Comments on: Audi’s Diesel Plans for the U.S. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:13:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: gohip2000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-880711 gohip2000 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:45:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-880711 have you ever driven one of those 6 cylinder turbo diesels? I've driven a decent amount of them in Germany and let me tell you. they're great. I rented a 6 cylinder mercedes diesel and found it would spin dougnuts on dry pavement, pull you so hard into the seat you couldn't touch the dashboard, top out at 160 mph, and that with 40 mpg. had similar performance with a VW passat, and Audi A4. In fact for a while I was starting to think the fuel gauge was broken. I was beating the piss out of this engine and the gauge wouldn't go down. I love how the turbo diesels have the power from the low RPM,s. It does take some getting use to. In gas engines, you try to get to the top rpm's to reach your fun power. the diesel has a very slight lag and then slams you back in yur seat, but you need to cut of the power and switch gear mid rpm cause you'll only loose power after that. Learn to shift at mid rpm, and your gold A few years back I emailed Audi and asked why they didn't bring the performance diesels to American and they told me there wasn't a market for them. I would think there should be. sports car that gets similar mileage to a hybrid. Granted the cost of diesel in the US is a total rip off. In Germany it was the same price as regular gasoline, (which was actually about $5 a gallon at the time). In fact later I rented a mid power BMW gas model and wished I had the diesel feel back. Even the smaller turbo diesel engines have respectable power, but when you get into a 6 cylinder turbo diesel, you'll be surprised have you ever driven one of those 6 cylinder turbo diesels? I’ve driven a decent amount of them in Germany and let me tell you. they’re great. I rented a 6 cylinder mercedes diesel and found it would spin dougnuts on dry pavement, pull you so hard into the seat you couldn’t touch the dashboard, top out at 160 mph, and that with 40 mpg. had similar performance with a VW passat, and Audi A4. In fact for a while I was starting to think the fuel gauge was broken. I was beating the piss out of this engine and the gauge wouldn’t go down. I love how the turbo diesels have the power from the low RPM,s. It does take some getting use to. In gas engines, you try to get to the top rpm’s to reach your fun power. the diesel has a very slight lag and then slams you back in yur seat, but you need to cut of the power and switch gear mid rpm cause you’ll only loose power after that. Learn to shift at mid rpm, and your gold
A few years back I emailed Audi and asked why they didn’t bring the performance diesels to American and they told me there wasn’t a market for them.
I would think there should be. sports car that gets similar mileage to a hybrid.
Granted the cost of diesel in the US is a total rip off. In Germany it was the same price as regular gasoline, (which was actually about $5 a gallon at the time).
In fact later I rented a mid power BMW gas model and wished I had the diesel feel back. Even the smaller turbo diesel engines have respectable power, but when you get into a 6 cylinder turbo diesel, you’ll be surprised

]]> By: Guy http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-508951 Guy Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:57:01 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-508951 Folks are making bio-diesel for anywhere between 50 - 80 cents a gallon from recycled vegetable oils. I'm really looking forward to the date when we can use oil palm or algae for production of biodiesel, and then knock the socks off of the oil co's. I'd love to have an Audi turbo diesel in my old 944. Folks are making bio-diesel for anywhere between 50 – 80 cents a gallon from recycled vegetable oils. I’m really looking forward to the date when we can use oil palm or algae for production of biodiesel, and then knock the socks off of the oil co’s. I’d love to have an Audi turbo diesel in my old 944.

]]> By: Not Just the Q7... - AudiNow.com http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-310722 Not Just the Q7... - AudiNow.com Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:45:12 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-310722 [...] Just the Q7... Audi’s Diesel Plans for the U.S. | The Truth About Cars No new news here, other than they are talking about making more TDI products for North America [...] [...] Just the Q7… Audi’s Diesel Plans for the U.S. | The Truth About Cars No new news here, other than they are talking about making more TDI products for North America [...]

]]> By: SunnyvaleCA http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-302462 SunnyvaleCA Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:32:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-302462 For Audi vehicles, diesel prices should be compared to <i>premium</i> gasoline prices, not regular. For Audi vehicles, diesel prices should be compared to premium gasoline prices, not regular.

]]> By: Pch101 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-302352 Pch101 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:46:29 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-302352 <em>Why bother with diesel if it sucks as much gas as a regular engine?</em> That's not quite right. The diesels do get better fuel economy, when they are compared based upon a given level of performance. For example, if you compare a Euro-spec 3.0 liter turbodiesel A6 Quattro with the 3.2 liter gas version, the diesel version gets about 35% better fuel economy. (Some of the fuel savings is due to the turbo, but you can guess that about 25% of the savings is due to the diesel.) Or, in the alternative, you could get the 2.0 liter turbo gas motor, which would provide similar fuel economy to the diesel, but it would be slower. To get the same fuel economy, the gas engine loses performance. I don't expect much demand for diesels, but if anyone could make money pushing them, it should be the Germans. They won't sell a lot of them, but with their large diesel customer base in Europe, it doesn't cost them much to try. Why bother with diesel if it sucks as much gas as a regular engine?

That’s not quite right. The diesels do get better fuel economy, when they are compared based upon a given level of performance.

For example, if you compare a Euro-spec 3.0 liter turbodiesel A6 Quattro with the 3.2 liter gas version, the diesel version gets about 35% better fuel economy. (Some of the fuel savings is due to the turbo, but you can guess that about 25% of the savings is due to the diesel.)

Or, in the alternative, you could get the 2.0 liter turbo gas motor, which would provide similar fuel economy to the diesel, but it would be slower. To get the same fuel economy, the gas engine loses performance.

I don’t expect much demand for diesels, but if anyone could make money pushing them, it should be the Germans. They won’t sell a lot of them, but with their large diesel customer base in Europe, it doesn’t cost them much to try.

]]> By: hwyhobo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-302232 hwyhobo Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:23:34 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-302232 Why bother with diesel if it sucks as much gas as a regular engine? Dumb. Take advantage of its fuel efficiency, bring the proven, small diesels. This is pointless as planned. Why bother with diesel if it sucks as much gas as a regular engine? Dumb. Take advantage of its fuel efficiency, bring the proven, small diesels. This is pointless as planned.

]]> By: Pch101 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-302092 Pch101 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:57:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-302092 <em>They have to talk about performance because big oelmotoren don’t really get that great mileage. </em> I'd say it's the opposite. They are using large motors because they want their buyers to associate diesel with performance, not with economy. Audi markets itself as a technology-oriented brand, and diesel is being positioned to be aligned with their branding message. Audi is a luxury brand, so its cars should not have an economy message. Efficiency is fine and performance is better, but economy as a sales message should be left to VW. The ultimate agenda in their search for US conquest buyers is to compete with Mercedes, not with Toyota. They have to talk about performance because big oelmotoren don’t really get that great mileage.

I’d say it’s the opposite. They are using large motors because they want their buyers to associate diesel with performance, not with economy. Audi markets itself as a technology-oriented brand, and diesel is being positioned to be aligned with their branding message.

Audi is a luxury brand, so its cars should not have an economy message. Efficiency is fine and performance is better, but economy as a sales message should be left to VW.

The ultimate agenda in their search for US conquest buyers is to compete with Mercedes, not with Toyota.

]]> By: Joshvar http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-302062 Joshvar Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:51:25 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-302062 America's simply too brand-boozled to buy an econoAudi. An A3 TDi (or even A4 TDi displacing 2L or less) are very, very unlikely to come over, as they'll expect that sliver-of-a-sliver to go to VW, and I'd bet that they're right. I'd be interested in an A4 Avant 1.9/2.0 TDi quattro with a cloth interior, but I know it ain't happening. America’s simply too brand-boozled to buy an econoAudi. An A3 TDi (or even A4 TDi displacing 2L or less) are very, very unlikely to come over, as they’ll expect that sliver-of-a-sliver to go to VW, and I’d bet that they’re right.

I’d be interested in an A4 Avant 1.9/2.0 TDi quattro with a cloth interior, but I know it ain’t happening.

]]> By: carguy http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-301952 carguy Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:31:33 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-301952 What's the obsession with high performance diesels? Why not bring over the A4 2.0 TDI - it has enough power, plenty of torque and sips diesel. I thought the whole point of diesel was economy so why bring over the biggest and thirstiest engines first? What’s the obsession with high performance diesels? Why not bring over the A4 2.0 TDI – it has enough power, plenty of torque and sips diesel. I thought the whole point of diesel was economy so why bring over the biggest and thirstiest engines first?

]]> By: chuckgoolsbee http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-301582 chuckgoolsbee Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:26:56 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-301582 They have to talk about performance because big <em>oelmotoren</em> don't really get that great mileage. Incrementally better than gasoline, but not astoundingly better. For that you have to go with a small engine and (largely) give up the performance. Mind you, the torque of the oil burners makes for fun low- & mid-speed driving; but you can rack up truly impressive MPG with a sub-2liter TDI. I'd love to see a TT Convertible with the proven 1.9L TDI engine. Shed as much weight as possible from the chassis. Leave off the A/C. Give me an honest-to-god basic 5 speed manual and I'd be in heaven. I don't need to drive any faster than say... 95 MPH anyway, and 99% of my driving is done between 35 & 75 MPH. Here let me put it clearly: <strong>FUEL ECONOMY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RAW PERFORMANCE.</strong> I realize that may come as a shock to readers here, but the last two decades have seen a quantum leap in automotive engineering, all of it around reliability and performance, at the <em>expense</em> of fuel economy. The time is now (well, actually the time was about 5 years ago, but the industry was asleep at the wheel!) to change that focus to economy. Diesel is a great technology for that focus, as is hybridization. In military parlance what Audi is doing by pursuing performance with Diesel is called "fighting the last war". --chuck http://chuck.goolsbee.org They have to talk about performance because big oelmotoren don’t really get that great mileage. Incrementally better than gasoline, but not astoundingly better. For that you have to go with a small engine and (largely) give up the performance. Mind you, the torque of the oil burners makes for fun low- & mid-speed driving; but you can rack up truly impressive MPG with a sub-2liter TDI.

I’d love to see a TT Convertible with the proven 1.9L TDI engine. Shed as much weight as possible from the chassis. Leave off the A/C. Give me an honest-to-god basic 5 speed manual and I’d be in heaven. I don’t need to drive any faster than say… 95 MPH anyway, and 99% of my driving is done between 35 & 75 MPH.

Here let me put it clearly: FUEL ECONOMY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RAW PERFORMANCE.

I realize that may come as a shock to readers here, but the last two decades have seen a quantum leap in automotive engineering, all of it around reliability and performance, at the expense of fuel economy. The time is now (well, actually the time was about 5 years ago, but the industry was asleep at the wheel!) to change that focus to economy. Diesel is a great technology for that focus, as is hybridization.

In military parlance what Audi is doing by pursuing performance with Diesel is called “fighting the last war”.

–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org

]]> By: brettc http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-301182 brettc Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:21:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/audis-diesel-plans-for-the-us/#comment-301182 It sure would be nice if Audi would offer an A3 TDI. I like the A3 and would love to get an A3 wagon, but I'm not buying one with a gas engine. The upcoming 2.0 litre TDI that's coming in the Jetta would probably work well in it. A 3.0 litre TDI is still too thirsty, especially with higher diesel prices. It sure would be nice if Audi would offer an A3 TDI. I like the A3 and would love to get an A3 wagon, but I’m not buying one with a gas engine. The upcoming 2.0 litre TDI that’s coming in the Jetta would probably work well in it. A 3.0 litre TDI is still too thirsty, especially with higher diesel prices.

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