US and diesel models - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gnolo · #1 05-07-2002, 05:48 PM

There is something I don't understand on the marketing strategy of Mercedes Benz. I explain : in the US and Canada market, few models (such as the 300SD W116, the 300SD W126, the 300CD and 300 CD Turbodiesel W123 and finally the 300D Turbodiesel W123) had been sold during the late 70's and the 80's. But the thing I don't understand is why those models were not sold in Europe which is a market where the ratio of diesel engines is more important than in America.

The first S Class diesel powered in Europe was the S350 TD W140 and it was a sucess. Now on the latest S Class there is a V8 CDI of 250 hp but this time this model isn't sold in the US. So if someone understand something in this strategy, don't hesitate to let me know !

And by the way, what was the latest diesel model sold in the US market ?

Eberhard Weilke · #2 05-07-2002, 06:21 PM

...at least the biggest advantage of Diesels in Germany are the lower fuel costs. Gas sell vor about € 1,00 - 1,09; Diesel goes for about € 0,85.

This combined with the much better mileage of the direct injected Diesels cuts fuelcost by half.

Unfortunatly Diesels tend to have a higher anual tax (do explain the annual taxation of cars in Germany would break this posting, it is basically related to emission class and displacement) and higher insurance rates, since they usually achieve higher annual mileage (Sales reps all drive diesels)

A business car with more than about 15 thousand miles per year would prefer a Diesel, anybody doing less than that would spent less money on a gasoline car.

Since Diesels are so much fun to drive (the cdi-Generation has so much torque) they have become trendy in the last years.

Audi and VW even sells tdi-convertibles!

Kind regards
Eberhard
(paying the lowest possible annual tax on his '84 230 E thanks to a aftermarket catalytic converter by Paul Wurm which meets the mandatory standards of new cars of 1997)

rickjordan · #3 05-08-2002, 12:24 AM

Currently the only new diesels sold here in the U.S. are VWs. Though I don't think VW sells diesel convertibles, here. The VW diesels sold here are the Beetle, Jetta (Bora), and the Gulf. We don't get the Passat diesel.