jersh

So ... when I think of Diesel engines in cars, I think of really crummy sounding rattle noises, particulants and bad smells. Nothing is worse than the rattly/bumbling sound of some old mercedes diesel car, etc. - sounds old, sound low tech, sounds malfunctioning.

So everywhere I see people talking about TDI engines, and what a great engine the euro diesel in an a8 is, and how excited we should all be about them, blah blah blah...

So I figure "well, I guess they are different now". But yesterday, I was behind a late model jetta wagon that was TDI, and it sounded just like any other diesel engine - clankity-clank. And it had smoke, and smelled like a Diesel.

So what gives ? Why in the world would I want to buy a new car, and have it sound like an old chevy with 200k miles on it ? Why would I want particles and smoke coming out the back ?

Educate me please

WasabiAudi2

The new Euro diesels are getting pretty quiet, sounding more like gas/petrol engines, and are pretty smoke free. Not to mention they get way better gas mileage, diesel is cheaper (some places), and you get gobs of torque. The 4.2 TDI has somewhere around 310hp, and 450 lbs ft of torque, and is a little bit quicker than the standard gas 4.2 V8. In Euroland its more of a tax break b/c most diesels are exempt from outrageous gas taxes, both before you buy a car, and at the pump. If you ask any of the people who bought the Touareg V10 TDI, they'd tell you that it's an amazing SUV, and worth the 60k price tag. I've never heard of anyone who doesn't love Audi's/VW's/Merc's/BMW's diesels simply b/c they're so well done.

EuroA8

My country (Belgium) has the most diesel cars in the EU. It's almost "not done" to buy (certain) cars in petrol/gas versions. It makes absolutely the most sense here to buy that type of car because of taxes and cheaper diesel prices.

Audi S5 TC

4.2L TDI V8 produces 320 hp and 480 lbs/ft of torque

ZRH

Last year I drove a Peugeot 407 2.0l Turbodiesel all summer in Switzerland. It was stink-free and "diesel-rattle" free. Had enough low end torque to pull a barn off its foundations. Also had factory standard particulate filter which might meet even California standards. I paid the equiv of $5.62/gal for fuel which was very slightly less than regular "benzin". At 130-140 kph on Autobahn I got equiv of 40-41 mpg in a car the size of a Passat.

Exciting enough?

I flat can't understand why diesel does not get more play here in US..I read recently that 40+% of new passenger car registrations in Germany are for diesels. Perhaps we have a cabal led by Toyota who really want their hybrids to dominate the US market now that we have handed it to them? Opinions?

ZRH 7178