http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/04/...sel/index.html

 

In the UK, Honda has a diesel Accord which gets 45/75 mpg (that's more than the hybrid). it has like 140 hp and like 250 ft-lb of torque I think. It also got like a USA equivalent of ULEV I think.

 

Almost all diesels will not meet California air quality standards for this year, even with low-sulphur fuel. None of them meet the more strict standards phasing in over the next few years.

The technical solutions to diesel emissions are still being sorted out, with a number of answers but no clear solution as far as cost and long term maintenance.

It will take better emissions equipment and widespread distribution of low sulphur diesel fuel before oil burners can get much of hold in this country.

 

I read an article where they made a strippo light weight "race" version of this car for a publicity stunt or something and it pulled 90mpg on an extended highway trip.

I would love for the car to be offered here but I think the 75 highway MPG might be a little high. I thought it was somewhere closer to 60?????? Either way, I would shelll out $30k for Honda reliability, Accordpracticality and extremely high MPG.

 

Don't forget that in the UK they quote mileage in imperial gallons. US mpg = UK mpg/1.2

Peter

 

It's crazy that technology exists that could easily increase overall MPG in the US, but our nutty emissions laws are actually working against improvement. I had a recent VW TDI Jetta that got an honest, real-world 50MPG on the highway and 45MPG in town. And it required no special batteries, fuel, or maintenance. The TDI got better mileage than the new Prius as I've seen in recent reviews.

 

Problem with dielsel is the fact that it stinks and cant' accelerate all that great.

Also remember that dielsel costs more than regular unleaded gas, so even though it can get 40 mpg with diesel, you can't really compare it to a 30 mpg car that uses 87 octane.

 

When was the last time you drove a diesel? They have come a long way, but we don't see it because the last time they were here was in the early '80s.

I drove a Mercedes E320 CDI at the Love Mercedes Tour last year alongside a gas E320 and E500. Waiting in line I watched 45 minutes of people flogging these around an obstacle course with absolutely no trace of visible smoke or odor. Driving all three cars, the CDI was closer to the E500 V8 than the E320 in acceleration, but the price less than $2k higher than the E320.

My family has owned a 1981 Merc 300 Diesel since new so I think I know what stinky and slow is all about. No disrespect, but you have contributed a lot of misinformation to this thread...

Peter

 

Accord Diesel:
0-60mph in 9.3 seconds, top speed 140 mph (world record).

Remember that this car set like 20 speed records. What kind of diesel car in CA do you believe is "fast" and can disprove my "contribution to misinformation?"

 

2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI

$52,000

Power (SAE net): 201 bhp @ 4200 rpm

Torque (SAE net): 369 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm

Zero to 60 mph: 7.1 sec

Hm... 52k for a car that goes 0-60 in 7.1 seconds? Yea, that's fast AND can save me some money.