I appreciate your perspective. In many ways, Americans are behind the times. It's just the way we are. I mean, topless beaches, diesel cars etc. It happens somewhere else first.

I appreciate your perspective. In many ways, Americans are behind the times. It's just the way we are. I mean, topless beaches, diesel cars etc. It happens somewhere else first.

Not everything. There is still nothing that I have seen here that compares to the freedom we have in the US. That and $6 a gallon gas, 19% sales tax, single tax rate of 46% of yuor income.s tupid high rent(mine is $1900 a month), taxed on every radio and TV in your house and car there are others.

Does everyone really HAVE to sweep their sidewalks, or was the lady I know from wiesbaden just pulling my chain?

H'mm not sure what more Freedom you have in the States than what we have over here. In fact I would say it is the other way round.

Ireland or the UK don't have sidewalks it's pavements and no we don't sweep our own pavements the council does that in their wee machines.

Does everyone really HAVE to sweep their sidewalks, or was the lady I know from wiesbaden just pulling my chain?

All it would take for the U.S. to see a lot more diesel vehicle options would be for the EPA to adopt the European diesel emission standards instead of our "unique" standards. U.S. emission laws are illogical because they only concentrate on emissions at the tailpipe and ignore what happens throughout the supply chain. The overly restrictive emission standards for diesels cause:

1. There to be fewer fuel-efficient diesel vehicles to be offered for sale.
2. The diesels sold to tend to get worse fuel economy than their European counterparts because of the overly restrictive controls.

Both circumstances cause more fuel to be burned. That means more crude must be produced and transported, more oil refined, and more fuel transported--all with the CO2, NOx, and SO2 emissions associated with those activities. Plus, we're having to use more oil, much of which we have to import. So, I would gladly accept the slightly higher tailpipe emissions allowed with the European standards to have the benefit of improved fuel economy, reduced oil consumption, and reduced pollution from the "upstream" sources in the fuel production, refining, and distribution process.

Maybe we'll figure this out when fuel is $6.00+ per gallon and rising, shortages are rampant, and we Americans finallly come to the realization that 10-15 mpg SUV's just aren't affordable to fuel anymore.

All it would take for the U.S. to see a lot more diesel vehicle options would be for the EPA to adopt the European diesel emission standards instead of our "unique" standards. U.S. emission laws are illogical because they only concentrate on emissions at the tailpipe and ignore what happens throughout the supply chain. The overly restrictive emission standards for diesels cause:

ya know,

Everyone complains about "how good they have it" or "how bad they have it."

We Americans like to think we have a corner on a good lifestyle. Yet, we are the most over fed,[read FAT] under exercised, [read drive a block instead of walk it] most frightened of their shadow [read dub-ya strikes fear in us] nation on earth.

... enough rant.

From most of the posts here on this thread, I guess we just aren't ready. Too bad it will take $6/gal gas to get us to wake up.



You are exactly right. I can go out and buy an 8500# GVWR diesel pick-up that gets 18 mpg in the city maybe 22 highway yet I can't buy a new diesel Ranger, Frontier, Tacoma that would get 22 city 28-30 highway or a diesel passat that gets 40 highway! All because the quality of the diesel fuel in the U.S. is so bad that the manufacturers can't get the emissions down. Gawd I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist... but something smells fishy in the whole deal.

That reminds me. Can anyone tell me why the diesel here in Ireland does not have that acrid diesel smell when it burns? Maybe it's really Guinness??

That reminds me. Can anyone tell me why the diesel here in Ireland does not have that acrid diesel smell when it burns? Maybe it's really Guinness??