Benz_man600,Benz_man600,Benz_man600 I'll take your bait. For some, myself included it is the engineering elegance of an "Oel Motor" that is appealing. It is that beautiful balance between getting the most an using the least! Pound for pound, part for part, and gallon for gallon a diesel engine can propel a vehicle further/longer. For such purists that is the beauty to behold. Gasoline engines are the answer to a different equation. 0-60 times only really matter if you can't live without that ability to accelerate. Some people actually need that ability and some people simply think they need that ability. Gasoline is the easiest way to obtain that goal but with a trade-off in economy and longevity as they operate closer to the extreme limits of their designs. My own evolution from young man to not so young a man has given me an appreciation for these diametrically opposed purposes. That's why in my 20's I own motorcycles and fast cars and now I own vehicles celebrate endurance and dependability.
There is a scene in the movie "Colors" starring Robert Duvall and Shawn Penn that appropriately illustrates these opposing perspectives. The line is a joke that starts "A young bull and an old bull are standing on a hilltop looking down upon a far reaching herd of cows. The young bull says to the old bull," Man I get so horny when I look down there and see all those fine young cows down there I think I'm going to run down there a screw me one. And the old bull relies," Why would you want to do that when, we could walk down there and screw them all!" So I guess the moral I would hope to share with that story is - a young bull has to be able to go the distance if he want to ever enjoy the benefits of an old bull. And with internal combustion its the same, you can get to them first (gas) or you can get to the most (diesel). But the evolution of these two designs is telling. The most sophisticated diesels deliver performance that will rival a gas motor i.e. MB 99 300D and gas motors that hope to equal diesel endurance and dependability will probably never exist. Diesels (the first internal combustion design) are getting better in their areas of perceived weakness an gassers have been forced to trade off their perceived strengths. So that is my kind and gentle, yet humble opinion. Just think though, when your my age the best diesels yet will be 20+ years old and a great bargain for you when you realize these truths!!!!!
P. S. You young bulls should not be afraid to challenge a old bull once in a while, just watch out for those horns!!

Mea Culpa, I'm truly sorry if I offended any body of any age! I meant to relate my own somewhat retarded learning curve. I appreciate and understand that age alone would matter. To all the percosious youngsters here I applaude your ability to differentiate yourselves from the rest of the pack, by your choice of cars compared to the choices of the majority of young males you clearly demonstrate your individuality and integrity, admirable qualities that will serve you well in life. And I personally thank all of you for the generous input which everyone benifits from. After reading the first post and checking Benz_man600's profile of"student" I assumed him to be young and looking to be educated so offered my .2 cents worth in what I hoped was a kind and gentle manner with a twist of humor!