tow trucks...

[MSG Hall]

Ok, I’m over here in Iraq and there are a bunch of contractors running around everywhere…. A lot of them get pick-ups to drive. Most are small trucks, such as the Ford Ranger, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota… and what strikes me is that these trucks are Diesel!

Why can’t they sell these in the States? I’d buy one, I can’t believe there wouldn’t be a market…. Just don’t make no sense to me.

[SkipperSue]

It's our super high emissions standards that keep most of the diesels out of our country. I'm like you, I wish we had a larger selection of diesels. They are the best "pullers", monster torque compaired to gassers. Also 25 to 35% better fuel economy. Diesel rules!!

[Ira]

They also last too long, which means less sales in the long run.

I have a 95 Tracker in mint that's about to kiss 100,000 miles, and I'm hoping to get at least another 50k on the engine. But whenever it goes, I'm putting in a diesel that Volkswagen makes that fits this vehicle.

[Joseph]

Well, I just went over 100K in my Ranger, but given that my 87 Escort went over 300K I'm not looking to replace the engine any time soon. Howver, when I do, I wonder if there's a diesel that will fit...

Joseph

[jeepr]

It's our super high emissions standards that keep most of the diesels out of our country. I'm like you, I wish we had a larger selection of diesels. They are the best "pullers", monster torque compaired to gassers. Also 25 to 35% better fuel economy. Diesel rules!!

X2. They had to discontinue the diesel Jeep Libery, because it couldn't meet the new emission standards. It has to do with vehicle weight also, that's why there are diesel pickups all over the place.

I would buy a diesel small vehicle in a second! Who wouldn't want better mileage and longer service life? Plus the technology to make diesel is getting to the point that it soon won't be dino fuel. I can't wait until we can run cars off of a renewable resource!

[apratt]

If they would ever sell a small pick-up with diesel here I would buy it in a heart beat. I have a full size PU and it is a gas hog. A car is not functional for me and I like the ride of a truck. I hope they come out with small diesel trucks soon.

[madjack]

...it is my understanding that due to advances in diesel tech, that there should be a new diesel Jeep Liberty in 2008 and possibly a whole slew of new diesel offerings in the very near future.......
madjack

[jeepr]

...it is my understanding that due to advances in diesel tech, that there should be a new diesel Jeep Liberty in 2008 and possibly a whole slew of new diesel offerings in the very near future.......
madjack

My understanding also. I hope the American people accept them.

[Fenlason]

I have heard rumors that in ? I forget what year....The new Honda Ridgeline was going to be available in a diesel... I would buy it in a heartbeat.

glenn

[caseydog]

The diesels are coming.

A combination of factors have kept them out of the US. A lack of ultra-low sulfur diesel kept many European diesels out. Then, new emissions standards required new technologies for diesels that are just coming on the market.

Mercedes has three new TDi models on sale now in the US. Jeep offers a Grand Cherokee CDI, and a new Liberty CDI is expected down the road.

Ford is currently developing a new, smaller V8 diesel engine for 1/2 ton trucks. I'm sure GM is, too.

VW is bringing new TDi engines over soon.

BMW and Audi are looking at bringing over some TDi models. Toyota is, too.

The diesels you see in Iraq may not meet European emission standards, let alone ours in the US. Andrew may know what diesel pick-ups are available in Europe, and whether there are different models for export to the Middle East.

CD

[sledge]

I'm a retired Diesel mechanic , I have been out of it for several years . And I'm not sure about prices now , I guess you guys are up on it.......But, back when........., you could buy a Starter for a gas eng. $70 , and the same starter for a diesel was between $500 and $700 . . and if a Fuel pump quit ,it was just like Gold. . . about 1990 there was a rush on One Ton trucks with a Diesel and a 5th wheel like a big rig, what a joke they was, the shop where I worked made enough off them things to buy the white house...... But, I'm quick to admit thats been a long time ago, and I'm sure diesel design has improved a lot.. I was just wondering how expensive parts for them are now.

[angib]

Things like pickups, minivans and 4x4s (oops, 'SUVs') just won't sell well here with gas engines - a few will, but their resale value is poor as subsequent owners can't afford to pour money away on gas.

Pickups were almost unknown here 5 years ago, but in Britain the crew cab versions still get classed as commercial vehicles for tax so they are very popular with self-employed guys who can use them for work and still carry the family. So for example, the Nissan Frontier is sold here (as a Navara) and only comes as a 2.5 litre diesel, 28mpg (US gals) combined urban/highway.

But we also get things like diesel Chrysler 300Cs and the Voyager just wouldn't sell well without a diesel.

The diesel is taking over with even diesel-resistant markets like Britain buying more diesel than gas cars now. One demonstration of this is that Alfa Romeo sell a diesel Spyder(!):



Doesn't look like a truck, does it?

Andrew

[caseydog]

Mercedes just delivered a GL320 CDI to us at the magazine. It is Merc's larger SUV with 7-passenger seating. I'm taking it home tonight.

18mpg city, 24mpg hwy. Not bad for a large SUV.

[angib]

I thought of you guys when watching the qualifying for the World Touring Car Championships from Monza, Italy - the top three cars on the pole were diesels!



The FIA (world motorsports body) has done a good job of providing a balance between petrol/gas and diesel engined cars. Both are 2 litre, but of course the diesels get to have a turbo. The race versions are putting out about 280hp with a weight penalty over the gas-engined cars of about 70lb. The sound of the race diesels is rather lovely - very deep but with all the hard edge taken off by the turbo - something like a very big compressed air motor.

These cars started out as production 170hp versions - this is not silhouette racing like Nascar, but real stock steel body cars, though admittedly stripped down to bare metal and rebuilt with 'little' things like sequential gearboxes. The talk is that BMW may switch from gas to diesel next year to stay competitive.

Andrew

[AlaskaJack]

I recently saw some Jeep Grand Cherokee's at the dealership when I was having my Wrangler serviced.... They are a 3.0 liter I think... sticker price was around 45k!!

Link: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2006 ... e_in_.html