Boxer diesel, you bet.

[rick3000]

And we're never going to see one in the US?
(At least for another few years)

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rick3000

And we're never going to see one in the US?
(At least for another few years)

You're probably right, but subaru is crazy not to. With that kind of mpg rating I'd think they would fly off the dealership lots.

[Dr. Kill]

I continue to wave the diesel flag and hope that this country begins accepting what the Europeans have understood for a while now.

I would much rather have a 62MPG diesel Golf than a 50MPG Hybrid Prius.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/blogs/marty_blog/2009/vw-golf-bluemotion-concept-gets-62-mpg/

Diesel is not a transitional technology. The engines are robust and produce loads of torque. Still, I wonder what would happen if someone built a diesel hybrid...

[rick3000]

I agree. Diesels cars are much better than any hybrid alternative, and can go more than an electric cars 120 miles range. GM and Ford have diesels in Europe but not in the US and know they are paying the price. (They just asked the US for a $15 billion loan.)

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I agree. Diesels cars are much better than any hybrid alternative, and can go more than an electric cars 120 miles range. GM and Ford have diesels in Europe but not in the US and know they are paying the price. (They just asked the US for a $15 billion loan.)

There are two reasons we are not getting the diesel cars.
1- our rediculous trucking industry consumes so much diesel that could be saved had we a realistic rail system, like europe and
2-the amount of gasoline and diesel from a barrel of oil is not adjustable. We get x number gallons of gas and x number gallons diesel from a barrel of oil and it is ALL already spoken for. More diesel cars would just run the demand, and price, up so high on diesel that it would more than offset the mpg savings.
I'm too tired to go looking for a link tonight, but the number of miles a train can take a ton of freight on a gallon of diesel will make you sick.
A new rail system would go a long, long way to solving our energy problems. Run trains hub to hub and deliver via truck from there. Set up the stations like a modern airport. There's no reason modern technologies and computer controlled inventory movement cannot make the load/unload slicker than owl dukey. Pay Walmart to run it. Their warehouse, load/unload systems are phenominal and a major reason they are able to sell at the prices they do.

[rick3000]

That's true. But if you get double (or more) the mgp, like going from 25 to 60, even if diesel goes up $2 to $6 a gallon, your still saving money. The price would have to double to make it not cost effective.
Plus, they can just use the same oil to make more diesel instead of more gas. (Correct me if I am wrong)

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by rick3000

That's true. But if you get double (or more) the mgp, like going from 25 to 60, even if diesel goes up $2 to $6 a gallon, your still saving money. The price would have to double to make it not cost effective.
Plus, they can just use the same oil to make more diesel instead of more gas. (Correct me if I am wrong)

You wrote this while I was doing a bear paw edit, but no, the amount of diesel and gas from a barrel of oil is not very adjustable, if at all. I think maybe different grades of crude get different amounts of each, but my understanding from those who are supposed to know say it's not adjustable.