I'm looking to replace my 06 Jeep that has a Hemi.I've been looking at a BMW/MB or a VW with a diesel engine.I want a car but none of those cars offer all-wheel drive.Those same cars without a diesel can be bought in all-wheel drive but with gasoline.Is it worth getting a diesel or just get a all-wheel drive car? Thanks Joe
Diesel Engine-is it worth the money?
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Wait 6 months, the Cruze get's a 2.0L Turbo-diesel that with the manual is expected to be rated for 50mpg highway. =D
Diesel is great, but if you can't get it with AWD and you really want/need AWD, I'd take that first. A good option is get a FWD car with a diesel engine (like the aforementioned cruze diesel), and get a set of steel wheels and snow tires for winter. that will be better than AWD with cruddy all-seasons anyway.
Diesel is great, but if you can't get it with AWD and you really want/need AWD, I'd take that first. A good option is get a FWD car with a diesel engine (like the aforementioned cruze diesel), and get a set of steel wheels and snow tires for winter. that will be better than AWD with cruddy all-seasons anyway.
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Currently I can't see making an economic argument for buying a diesel. More expensive engine and much more expensive fuel in the Northeast.
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Wait 6 months, the Cruze get's a 2.0L Turbo-diesel that with the manual is expected to be rated for 50mpg highway. =D
Diesel is great, but if you can't get it with AWD and you really want/need AWD, I'd take that first. A good option is get a FWD car with a diesel engine (like the aforementioned cruze diesel), and get a set of steel wheels and snow tires for winter. that will be better than AWD with cruddy all-seasons anyway.
This. A modern FWD car with snow tires will stop/turn better than an AWD car on all-seasons.
I'd also look into gas-powered alternatives first. Diesel is much more expensive than even premium unleaded in my neck of the woods in NY's Southern Tier. Down in LI, I'd guess the difference would only be worse.
Wait 6 months, the Cruze get's a 2.0L Turbo-diesel that with the manual is expected to be rated for 50mpg highway. =D
Diesel is great, but if you can't get it with AWD and you really want/need AWD, I'd take that first. A good option is get a FWD car with a diesel engine (like the aforementioned cruze diesel), and get a set of steel wheels and snow tires for winter. that will be better than AWD with cruddy all-seasons anyway.
This. A modern FWD car with snow tires will stop/turn better than an AWD car on all-seasons.
I'd also look into gas-powered alternatives first. Diesel is much more expensive than even premium unleaded in my neck of the woods in NY's Southern Tier. Down in LI, I'd guess the difference would only be worse.
Originally Posted By: Dually
I'm looking to replace my 06 Jeep that has a Hemi.I've been looking at a BMW/MB or a VW with a diesel engine.I want a car but none of those cars offer all-wheel drive.Those same cars without a diesel can be bought in all-wheel drive but with gasoline.Is it worth getting a diesel or just get a all-wheel drive car? Thanks Joe
Well, how badly do you need to get to work every dang day?
If you can afford to work from home a few days out of the year when the snow is just that heavy, get whatever you want regardless of drivetrain type. You can always slap some winter tires on it, and it might be just fine in the snow anyway.
If you absolutely must get to work every day regardless of road conditions, then your order of preference should be AWD > FWD > RWD, and all else should be secondary. But whatever you do, definitely invest in a set of winter set if you can.
I'm looking to replace my 06 Jeep that has a Hemi.I've been looking at a BMW/MB or a VW with a diesel engine.I want a car but none of those cars offer all-wheel drive.Those same cars without a diesel can be bought in all-wheel drive but with gasoline.Is it worth getting a diesel or just get a all-wheel drive car? Thanks Joe
Well, how badly do you need to get to work every dang day?
If you can afford to work from home a few days out of the year when the snow is just that heavy, get whatever you want regardless of drivetrain type. You can always slap some winter tires on it, and it might be just fine in the snow anyway.
If you absolutely must get to work every day regardless of road conditions, then your order of preference should be AWD > FWD > RWD, and all else should be secondary. But whatever you do, definitely invest in a set of winter set if you can.
Why do you want a diesel? It probably won't be any cheaper to own a diesel, and gas engines typically outperform diesel engines in lighter applications, so I'd just go with a gas engine and get the chassis and drivetrain I want.
The BMW 335 diesel is a toy and by that I mean a lot of fun to drive. Text box case of why torque is more important than horsepower 99% of the time. At low speeds, it does not accelerate so much as it leaps. So buy it for the fun to drive factor, but to save money - not so much. When I first got it, I was saving as much as $15 a tank, now maybe $3 due to increased spread between diesel and regular gas. Remember though that the 335i requires premium so the differential is not as great as it seems.
I won't buy anything awd, i drive my vehicles in to the ground. If it is not 4wd selectable or 2wd with auto 4wd i won't have it. I don't need a 3-5 grand transmission bill with only 100-150k on it.
I have had a diesel car for about a year now; I love it, even though it's only 80 hp and very agricultural in character.
The VW diesels really have me worried. They are timing-belt interference engines, which is a horrible idea for a diesel engine. The injection pump is driven off the timing belt. The pump shaft seal will eventually leak, and the diesel fuel will destroy the timing belt. It's bad design.
The VW diesels really have me worried. They are timing-belt interference engines, which is a horrible idea for a diesel engine. The injection pump is driven off the timing belt. The pump shaft seal will eventually leak, and the diesel fuel will destroy the timing belt. It's bad design.
I've owned a number of diesel vehicles. I feel that from a practical standpoint, a gasoline powered car is better. Parts are common, service anywhere is a "known factor" and performance/mpg can be matched with careful choices.
If you are looking to save money, I suggest that it's not really possible with today's diesel vehicles.
If you want something unique, the diesel is a great choice. With the possible advantage of a higher resale. (although that was not the case with my TDI Jetta when compared to a prius)
If you need the performance of a turbodiesel, consider how often that performance will be used (high altitude, towing etc).
While modern diesels are great, so are modern direct injection, turbocharged gas engines.
If you are looking to save money, I suggest that it's not really possible with today's diesel vehicles.
If you want something unique, the diesel is a great choice. With the possible advantage of a higher resale. (although that was not the case with my TDI Jetta when compared to a prius)
If you need the performance of a turbodiesel, consider how often that performance will be used (high altitude, towing etc).
While modern diesels are great, so are modern direct injection, turbocharged gas engines.
The 2012 diesel S class is available in 4matic. Nice cars, test drove one about a month ago. $103k out the door though, so not cheap.
Originally Posted By: Burt
The BMW 335 diesel is a toy and by that I mean a lot of fun to drive. Text box case of why torque is more important than horsepower 99% of the time. At low speeds, it does not accelerate so much as it leaps. So buy it for the fun to drive factor . . .
Only if you derive more pleasure from that than from revving an engine out to 7000 rpm and feeling the power build linearly. If you prefer the latter, you'll have a faster car.
The BMW 335 diesel is a toy and by that I mean a lot of fun to drive. Text box case of why torque is more important than horsepower 99% of the time. At low speeds, it does not accelerate so much as it leaps. So buy it for the fun to drive factor . . .
Only if you derive more pleasure from that than from revving an engine out to 7000 rpm and feeling the power build linearly. If you prefer the latter, you'll have a faster car.
My old high mileage Jetta gets over 60% better fuel mileage than our Ford Focus. Even with diesel being 20% more expensive, there is quite a bit of economy left on the table for me. Both need timing belt changes over time. Yeah, the VW could break everything if the timing belt went, but it hasn't.
Really, one should drive them all and decide what one likes. I like the low revving torque and ridiculous MPG that the Jetta allows. It's fun, yet a challenge to stay low in the revs for me to get that MPG. More sustainable than a brisk run up through the tach trying for a short rush to and maybe a little past the speed limit.
Really, one should drive them all and decide what one likes. I like the low revving torque and ridiculous MPG that the Jetta allows. It's fun, yet a challenge to stay low in the revs for me to get that MPG. More sustainable than a brisk run up through the tach trying for a short rush to and maybe a little past the speed limit.
I personally prefer gas powered vehicles. If I were to buy a diesel, I would only keep it as long as the powertrain warranty was in affect. Diesel repair bills can break you financially when there is no warranty left.
Plus, diesel fuel is more expensive as well as purchasing a vehicle with a diesel in it is more expensive so you really wouldn't be money ahead. Each to his own though.
Wayne
Plus, diesel fuel is more expensive as well as purchasing a vehicle with a diesel in it is more expensive so you really wouldn't be money ahead. Each to his own though.
Wayne
Originally Posted By: Kuato
For the record, Audi has diesels with Quattro.
Yup, there is an A3 TDI quattro, although coming from a 5.7 HEMI, he may be somewhat disappointed with its performance, unless he loads aftermarket ECU programming.
For the record, Audi has diesels with Quattro.
Yup, there is an A3 TDI quattro, although coming from a 5.7 HEMI, he may be somewhat disappointed with its performance, unless he loads aftermarket ECU programming.
Originally Posted By: rpn453
Originally Posted By: Burt
The BMW 335 diesel is a toy and by that I mean a lot of fun to drive. Text box case of why torque is more important than horsepower 99% of the time. At low speeds, it does not accelerate so much as it leaps. So buy it for the fun to drive factor . . .
Only if you derive more pleasure from that than from revving an engine out to 7000 rpm and feeling the power build linearly. If you prefer the latter, you'll have a faster car.
Maybe true for the aficionado that wants to demonstrate skill in matching engine rev's to the task. Diesel engines are for the I-want-my-torque-and-I-want-it-now crowd. As I get older I fall into the latter.
Originally Posted By: Burt
The BMW 335 diesel is a toy and by that I mean a lot of fun to drive. Text box case of why torque is more important than horsepower 99% of the time. At low speeds, it does not accelerate so much as it leaps. So buy it for the fun to drive factor . . .
Only if you derive more pleasure from that than from revving an engine out to 7000 rpm and feeling the power build linearly. If you prefer the latter, you'll have a faster car.
Maybe true for the aficionado that wants to demonstrate skill in matching engine rev's to the task. Diesel engines are for the I-want-my-torque-and-I-want-it-now crowd. As I get older I fall into the latter.
I can understand the attraction to a diesel power curve. Even for me, it would provide advantages in certain situations. But I don't have a preference for that sort of power curve, so I'd just take whatever provides the best performance relative to lifetime cost. In the North American market of relatively high diesel prices and limited diesel engine availability, that's usually a gas engine.
. . . not to suggest that a diesel engine wouldn't or couldn't be a better option if it were available in the desired car. Just that a diesel itself can not possibly provide enough of an advantage to choose it over AWD in a climate where AWD is truly useful. Here, any 2WD is slow and somewhat annoying to drive in the city for every day of at least four months of the year. I doubt I'd even want AWD where you are though, Burt.
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