Diesel Sales Rise Along with Gas Prices
Increase in diesel vehicle sales signals that U.S. drivers’ attitudes toward the fuel have changed.
Due to high gas prices, Americans attitudes toward diesel-powered vehicles may have finally turned the corner. Sales on what some drivers derisively call “oil burners” have risen significantly so far this year, according to a new study. And this comes on the heels of an almost 30 percent increase in 2011.
A joint report from Hybridcars.com and the research company Baum and Associates shows that sales of diesel vehicles in the U.S. increased in the first three months of 2012. Compared to last year, January sales rose 21.2 percent, jumped 42.9 percent in February and in March sales rose 39.0 percent.
“This 35 percent increase in clean-diesel auto sales during the first quarter of 2012 is a continuation of the 27 percent sales jump in 2011,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, in a statement.
Unsurprisingly, diesel sales have risen right alongside fuel prices. And although diesel fuel costs slightly more than gasoline, vehicles that use it can get up to 40 percent better mileage, which makes diesels an attractive alternative for the cost-conscious.
This trend should continue, since several new vehicles available in the U.S. are scheduled to get fuel-efficient diesel engines. These include European vehicles like the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Cayenne and the Audi A8, A6 and Q5.
Diesels have long been popular in Europe and elsewhere. But several domestic vehicles are also slated to be fitted with diesels, such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Jeep Grand Cherokee and new Cadillac ATS.
[Source: USA Today]
My neighbor just bought an Audi A3 with a diesel powerplant. I helped steer him away from a hybrid. 
So far, he is "loving it." I don't know exact figures yet, but he claims to be getting "well over 40 mpg." Better than his wife's Lexus hybrid. 
If the ATS comes to the states with a diesel, it will be my next car. I won't wait more than a couple years for it....
It's the rare diesel that actually pays for itself and recoups the premium you have to pay for one. Most need to be driven over 300K miles to even begin to show a positive return on investment.
This trend should continue, since several new vehicles available in the U.S. are scheduled to get fuel-efficient diesel engines. These include European vehicles like the Volkswagen Beetle , the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Cayenne and the Audii A8, A6 and Q5.
Diesels have long been popular in Europe and elsewhere. But several domestic vehicles are also slated to be fitted with diesels, such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Jeep Grand Cherokee and new Cadillac ATS.
Except for the Cruze and Beetle, there are no other cars that could be considered economy cars. That is to say, relatively inexpensive to buy, maintain, and own. The ATS might qualify depending on its MSRP but, it's a Cadilac. I have my doubts about it being cheap.
Don't get me wrong if these cars all come with optional diesel power that is great. I would just love to see the kind of cars I can afford be made available with a diesel.
Now if we can keep the media and "greenies" from bad-mouthing them, we'll be in good shape.
Newer Diesel technology has improved greatly. Diesel engines offer more torque (POWER) and better MPG than gasoline engines. Plus they last much much longer when properly maintained. They are now extremely clean and very quiet.
The Germans have just about perfected this technology and hopefully soon we will see a 4 cylinder diesel here in the USA offered in small pickups and SUV's.
Now that we're being forced to use low-sulphur diesel fuel here, engine life has been cut in half because of poor lubrication.
You are wrong, and I have the experience behind me, with diesel fuel with three times less the Sulfur content than what is sold in the United States to prove it. Never had a problem with lubrication, and on top of that, I've been using fully synthetic Castrol GTX 7 Dynatec SAE 10W30 in the Winter, and synthetic Castrol GTX 7 Dynatec SAE 10W40 in the Summer, since the first oil change. All these years. The car has been driven HARD, and by hard I mean city traffic jams taking up to 2.5 hours to drive 16 miles, with 6-8 hour incessant 130+ MPH driving across the entire continent.There is not a drop of any kind of fluid anywhere on the engine or any other subsystems. It looks like new, and in fact, once I hit 40,000 miles, my fuel consumption started dropping as an added bonus.
Also, keep the politics out of it. Rather, try to think about all the corrupt, money grabbing and selfish managers in all these corporations, looking out for themselves rather than your best interest.
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