

2013 Mazda CX-5


Source: Trucktrend

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RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By Reclaimer77 on 1/18/2012 1:03:46 PM , Rating: -1
Not really. It's not just the fuel. Diesel cars are more expensive upfront to buy/lease, cost WAY more to get serviced and repaired (pretty much all of them have turbos), and frankly drive like wheezing school buses. They also weigh a LOT more than the petrol model.

It's not nearly the ideal trade-off you're making it out to be. Diesel belongs on trucks and boats, not passenger vehicles.

RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By AEvangel on 1/18/2012 1:46:24 PM , Rating: 4
LoL...where are you getting your statistic or figures from??

Upfront they are slightly more expensive mainly due to the fact that they last 3 times longer, there is less cost in maintaining them not more and they get better gas mileage.

Also they don't weigh any noticeable amount more then a regular gas vehicle.

Your knowledge on diesel is like 30 years old...and even then is strictly in dealing with American manufacturers version not European.

RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By AEvangel on 1/18/2012 3:31:29 PM , Rating: 4
Like I said you have no knowledge of current diesels...

2010 Volkswagen Golf Base PZEV MSRP: $17,620 Fuel Type: Gas Drivetrain: FWD Engine: 2.5L I5 Transmission: Manual, Automatic Curb Weight: 2,771lbs .

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI MSRP: $22,155 Fuel Type: Diesel Drivetrain: FWD Engine: 2L I4 Transmission: Manual, Automatic Curb Weight: 2,771lbs .

My Wive's Car

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI MSRP: $18,450 Fuel Type: Diesel Drivetrain: FWD Engine: 1.9L I4 Transmission: Automatic Curb Weight: 2,899lbs.

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS MSRP: $17,400 Fuel Type: Gas Drivetrain: FWD Engine: 2L I4 Transmission: Automatic Curb Weight: 2,855 lbs.

Current Suggested Retail
2002 GAS New Beetle GLS $6,507
2002 TDI New Beetle GLS $8,275

So much for that extra cost??

I own a one of both and I can attest to the cost of maintenance the diesel is the same if not cheaper.

As far as American offering 1978 Cadillac Seville, the Cadillac diesel V-8 was basically a "dieselized" version of Oldsmobile's familiar 350-cubic-inch gasoline V-8.

You really should know what you're talking about before you start spouting on the internet.

RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By FredEx on 1/18/2012 4:58:09 PM , Rating: 2
How old are you? In the late 70's GM had a diesel option for the full size cars in every division. There were diesel Caddy's, Old's, Buick's, Chevy's and Pontiac's on the road. It was a corporate small block V8 converted to diesel.

I was working in the service department of very large Pontiac/Honda/International Harvester/Bricklin dealer in the second half of the 70's while I also attend school for electronics. I'd worked on a few.

By YashBudini on 1/19/2012 12:43:04 AM , Rating: 2
It was a corporate small block V8 converted to diesel.

Yeah, they ranked up there with the sleeveless aluminum Vega block with the steel (not stainless steel) quick rust out head gasket. Note - Mercedes also used the silicon lap process without problems, so chalk up more notches for GM's cost cutting department.

I'd worked on a few.

That would be all of them.

By FITCamaro on 1/18/2012 2:05:48 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry Reclaimer. Gonna have to disagree with you here.

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RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By Keeir on 1/18/2012 2:17:48 PM , Rating: 2
#1. "Diesel's weight a LOT more than a petrol model"

Looking at the VW Jetta Sportwagen
2.5L model = 3257
2.0TDI model = 3283

VW Passat
2.5L model = 3220
TDI Model = 3280

VW Toureq
V6 model=4711
TDI Model=4974

At worst, the TDI is still less than 6% increase in mass. At best its less than 1%. And in each above case the TDI is the -better- engine.

#2. "Diesel cars are more expensive upfront to buy/lease"

This is true to a certain extend. Diesel cars are between 0% to 10% more expensive than comparable petrol cars. Hybrids are typically 10% to 25% more expensive. TCO though is pretty important. The AVERAGE age of a car in the US is more than 10! years. That means most cars are lasting 200,000 or so miles on average. Which means that over a lifetime at ~3.54 dollars a gallon that a new "standard" 25,000 USD 25 MPG car will cost more than 28,000 in fuel.

In the US market right now, the best comparison that can be made is the A3 2.0 Turbo to the A3 2.0 TDI

Curb Weight: 3296/3318 (0.7%)
Base MSRP: 28,750/30,250 (0.5%)
0-60: 6.9/8.9
MPG: 24/34 (41.6%)

The 2.0 TDI trades top end performance for significantly better fuel economy. Having actually driven both cars, the Diesel is nearly identical in feel to the Petrol car in the majority of daily driving.

The Diesel A3 has significantly lower TCO. End of Story.

Diesel is not the appropriate solution for everyone. If you happen to drive heavier cars (feature packed) for long distances at a steady speed, the Diesel IS a very good option however. If you want to drive an eco-box in a city, then a normal petrol car or a mild hybrid are much better options.

In 2010, the US -EXPORTED- 656,000 barrels of diesel per day. Much of this headed to Europe or other areas where diesel is less highly taxed than gasoline.

What both the US AND Europe need to do is find a way to let gasoline and diesel consumption in the countries balance. Since oil breaks down into a certain percentage of Diesel and Gasoline, the most efficient use of the oil reserves and refining capability of a country will be a certain percentage of miles driven on Diesel/Gasoline. Clearly the US is shifted towards gasoline and many other countries are shifted to diesel. This creates waste is shipping oil and fuel around... sometimes nearly in a circle. The end result of this would be a certain percentage of diesel passenger cars on US roads... mainly for the consumer that drives long distances at a steady speed.

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RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
By Spuke on 1/18/2012 7:02:07 PM , Rating: 2
Where are you getting $28,000 in fuel costs from? I'm coming up with ~$19,000 in gasoline versus ~$15,000 for diesel. Still a $4000 difference but not sure on your numbers.

RE: Diesel fuel seems more expensive
Pretty sure he took it from:


By amagriva on 1/19/2012 2:37:14 PM , Rating: 2
Jeez you're such a caveman...
quote: Diesel belongs on trucks and boats, not passenger vehicles.
This statement will remain, if we need another example, to demonstrate you're a moron...

