European diesels

DadsDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:32 pm

Well,

I am in Ireland on assignment for my company. So, I am not on the "continental" Europe. But, there are at least 50% diesel vehicles here, 50% mind you.

Most >80% taxis are diesel... so the myth that diesels have fewer problems over here is because "Europeans only drive vehicles for long trips" is bunk. The taxis drive them because they are more fuel efficient and reliable.

True, 80-90% are manual transmissions. Again that is more from, "the way we have always done it" more than auto trannys being bad.

EVERYTHING has a diesel option being sold here. Chevy, ford, Jeep, Opel, Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai [my rental is a Hyundai Tuscon TDi automatic!], Audi, BMW.... You get my drift. Also, Ireland is experiencing an economy growth like never seen before... think tech boom of the late '90s in the U.S. Diesel SUV's are NORMAL here, with or without automatic transmissions.

I filled the tank of the Tuscon here for the first time.. Best I can figure is that it gets about 23-25 mpg all city driving. Not great but considering all of the rounding converting km/liter to mpg....

Why am I posting this???

We need to get our heads out of our collective arses here in the U.S. and demand MORE diesel vehicles and STOP acting like they are some kind of "rarity" that must be "lived with". The rest of the world does not see a diesel engine as something "special" and neither should we. We should DEMAND better service.

My rental has over 61000km on the clock... no doubt they gave the "older" rental to the crazy American driving on the wrong side of the road. But, the car runs PERFECTLY.

A CRD Libby should NOT be a cross to bear; it is a fun to drive little SUV.

That's the way it looks from this side of the pond.

Dad.

.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:43 pm

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.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:52 pm

BVCRD wrote:

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 would definitely drive a diesel car to a topless beach. :shock:

DadsDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:54 pm

BVCRD wrote:

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.

ohhhh... topless beaches.. yeah yeah that's next! :lol:

It isn't as much as we are behind the times, it is more that we have been sold a load of horse manure when it comes to diesel cars. Our dealers act like it is something special. To them maybe........

Our perspective needs a little changing. I remember when there was nothing like the sound of a big block V8 when you smash the accelerator to the floor and hear the 4 barrel kick in and the back tires break free.

Now, I love to hear the whine of the turbo and know that I have bone crushing torque being developed by a 4-banger...

The American love affair with our cars is alive and well.....

... if our wives could only understand.

no-blue-screen · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:26 pm

Well, topless beaches are certainly a higher priority. We have to get a topless beach first guys....I mean come on....rome wasn't won in a day....we can wait on the diesels....topless beach first

Kniggit · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:01 pm

move to southern california....

K

jinstall · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:52 am

Topless Beaches are for children Germany has full nude beaches, swinger clubs cat houses galore.

As for the diesel's in europe well you have only been here for a few weeks maybe? I have been here for 11 years now and well I have been say what you are now seeing for a long time. A6 3.0L TDi Quattro is faster off the line than a new RS4!! It takes all of 1st and most of second to catch up.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:32 pm

Dude,

We get it. Everything is better there and it sucks to be us.

Kniggit · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:14 am

Actually I prefer to think we jumped across the pond for a reason.

K

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:04 am

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.

Jeger · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:04 am

jinstall wrote:

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?

railguy · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:23 am

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.

Scottie · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:24 am

Jeger wrote:

jinstall wrote:

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. :wink:

Ireland or the UK don't have sidewalks

it's pavements :wink:

and no we don't sweep our own pavements the council does that in their wee machines.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:50 am

Scottie wrote:

Jeger wrote:

jinstall wrote:

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. :wink:

Ireland or the UK don't have sidewalks

it's pavements :wink:

and no we don't sweep our own pavements the council does that in their wee machines.

Ahhhhh copycat countries. Dime a dozen.

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:55 pm

Jeger wrote:

jinstall wrote:

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?

They realy have to do that. German on the most part are anal retentive when it comes to cleanliness.

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:58 pm

railguy wrote:

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.

Every new car you buy in Germany now has to show how much NOX the car puts out. The EU is about to get very strict on emmisions and the manufacuter's are nervous.

DadsDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:26 pm

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.

Quote:

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:

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??

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:02 pm

I just read that the Caddy CTS is going to get a VM 3.0L V6 for Europe :shock:

They need to do it to compete there.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:17 pm

DadsDiesel wrote:

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.

Quote:

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:

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??

"dub-ya"???? The fear I used to have was when former "fellows" sat on their hands and stuck their heads in the sand.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:29 am

DadsDiesel wrote:

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??

Yes and if you pump the gasoline it does not "stink" either. Wait till you get back to the US and you will really notice it. Look at the color as well. ULS does not stink. Also if you have a pump that has the motion weel in it you can actually see how much cleaner the fuel is. Ever notice how much cleaner trucks are in Europe than in the US when they tank up? When I am in the US and I smell the US Diesel it actually makes me gag.

European diesels

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