Thats awesome im glad you are doing your part to save our environment. However your comments about diesels being dirtier than conventional gasoline engines illustrates a fundamental ignorance of modern diesel engine technology. The new TDI recieved basically the same air polution score as the 2.5 I5 gas model. Check the EPA website to verify that if got a 6 of 10. In addition you must factor in the long term impact of a hybrid your several hundred pound heavy metal battery wont turn into a tree after 150k miles it hits a landfill and your pocket for $3799 source McGeorge Toyota in Richmond VA. Now about 3 years ago the EPA tested a Passat TDI running B100( 100% biodiesel for you hybrid folks ) its only exhaust emmision was the equivalent of 35g/100km of CO2 which no hybrid can touch and elemental carbon there were no carcinogens or other undesirables. There are no hydrids on the market except the Tahoe that can run on E85 which doesnt help that much as alcohol emits significant amounts of CO2 when burned.

My TDI returns well over 50 mpg in combined driving almost 60 on the interstate. Now to be fair my vehicle is not stock I have computer turbo and injector enhancements as well as a taller 5th gear which allows my motor to turn at 1600 doing 70mph. My jetta has almost 250k on the clock. I have changed my timing belt 2x getting ready for a 3rd at a total of 750 a pop.

Bottom line is both technologies diesel and HEVs are important to helping reduce or impact on this planet. However one thing I have noticed is hybrid owners tend to bash diesels with no basis in fact and while themselves being either ignorant or disengenious about the ultimate effect that their HEV has they never consider what happens to the batteries they lug around every day when their usefull life is gone and they almost never go and look at the emission ratings that many newer diesel get or consider the environmental benefits of alternative fuels that diesels are uniquely positioned to use.

None of us should say anything about a competing technology unless we actually understand it. Both technologies have merit HEVs are better for stop and go traffic diesels are better for moderate to high speed long distance commutes according to KBB diesels tend to hold their value longer if you are someone that holds on to a vehicle for a while. Hybrids hold their value better than diesels in the short term (2 years or less) than diesels after that they depreciate much more quickly.

For any sort of towing or hauling its still there however. Tow a 10k lbs trailer with a gas and diesel pickup and the diesel wins by a big margin.

Long term reliability and longevity with the higher operating temps required to meet the new standard has yet to be proven.

That being said the torque-rich nature of a diesel makes for a distinct and more enjoyable driving experience.

For any sort of towing or hauling its still there however. Tow a 10k lbs trailer with a gas and diesel pickup and the diesel wins by a big margin.

Long term reliability and longevity with the higher operating temps required to meet the new standard has yet to be proven.

I’ll take a diesel any day.

Name one passenger car diesel, available in North America, that is made by a company not notorious for general long-term reliability problems.

And a $3k new motorcycle can do 80′ish or more, not even getting to scooters…

And my bicycle gets infinite miles to the gallon. Your point is what?

A Prius or Jetta can carry four people in comfort and a reasonable amount of cargo in all but the extreme inclement weather. Right now, if I look out my window, I see road conditions that would probably kill a motorbike rider, and would certainly be uncomfortable.

Oh, and passengers? Like carseat-age children?

I’ll take a diesel any day.

And a $3k new motorcycle can do 80′ish or more, not even getting to scooters…

Diesel, in addition to all the things you said, is also incredibly dirty compared to a hybrid engine. Even ‘clean diesel’ is dirtier than modern gas (non-hybrid) engines. It’s a step in the wrong direction.

For typically American-style long distance driving the economy provided by Diesel is astounding when compared to gasoline and/or ethanol. Don’t believe the EPA numbers. I’ve consistently averaged 50 MPG with my TDI over the past six years. My wife’s Liberty CRD gets between 26 and 30 MPG.

Additionally Diesel is a fantastically flexible fuel format that allows you to truly take advantage of all manner of alternative fuels. I make my own BioDiesel at home, and my average cost to produce varies between 95¢ to $1.50 a gallon. Try that with gasoline!

–chuck

However, the Tiguan TDI is apparently not available in the US because it would have required a urea system even if they stuck the same 2.0 litre TDI in it.

Regards,

Coming in to work today, Kokomo, IN. BP on US31, regular 1.67/gal…..diesel 2.48/gal…..(2.48-1.67)/1.67*100% = 48.5%. Close enough for rock-n-roll

I couldn’t comment on Herr Schmitt’s WAS today for some reason, excellent updates of news I would not usually get…plus a dash of humor with the rodent story at the end. Stuff like this keeps me coming back….good work.

Still, at least a GM hybrid didn’t get the prize.