why doesn't everyone drive diesels? - Page 7 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scottmcphee · #91 07-12-2014, 10:46 AM

Kinda glad not everyone drives diesels because that would drive up the price of diesel fuel.

Mark DiSilvestro · #92 07-12-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpeDiem51392

When I was looking for a car I stopped at a GM used car lot near my house in the middle of no-where. The owner was an old guy who had been in business forever, after chatting for a while I mentioned that really I was looking for a Merc diesel. He told me that in the late 80's GM made plans for a diesel engine in their passenger cars, such as the Malibu. Apparently GM had built this engine tested it etc. and it was all ready to be introduced to the market. Right before this was scheduled to happen, the owner said he received a brief letter from GM stating in no uncertain terms that the planned introduction of a diesel passenger car had been scrapped. And that GM would not be introducing a diesel powered passenger car now or anytime in the future.

I can't confirm the validity of any of this but that IS what the owner of a used GM car lot told me.

I can't afford a new, uber-expensive German luxury-diesel, and don't want or need a huge, lumbering diesel truck or SUV.
So at the Washington DC auto-show last year, I was very surprised to hear that GM was introducing a Chevy Cruze diesel. Then very skeptical when the Chevy people said they still had no specs or literature on the car.
So I finally got the chance to test-drive a new Cruze diesel last summer and was very impressed, though not so much with the $6K premium over the base Cruze gasser. At least, finally since the 1980s, The US has a diesel alternative to the VW.
OTOH, the reliability history of Cruze gassers doesn't bode well for the diesel version. Nor has VW been a shining example on that score.
And world-wide, fuel prices, environmental regs, and usage & tax penalties in some countries aren't helping either. If only we could get a compact Toyota diesel again. I've heard Mazda is introducing one here. Maybe that'll work out OK.

Happy Motoring, Mark