Will diesel powered passenger cars be accepted by American drivers?

Question

Will diesel powered passenger cars be accepted by American drivers?

Answer 1

I have owned two diesel American made cars. If they aren't made any better than the two I had then no. The engines blew up in both. One was a Buick Riveria, and the other a Cadillac Seville.

I totally agree with my2cents. It aggrivates my asthma to smell fumes from cars, and diesel is the worst.

Answer 2

I don't know but I don't like them.  They are noisy and they smell awful.  They irrate my asthma and have actually made me ill.  I know a lot of people like them but I personally do not.

Answer 3

they are in the minority but readily available.

Answer 4

I think Sparkles kinda summed it up.  She's living proof that people still remember GM diesel cars from 25 years ago, and that's still their impression of ALL diesels a quarter-century later.  If people can break out of that old-diesel mentality and come into the current world, they'll realize diesels aren't what they used to be.  Personally, I have three diesel Mercedes, and they're all old, but I refuse to drive anything else.  Over a half million miles on my daily driver, still no overhaul, still going strong.  Sparkles' GM comparison is not even remotely applicable today.  I had an Olds 98 and a Cadillac Fleetwood with diesels, and no, they weren't worth the metal they were made of.  That was the past, people, let's get back to this century!

Answer 5

the problem with the diesel engine ,, they are slower and noisy.............

but they are for hard work

Answer 6

we have had them for a while i think. my x girlfriends mom has an old one.

Answer 7

I'd buy one if Honda or Toyota came out with a diesel.  I was hoping either one would make a diesel hybrid.  

I drove a TDI turbo diesel all around Europe once.  It was great!  Plenty of power and super MPG.  The newer diesels don't stink like the old ones either.

Answer 8

I would have to say no, Gas prices right now are up in price considerably. Around here its about $3.15 per 9/10 of a gal. And diesel is even more... The only advantage i could imagin for having a diesel powered engine is the fact that it is easily converted into "Bio-Diesel". Which is supposidly cleaner, and heck of a lot cheaper than any other gas out there. (due to the fact Bio Diesel uses old/used cooking oil, Which a mixure of other stuff.

Answer 9

The newer generation diesels coming out are unlike what we think of as oil burners - black sooty exhaust, oily smell and lots of clatter.  As Americans see these vehicles on the street, they will grow to accept them and eventually embrace diesels.  Even tractor trailers are getting so efficent they surpass the exhaust emissions of those nasty diesel cars we remember.

I agree that the GM diesel effort of the 80's was a huge failure, but GM simply took an inefficient motor and plopped it into a body and transmission designed for gasoline engines.  You probably have passed Mercedes and Volkswagen diesels for years without even realizing you've done so.  They're well built, quiet, clean and highly efficient.  Honda has plans to make a diesel domestically available in the next couple of years and I know I will seriously consider it as I plan my next vehicle purchase.

A gasoline Jetta gets about 28-30 mpg, while a diesel Jetta gets about 42 mpg.  That means that at current street prices of 3.10/gallon for gasoline and 3.40/gallon for diesel, the fuel cost per mile for each is 10.6 cents gasoline and 8.1 cents diesel.  Even with the current  spread on prices, diesel costs you less to run.  Diesel engines are also famous for exceptional durability.  It's not uncommon for diesels to run 250K miles without needing major repairs, while gaoline engines are living on borrowed time after about 100K.

Answer 10

Yes but only the smaller foreign make models are made with any quality.