Wow. Great looking little car. But yeah 25K for a little car like that is way too much. You can get a Yaris hatchback for what, 13K.

I believe they are bringing the Fiesta to the states though, with different motors.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I'm just waiting for a C220CDI. Mercedes Enthusiast just tested one, should return about 40mpg, and its pretty fast.

Throw in a Brabus cheap and its even faster, with no loss in mileage if you keep your foot out of it.

With the new diesel Mercedes you can have your cake and eat it to!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

when the honda diesel hits the shores, Ford will be kicking itself in the azz.

I'm already in line for the Honda diesel. I called up the local dealership and was like, I dont care if you dont have them yet or wont have them for a year, but put me on the list please.

I'm going to be doing some work for the sales manager at the local Honda dealer. I told him I wanted to buy the first Accord diesel. He said it would be here in about a year. He said I was the first person on his list. Of course he is a car sales person.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

The question, of course, is whether the U.S. ever will embrace diesel fuel and allow automakers to achieve sufficient scale to make money on such vehicles.

IOW, by the time I get it certified and build a plant here or ship it from there, etc, etc, will I be able to sell enough to recoup my costs for the vehicle and the support? If not, why am I doing it? So, are you willing to guarantee that they won't take a bath on it? The US is not the best place in the world to sell a diesel.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

True, there are still a lot of people who remember their failed attempts. Not everyone thinks like we do, nor embraces diesel like us. Shame though.

I was first in line for the VW diesel Rabbit when it came out in 1977. That experience taught me a big lesson. Nowadays, I am content to let someone else be the guinea-pig for new models.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

What's puzzling is why toyota prius in japan and europe are all electric for first 40 miles and not in u.s.a ??? I hear that american users wouldnt find all electric mode acceptable performance wise who knows but i find alot of stuff they are doing crazy! I'd so buy a new jetta if u could actually go and just buy one not just drool over it. Course if i had 50 some odd thousand i'd get one mb's but alas i dont see that much in a car not with the nutty people on the u.s. highways.

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2004 Infiniti G35 3.5L 6mt Coupe 73K miles 25.6mpg ytd
2001 Green Audi TT 225 AWD Roadster 71K 6sp 30.9mpg >>STOLEN<<
1982 300D Turbo 231K 120hp? 28.1mpg YTD

I agree, but the engine is not new. It has been used in Europe for at least 2 years. The Accord is pretty reliable as well.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

First, Americans still luv the performance of vehicles. Otherwise, there would be a lot more people driving vehicles like ours. My SDL is not quick off the line, but will cruise quite well at high Interstate speeds, and comfortably, still getting over 25MPG. Bear in mind, this car is over 20 years old.

30 years ago, I wondered why Detroit had not embraced the turbocharger. Took them a while, but they finally did. Now, I fail to understand why they do not embrace the diesel, especially with SUVs and light pickups.

You watch, the first manufacturer that comes out with a good diesel for SUV/pickups will get a good jump on the profit market.

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87 300SDL - 215K Miles !!
99 F-350CC Dually PSD - 190K
86 300SDL - 189K
All on B-100

Chrysler tried it with the Jeep Liberty a couple of years ago. I don't think it did too well. MPG on that vehicle wasn't very impressive.

Otto
'79 240D 4 spd

The Liberty's success is the reason Jeep sells the Grand Cherokee with MB's V6 diesel.

Actually, Chrysler, Ford, GM and I hear Toyota are coming out with a diesel in the 1500 class Pickups and probably larger SUVs. I think some of the offerings should be out mid to late 09 and other by '10.
Some of the article rings true. You have to sell so many of any engine to recoupe your cost. The smaller the engine, the less profit per engine. So you have to sell more. It was mentioned Ford felt they needed to sell 350K per year. Thats a lot of engines. If the engine would fit other platforms, then it might be doable. I don't know if it would be big enough for other cars and smaller SUV and trucks.
Tom

Ford has been making diesel fiesta's since the mid eighties. Back then it was a NA 1.8 4-pot. The reason foreign manufacturers don't bring their diesel cars to the US is that low rev'ing fuel sipping highway cars aren't suitable for american needs.

...oh wait...

Until recently, the US didn't have ULSD that the Euro engines needed. Also, there is a difference inemmision standards. Also, how much is the diesel car going to cost more than the regular one. Basically, the Festiva would be competing against the Yaris, Honda Civic, Chevy Aveo and even to an extent the Ford Focus and others in that class. Or even the Toyota Collora. So basically we have from $12K to $16K or maybe more for the Honda vs $25K. So almost $10K difference. That's $10K to carry interest on for say 5 years. So basically $500 per year of extra interest then $2000 more per year. So $2500 more per year. So at $4.00/gal thats 625 gallons. Lets say 30 mpg, so 18,750 miles per year. Basically, I've paid for my gas. These are rough numbers though. Depending on mainly city or mainly highway, the 30 mpg is a between number.
Also, diesel cost roughly $0.75 per gallon more. I hear its more due to the lack of refinery capacity in the US for diesel. This may be changing in the coming years. Basiclly to make sense this car would have to sell for under $20K. Look at the Jeep Patriot, I think it sold for $2K-$3K more. I wasn't trilled with the mpg numbers for its size etc.
Now the counter argument would be how long you will keep your car. 5 years, 10 years, 15 years. And at that point is there something better.
Tom