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Diesel Cars In The US

I<3myV8

I<3myV8

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
230
I've been always wondering this. Why is it that if you want a new diesel passanger car in the US you gotta buy an overpriced and made in Mexico VW? Why does no other company sell diesel cars in the US?
 
I<3myV8 said:
I've been always wondering this. Why is it that if you want a new diesel passanger car in the US you gotta buy an overpriced and made in Mexico VW? Why does no other company sell diesel cars in the US?
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lol i was wondering the to a few days ago...do the even sell diesel fuel in the USA?
 
They do. I think many trucks and large vehicles use it.
 
ohw yeah didn't think about the trucks
 
Diesels were popular back in the late 1970s-early 1980s, but fell out of favor when the government increased the taxes on diesel fuel. The idea was to tax trucking companies whose heavy trucks tore up the roads more, but it made diesel very expensive. When the price of fuel fell in the 1980s and the economy boomed under "Regan-onmics" the rich were buying expensive cars and didn't care much about the cost of fuel. The Japanese cars were booming in the 80's for the middle class and none of those brands were importing (or even made) diesels. The whole time the European brands were shrinking. Alfa and a few others stopped exporting to the US entirely.
 
Just give it a bit more time.... diesel is coming in full force. I predict it will happen in the next 24 months.
 
I've heard something about VW having exclusive rights to sell diesels or something like that. I doubt it is true, but I was hoping someone has more info.
 
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Merc has the E320 Bluetec in the US, but not in all 50 states (just like VW Diesel) due to the laws of those states. (Those states being California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, or Vermont).
And as for the VWs, well VW has always imported the Mexican ones to the US (I know the old Jetta's and Golfs where) so that is not a major difference in what VW offers in the US. I think the Passat's where always made in Germany, and the current GTI's are also made in Germany.
 
I<3myV8 said:
I've heard something about VW having exclusive rights to sell diesels or something like that. I doubt it is true, but I was hoping someone has more info.
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Pure BS. Blind_IO pretty much said it all but neglected one small bit. Diesels fell from favor because of their black smoke and rough running (on top of the reasons mentioned by BI).

Right now California and I think New York have made it extremely hard to sell Diesels in their states. California is one of the most important markets in the US (especially for imports), if you can't sell there it's not all that worth while to sell to the rest of the country... unless your one of the Detroit 3 or make the car in the US.
 
Well they don't put out black smoke and run roughly here, least my two didn't. Try the Honda Accord 2.2 Diesel or the any VW with the 1.9 PD, brilliant day to day drives. You do not know what you are missing out on over there.
 
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I would love to have a diesel because the engine is simpler, more reliable, and longer lasting. Also better fuel economy, and cheaper fuel.
 
Diesels are boring but economical and great daily drives for commuting in heavy traffic, or long distance cruising on Freeways/Motorways. Get your Ariel/Brammo out for the weekend! Best of both worlds.
 
As Zuhaib pointed out, the few diesels sold here are only 45 state legal. If the EPA decides that urea injection is and adequate means of meeting NOx emissions levels, then the Bluetec will 50 state legal and open the door to more diesel sales in the US.
 
Vltros said:
Why there are no diesels in the US???

Simple answer: Because they suck!!

Have you ever driven a Diesel??? Booooring!!! :zzz:
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I have driven a diesel. It's my daily drive, now.

And I don't think it's boring. I didn't like it at first - jumping from a 1.8 petrol to a 2 litre turbocharged diesel was a bit odd, and I didn't feel comfortable at first.

But now I like the way I can put my foot down, feel nothing for a bit and suddenly surge forward. It's good fun.

Besides, any engine that lets my people carrier set off the ABS in second gear due to the torque can't be a bad thing.
 
Cobol74 said:
Diesels are boring but economical
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Well that's not totally true. Take a look at what Gale Banks has been doing with diesels and it will surprise you. Twin turbo Duramax cranking out well over 700hp and well over 1000ft of torque. I wouldn't call those kinds of numbers boring.
 
thedguy said:
Pure BS. Blind_IO pretty much said it all but neglected one small bit. Diesels fell from favor because of their black smoke and rough running (on top of the reasons mentioned by BI).

Right now California and I think New York have made it extremely hard to sell Diesels in their states. California is one of the most important markets in the US (especially for imports), if you can't sell there it's not all that worth while to sell to the rest of the country... unless your one of the Detroit 3 or make the car in the US.
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I didn't forget. I just don't agree with it. No one minded the rattle of a diesel or the exhaust when diesel fuel was half the price of gas and diesel cars themselves were cheaper than their gasoline counterparts.

I actually like the sound of those Mercedes diesels from the 1980s. Sure, it sounds like a sewing machine at idle but they are brilliant engines that will run forever. They have tons of torque, they're fast (top speed) and not too bad in accelleration with the turbo.

I also like the sooty exhaust - especially when a convertible BMW is riding up my bumper. I just shifted into N and floored it. I figured he would either back off or die of asphyxiation. (works for motorbikes too)
 
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