fastring wrote:
Nice write up. I agree, I wonder was a Ford Ranger with a new design 4cyl diesel would get for MPGs. Its like many years back when I would see the 4 door rangers and nissan pickups in baja and wonder "Why dont they sell those in the US. A 4 door pickup, now that would sell!" It took a decade, but we got them and now all trucks are 4 door it seems. Hopefully, we'll get diesel mini trucks and hopefully, mini trucks that are actually still...mini.
The Ranger down here in Australia is a fantaistic vehicle. I am not fond of the new one as it is so large, but the previous generation is a great rig which gets 30 MPG with gobs of power.
The 4 dorr Wrangler with the CRD down here is very powerful and comes with either the auto or a 6 speed manual. I have driven the 6 speed and it is a pure joy to drive. It is rated at 32 MPG hwy but I suspect that with an Eco Tune it could go closer to 35 - 36 without much effort. It is indeed a shame that they do not sell that rig in the US.
I agreethat it is a shame that Chrysler did not do a better job of marketing their CRDs. Many folks see my rig in Santa Fe and do not even realise that it was a US-available engine (including the mechanic at the dealer who told me that they would not work on it because they do not service grey market vehicles...).
The CRD has become a cult vehicle in the US because it is a great idea whose time came... and Chrysler missed it, despite having a ticket.
I have lived in Australia for 7 years and LOVE Toyota diesels. They are trouble-free, efficient and well-designed. I do not know why the Europeans and the Americans can not do the same thing. The VW and Jeep are the only two vehicles offered with diesels in the US and they are only good after a lot of home-engineering. The Subaru boxer diesel is fantastic out of the box, but it is not offered in the US. How sad that in a country like Australia where all wheel drive is about as useful as a condom in a nunnery, one can buy a Subaru diesel but in my own country, where snow makes all wheel drive almost essential, one can only buy the thirstier petrol Subaru.
Until the Japs start to sell their fantastic diesels to the Americans we will simply have to make due with the American and European excuses for diesel vehicles and tinker with them to make them reliable. I love my CRD - especially once all the of the GDE, ProVent and other 'corrections' are done to it. However, if Toyota sold its D4D in the 4Runner in the US, i would jump right in.
Chamba