Why don't more Americans drive diesel cars?

Question

Shame really.
Don't think many Americans must have driven a modern Turbo Diesel - gasoline cars feel gutless afterwards.
I've got a Seat Ibiza 1.9TDI PD Cupra (VW engine) and get 45mpg (UK gallon - in pretty much city conditions) closer to 60mpg on longer runs. Give me torque over power any day for road driving: 160bhp and 243 lb ft torque.
My brother's Audi A4 3.0TDI Quattro has to be driven to be believed!

Shame really.
Don't think many Americans must have driven a modern Turbo Diesel - gasoline cars feel gutless afterwards.
I've got a Seat Ibiza 1.9TDI PD Cupra (VW engine) and get 45mpg (UK gallon - in pretty much city conditions) closer to 60mpg on longer runs. Give me torque over power any day for road driving: 160bhp and 243 lb ft torque.
My brother's Audi A4 3.0TDI Quattro has to be driven to be believed!

Emissions don't cut it. My diesel produces 146g/kg while the Cupra petrol 1.8 V20 T180 produces 180g/kg

Actually I'll take that last statement (half) back - I didn't realise the US had only just (2006) started introducing Ultra Low Sulphur diesel.
However, I'll take issue with the cost argument:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_w.htm

Answer 1

They previously weren't a good option for normal driving, being slow and noisy.
Modern diesels, however, are now turbo diesels which have excellent low down torque for fast acceleration and are now designed to be less noisy along with better noise insulation. They can also be much less polluting if they have low NOx emission technology and particulate filters.
Jaguars, and most European class vehicles now come with diesel engines which give nothing away, and are often better than, gasoline engined models.

Answer 2

I am American and I drive a diesel. 1.9L TDI VW Bora with 170,000 miles. I love the car.

I think the reason most Americans don't is because:

For 1 most Americans don't know a good quality automobile if it hits them in the face, they just want to "buy American' which usually means an over valued piece of crap that has no resale value and runs off of 75 year old push rod technology. The power / liter of American cars are ridiculously low even in they're "mussel cars". Americans just like buying crap because thats what they see every one else around them doing.

Secondly... Diesels last longer, and based on the previous statement you can conclude that Americans don't like things that last. If they did then they wouldn't buy all those crappy American cars that start rusting at the factory. You can find any VW off the road that is 10 years old and be hard pressed to find any rust on it...or under it. Check out the underside of a 1 year old American car and its all ready rusting away, after 3 years the body is practically gone. But thats ok because now you engine should have about 50,000 miles on it (if you are lucky enough to get this far) and it is ready to self destruct.

Then there is the fact that diesel engines are around 30% more efficient then a comparable petrol engine. And that would just be un-American... come on..... efficiency? Seriously.

So in conclusion Americans must feel a certain "duty" to keep the US automakers in business and keep the "thriving US economy?" going by buying toss away disposable cars. Unfortunately diesels did not make it in to the game because they are just built too well and last too long so they and might ruin the balance of the whole system by having 1 more person not buy a car causing the big 3 to fold in on them selves and they're ungodly debt to income ratios.

And oil... we like oil.

Answer 3

Because Americans are obsessed with POWER and NOISE of a huge V8 or V10 engine. I know people. If you ask an average american if they rather have a wimpy TDI over a Supercharged V8, I think we all know the answer...

...and, they aren't even available. New models rarely have a diesel engine option, and if they do, they're usually european like Volkswagen or Volvo. Many Americans only buy American cars without a diesel option. Plus, America sets really high emission standards that diesels just can't pass.

It's either you get more miles to the gallon with a diesel or you emit lower amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere with a gasoline engine.

...just my opinion

Answer 4

Most cars sold here are just gasoline engines. There are not that many option for diesel passenger cars here. And if somebody were to get diesel car it is kind of difficult to find diesel fuel - because there aren't that many cars.

It is that chicken and the egg problem.

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Beside most people don't know the pros and cons of diesel cars.


Good Luck

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Answer 5

Because they are: misinformed, hate engine noise, don't see the benefits, like buying their fuel from Iran, dislike high mpgs.... basically people are stupid, but that's hardly news.

Every new car that isn't a sports car should be diesel.
Every diesel should be burning plant oil.

Answer 6

Diesel cars were a fad in the late 70's and early 80's. The problem was they were junk. We got burnt.

Answer 7

i drive a gas truck and my mom drives a diesel they are more expensive to drive usually the price would be cheaper diesel is basically the left over after making gasoline but they are making a killing selling it so high.....i think the performance of a diesel is great and last longer but they make more smog and are loud....

Answer 8

For one thing, they cost more to own. Diesel fuel costs more to buy. They are generally slower than gasoline cars.

Answer 9

Because diesel sucks maybe?

Answer 10

not everyone needs to pull a mobile home