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caasm1
11-03-2003, 02:09 PM
Just read the article on the Alfa by Trevor Hofmann. trevor states that it is no use discussing Alfa's diesel engines because North Americans won't buy them.

Meanwhile Volkswagen can't get enough diesels to sell in Canada. If you visit a Volks dealership you will find that he will deal on any gas powered car. There are no discounts on the diesel.

With the slow speed limits in Ontario the need for massive speed is not needed.
Has Volkswagen discovered what people really want?

It is too bad that journalists like Trevor don't support the new European diesel cars. The car buying public is bieng ripped off in North America with low tech gas engines that need tune ups. They Use high priced gasoline in return for mediocre mileagw, have low torque for realistic city driving and are not as durable.
It just goes to show the public that the journalists and car magazines only support the prouct that the car companies make the biggest profit on!

Whats your opinion?

Push for more diesel choices.[/b]
Michael
11-16-2003, 01:46 AM
I agree with you, gasoline engine's are a rip-off for all the reasons mentioned. VW did make some inprovement on there current diesel engine, it has slightly more horsepower and a lot more torque at very low RPM (177 of it to be exact). I'm soon getting my first car, it will be either a Nissan Spec V or a VW golf diesel engine. The Spec V does offer a lot more for your money.

Regards
snoproblem
09-29-2004, 05:19 PM
Hmm. Hate to bring an old thread back from the dead; :-))

...but it does bear mentioning that diesels seem to be making a current comeback in the North American market! I've seen articles, but I can't remember where! :oops:
The General
09-30-2004, 08:56 AM
The first example is the Liberty diesel. The new smart is also a diesel and, let us not forget, the return of the Mercedes E320 CDI diesel.

I hope we get more of these diesels: the are cleaner, more efficient and much more powerfull than the diesels of yore.

I love torque! :twisted:
snoproblem
09-30-2004, 10:43 AM
Torque is more meaningful for the average driver than horsepower, IMHO. After all , engine torque is what determines how easily a car accelerates, climbs hills, passes, escapes deep snow, etc.

Torque is usually that certain something a driver misses if they move from from an 8 or 6 cylinder to a four-banger - at least, when you're not talking about a diesel! :twisted:
The General
09-30-2004, 12:29 PM
Let's talk torque:

Toyota has a new 2.2L 4 cyl diesel engine that develops 180 hp and 295 lb/ft of torque.

How's about that !! :eek2:
snoproblem
09-30-2004, 05:37 PM
Too bad they couldn't hook that up to the Prius. Who knows, maybe the next gen?
woohoo!
09-30-2004, 07:42 PM
Oh and by the way guys, Trevor Hoffman does support diesel engines, at least in some applications. See his preview of the Land Rover LR3:

http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/previews,view,Land%20Rover.spy?artid=28660&pg=1
R.S.
10-15-2004, 10:13 PM
Diesel engines have max torque available at low revolutions, this is their advantage.

You donīt need to rev up the engine to get maximum acceleration, on the contrary, torque decreases at high revolutions.

Therefore less fuel consumption + less wear&tear.
woohoo!
10-16-2004, 01:31 AM
Absolutely right.
The General
10-16-2004, 03:41 PM
The new injection systems are becoming so sophiticated that hp and torque numbers are increasing dramatically. I forget which engine, but it developed nearly 200 hp at nearly 5 000 rpm! This is almost unheard of for a diesel. The hp race is on for the diesels as well.
snoproblem
10-16-2004, 06:51 PM
Diesel engines have max torque available at low revolutions, this is their advantage.

You donīt need to rev up the engine to get maximum acceleration, on the contrary, torque decreases at high revolutions.

Therefore less fuel consumption + less wear&tear.

The qualities of the fuel also contribute to less wear and tear. Diesel's chemical properties are more oil-like, while gasoline is more solvent-like. Any wonder diesel engines last longer? :thumb:
woohoo!
10-18-2004, 03:11 PM
The qualities of the fuel also contribute to less wear and tear. Diesel's chemical properties are more oil-like, while gasoline is more solvent-like. Any wonder diesel engines last longer? :thumb:

Does this mean greasy and oily hair will last longer then clean hair?
R.S.
10-18-2004, 03:21 PM
Does this mean greasy and oily hair will last longer then clean hair?
:lol: You wonīt know until you try. :twisted: :lol:
woohoo!
10-18-2004, 04:58 PM
Hahaha :lol:
The General
10-19-2004, 10:13 AM
I thought Crisco was the grease of choice... :nono:
The General
10-20-2004, 01:31 PM
How about this:

A nice Nissan Micra turbodiesel with 81 hp

http://www.whatcar.com/car/Nissan/Micra/NissanMicra11113200310814.jpg http://www.whatcar.com/car/Nissan/Micra/NissanMicra19113200310852.jpg

http://www.whatcar.com/car/Nissan/Micra/NissanMicra115113200310624.jpg http://www.whatcar.com//Car/Nissan/Micra/2114441142.jpg

http://www.whatcar.com/car/Nissan/Micra/NissanMicra17113200310742.jpg http://www.whatcar.com//Car/Nissan/Micra/2114441211.jpg
woohoo!
10-20-2004, 01:53 PM
Funny thing... I pass by the Shell dealer in my hometown, unleaded gas is currently (might have changed 5-6 since last night, but anyway) 91.9 cents a litre, diesel is 94.9 cents a litre...? Where's the savings? Does the lower fuel consumption offset the higher price for getting the diesel engine, and having to sometimes pay MORE for the greasy, oily, smelly, dirty stuff?

I'm not a diesel fan, as you can see...! ;-)
R.S.
10-20-2004, 02:03 PM
Funny thing... I pass by the Shell dealer in my hometown, unleaded gas is currently (might have changed 5-6 since last night, but anyway) 91.9 cents a litre, diesel is 94.9 cents a litre...? Where's the savings? Does the lower fuel consumption offset the higher price for getting the diesel engine, and having to sometimes pay MORE for the greasy, oily, smelly, dirty stuff? :shock:
The General
10-20-2004, 02:11 PM
woohoo! is from the time of the Pre-Historic diesels.

Don't hate him because he's old... :-ozzzZZ
R.S.
10-20-2004, 02:30 PM
Man, pricing is ridiculous sometimes!!! Whole printer is cheaper then ink cartrige for it, gasoline is cheaper then diesel!!? :x :evil:

I understand people who donīt like diesel, they can use gasoline, or steampower. :D :wink:

I wonder why they donīt offer diesel on Echo Hatchback?
http://www.toyota.co.uk/bv/gallery/yaris/yaris17_gall_800.jpg
Toyota Yaris 1.4 Diesel
Fuel consumption city/highway (l/100km): 5.3/3.8
Max torque (Nm / lb ft): 170 / 125.39
Acceleration (0 - 100km/h) (secs): 12.9
Max speed (km/h): 170
The General
10-20-2004, 06:57 PM
I think the fact that we even have the Echo H/B in Canada is great to begin with. The US doesn't have but, they have Scions that we don't get...

Fix the fuel and bring it on !! :evil:
snoproblem
10-20-2004, 08:01 PM
I think the fact that we even have the Echo H/B in Canada is great to begin with. The US doesn't have but, they have Scions that we don't get...

Fix the fuel and bring it on !! :evil:

Darn right. I Just hope they don't use the new formulation as an excuse to jack diesel prices even higher...
The General
10-21-2004, 09:36 AM
As long as it's within 0.10$ difference I'd all right with that.

Any more and it would be ugly greed as someone has already said.
snoproblem
10-23-2004, 10:41 AM
Does this mean greasy and oily hair will last longer then clean hair?

Bleh. I'd rather go bald! :P

By the way, I'd pick that Yaris over the Smart, since it has a little more grunt under the hood. Too bad it's not offered over here. :evil:
The General
10-25-2004, 08:45 AM
That`s why I shave my head...

I too would go for the Echo H/B. I really enjoyed the smart but it`s still a little bit of a compromise (this is if I owned only 1 car).
woohoo!
10-25-2004, 10:20 AM
woohoo! is from the time of the Pre-Historic diesels.

Don't hate him because he's old... :-ozzzZZ

Too many bad memories from the good old gas pump attendant days... Which were in the nineties, so I guess I'm not THAT old...?? ;-)