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Pent-up Demand for Diesels in US?
Dodge is introducing a crossover to Europe and US - the Dodge Journey. The European version includes a VW diesel engine. What caught my eye was the comments - almost all lamented why the diesel engine is not available here. Is there a pent-up demand for clean diesels here that the US car manufacturers do not see? Are they stupid?
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/dodge-to-bring-journey-to-us/ |
#2
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Manufacturers do understand the demand. However, upcoming US emissions standards will make it very difficult for them to cost effectively produce diesels here. The emission control systems will also reduce the power and efficiency of the diesel engines. There is probably some BS in the mix as well, I'm sure there are parties pushing for these unnecessarily stringent requirements. |
#3
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It's an education thing. Too many people still think that "diesel" means "slow, noisy, smelly," have to get fuel at truck stops, etc. The American manufacturers, for the most part, just stay in their comfortable rut, selling the stuff they've always sold. Why should they change if they're not required to?
To answer your question, I think that there is some pent-up demand for diesel in this country, but not yet enough. Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#4
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The demand would be there if they sold a cost conscious vehicle imho. Mercedes offering only cars for $50k seems ludicrous to me. Try and buy a vw diesel right now. They are about impossible to buy used, almost the same price as new.
My 03 dodge truck with the cummins with 75k on it is worth about 24k now. I paid 30K for it new. There is diesel demand when the price is right. Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
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I think dawsonj3 has the reasons why it won't happen soon right there.
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
#6
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I agree there is an under-served low-end diesel market, but I'm not sure that benz should go after it. In a few years there will be a bunch of low end diesel available, including cheap ricers. I don't think benz should give up their U.S. market niche to go bottom feeding in the diesel market. If they try to compete on price they will lose.
I'm not even sure they should be selling C-class and ML-class gassers in the U.S. I assume they are in the ML (mini-van) market to try to pick up some sales volume, and that they are in the C-class market to try to get some 20-somethings into their cars (hoping they will upgrade later). |
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You mean they aren't?
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#8
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NOt the newer ones.
They are not very smelly, not at all noisy and very powerful. Not to mention economical. Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#9
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There should be some more diesel option by 2010. The new standard set a few companies back. Still, Cummins and Mercedes came up with answers. The Cummins is certified even for the 2010 emmisions. I think cost of diesels is part of the problem. When price of fuel goes up, that extra MPG looks atractive. I wouldn't bury the diesel yet. I think they are behind the gasser emmisions, while gas engines have been working on emmision standards since the mid 70's. Diesels had to take emmision standards sceriously in the mid 90's. A few manufactures stop making engines then. I think this last round claimed a few too. Or at least took them out of certain markets.
Tom |
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But will they routinely go a million miles?
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#11
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As well as ever!
Tom W
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#12
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Chrysler 300?
I found several overseas road tests online for the Chyrsler 300 with the Mercedes 3 liter V6 diesel installed ( search for Chrysler 300 CRD). They seem to say there is good performance along with great mileage. Mid 30's for highway driving I think. They say it performs much better than the Chrysler gas V6 and gets much better mileage too.
To me the US market is stuck in mid to large vehicles that can get low 20's for mpg and teeny vehicles that can hit the upper 30's to 40's. I am currently applying for a job that will be 60 miles away. I (and my my cranky back) would love one of these CRD's to cruise comfortably back and forth with. Anyone heard any news on this? Think it would be a hit? Chuck |
#13
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Why, yes, as a matter of fact, they are. Would YOU build and then try and sell the Pontiac Aztek to the American car buying public?
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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold) |
#14
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I guess the crack in Michigan is really good or really bad. |
#15
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But that's what I LIKE about my Diesel! Quote:
Chevy AVALANCHE -- What the hell is that thing? an SUV or a truck? Looks like a TONKA toy to me... Caddy and Lincoln Pick up trucks -- Huh? Toyota: Yaris, Matrix and Prius --They make the old Pacer look good Scion: all of them More -- 'Toyotas on crack' Pontiac Vibe -- An even uglier version of the Matrix! Mitsubishi Montero -- "Blade Runner" reject All the bustle trunk BMWs And even the new Mercedes Benz S-class -- Another "Blade Runner" rerun unless it can fly I don't want it. I am sure there are lots more where those came from Maybe a "Cars on Crack" thread? "The opinion expressed above is only an opinion and does not relflect the policy of this station or its affiliates"
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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy" Current Monika '74 450 SL BrownHilda '79 280SL FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee Krystal 2004 Volvo S60 Gone '74 Jeep CJ5 '97 Jeep ZJ Laredo Rudolf ‘86 300SDL Bruno '81 300SD Fritzi '84 BMW '92 Subaru '96 Impala SS '71 Buick GS conv '67 GTO conv '63 Corvair conv '57 Nomad |
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