Comments on: New Škoda Fabia Illustrates Diesel’s Decline http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:31:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: chuckgoolsbee http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-473571 chuckgoolsbee Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:20:11 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-473571 Diesel isn't a "fad", it is just an alternative. Markets work best when they DON'T follow the Microsoft model. I truly envy the Europeans who have a choice of powertrains in just about every model. You can pick your car and THEN decide on gasoline OR Diesel. In most cases, with just about any car, you have that choice. You can get an Alfa Romeo Spider with a Diesel for goodness sakes! But then again, here in the USA we get to choose: SUV or Truck. 14 MPG vs 12 MPG? Sigh. I imagine that if Diesel were an option here in the US, they would be sold. Not at the rate they are in Europe, but when you can buy a 5 passenger family sedan that will get 40 MPG things WILL move off the lot. However the argument is moot. The "fad" you fear so much can never happen here. You can't buy a Diesel car in the USA. --chuck http://chuck.goolsbee.org Diesel isn’t a “fad”, it is just an alternative.

Markets work best when they DON’T follow the Microsoft model. I truly envy the Europeans who have a choice of powertrains in just about every model. You can pick your car and THEN decide on gasoline OR Diesel. In most cases, with just about any car, you have that choice. You can get an Alfa Romeo Spider with a Diesel for goodness sakes!

But then again, here in the USA we get to choose: SUV or Truck. 14 MPG vs 12 MPG? Sigh.

I imagine that if Diesel were an option here in the US, they would be sold. Not at the rate they are in Europe, but when you can buy a 5 passenger family sedan that will get 40 MPG things WILL move off the lot.

However the argument is moot. The “fad” you fear so much can never happen here. You can’t buy a Diesel car in the USA.

–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org

]]> By: RobbieWilliams http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-473551 RobbieWilliams Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:16:39 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-473551 Of course this is contradicted by the fact that diesel sales throughout Europe have continued to <em>increase</em> and now represent 50% of sales in Europe (source NPR). Also, VW, Acura, Audi, et al, are bringing out diesels to the U.S. With the promise of better mileage, cleaner diesel, and bio diesel, I am thinking their odds of sticking around are good. Of course this is contradicted by the fact that diesel sales throughout Europe have continued to increase and now represent 50% of sales in Europe (source NPR). Also, VW, Acura, Audi, et al, are bringing out diesels to the U.S. With the promise of better mileage, cleaner diesel, and bio diesel, I am thinking their odds of sticking around are good.

]]> By: Paul Niedermeyer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-473141 Paul Niedermeyer Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:54:07 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-473141 Keep in mind that prior to the recent increase in fuel cost, diesels in many countries of Europe only made economic sense if you drove over a certain number of miles/kms (about 15k in Germany) per year. Many who bought diesels didn't drive enough to pay off the up-front premium. A fair number of buyers bought because it was the fad. The global diesel crunch is hitting Europe too, so that combined with the fad wearing off, and much more efficient "downsized" gas engines like the VW 1.4 TSI, diesel's market share will begin to drop. Overnight; of course not. But over the next 10-15 years, diesel may lose half it's market share. Keep in mind that prior to the recent increase in fuel cost, diesels in many countries of Europe only made economic sense if you drove over a certain number of miles/kms (about 15k in Germany) per year. Many who bought diesels didn’t drive enough to pay off the up-front premium. A fair number of buyers bought because it was the fad.

The global diesel crunch is hitting Europe too, so that combined with the fad wearing off, and much more efficient “downsized” gas engines like the VW 1.4 TSI, diesel’s market share will begin to drop. Overnight; of course not. But over the next 10-15 years, diesel may lose half it’s market share.

]]> By: Ingvar http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-472291 Ingvar Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:05:51 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-472291 There's no indication that diesel sales are going down in Europe. And the Fabia is not a sign of the times. There's a billion reasons to why or why not Volkswagen makes a decision on anything. It's like predicting SUV-sales on Chryslers decision not to make a Chrysler version of the Dodge Journey, which tells more about Cerberus then about SUVs. There’s no indication that diesel sales are going down in Europe. And the Fabia is not a sign of the times. There’s a billion reasons to why or why not Volkswagen makes a decision on anything. It’s like predicting SUV-sales on Chryslers decision not to make a Chrysler version of the Dodge Journey, which tells more about Cerberus then about SUVs.

]]> By: SherbornSean http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-472281 SherbornSean Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:03:48 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-472281 Or maybe just the ascendancy of the "twincharger" Or maybe just the ascendancy of the “twincharger”

]]> By: akitadog http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-472242 akitadog Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:59:41 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-472242 That Fabia kinda looks like a Suzuki Swift (the real one). Is there a relation between the two? That Fabia kinda looks like a Suzuki Swift (the real one). Is there a relation between the two?

]]> By: psarhjinian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-472142 psarhjinian Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:46:43 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-472142 Hopefully this means no more soot disfiguring buildings and no more red-eyes-and-black-snot moments in summer. Hopefully this means no more soot disfiguring buildings and no more red-eyes-and-black-snot moments in summer.

]]> By: threeer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-472131 threeer Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:43:44 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-skoda-fabia-illustrates-diesels-decline/#comment-472131 I don't see any real threat that a major shift away from diesel will occur in Europe any time soon. There have been too many gains made to simply toss the diesel model away. I don’t see any real threat that a major shift away from diesel will occur in Europe any time soon. There have been too many gains made to simply toss the diesel model away.

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