Are Diesel Cars The Coming Thing?

**clovis** · #1 07/25/12, 12:16 AM

I just read that Chevrolet will introduce a diesel powered Chevy Cruze next year, as a 2014 model.

Some are saying that the Cruze diesel will boast 50 MPG.

The diesel engine will be a 2.0 liter, and if I read it correctly, will have turbo.

At this time, are any of the manufacturers selling a diesel car in the US, other than VW?

One of my friends has been ranting for years about how few diesel cars are available in the US, and the great fuel economy they can provide.

Aside from making this a "GM bash thread", do you think Americans will take to the Cruze diesel, assuming it is priced within reason?

Are Americans ready for diesel cars, especially if they get 50 MPG?

HermitJohn · #2 07/25/12, 12:41 AM

This isnt your grandfather's diesel Rabbit. These be modern day electronic computerized diesel monstrosities. Buy one of those, especially one with a computerized automagic tranny and you better have DEEP POCKETS. They arent going to be cheap in any sense of the word.

HermitJohn · #3 07/25/12, 12:45 AM

By the way my gasoline 1989 Festiva with a carburetor gets 50mpg. Big whoop. Where are the 100mpg cars? All this expensive technology and they cant do any better than a 20+ year old low tech car? The only thing that has increased are prices.

astn · #4 07/25/12, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HermitJohn

By the way my gasoline 1989 Festiva with a carburetor gets 50mpg. Big whoop. Where are the 100mpg cars? All this expensive technology and they cant do any better than a 20+ year old low tech car? The only thing that has increased are prices.

It's important to note that diesel (the fuel) has changed a lot over the last ten years. Since we've moved to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), most people feel that diesel has lost a lot of it's "power," while simultaneously increasing the cost of production (driving prices up). Unfortunately, all major research denies this claim either outright or attributes the change in fuel economy to increased emissions standards. The increased emissions (particularly the exhaust regen) are obviously robbing power as most people immediately gain 2-3mpg or more from the (illegal) removal of the diesel emissions equipment, however it's also interesting to note that vehicles from twenty years ago have also suffered significant loss in fuel economy. It's also sad that yes, Europe has has had huge numbers of more efficient diesel vehicles for decades, and only now after we've driven the price of diesel up and removed a lot of the diesel efficiency that we're starting to see American companies talk about these cars. I wanted my diesel Hilux ten years ago, not some computerized POS now.

The only reason I'm mentioning this is because is sort've is good that they can still attain those 50mpg numbers with modern cars, as we are using more and more energy for theoretically "cleaner" emissions rather then better economy. I'm also glad to see more conventional attempts at increased fuel economy rather then the continued and wasteful hybridization of vehicles. Most of those vehicles are only transferred the point of pollution from the exhaust pipe to a electric plant, and further are setting us up for a later battery pollution issue (as the batteries in these vehicles are going to last for shorter lives then historical averages, and while they could be recycled, I am willing to bet that just isn't going to happen.)

The Tinker · #5 07/25/12, 05:54 AM

I had a '96 Suzuki Swift in bad shape that got 40 mpg, and a '92 Honda Civic that got 36. The only reasons I can think of that would keep gas-saver technology from keeping up would make me sound like a conspiracy theorist...
Here's a link to the list of 2012 diesel vehicles: 2012 Diesel Cars in USA: Here’s the Lineup

Currently, I would love to have an older diesel Volkswagen Rabbit so I could play around with cooking oil engines, but those things are getting expensive, even for an old one.

OkieDavid · #6 07/25/12, 05:59 AM

I've honestly never given it much thought but out of all the Euro diesel cars out there, how does the cost compare to ours and can they be imported to the US? Cost to import one?

**clovis** · #7 07/25/12, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HermitJohn

By the way my gasoline 1989 Festiva with a carburetor gets 50mpg. Big whoop. Where are the 100mpg cars? All this expensive technology and they cant do any better than a 20+ year old low tech car? The only thing that has increased are prices.

Good point, John.

Playing a devil's advocate, if I were to be in a collision, I'd much rather be strapped into a new Cruze than an old Festiva or Geo Metro.

wy_white_wolf · #8 07/25/12, 07:44 AM

Can't realy compare new cars to older cars.

Cars With 40 MPG - Ask Our Experts Blog

I think it's even worse than the article suggests when you consider they've been using lighter wieght materials to try and keep the wieght down.

WWW

**clovis** · #9 07/25/12, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tinker

I had a '96 Suzuki Swift in bad shape that got 40 mpg, and a '92 Honda Civic that got 36. The only reasons I can think of that would keep gas-saver technology from keeping up would make me sound like a conspiracy theorist...
Here's a link to the list of 2012 diesel vehicles: 2012 Diesel Cars in USA: Here’s the Lineup

Currently, I would love to have an older diesel Volkswagen Rabbit so I could play around with cooking oil engines, but those things are getting expensive, even for an old one.

Thank you for the list. I totally forgot about Mercedes, and Audi too, offering diesels in the US market.

It would be fun to play with an old diesel. I had heard that older diesel cars were getting crazy expensive, even for absolute beaters. Is that true?

**clovis** · #10 07/26/12, 12:11 AM

FWIW, I think that the Chevy Cruze diesel will sell well in farming communities.

If that is the case, I bet very few of them will be filled up at a retail gas pump...LOL.

PhilJohnson · #11 07/26/12, 09:57 AM

I wish there was a separate class of vehicles that wouldn't have to meet all the safety bs that were under a certain weight (like 1500 pounds). Maybe then we would finally see cars that would get decent mileage that didn't cost 15-20k. I also find it a bit ridiculous that motorcycles are allowed on our roads yet somehow lightweight cars with no airbags are considered death traps. I know which one I'd rather be in/on if a deer jumped out in front of me.

lonelytree · #12 07/26/12, 01:30 PM

There was a motorhome up here in AK a couple years ago. It was rumored to get 32 MPG with a 5 cyl Mercedes diesel. I only get 26 with my Cummins and have a lot of power...... 5 cyl Cummins?

Darren · #13 07/26/12, 03:41 PM

I don't think the emissions standards in Europe are as restrictive as the ones here. The higher price of fuel in Europe makes high mpg diesels more cost effective. I'm not sure Europe socked it to diesels with ultra low sulfur fuel. The latest emission requirement for some diesels, urea injection, is the latest US of A complication. The diesel pariculate filter added to some diesels starting in 1997 and the regneration cycle was another diesel complication. In the regen cycle the temperature out the exhaust pipe is over 800 degrees.

I don't like the electronics hung on diesels. The older mechanical diesels were great engines and generally easy to maintain and troubleshoot.

OntarioMan · #14 07/26/12, 06:25 PM

I think all the north American car companies have constant "claims" that this new car of theirs, or that new car of theirs, will be available with a diesel option... this rarely ever happens (I can't think of any).

**clovis** · #15 07/26/12, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OntarioMan

I think all the north American car companies have constant "claims" that this new car of theirs, or that new car of theirs, will be available with a diesel option... this rarely ever happens (I can't think of any).

I agree. I think all the car companies are guilty of making bottomless claims.

At any rate, I read that the diesel that Chevy is putting into the Cruze has already been certified, and that production is currently being set up at the Lordstown, Ohio plant where the Cruze is built.

65284 · #16 07/30/12, 10:35 PM

I love my 84 Mercedes TD 300 diesel wagon. It gets "only" about 30 mpg, but I tinker with the fuel and keep the cost down, it's a tank very heavy and solidly built. I'll gladly sacrifice some mpg to feel my family and I are safer. I wouldn't drive some of those sardine cans they call cars if they gave me one.

Marshloft · #17 07/30/12, 11:44 PM

Heaven forbid thet invent a car that runs on "nat. gas". I guess they're afraid we wouldn't know how to re-fuel.. Kinda like propane,, My Dad had a propane tank in his truck,, he showed me at the age of 12 how to fill the tank. Its not rocket science.
GH

Bearfootfarm · #18 07/31/12, 01:42 AM

Quote:

I guess they're afraid we wouldn't know how to re-fuel

Lots of drivers now can barely handle filling up with a liquid fuel.
They can't get off the phone long enough

jwal10 · #19 08/13/12, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshloft

Heaven forbid thet invent a car that runs on "nat. gas". I guess they're afraid we wouldn't know how to re-fuel.. Kinda like propane,, My Dad had a propane tank in his truck,, he showed me at the age of 12 how to fill the tank. Its not rocket science.
GH

The state here runs many CNG (compressed natural gas) cars in their fleet, mostly in large cities. A refueling station is very complicated and expensive. You can buy one of the cars at auction on Ebay cheap....James

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Overview - Official Site

Pump's closing drives natural gas car phaseout - OregonLive.com

**clovis** · #20 08/13/12, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65284

I love my 84 Mercedes TD 300 diesel wagon. It gets "only" about 30 mpg, but I tinker with the fuel and keep the cost down, it's a tank very heavy and solidly built. I'll gladly sacrifice some mpg to feel my family and I are safer. I wouldn't drive some of those sardine cans they call cars if they gave me one.

Any chance that you are running waste motor oil or veggie oil?

I'd love to hear about your experiences, MPG, etc.