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(Please, no comments on that last remark so this thread doesn't end up in the Playhouse) 
Car pollution, also called emissions, includes stuff like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, both of which are in high concentrations in diesel exhaust. Their contribution to smog is why diesel car sales are outlawed in California and a few restrictive Northeastern states.
Overseas, low-sulfur fuel and additional onboard pollution controls make diesel cars dramatically cleaner. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring the phase-in of this cleaner fuel starting in June 2006, after which any new, properly equipped diesel that burns it will meet stringent new standards.
I knew a cleaner diesel standard was coming but didn't know the particulars. 
I read that the Beetle TDI was getting 48 mpg in some real world applications. That is getting close to or exceeding the fuel efficiency of some of the hybrid cars. I would rather have a diesel than a hybrid.wncbmw wrote:Thanks NoRRmad - I knew your finely tuned net research skills would come in handy.I knew a cleaner diesel standard was coming but didn't know the particulars.
That must be why my local BMW rider/VW salesman said VW was not bringing in more TDI Jettas for a while. Perhaps when the new diesel standards take effect, we can get some of those cars.
Still doesn't explain why the petrol version of that Civic isn't here. I read on a Honda forum it was because the Japanese don't like us!
Here's a link to a site which might give you interesting reading until the new Diesel's arrive...R4R&R wrote:I used to have an '02 Golf diesel and loved it. Never took it on a long trip (I wanted to though, to see what great mileage I got) but around town driving we consistently got 44mpg, average per tank.
I was talking at a VW dealer about a month ago and yes, they are not bringing any more TDI's inot the US for model year 2007, and starting in 2008 they will have completely re-designed the diesel line, bringing them up to higher standards. I can't wait!
I was seriously thinking of the TDI Jetta, but it's made in Mexico. No thanks. I'm sure it's a good car, but being made in Mexico, not interested. Call it bias, just don't think the Mexican Auto industry is up to my standards. I think that the Passat though is still made in Germany, though I could be wrong.wncbmw wrote:Thanks NoRRmad - I knew your finely tuned net research skills would come in handy.
That must be why my local BMW rider/VW salesman said VW was not bringing in more TDI Jettas for a while. Perhaps when the new diesel standards take effect, we can get some of those cars.
Still doesn't explain why the petrol version of that Civic isn't here. I read on a Honda forum it was because the Japanese don't like us!
Good gawd man, I too did my paper on Alternative Fuel sources, though my focus was Hydrogen Fuel, not Diesel. Bio-Diesel sounds like an interesting topic as well, though I never looked into it at least nothing more then cursery.Osiris wrote:I honestly think that Diesel fuel is the way of the future. My brother got me into diesels and it just makes sense. They get great milage and can last years if maintained.
I did a research paper on alternative fuels last year in college, diesel was my main focus. If you want more power out of your engine all you need to do is add more air and increase exhaust evacuation. Besides all of these things, hybrids are too problematic and very expensive to fix.
Did anyone see how Audi spanked the field with their diesel powered race car?!
I've heard of this as well, I think the system is about $1000 to convert your diesel engine to run on french fry oil. Basically you start the car, truck with conventional diesel, then when the engine is warm, you through a switch and start running on the vegetable oil. Only problem that some people complain about is the exhust smell...if you get the oil from a Chinese Restaurant, your cars exhast will smell like Chinese food...I guess that means you'll be starving everywhere you go.sjbmw wrote:Talking to a guy tonight who owns a restaurant and got a conversion done to his diesel van. He now run it on filtered, used, vegetable oil from his restaurant's deep fryers.
He has not purchased a full tank of diesel in 10 months.
) emmision standard and the upgrading of diesel fuel to the cleaner version here by '07, it appears some manufacturers may bring out some cool new diesel models in a year or so. Maybe we will see that diesel Civic and Accord after all! 
