VW's new diesel-powered hybrid gets great mileage - better than Toyota's Prius - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skid Row Joe · #1 03-09-2008, 06:26 PM

Better mileage than a Prius? Not so fast

VW's new diesel-powered hybrid gets great mileage - better than Toyota's top-selling hybrid. Its price-tag is another story.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/06/autos/volkswagen_diesel_hybrid/index.htm

catmandoo62 · #2 03-09-2008, 11:12 PM

the lupo's/polo's already get in the 70's if i remember correctly.but they won't import em over here.

Ara T. · #3 03-10-2008, 04:55 PM

That's because people won't buy them here. Too small and crappy.

Since66 · #4 03-10-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

That's because people won't buy them here. Too small and crappy.

Yaris, Versa, Fit, Smart...................how are they selling?

#5 03-10-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Since66

Yaris, Versa, Fit, Smart...................how are they selling?

Nobody said all consumers are intelligent.

DieselAddict · #6 03-10-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Since66

Yaris, Versa, Fit, Smart...................how are they selling?

Like hot cakes last time I checked. Now that gas prices are pretty high people are paying attention to fuel economy. I see nothing stupid about that, though even smarter is to pay attention to fuel economy even when fuel is cheap.

The truth is even the current VW diesels (non-hybrids) get at least the same mileage as the Prius on the highway but the article doesn't acknowledge that because of the new EPA ratings that still favor hybrids. With the old EPA ratings gas hybrids were way overestimated and VW diesels were about right on target. Now the hybrids are about on target while the small diesels are way underestimated.

peragro · #7 03-10-2008, 05:29 PM

The high mileage diesels aren't selling here because California won't let them sell here. Car manufacturers tried the whole Federal model and Ca model once upon a time. It was confusing and lost them money.

California basically dislikes diesels because they are icky. Same reason they ban guns that look scary. There is no intelligent reason why they would do either. Ufortunatly for the rest of the country, Ca.'s stupid decisionmaking means you can't buy a high mileage diesel either.

Yet another lesson in environmentalism gone stupid.

Stay tuned, the next lesson will be out soon - probably too soon.

Ara T. · #8 03-10-2008, 05:34 PM

THe Polo is smaller than the Fit, Versa, Yaris, etc. The new one coming out will be bigger and will compete with those Hondas, Yotas and Nissans.

Knowing VW it will be overpriced.

DieselAddict · #9 03-10-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peragro

The high mileage diesels aren't selling here because California won't let them sell here. Car manufacturers tried the whole Federal model and Ca model once upon a time. It was confusing and lost them money.

California basically dislikes diesels because they are icky. Same reason they ban guns that look scary. There is no intelligent reason why they would do either. Ufortunatly for the rest of the country, Ca.'s stupid decisionmaking means you can't buy a high mileage diesel either.

Yet another lesson in environmentalism gone stupid.

Stay tuned, the next lesson will be out soon - probably too soon.

Well, pre-2007 diesels produce too much NOx and particulates to meet CA's latest and increasingly tougher emission standards for cars and that's why diesel cars could no longer be sold there. However they're coming back now that we have ULSD and new diesel technologies. What's stupid is they had a different standard for pickups and SUV's and diesel pickups for example were no problem when fuel-efficient VW diesels were already banned. I've heard that's going to change as well and all vehicles will soon be held to the same standard if not already.

Brian Carlton · #10 03-10-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peragro

The high mileage diesels aren't selling here because California won't let them sell here. Car manufacturers tried the whole Federal model and Ca model once upon a time. It was confusing and lost them money.

California basically dislikes diesels because they are icky. Same reason they ban guns that look scary. There is no intelligent reason why they would do either. Ufortunatly for the rest of the country, Ca.'s stupid decisionmaking means you can't buy a high mileage diesel either.

Yet another lesson in environmentalism gone stupid.

Stay tuned, the next lesson will be out soon - probably too soon.

The solution is relatively easy..........and I cannot understand why the auto manufacturers don't implement it:

Stop selling cars in CA. No expensive new program. No modifications. Just tell CA to go pound sand.........we're not selling our cars there.

DieselAddict · #11 03-10-2008, 08:09 PM

CA is the biggest auto market in the country. It's way too much profit to give up. Most foreign auto makers wouldn't even bother selling in the US if they couldn't sell in CA.

Brian Carlton · #12 03-10-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

CA is the biggest auto market in the country. It's way too much profit to give up. Most foreign auto makers wouldn't even bother selling in the US if they couldn't sell in CA.

It's not the largest market in the country.

The remainder of the country..........without CA.........is significantly larger.

The logic makes no sense.

peragro · #13 03-10-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

The solution is relatively easy..........and I cannot understand why the auto manufacturers don't implement it:

Stop selling cars in CA. No expensive new program. No modifications. Just tell CA to go pound sand.........we're not selling our cars there.

It would be nice to tell the CEPA to go pound sand. No one has done it yet. Far from it; California leads the way on absurd environmental legislation. The rest of the country follows suit.

You can expect to have carbon dioxide regulated as a waste substance soon (try not to exhale too much or you'll be fined and/or imprisoned). We're well on our way here once they get some judges to agree to it and that's never hard to do in Ca.

In summary, your suggestion sounds nice but will never happen. At least I'm not holding my breath; uh, wait, maybe I am - I'll have to reread that new clean air standard first...

catmandoo62 · #14 03-10-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

CA is the biggest auto market in the country. It's way too much profit to give up. Most foreign auto makers wouldn't even bother selling in the US if they couldn't sell in CA.

vw.mercedes,bmw etc that bring cars here will sell cars in CA just not diesels. you live there and want one,go out of state and get one with over 7500 miles.

DieselAddict · #15 03-10-2008, 09:18 PM

If it wasn't for CA we might still be driving in 10 mpg jalopies without catalysts on leaded gasoline. From what I've heard L.A. in the 70's was pretty much like a gas chamber. I've lived in some large polluted cities myself and I hope I never have to again. While I think it's stupid to allow gas guzzlers while banning high-mileage diesel cars, overall I applaud CA's efforts to clean up the air as lung cancer is not the way I want to die.