Let's be frank. In product planning terms, the U.S. is no market for the car we just drove. Sure, Audi's all-new A4 with a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V-6 and 6-speed manual is a fantastic package. But it's all your fault it won't be coming. Well, not you perhaps, but the general public and its anti-manual ways mean we won't be seeing a stick-shift A4 diesel in America. Really, a manual transmission on a German diesel luxury sedan? That's like a gun rack on a Tesla...
as tempting as all the hoopla these new diesels are generating -- its a lost cause here in the states. right now in chicago, the price for a gallon of diesel is roughly 90cents more expensive than regular unleaded while the hp and tq numbers are truly impressive, it is only when diesel prices are subsidized or fall to a price comparable to a gallon of premium will diesel cars be a cost-efficient and vastly entertaining alternative
After Being Presented With GT-R, Toretto Agrees Spilner Has Provided Ten-Second Car - Viergang Fuchs
The advantage to buying a higher-mileage model is that you can buy the car in two payments -- the first is for the initial purchase and the second is for your mechanic's retirement fund. -PassSedanGLX
seriously though, that's extremely disappointing if audi isn't going to be bringing us a manual transmission diesel. i was most certainly looking into a diesel a4 avant with a 6 speed manual for after i'm married in september as a family highway cruiser for our house upstate. i guess there won't be a manual diesel wagon in the states at all from any manf. bummer.
seriously though, that's extremely disappointing if audi isn't going to be bringing us a manual transmission diesel. i was most certainly looking into a diesel a4 avant with a 6 speed manual for after i'm married in september as a family highway cruiser for our house upstate. i guess there won't be a manual diesel wagon in the states at all from any manf. bummer.
Isn't the new Jetta sport-wagen coming with a 50 State legal 2.0TDi diesel with a six speed manual later this year?
Oo__oO
After Being Presented With GT-R, Toretto Agrees Spilner Has Provided Ten-Second Car - Viergang Fuchs
The advantage to buying a higher-mileage model is that you can buy the car in two payments -- the first is for the initial purchase and the second is for your mechanic's retirement fund. -PassSedanGLX
as tempting as all the hoopla these new diesels are generating -- its a lost cause here in the states. right now in chicago, the price for a gallon of diesel is roughly 90cents more expensive than regular unleaded while the hp and tq numbers are truly impressive, it is only when diesel prices are subsidized or fall to a price comparable to a gallon of premium will diesel cars be a cost-efficient and vastly entertaining alternative
Modified by avus9 at 4:41 AM 3-3-2008
How do they have to be subsidized? I don't get how Canadian diesel is the same price as mid-grade in the winter... and about the same (sometimes cheaper... definitely without as much fluctuation) as regular the rest of the year... Maybe when more people buy diesels the US refineries will start making more and the price can drop... diesel is cheaper to make then gasoline.
How do they have to be subsidized? I don't get how Canadian diesel is the same price as mid-grade in the winter... and about the same (sometimes cheaper... definitely without as much fluctuation) as regular the rest of the year... Maybe when more people buy diesels the US refineries will start making more and the price can drop... diesel is cheaper to make then gasoline.
As much as TCL hates Car and Driver, Csaba Csere wrote a damn good editorial this month on why diesel will never work in the U.S., and it's because US refineries simply aren't capable of producing significantly more diesel for passenger vehicles.
I'll paraphrase the article later when I have the time.
Quote, originally posted by Fake AP Stylebook »
Always remember to close all parentheses. We're not paying to air condition the entire paragraph.
Audi for me already has very attractive packages, If they where to offer this in this states I would be overdrafting my bank account just to put my deposit in for one.
The A3 I'm driving is only temporary. I had been planning to wait it out until, with any luck, Audi offers the A5 with a 3.0 TDI and a manual gearbox. That dream might be dead.
As I mentioned in another thread, I understand why 3.0TDI won't be available with manual (heck, even the 3.1 V6 is no longer going to be offered with manual). But it will be an unforgivable sin if Audi doesn't offer the TDI in A4 Avant. There will be a pitchfork mob outside AoA if they screwed the loyal Audi owners once again.
If you want a car that's not available in the US, there is always living in a state that doesn't have emissions tests, and doing an engine swap... (or a transmission swap - some people are considering doing that on their 04-05 Passat TDIs to get a manual)
Premium (in Cleveland): $3.31/gallon Diesel (in Cleveland): $4.10/gallon
14 gallon tank with Premium: $46.34 14 gallon tank with diesel: $57.40
14 gallon tank mileage with V6 and Premium ~19mpg: 266 miles per tank (~$ .17/mile) 14 gallon tank mileage with TDI ~35mpg: 490 miles per tank (~$ .11/mile)
The diesel still comes out to be cheaper.
Keep in mind that during the winter diesel is always more expensive due to lower fuel production and more being diverted for home heating fuel.
Also keep in mind that diesel fuel is relatively limited at the moment due to lack of demand. As demand increases, so will supply.
Quote, originally posted by avus9 »
as tempting as all the hoopla these new diesels are generating -- its a lost cause here in the states. right now in chicago, the price for a gallon of diesel is roughly 90cents more expensive than regular unleaded while the hp and tq numbers are truly impressive, it is only when diesel prices are subsidized or fall to a price comparable to a gallon of premium will diesel cars be a cost-efficient and vastly entertaining alternative
Modified by avus9 at 4:41 AM 3-3-2008
Travis L. Grundke tgrundke@gmail.com 2006 Audi A3 Sport, Cold Weather, Xenon, Open Sky, Nav+, Sound
Here's a thought...if the usual late model passenger car turbodiesel makes mad torkz...and can't be revved all that high...wtf is so much more awesome about having a manual vs. automatic transmission?
as tempting as all the hoopla these new diesels are generating -- its a lost cause here in the states. right now in chicago, the price for a gallon of diesel is roughly 90cents more expensive than regular unleaded while the hp and tq numbers are truly impressive, it is only when diesel prices are subsidized or fall to a price comparable to a gallon of premium will diesel cars be a cost-efficient and vastly entertaining alternative
Modified by avus9 at 4:41 AM 3-3-2008
Great analysis. Nevermind the fact that the net effective cost difference over the course of a year is a tiny fraction of the cost you suggest, or that fact that diesel is still cheaper to run, and just plain fun to drive.
Modified by RogueTDI at 1:52 PM 3-3-2008
Diesel is the engine of the future. Make way for the revolution.
The New World Order is REAL and tyranny is upon us. Time is short. Visit infowars.com.
Quote, originally posted by Juniper Monkeys re LS9 »
I'm going to swap this engine into Iceland and rescue them from their financial crisis by doing a sweet burnout on Greenland.
Quote, originally posted by epbrown »
Xzibit could learn a thing or two from Wendelin Weideking about pimping rides - the 911 has 14 different outfits, from the naughty-schoolgirl submissive Carrera to the alcantara-clad dominatrix GT3.
Unless I read it wrong, the article didn't address DSG -- Can they run the 3.0 TDI with a DSG? I'm not a huge DSG fan but if no manual is in the cards, that might be an interesting "second best" option for those of us who would definitely consider a TDI Audi.
1978 Honda Accord (gone), 1986 VW Jetta (gone), 1987 Saab 900 (sold for a pittance, tears in my eyes), 2000 VW Passat (sold), 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen (sold), 2004 Volvo V70R (still going strong), 2005 VW Golf TDI (lemon), 2006 Saab 9-2x (sold), 2008 Mazda CX9 (family hauler).
Now interested in: BMW X5 35d, Subaru Forester, used Subaru Legacy GT un-limited wagon, VW GTI-R 4-dr 6MT.
Jesus, really? Sorry Audi, you just lost a customer. Hello BMW, I'm a comin.
The only engine that will be available for BMW will be the 3.0 liter 35d designation and that will only be paired with an auto as it is in Europe.
Oo__oO
After Being Presented With GT-R, Toretto Agrees Spilner Has Provided Ten-Second Car - Viergang Fuchs
The advantage to buying a higher-mileage model is that you can buy the car in two payments -- the first is for the initial purchase and the second is for your mechanic's retirement fund. -PassSedanGLX
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Sorry Audi, you just lost a customer. Hello BMW, I'm a comin.
