Vote for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year

If toyota made a diesel/electric Prius it would be the second coming. You do know that driving in the Prius cures cancer right?

 

Please look at the MSRPs when you pick diesel models vs. Toyota Prius 2013 | Hybrid Car. Do look at the fueleconomy.gov link I pointed to so that you can see the interior volumes and size classifications for yourself.

If you want to compare two cars that have similar interior volume and are both compacts, see Compare Side-by-Side. The Prius c actually has more interior room and yet from Toyota Prius C | Hybrid Hatchback starts out at $19,080. The Beetle TDI starts out at $23,495.

To top it off, in the April 2013 auto issue of CR, the Beetle had a much worse than average predicted reliability vs. Consumer Reports says Prius C most reliable 2012 vehicle.

 

I don't like diesel cars so would never buy a diesel Prius.

Diesel is the past, but it does have a place in SUV's for the next couple decades.

 

Who pays Msrp?
Consumer reports is a sham. Haven't they said negative things about hybrids before?
A 99hp Prius c does not compare to the jetta.
And running a tape measure from side to side and front to back doesn't tell how the car actually feels when you sit in it, or open the door for that matter.

 

From the 1st part I quoted, I didn't know I was supposed to listen to a Land Rover V8 diesel. I was just responding to the quoted part.

I hardly never see Land Rovers here, let alone diesel ones.

Apparently, the American public has been soured on its experience w/diesels in cars, partly (largely?) to blame on GM for shipping horrific under-engineered ones in the early 80s.

The problem here is that there are diesel cars and fuel is more expensive and there are few diesel car and SUV choices. Of the few that are available, most are from automakers w/a spotty or downright terrible reliability record.

Then there's the issue of them getting significantly worse EPA air pollution/smog scores than a large % of gasoline powered vehicles. But, most shoppers don't shop on such ratings.

 

If diesel was taxed here the same way it is in Europe all cars would have a diesel option. As most do in Europe.

Which is why land rover doesn't offer a diesel model here.

 

Most people don't pay MSRP but comparing random values becomes an apples to arrange comparison.

As for CR being a "sham". I disagree. I find their reliability ratings to be mostly on the mark. FWIW, CR didn't even like the Prius c and doesn't recommend it.

As for "tape measure", uhh... those measurements are not LINEAR measurements. They're interior measurements of volume. Are you even looking at the links? The Prius c has 2 more ft^3 of passenger volume than the Beetle and 2 more ft^3 of luggage volume.

 

Yeah and the beetle is a 2 door car.

I compared jetta to Prius when i made my purchase. I wouldn't even consider a coupe.

Volume is meaningless. I don't care how much water I can pump into my car. I care about linear measurements such as hip, leg, head and shoulder room.

 

The "poll" ended March 15 but diesel nonsense claims in a Prius forum will continue. Diesel posting in a Prius forum . . . seems more than a little silly. Probably time to crack open the "Ignore User" option.

Just a question of signal-to-noise ratio.

Bob Wilson

 

All I can say is wow, but if anyone was going to make a post like this i figured it would be you.

Talking about alternative fuel vehicles in an alternative fuel vehicle forum is nonsense right?

"PLOINK"

 

Well in Europe Diesel is not alternative fuel, it's mainstream, Why?
Petrol costs: 17 cents/kWh
Diesel costs: 14 cents/kWh

.. and Euro emissions standard, that wasn't so restrictive considering PM, but now I think it's on par with American standards. Some country's are changing their prices, but believe me that Germany will be the last one.

Every user knows that maintaining a diesel car will be higher, but it will never cost as much as fuelling a petrol car that achieves same efficiency.

 

diesels are sure thing for SUVs of any size and for highway cruisers... I am from Europe like you and sure they sound better these days but still not as nice... V8 + luxury barge with expensive engine bay isolation helps probably in that case you mentioned, but I have sat on traffic lights to plenty of BMWs and MB's and they still like to clatter at idle, especially in the morning. Might not heart it from the inside, but outside....

Gotta say, despite the DPFs and all, still pretty damn polluting bastards, when I get out of my car during city drive, stank is bad.

I still cant imagine buying anything but an diesel for SUVs though.

 

I'm waiting for the Cruze and possibly Mazda diesels before I vote for the diesel car of the year. I owned VW diesels and I just can't vote for them.

 

lol you might not want to judge modern diesels on GM diesel engines as they're not renowned as being the most refined over here! lol.

Personally I'd say the French diesel engines have the best balance for performance, refinement, economy and purchase price. BMW diesels can't be beaten though - and I mean their small engines such as under 2.0 litre. They're quick, super smooth (for a diesel) and very economical.

Be curious to see how good the Mazda diesel is. Generally the Japanese manufacturers aren't so good at diesels as Europe is their only market for them and Japanese cars don't sell well in all countries over here. Even Toyota have stopped developing new diesel engines and will now use BMW units in their diesel options.

 

Lol, I owned a 2006 PD TDI that was starting to wipe out the camshaft and I owned a 2009 CR TDI that was ready to wipe out the entire fuel system. And both cars were falling apart around the engines. If I bought another diesel, I'd take my chances on a GM or Mazda one before I ever bought another VW.