The up side is, with that much better torque at lower RPM,once you’ve found your cruising speed, it’s easier to maintain…modern diesels are no better or worse overall, just different.
Sadly after talking with Toyota dealer employees…diesels are put on hold at Toyota for US because of economy and general uncertainty of car market. They absolutely have NO plans to build or will concede to all electric cars and like GM are really hedging on the plug in Prius/Volt cars. They will go kicking and screaming toward EVs only with mandatory govt. intervention. Their present state survival is totally dependent upon the ICE engine…and even diesels in cars are not cost effective for them. TOO much efficiency, too much reliability to make money on parts and service long term. In the use I give them; trucks, tractors, aux. motors…gas can’t come close and the total service time is a fraction of gas, all owner done, with twice the longevity with much greater work loads. It’s down right embarrassing how little service we give our diesels in work vehicles compared to gas motors in cars over their life time. Even rebuilds are easier labor wise though parts are expensive
So I would buy a good diesel car for that reason only.
Mazda has decided against hybrids, and will introduce diesels to the US market next year Honda is also working on diesels. The European market does not like
hybrids, and you need a diesel to succeed there.
diesel hassle
What diesel hassle? Other than making sure you don’t use gasoline, which is only a little more likely than putting diesel in a gasoline car.
The only reason for that is fuel taxation, the Euro love for sludge burners is kinda synthetic. If fuel costs the same in Europe as it does in the U.S. You wouldn’t see nearly as many diesels.
Agree; the fuel price differential makes it very attractive to run a diesel. Most I diesels I saw in Europe were quiet, clean and did not smell.
My wife objected to 1) only a few pumps having diesel at that time, 2)she objected to the noise, 3)she hates shifting gears and 4) was allergic to the diesel smell. None of these things might have bothered a college kid; in fact my neighbour sold the Rabbit to his niece for $2000. It was in immaculate condition and needed no work whatsoever.
Diesels come in automatic as well as manual. I don’t think you can be “allergic” to diesel smell, but even I don’t like the smell, but my general allergies prevent me from smelling it most of the year. Noise differences in modern diesel vs gasoline is minor.
That said, diesel tends to be more smelly than gasoline and the gasoline evaporates faster and even one reason or for no known reason if someone does not want to buy a diesel, then I say don’t buy a diesel.
Who is going to fix it when it needs work? Are you going to be a slave to the dealer? There is an independent auto shop near me that has a diesel mechanic, but not many of them do.
A bit more if nothing major happens-about the only ignition part on a gasser you need to worry about now are the sparkplugs.One good diesel overhaul will easily wipe out any savings accumulated on fuel costs.Our diesel fuel finally went down in price a bit it was a dollar or so higher then gas.Most engines gas or diesel are electronic now so a EMP will stop both-the old diesels with mechanical injection are becoming rarer all the time.Old heavy duty gas engines would last 300K also.A Diesel by nature is heavy duty-take care of it it will take care of you.But if you want a hefty repair bill rebuild a heavy duty Diesel-There are pros and cons-I know what fuel gelling is I wouldnt have a Diesel car in a cold climate.
But all of that aside-you can run homemade Biodiesel and in my opinion European Diesels are the best.I have had a fair amount of experience with Heavy Duty Diesels and those things the Domestic manus tried to foist on the public early on.And positively do not overheat a Diesel-You can keep it till you get tired of it-Kevin