Would you buy a diesel Audi?
12-30-2003, 11:40 AM
#11
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I don't think you will have the option.
I don't know if this is true but a dealer recently told me that there will be no diesel auto sales starting in a year or two. I'm not talking about just Audi but no cars from any manufacturer will be selling diesels in the US. Maybe just California will have the ban but it it is unlikely that any overseas manufacturer will try and certify a diesel in the US if it can't sell in California.
Diesels have the potential for just as much, or more, power per pound as gasoline engines. We tend to think of diesels as truck engines but there have been, and are again, numerous diesel aircraft engines. The power to weight ratio of some of these diesels was completely competitive with gasoline engines. Diesels can run very high compression ratios and boost pressures without any of the effeciency issues that plague gasoline engines (ignition retard to keep the engine from knocking is not a factor on diesels). There have been diesel engines running 20+ atmospheres of boost with compression ratios of 20-1.
The one problem with diesels is particulate and NOX emmisions. They still do not seem to be able to get the emmisions in line with the best gasoline engines.
Diesels have the potential for just as much, or more, power per pound as gasoline engines. We tend to think of diesels as truck engines but there have been, and are again, numerous diesel aircraft engines. The power to weight ratio of some of these diesels was completely competitive with gasoline engines. Diesels can run very high compression ratios and boost pressures without any of the effeciency issues that plague gasoline engines (ignition retard to keep the engine from knocking is not a factor on diesels). There have been diesel engines running 20+ atmospheres of boost with compression ratios of 20-1.
The one problem with diesels is particulate and NOX emmisions. They still do not seem to be able to get the emmisions in line with the best gasoline engines.
12-30-2003, 11:41 AM
#12
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Re: Yes I would!
Last trip to Milan I saw numerous A8 sedans sporting 3.X liter turbo diesel engines. I would choose that (or similar) engine in my next A6 without hesitation. The performance of TD's are amazing and they sip fuel compared to a gas powered vehicle.
I've rented a number of cars in Italy (all TD's) Opel, Alpha 156, BMW-3, BMW-5, Benz 220 and spent tons of hours in a E270 MB with a friend in the North East of Italy.
They are not rocket ships off the line, but they can be powerful and impressive none the less. I could own one to take care of the need for fuel economy and comfort crusing, keeping my other car handy when the need for speed presents itself.
I've rented a number of cars in Italy (all TD's) Opel, Alpha 156, BMW-3, BMW-5, Benz 220 and spent tons of hours in a E270 MB with a friend in the North East of Italy.
They are not rocket ships off the line, but they can be powerful and impressive none the less. I could own one to take care of the need for fuel economy and comfort crusing, keeping my other car handy when the need for speed presents itself.
12-30-2003, 11:58 AM
#13
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YES! A6 Sport TDI
Audi already makes a car that I would buy, but it's not offered in the US. The A6 Sport TDI is a 2.6l diesel offered with a 6-spd manual, sport suspension, and sport seats. It's an 8 second machine, returning 40+ mpg.
The problem that is widely forgotten, or overlooked, is that the diesel fuel used in the US is from the sour crude, while the latest diesel engines from Europe require sweet crude diesel fuel. The refineries won't start distributing sweet crude diesel until there's a market, and the European manufacturers won't certify a new diesel engine until there's distribution of the sweet crude diesel. See the problem?
The problem that is widely forgotten, or overlooked, is that the diesel fuel used in the US is from the sour crude, while the latest diesel engines from Europe require sweet crude diesel fuel. The refineries won't start distributing sweet crude diesel until there's a market, and the European manufacturers won't certify a new diesel engine until there's distribution of the sweet crude diesel. See the problem?
12-30-2003, 12:03 PM
#14
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Yes, without a doubt.
I think there might be a slim chance, since VW is bringing the V10 TDI Touareg. Diesels are great motors, you can push 80+ pounds of boost, without any problems.
12-30-2003, 02:31 PM
#17
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Yes, and here's a pic to show why
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/21116/dscn0207.jpg"></center><p>This is a pic of the speedometer of the A4 Avant
1.9 TDI I had as a rental in Germany, last June.
Pic shot heading south on the A27 Autobahn, from Cuxhaven (not much traffic on that stretch). I was shocked how fast that little car would move.
The only bad point was the Audi 6-speed shifter.
I thought the shifting dynamics really sucked, worst I have ever experienced.
1.9 TDI I had as a rental in Germany, last June.
Pic shot heading south on the A27 Autobahn, from Cuxhaven (not much traffic on that stretch). I was shocked how fast that little car would move.
The only bad point was the Audi 6-speed shifter.
I thought the shifting dynamics really sucked, worst I have ever experienced.
12-30-2003, 03:40 PM
#18
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Actually, on my recent UK trip....
...car people that I spoke with seem to care much more about torque than HP. The TDI's certainly deliver on torque and seem to last longer than gas engines due to fewer parts.
