I'm pretty impressed with our '06 Jetta TDI for the first 20k miles. It doesn't have the ride comfort of a Benz, but it is very quick and handles great.

Still, we may sell it once it gets near the end of the 50k powertrain warranty. If past sales are any indication, it will fetch a pretty penny even then.

An article about the new honda in business week: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_44/b4007079.htm

This just depresses me further about where things are headed... why does EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE on these subjects have to mention how "horrible" typical diesels smell, and bring up the mental image of the "Smoke belching 18 wheeler"?!?

I mean, really. Can't ANYBODY just let it drop and quit trying to make older stuff seem like it's the end of the world approaching? Sure, smoke isn't the best thing for the planet... but a "Smoke belching 18 wheeler" is doing less damage to the environment (arguably, I admit) than the "clean" emissions being produced by burning gasoline. And the "stinky" part is a matter of personal preference. Some people like it.

I know everybody wants to live more "green" - and that's okay with me, I admit that the world needs a break from human destruction. But at the same time... it's hard to let one of these articles enthuse me about whatever new product they're touting this week when they insult what we've all made into a hobby.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

And those 13,000lb trucks with a 12L+ engine can still get 14mpg when running without a trailer and get 4-7mpg when weighted down with a 63,000lb loaded trailer. Let's see a pickup with a g@sser V10 try to get economy that good.

Pulled up to a local convenience store last Sunday, couple guys looking at a pickup. I hop out to go inside, see that it is a Dodge "Viper" SRT 10 or whatever, also note the owner runs a large diesel OTR company. I casually wander by and say, "You have Over the Road Trucks that get better mileage than that thing." He seemed a little startled by the comment, but instantly replied, "Yeah, you're right."

__________________
raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

Check out this link, http://www.dieselforum.org/where-is-diesel/cars-trucks-suvs/other-diesel-vehicles-coming-soon/

Listed in Alphabetical order:

• Acura
• Audi
• BMW
• Chrysler
• Ford
• GM
• Honda
• Hyundia
• Nissan
• VW

__________________
raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

Audi A4 1998 1.9TDi SE, 110bhp engine.

I've also driven the newer Audis, the engines are very noisy compared to the straight 6 Mercedes engines, and the other week I drove a brand new Passat in Belgium which frankly was a pile of ****e.