been thinking alot about a 4bt in a 4-door tahoe with a #10 plate and 3 gsk....

 

Why aren't Diesel Automobiles More Popular? The crop of gas engines that GM converted to diesel in the 80's has a lot to do with the American mind towards diesels. My dad had a used car lot in the late 80's/early 90's. He would buy Cadillac’s with the dreaded GM diesel for dirt cheap and replace them with gas engines and make a killing. I spent many hours on the side of the road because of those 350 diesels blowing-up on the way back from an auto-auction. Also, getting those things started in the winter was a real accomplishment.

 

I don't. I like trucks. I wouldn't mind a diesel SUV for my wife....but still...can you imagine what diesel would cost right now if every SUV on the road were diesel?

 

Diesels aren't popular HERE. Over in Europe, they are a staple of life. Practically every manufacturer of cars, both small and big, offer some diesel option.
When VW started to get big here in the early 80's with the Rabbit, they brought over the diesel rabbit along with their other models. It was a flop because it was noiser, smellier and slower than their regular model and with gas still cheap (even after the oil embargo in the 70's), who the hell would buy one. As well, what Calvin said is also a big part. The Big Three tried diesels in the 70's and 80's and failed at it miserably. By the time the mid-90's came around Ford introduced the Power Stroke which was quite the improvement over the past (and didn't they have a CAT diesel option??) Dodge was the only one doing it right with the Cummins engine in their trucks. But by then the American public was already heartened against diesels.
Finally, the environmentalists have been pushing "alternatives" like electric cars (yeah... THAT was a good idea....) and hybrids. Even GM seems to have forsaken diesel technology as it's future path for hybrids in it's trucks.
I'll be interested in seeing what clean-diesel will do to the market.

 

What Cethane said. If GM had swallowed their pride and bought a decent turbo diesel (maybe the MB one) instead of building those miserable piles of dog crap the car buying public would not have such a negative image of diesels. Everyone in my family thought I was nuts to buy a diesel because they had or knew somebody who had an Oldsmo-diesel and they thought all diesels were like that.

 

There was actually a good show on public television with Allen Alda about this subject.

Seems in Europe a high percentage of luxury cars are diesels which are quiet and have the torque that makes them fun to drive.

Many companies were working on catalyst systems, cooled EGR and that kind of stuff, trying to come up with something that would meet our strict clean air standards, while running on our much higher sulfur fuel, and would still be able to meet durability standards...

And also, when most Americans think of diesels they think of the loud, stinky and unreliable ones already mentioned....

 

I've said it once and I'll say it again..

With low-sulfur fuels in the next couple years, we will see the beginnings of an incredible automobile revolution towards Diesels. Diesels are, by their very design, twice as efficient and make 30% more power per gallon of fuel burned. People in the States are kind of still put off from the heavy, junky domestic Diesels of decades past, but one breakout model in the next few years will change that quick. All it needs is a good engine and advertisement, and the gasoline monoply will come crashing down. Diesels are just simply a better design, and now with the newer technology they are quieter and lighter, making them even better than they used to be.

Diesels are coming, and soon we will have as many here as in Europe. I'll go as far to say that we ar ethe very pioneers of Diesel performance, and a new Diesel muscle-car era is coming in the next decade. We just need a catalyst in the form of a good, performance-minded (or at least a non-economy minded), car. Somebody, make one! Come on, WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY! WE HAVE THE SUPERIORITY! DO IT!

As for the fuel, I don't know whats up with that. Its a scam of some kind and isn't a result of Diesel fuel actually being more expensive. (Unless they found a different source of oil that has a greater percentage of Diesel hydrocarbons, which may be the case with Iraq. But I doubt that...) But, Diesel's have a much greater potential for Biofuels than Gasoline or anything else, and biofuels are the only way we can get off of foreign oil. (Hydrogen and Hybrids are the biggest jokes ever, if you want more I can elaborate...)

So, Diesel's just need a breakout mainstram model, and that only takes advertisement. The Ford Mustang legend would be non-existant without Fords last-minute informercials. We need a similar Ad campaign for Diesels.

 

I believe if there were more diesel powered Cars/SUVs in America, that the oil companies would produce more diesel fuel all year long, eliminating the cold weather "rob diesel to make heating oil" cycle that drives the price up.

 

All my wheels are diesel I just go to the pump and say "how can they afford the gas" My 7200 truck gets the same milage as a small truck and my Jetta gets 650 miles to a tank in town for $30.
Cannot wait until the bigger North American cars come out with diesel as I will get one. Diesel is still .10 cheaper per liter than regular unleaded here.

 

#1 GM's old 350 diesel. Most folks remember them as junk.
# 2 older Powerstroke/ Cummims engines loud enough to kill brain cells and smoked to much.
#3 some areas folks would have to compete with semi's to refuel.
I think we will have to go to more diesel powered autos as world supplies of crude become hard to find and prices remain high.........JIM