Daily Podcast: The Big Bang

RF, sorry about your Boxster. Loved the comments about revving gas vs diesel engines. (This is why I don't want a hybrid, or an electric, although I think everyone else except certified pistonheads should be forced to drive petrolly penurious cars.)

Did anyone here watch the ALMS race at Laguna Seca this Saturday? If they gave me *that* R10 diesel, I don't think I'd mind.

Justin, the 69% increase in MPG you note is for a British spec vehicle - I have to wonder if once the diesel Honda engines come to the US, they'll be as efficient - for the simple reason that our emissions test is horrendously more stringient than is Euro 4/5. In fact, the 45-state-only VW diesels had to be discontinued after 2006, and only now are "clean" diesels coming back on the market (I have seen none at the dealer, yet). Plus, as Paul alluded to, diesel fuel costs 20% more than gasoline here in the USA. Add in the additional cost of the diesel car, AND the additional cost of yet more emission equipment for the diesel, AND bear in mind that with a turbocharger, intercooler, etc. etc. there is "more to go wrong" (not necessarily a problem for Toyota/Honda but decidely a problem for most other car mfr's) - well.... I'll take my Prius instead, thanks. My 2008 Prius (just replaced my 2005) is sitting down in the parking lot here at work, and on it's little "meter" it says 49.5 mpg (US) right now, for the past 80 miles of travel. On my last fill-up, the meter read 48.2 mpg, but we'd had a lot of high winds recently which affected it. (It's weird to note how rain, winds, colder temperatures than about 50 degrees F., hotter temperatures and AC use, etc. cut into MPG - but if you think this is "only" applicable to Prius, you'd be wrong!) I will say that diesels will still have a market in the US, and would consider a clean diesel for car #2 if the math added up right (for the simple and logical reason that I don't want an SUV; we need to be able to tow a small camper and hybrid cars cannot yet tow anything). We will continue to carpool in our Prius (car #1), and only put about 6000 to 8000 miles a year on our second car (2007 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl). Just recently read that Prius is the MOST reliable new car sold in the US and the Sonata 4 cylinder is 3rd MOST reliable car sold in the US (with Accord in 2nd place). After 5 plus years of non-US branded cars, I feel a lot better about abandoning Detroit's craptastic stuff after being abused by them for 30 plus years. Feels just as if I've awakened to the possibilities of a different future and left an abusive spouse, in fact....

glenn, I completely agree with you about the Honda Accord example I used being British spec. It will be some time before we know what mileage a clean diesel can really offer in the states. Your average of 50 mpg in the Prius is fantastic of course, but what is the % improvement over a Corolla or Matrix? Maybe 50%, I'd venture. Does that sound right? My guess is that the new diesels coming to the U.S., especially the one from Honda, will be in that approximate range of improvement. And since they're going in totally different sized and category cars for now (excepting the anachronistic Lexus hybrids), I don't even think diesel and hybrid will be direct competitors for some time. It's great that both will be on the market. They drive completely differently, appeal to different buyers, and the powertrains tend to come wrapped in totally different cars. For me, I won't buy a hybrid that drives like the Prius and Civic currently on the market. I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with others buying them, but they just aren't my preference. A diesel on the other hand, I'd get in a second. And if we all drive more fuel efficient cars, I think that's a good thing.