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Diesel is probably just about ok for workmans applications,but i havent seen them offered as options on Lexus or Jaguar yet and how many 'filthy coal burners'does Honda make?Do the latest wonder diesels still belch out clouds of filthy black smoke 1st thing in the morning?
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Honda are just about to introduce a 1.7l diesel in the Civic
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BMW, Mercedes and Volvo seem to get away with offering diesels.
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Do they offer their 'filthy coal burners' to the Americans?I can just imagine a US owner of a Merc S320 CDi being told it runs on 'truck fuel'.
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S320CDi has got to be one of the best cars on the market. Period.
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An attraction of diesel to me is that it's more relaxing to drive, without the narrow power band of a 16v petrol engine.
Given the preponderance of automatic transmissions in the US this ceases to be an issue over there and it would be hard to see why diesels would be desirable.
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I believe that the 607 has a particulate trap. VW have just produced a Euro4 compliant diesel.
Diesels are more efficient than petrol and are overcoming the performance differentials, too. I doubt that any developments will convince some people.
"None so blind .............."
If anybody thinks that petrol engines have no sooty particles, they are mistaken.
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What happens to the particulants in the trap?Have Honda used another manufactures engine?How do you fill with diesel without either stepping in puddles of it or getting the smell of it on your hands?In the UK i think the benefits of 'filthy coal burners'is a little exagerated.Over the years i have used many diesel engined cars,some good,some very good,and also many dire awful things,so given the choice i choose petrol,and if i wanted ultimate lowest running cost i would use LPG,at UK taxed prices that has to be the way forward.
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I use the free plastic gloves supplied and generally don't come across spillages. Arguably, the way forward, in terms of hydrocarbon-burning engines, is vegetable oil. It's a renewable resource.
The fact that you don't see the particulates from petrol engines doesn't mean they aren't there.
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Hydrocarbon-burning engines looks good on paper, however to produce a years worth of vegtable oil for the average motorist annual mileage takes about 7 acres of farm land. Do the math and you will see problem.
Eleanor
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Eleanor
Thanks for the info. I believe that there are a very few people in the UK who are running around on recycled veggy oil from their local chippies and Asian takeaways. Sounds OK but the exhaust fumes tend to make the person following starving hungry...........
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Much more dangerous at a filling station is the lung full of carcinogenic petrol fumes that we all have to put up with.
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Do the latest fancy diesel engines stay in tune so that they continue to run with the minimum of smoke etc,and does it make a difference to smoke/pollution levels if you drive it gently most of the time and then give it a good blast?Are the 'real life'servicing costs more or less than an equivilant petrol engine?
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Diesels are more expensive to buy than cars and more expensive to maintain. The advantage comes from better economy and longevity. I did my sums before getting mine.
On the other hand, my wife does a lower mileage so I bought her a petrol powered car. Horses for courses, rather than prejeudice.
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I found the costs the same. I've got a 3 litre straight 6 (which is not always the most fuel efficient). It doesn't use any oil, it cost the same as the 3 litre petrol equivalent.
The draw backs - I suppose it's only for those boy racers who put a lot of emphasis in a 0-60 time. Apart from that I cannot think of any
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