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IIRC it was particulates that have been the primary problem for diesels. With modern engines and exhaust systems, I suspect diesel cars could be a success in th

IIRC it was particulates that have been the primary problem for diesels. With modern engines and exhaust systems, I suspect diesel cars could be a success in the US. For a year I was driving a VW Golf TDi and absolutely loved the car. Fantastic efficiency (5.5 L/100km city, 4.5-5 L/100km highway) combined with plenty of power and a good transmission made for an awesome driving experience. In Europe, diesel is usually cheaper than petrol though the reverse is true in the US. From what I saw last December, price differences of $0.50/gallon weren't very unusual. If the price comes down, I think diesel would quickly become a no-brainer decision for car buyers.

ajtaylor 13y ago
I should note, I had the Golf in Australia.
Shivetya 13y ago
Europe values different air quality values than some of the states do. Then there are memories of the Oldsmobile diesels which sealed the fate of diesel passenger cars in the US. Current diesels, having owned a Golf and now a Beetle convertible with one, are very clean, still efficient, and even fairly quiet. You could sit behind my car when I start it or its running and not detect a scent of diesel. In fact it can be less offensive than some gasoline cars. Still I drive in a world of public buses and commercial dump trucks that just pump plumes of black stuff into the air. Makes it hard to sell to the average consumer. That is changing, besides VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche (see the pattern), Jeep will have a Grand Cherokee with a diesel, Chevrolet has a diesel version of the Cruze, and Mazda will have a 6 with one as well. In my case I wanted a fun to drive car, its a convertible, that got very good mileage. All the hybrids to me are penalty boxes. So when I saw VW was going to offer a convertible with the efficiency that a diesel belongs I jumped at it.
sliverstorm 13y ago
Fuel regulations were a big part; you could not buy ultra low sulfur diesel until 2005-2006 in the USA, so passenger cars had a very hard timing meeting emissions. I don't think the price of diesel is coming down in the USA relative to gasoline. The USA already uses lots of diesel in its trucking networks; switch the entire public to diesel and it's only getting more expensive.
- ajtaylor 13y ago
  One thing I've wondered about is why diesel is so much more expensive in the US than Europe (relative speaking)? As you mentioned, there is a LOT consumed by the trucks so it can't be a question of scale. Or even if it is, the US has massive refinery capabilities so it seems that supply should be able to meet the demand.

ajtaylor 13y ago

I should note, I had the Golf in Australia.

Shivetya 13y ago

Europe values different air quality values than some of the states do. Then there are memories of the Oldsmobile diesels which sealed the fate of diesel passenger cars in the US. Current diesels, having owned a Golf and now a Beetle convertible with one, are very clean, still efficient, and even fairly quiet. You could sit behind my car when I start it or its running and not detect a scent of diesel. In fact it can be less offensive than some gasoline cars. Still I drive in a world of public buses and commercial dump trucks that just pump plumes of black stuff into the air. Makes it hard to sell to the average consumer. That is changing, besides VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche (see the pattern), Jeep will have a Grand Cherokee with a diesel, Chevrolet has a diesel version of the Cruze, and Mazda will have a 6 with one as well. In my case I wanted a fun to drive car, its a convertible, that got very good mileage. All the hybrids to me are penalty boxes. So when I saw VW was going to offer a convertible with the efficiency that a diesel belongs I jumped at it.

sliverstorm 13y ago

Fuel regulations were a big part; you could not buy ultra low sulfur diesel until 2005-2006 in the USA, so passenger cars had a very hard timing meeting emissions. I don't think the price of diesel is coming down in the USA relative to gasoline. The USA already uses lots of diesel in its trucking networks; switch the entire public to diesel and it's only getting more expensive.

ajtaylor 13y ago
One thing I've wondered about is why diesel is so much more expensive in the US than Europe (relative speaking)? As you mentioned, there is a LOT consumed by the trucks so it can't be a question of scale. Or even if it is, the US has massive refinery capabilities so it seems that supply should be able to meet the demand.