Diesel car
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Junior User
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Diesel car
Is there anyone besides Volkswagen, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, and possibly some Japaneses cars that are diesel? Why don't any of the American car companies make any small diesel vehicles. I know that a lot of them exist outside the US.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
I think you will start to see some in the coming years. The cost of fuel needs to get reasonable however, or that might be delayed.
I also think there are a bunch of reasons why we have not had them here while other countries have.
GM tried it in the 70's and 80's and did a rather bad job of it. So diesel got a bad rep as slow, noisy, and stinky. A bad rep is hard to live down.
Americans also remember Mercedes diesel sedans. While they were okay cars, the back ends where always covered with soot, and they stank when you pulled up behind one. Again, a bad rep.
Americans want convenience over all else. For example, I'm happy to look around for a station that sells diesel, and I'm okay with dealing with oily hands after a fillup. But my wife just is not going to want to deal with that. She wants to fill up at the station with the cleanest driveway. And she's certainly not going to be seen at a truck stop.
Diesels require more maintenance. We truck guys live with that, but too many Americans barely keep up with the maintenance on their gassers. Diesel currently does not fit the carefree lifestyle.
In short, diesel just has not been done correctly yet in this country, at least not in a sedan or SUV. It can be, and if the economics of fuel cost turn around I think it will be soon. We'll see.
Bill
I also think there are a bunch of reasons why we have not had them here while other countries have.
GM tried it in the 70's and 80's and did a rather bad job of it. So diesel got a bad rep as slow, noisy, and stinky. A bad rep is hard to live down.
Americans also remember Mercedes diesel sedans. While they were okay cars, the back ends where always covered with soot, and they stank when you pulled up behind one. Again, a bad rep.
Americans want convenience over all else. For example, I'm happy to look around for a station that sells diesel, and I'm okay with dealing with oily hands after a fillup. But my wife just is not going to want to deal with that. She wants to fill up at the station with the cleanest driveway. And she's certainly not going to be seen at a truck stop.
Diesels require more maintenance. We truck guys live with that, but too many Americans barely keep up with the maintenance on their gassers. Diesel currently does not fit the carefree lifestyle.
In short, diesel just has not been done correctly yet in this country, at least not in a sedan or SUV. It can be, and if the economics of fuel cost turn around I think it will be soon. We'll see.
Bill
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I think you will start to see some in the coming years. The cost of fuel needs to get reasonable however, or that might be delayed.
I also think there are a bunch of reasons why we have not had them here while other countries have.
GM tried it in the 70's and 80's and did a rather bad job of it. So diesel got a bad rep as slow, noisy, and stinky. A bad rep is hard to live down.
Americans also remember Mercedes diesel sedans. While they were okay cars, the back ends where always covered with soot, and they stank when you pulled up behind one. Again, a bad rep.
Americans want convenience over all else. For example, I'm happy to look around for a station that sells diesel, and I'm okay with dealing with oily hands after a fillup. But my wife just is not going to want to deal with that. She wants to fill up at the station with the cleanest driveway. And she's certainly not going to be seen at a truck stop.
Diesels require more maintenance. We truck guys live with that, but too many Americans barely keep up with the maintenance on their gassers. Diesel currently does not fit the carefree lifestyle.
In short, diesel just has not been done correctly yet in this country, at least not in a sedan or SUV. It can be, and if the economics of fuel cost turn around I think it will be soon. We'll see.
Bill
I also think there are a bunch of reasons why we have not had them here while other countries have.
GM tried it in the 70's and 80's and did a rather bad job of it. So diesel got a bad rep as slow, noisy, and stinky. A bad rep is hard to live down.
Americans also remember Mercedes diesel sedans. While they were okay cars, the back ends where always covered with soot, and they stank when you pulled up behind one. Again, a bad rep.
Americans want convenience over all else. For example, I'm happy to look around for a station that sells diesel, and I'm okay with dealing with oily hands after a fillup. But my wife just is not going to want to deal with that. She wants to fill up at the station with the cleanest driveway. And she's certainly not going to be seen at a truck stop.
Diesels require more maintenance. We truck guys live with that, but too many Americans barely keep up with the maintenance on their gassers. Diesel currently does not fit the carefree lifestyle.
In short, diesel just has not been done correctly yet in this country, at least not in a sedan or SUV. It can be, and if the economics of fuel cost turn around I think it will be soon. We'll see.
Bill
What an excellent reply, and spot on I might add.
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Oregon? I find that odd when I travel there.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
Oregon and New Jersey are the two states that ban self serve fueling.
Another reason (the biggest reason?) that there are no diesel cars in the US is that the EPA's emission requirements for diesel cars are the most stringent in the world. Note that I said cars, not trucks. The limits are different for trucks.
Nobody makes a diesel car for sale in the US that I know of. There have been some, but the current emissions made it too expensive to meet the standard, so even Mercedes has stopped selling them.
Unless there is a breakthrough in technology I don't expect to see diesel cars in the US.
Another reason (the biggest reason?) that there are no diesel cars in the US is that the EPA's emission requirements for diesel cars are the most stringent in the world. Note that I said cars, not trucks. The limits are different for trucks.
Nobody makes a diesel car for sale in the US that I know of. There have been some, but the current emissions made it too expensive to meet the standard, so even Mercedes has stopped selling them.
Unless there is a breakthrough in technology I don't expect to see diesel cars in the US.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
Another reason (the biggest reason?) that there are no diesel cars in the US is that the EPA's emission requirements for diesel cars are the most stringent in the world. Note that I said cars, not trucks. The limits are different for trucks.
Nobody makes a diesel car for sale in the US that I know of. There have been some, but the current emissions made it too expensive to meet the standard, so even Mercedes has stopped selling them.
Unless there is a breakthrough in technology I don't expect to see diesel cars in the US.
Nobody makes a diesel car for sale in the US that I know of. There have been some, but the current emissions made it too expensive to meet the standard, so even Mercedes has stopped selling them.
Unless there is a breakthrough in technology I don't expect to see diesel cars in the US.
I do think we will see them, and in fact they have already been announced, if you consider an SUV as a car. It seems to me that SUV's and light duty <8,500# GVWR trucks all have to meet the same diesel emissions standards as cars.
I readily admit that I am not an expert on any of that, so you got a good deal on it.
Bill
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
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From: SE Florida
SUVs and under 8500 pound GVW trucks have an emission standard between that of a car and a heavier truck. Cars are still a lower limit.
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The only company I now of still making diesel cars is Volkswagon. I have a 98 5 speed tdi that gets 51-54 mpg and a 2003 jetta wagon tdi automatic that gets about 38-45 mpg. They are still bringing these cars to the U.S. but there is a very long waiting list and the prices are rather high (supply and demand due to a limit on how many are brought into the country). I hear that BMW is developing a diesel car but havent really looked into it. My Volkwswagon require very little maintanance but can be rather expensive to fix if you take it to a stealership. Ebay is a volkswagon owners best friend when it comes to cheap parts.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
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From: Whittier, CA
I think they still do. There's lots of chatter about it on the web. But info is illusive and I cannot find it on the Jeep Liberty site. It might not be offered in the US. My ZIP might be blocking it.
Here is an article on the '05 MY.
2005 Jeep Liberty Diesel
And the '08 Grand Cherokee
link didn't work.
Try this one:
Jeep - Jeep - Grand Cherokee CRD
Here is an article on the '05 MY.
2005 Jeep Liberty Diesel
And the '08 Grand Cherokee
link didn't work.
Try this one:
Jeep - Jeep - Grand Cherokee CRD
