Just need to adjust some of our restrictive ULSD standards? Looks like a pretty good little car to me.

Europe has long been on the diesel bandwagon BTW........

is diesel cheaper than gasoline in europe?

I saw this article a few days ago. I figured it had something to do with europes 10$+ a gallon fuel.

Diesel gets better fuel economy (that's why you see so many high MPG European diesel vehicles), so it works out to be cheaper per mile. And even the diesel imports don't get as good of mileage as their European counterparts. There's a ton of safety, emissions, etc retrofitting that has to be done which seems to hurt the fuel economy.

Gee, Chico.. after reading the article, it appears to me that the reason they won't sell them here is because they can't afford to build a new plant in the U.S.

If the American Public were willing to take bio-diesel more seriously, Ford wouldn't need to worry.

The VW New Beetle and Jetta both had the TDI diesel engine that got 45-48 MPG.  Now, just for kicks and giggles imagine someone taking these cars and making them HYBRIDS.  Just think of what their mileage would be. 

BTW...Mercedes S-Class 400(the monster Benz) Bluetec gets about 32 MPG.  The SL and E-Class both get about 37.  And everyone knows how big these cars are, so it doesn't have to be an econo box to get decent mileage.  Just got to get Cali's EPA freaks heads out of their you-know-where, and we can get somewhere.

BTW2...Anyone else find it interesting that diesel has fallen nearly a dollar per gallon, while gas has only gone down about 50-70 cents??? 

FSG -- Barry's tax increases on business will help that.!  LOL! (but thats BIG bus, S-Corps too (tell it to Pete who is tied to under $250K figure BTW. Small Bus are S-Corps and many fall under the $250 cap.) will be affected by $250K tax incr)

I read another article about the ULSD and EPA BTW. I should have made that clear. It is the reason why diesels are eschewed, especially here in CA. Its what MAKES them expensive to build esse!

I shouldn't have expected YOU to read between the lines though.

Popeye's right on this one. (he must be able to multi-task and connect dots)

Of course this kind of tripe is coming from the older generations.  It's not like you'd have to live for much longer with the smog.

Smog caused by diesel passenger cars is a thing of the past FSG. Passenger cars with diesel engines are no more polluting than ones with gasoline engines these days. It's a slightly different pollution profile, but they have to pass smog checks just like any other passenger vehicle. Diesel farm and industrial engines might still be polluting, but I'm not as knowledgable of those.

Yeah FSG, those older generations don't have all the solutions wired like you super smart young guys.

Our  "tripe" has afforeded you cheaper fuel, food, and clothing for your entire life than your generation's ever will.

Of course you'll have to wait and see.

ULSD engines  for farm and road are so much cleaner than they ever were the emission profies don't even look related.

Jeep tried to introduce a 2.8 ltre 30+ mpg diesel in a new Gladiator but no dice, especially in CA.

Talk about someone who is  "behind the times" -- your remonstrations are a joke when taken in the context of reality.......

Shwaine - I never said that Diesel was any more or less polluting than regular gasoline.  My point was that the current fuels we're using in general are bad for the environment and our health.  If we were to really get serious about alternative fuels such as biodiesel, we could eliminate a number of problems at once.

Chico - the reality is that petroleum is not a rapidly renewable source of energy, and to continue treating it as such is seriously "behind the times."  There are so many alternative fuel sources readily available which are not only rapidly renewable, but also much more environmentally friendly for both the earth and our air quality. 

We bought a new 2009 Diesel Jetta two and a half weeks ago. We bought it here in Bakersfield from Family Motors.  There is no where on the vehicle where it says it is diesel.  I think anyone would have trouble telling it had a diesel motor in it while driving near it.  There are no conspicuous black clouds when I accelerate.  I think it sounds just a little different from a gas powered Jetta.  We also own a 2007 hybrid Highlander.  We get pretty good gas mileage. On the whole I'd say as a family we are polluting less air then a gas powered two car couple.

Here is a news item about what San Antonio plans to do with Methane.  It would be too cool it Kern County took the Bio solids from LA and harvested the methane and then used it to produce electricity that LA companies would pay for.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/...    You may consider this comment OT but it is for FSG and his "If we were to really get serious about alternative fuels"

FSG, might I suggest that next time you elucidate your position instead of just making a snide remark about smog.

You are right on sys_mom.

Europe has embraced the diesel technology for some time now.

I really wanted one of the new Jeep Gladiators with the 2.8 L diesel that was approved for the Liberty.

But the German mgmt of Daimler-Chrysler decided not to go with it.

Neat looking truck. I would have liked a little bigger than 2.8 L but @ almost 300 Ft  Lbs Torque, it wasn't bad.

notatroll -- we tried a CNG (under a Fed Grant BTW) at the rancho.

It was OK except for fueling stations availability.

This is what I was talking about when I talked up bio-diesel (micro-algae fired) in that the infrastructure changes required for anything but gasoline or diesel will be monstrous.

But you are certainly on the right track (one track anyway) with CH4!

Cool truck, eh?

 FSG, might I suggest that next time you elucidate your position instead of just making a snide remark about smog.

My snide remark was in response to Chico's snide remark about trying to be "Green." 

the infrastructure changes required for anything but gasoline or diesel will be monstrous.

That's only because the average service station owner isn't thining to the future. Check out this company in Oregon, formed by a man who took a chance and has built one of the most Green service station chains in America (Oh.. and it's biodiesel!):

http://www.sqbiofuels.com/

Also check out this map, showing the hundreds of other biodiesel fueling stations across the country:

http://www.biodiesel.org/bu...

Most anything other than Gas and Diesel, you will need to pull a trailer with your own fuel tank in it to get you to the next filling station.. Next generation! maybe things will get better...