Did anyone see "Your Money" on CNN/fn on 1/16? I made it in on the call in line and asked the "Consumer Reports" guest, Michael Quincy, what he thought of the "new fuel efficient and clean burning diesel engines" that are coming out from Mercedes Benz, VW, and Jeep.

He said the only one they had tested was the VW Jetta. I didn't get the impression that this guy was to hip to diesel power.

If you missed it, it will replay again tonight 1/16 at 10:30 ET on CNN/fn.

Just doin' my part to spread the diesel gospel!

All the other questions from the other callers were about SUV's and how inefficient and dangerous they are. This seems to be the norm for a CNN program, scare people into driving the smallest honda or toyota they can find.

Chris from Indiana

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2001 VW Beetle TDI Double Yellow
2004 Pacifica AWD

Anyone know what the sudden push for diesel vehicles are? It was only a few months ago where MB stated they would not bring back a diesel E until 2006 the earliest. I realize that US is to adopt the ULSD by 2006. Gives us MB diesel lovers will have something to drool over. Damn a silver or desert silver E270CDI sounds ohhh sooo NICE!

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

sounds nice, but i dont think the quality of the new diesels will be even close to the older ones

All automakers will be looking at ways to improve the fuel economy of their fleet over the next few years as the goverment will raise the economy standards. Diesel technology is here now, hell it's been here for 100 years. Fuel cells may be the future, but these guys need to find ways to improve fuel economy in their fleet now. Diesel offers fuel economy, power, reliability and doesn't take the millions and maybe billions of dollars in R&D that it is taking to bring new technology to market such as the fuel cell. With the US getting ULSD in 2006, these cars will be the cleanest burning and most powerful diesels ever made. They will leave the japs wondering why no one wants to drive a gas/electric hybrid that has about 3 or 4 hundred lbs of acid batteries under the seat.

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2001 VW Beetle TDI Double Yellow
2004 Pacifica AWD

But I'm still curious too about the reliability of the newest generation diesels. Some people have serious doubts about these new diesels, but why? What factors are influencing possible doubts about the newest MB diesels?

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

I'm shocked that there are concerns about quality and reliability of the new diesels.

The technology is unbelievable now. I have rented a number of cars in europe in which I don't know for sure if they are a diesel or not until it comes to put fuel in them. At that point, it's kind of important to find out. They are powerful, quiet and smooth.

The new CDI will pass for a gas car until you open the hood or put in fuel. The efficiency of these engines combined with the incredibly advanced machining, alloys, assembly, etc will make a 616 or 617 engine look short lived by comparison.

As far as the word "quality," which is very difficult to define anyway, the cars get better and better with every new generation.

I remember when I bought my first 123 car in 1977, several people told me that it would be no good. They said that it was not nearly as good as the older models. Now with my 203 car, people say the same thing. The 203 car is head and shoulders above the preceding models.

This "they'll never make 'em like they used to" attitude really puzzles me. There are times when my response to that comment is: "Thank God."

Bring on those CDI's. They'll still be on the road after I'm dead and buried.

Have a great day,

I'll add a little tidbit to this subject..... quickly read an artcle/editorial in "car and driver" recently. 1/03 issue by Csaba Cere (sp) i think. It made some interesting observations about the attitude towards diesels in this country vs. europe. fuel quality etc. very much on par with what's been talked about in this forum...just thought it was interesting.
cheers, mark


76 240d (sold)
81 240d
83 300dt 5spd project

Amen.

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

Oh sure, just like we're supposed to be converted to the metric system by now (hmmm, what's larger, a millimeter or decimeter, hmmmmm....), and the US CAFE rating is supposed to be up to what, 50 or 60 MPG? Oh wait, MPG, why, that's not even metric!

Gilly

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I am really excited about the E270 CDI. Now if only I could find a way to get credit so I could lease one or.. win lottery hehehe...

*sigh* at least the W210 E300 Turbos will be cheaper by then

I agree that the newer diesels are definitely nicer to live with than the OM617 even though I have one. I just like the car for what it is. An old car that still clacks nicely after all these years.

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

well, if you guys know how much are 2 liters of coke, you will have no prob with the centimeters and millimiters. (1cm=10mm - 13mm=1/2inch -just check your metric wrench set)

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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"

Piotr, I think you missed my point.

Gilly

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I dunno, I'm pretty un-impressed with the quality of the new E-Class.

I don't want anyone to think I'm being argumentative here.

Define "quality." I don't want a quote from the dictionary, I just want to hear from some different folks who use the word to offer what "quality" is to them.

Have a great day,

Well no matter what brand, model, year, type, etc etc of car you get, it's going to have its share of problems. You're never going to have a car that will never need something replaced (aside from maintenance stuff). Quality to me is a car that keeps this on a minimum, and also over 10 years later looks, runs, and feels better than just about any car its age or older and rivals new cars. American cars of the same age that got better care than mine still don't look as good as mine, nor do they ride as nice or run as well, if they are still around in one peice.

If I were to have bought an '84 chevy or ford car, it wouldn't even be close to this. And to get it like the mercedes is now would cost more than all the money I've put into it (including buying the car).

A hyundai and KIA are not quality cars to me. I have a family member that has a hyundai elentra. She doesn't even have the car right now because she cannot afford to get it fixed. It's not even running right now. Luckiy she knows the shop owner and can keep her car there until she can afford to get it fixed. Then once she puts all that money into it, what else will go wrong AND she still has an old, dying hundai. Those engines were not build to last, at all.

Look at what car companies are pushing in their ads. Warranties and money back. They aren't advertising how rugged their past models were like Mercedes is. I don't care that if my engine dies in the next 100,000 miles I can get a new one. I don't want to think of engine work until 200,000!!!! Now because the old stuff was good doesn't mean the new is good too, but it has a better chance of it!

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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

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