Gas or Diesel

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]

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]

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! ops:

[The General]

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]

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]

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]

Too bad they couldn't hook that up to the Prius. Who knows, maybe the next gen?

[woohoo!]

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/...tid=28660&pg=1

[R.S.]

Diesel engines have max torque available at low revolutions, this is their advantage.

You don´t 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!]

Absolutely right.