America Needs to be Educated About Diesel Power

I agree. Diesel is the way of the near future, and Americans need to get with the program.

And about small cars

"America Needs to be Educated About Diesel Power" ...America needs to be educated about many things.

that is a Q7 in the picture...and below it says Q5

Two factors we Americans don't request more diesel vehicles are: diesel fuel costs MORE than even premium (93 octane) gasoline, also, diesel vehicles cost more to purchase initially. So the cost savings in miles per gallon doesn't always add up to a more efficient vehicle in the long run.

I understand Europe is poised to peddle diesels, and arrogant disdain can be a marginally effective sales technique with the fashion conscience or insecure, but if the issue is fighting stereotypes, it may be auto makers who are presumptuously stereotyping the reservations of US consumers. It is a pretty weak marketing strategy. The higher mileage of diesel vehicles is tenuously offset by the higher cost of diesel fuel, and diesel fuel is not as widely available as gasoline in urban areas. The higher cost of a comparable de-contented diesel vehicle is not quickly amortized, and a higher return in resale value isn't a certainty. The performance gap on the newer diesels is definitely narrow to the point of being negligible, but diesels, like their gasoline counterparts, still involve importing and burning petroleum. As such, it isn't a sizzling alternative for early adopters of alternative technology. You'd have to really want a diesel car in the current market, and there really are only a few models available. There are more interesting means to make a green statement. Too bad none of the new European diesel vehicles run on biodiesel. Those well-to-wheel calculations really shine with respect to greenhouse gases. Biodiesel has a cult-like following in a variety of circles. People appreciate the opportunity for self-sufficiency and resourcefully using waste vegetable oil. The new European diesels offer nothing to this demographic. Assuming diesels raise the idle of the automotive market in the US, Europe would do well to become educated about the probable effects of increased diesel consumption in the US. (The elasticity of petroleum brewing proportions is somewhat limited. Guess where the diesel comes from to meet increased European demand in the summer?)

I think the problems lies with the Japanese and the Koreans as well as GM and Ford where they aren't very good with diesel technology leaving the Americans buying the default brands. I can't imagine Lexus LS with a diesel.

I live in a country where nearly all cars are diesel cars. This is partly because diesel fuel is less taxed and recently also because of taxation based on CO2 emissions. As a result you can't find a second hand gasoline car, and if you buy a new one it's really hard to sell. Although diesels drive great these days, with plenty of torque - which is what really matters in day to day driving - there are some downsides too. When cold, they still are loud and unrefined, they wear much faster than gasoline engines when cold, so they are not suited for driving short distances. Diesels require expensive filters that clog up quickly when driving short distances, again when cold they pollute a lot. The small carbon particles from the exhaust cause lung cancer and asthma, and can't really be filtered because they are too small. Turbochargers and exhaust filters are failure prone, especially when misused, and very expensive to repair. So in short, diesel has it's advantages in some cases but it's not the total solution.

If Diesel motors are to become more popular in USA,,,What stocks should i consider to purchase to profit by the situation wjm wjm6350@hotmail.com

The American Reality its completly diferent from the one in Europe. I'm from Portugal, and our example its that a car to be successful must be a good Diesel. BMW keeps growing and growing because of their disel engines and even sports cars are mostly a success because of their high performance diesel engines. For example 90% of the AUDIs Q7/Q5 or BMWs X5/X3 etc, are diesels and the BMW 3 coupe or audi A5 or Merc CLK are also almost all diesels. Porche cayenne its selling tons now that they have it with a diesel and praticly all of the top selling cars in all categorys use this fuel. Its cheaper (Diesel its a sub-product of Gasoline) but the car its inicialy more expensive but thats in Portugal that we have a huge amount of taxes.

A BMW X5d costs about $3,500 more than a gas X5. Where I live in NY diesel is available at one station within 50 miles and about $0.40 more than premium gas. It would take almost 4-5 years to recoup the cost of the diesel. Also where I live it's routinely below freezing during the winter. Terrible for diesels. Most people I know with diesels almost never shut them off when they go anywhere also negating fuel savings. I haven't done all the math but it really is about break even, over the life of the vehicle, until you add in the increased maintenance. Once they lower the taxes on diesel it would be better.

In general, diesels sucks.