What's the appeal of diesel?

Torque for towing is the only reason I would own one.

Enyar wrote:

curtis73 wrote:

Dashpot wrote: Soot belching, coal burning, stinking, rattling harbingers of hell.

I'm sorry... You must have been in a coma since 1978

Amen. I like diesels because I can get 43 mpg while towing my boat across the state. I'm so excited about the new Mazda 6 diesel that I started a website for it.

I find that cheeky calling that canoe on the roof of your TDI Jetta a boat

Pull a spark plug wire and Walla!....your gasser will give you that diesel feeling.

In reply to Knurled:

I had an 04 Malibu 3.5 V6 as my first company car. Highway mileage was similar but combined was was not as good. I am sure a different driver could beat my numbers and I know I could by limiting throttle input and reducing speed.

Govt rated.

2012 Fusion is rated at 23 / 33

2004 Malibu V6 is rated at 20 / 29

I should note that I am not a particularly efficient driver and do not go for numbers. Following this conversation, yesterday I was on a 60mph road for about 70 miles with some stop and go small town traffic. Averaged 42.4 but was that was really focusing on it. I usually travel about 70mph on this road and do a fair bit of passing. Once I got back in town and running 80 on the highway it quickly dropped back into the high 20's low 30's.

aussiesmg wrote: I find that cheeky calling that canoe on the roof of your TDI Jetta a boat

What about a 13' Whaler loaded with bikes? Or 2 16' Hobie Cats on top of each other (with a 2nd trailer on top of that)? Or a 16' Mitchell(39 mg with this pig)? Or a 15' Whaler?

Also felt obligated to post these pics as I was browsing through my photobucket.

Full size Weber:

Maybe the best of both worlds?

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/09/making-diesel-engines-burn-gasoline/

Me personally, I'd not have a lot of use for a diesel car in day to day operation. I like the idea of the greater fuel mileage, but the power characteristics don't thrill me and as noted there's a lot of gas powered cars available which approach diesel car fuel mileage.

Now, a diesel SUV or pickup... that would make more sense for the same reason Keith mentioned, which is towing. Unfortunately mid sized trucks or SUVs with diesels are almost nonexistent here in the Great Satan and no I refuse to have a Mercedes in my fleet. I'd have to go full size, which does not fit with the rest of my uses for it.

So here I am, driving a mid size gas powered SUV. There are people building their own mid size diesel SUVs, for instance the turbodiesel Trooper swap is fairly common.

My Econoline diesel is that last thing you would think is "fun to drive" but its actually quite inspiring in a straight line. I love the fact that it sucks you back in the seat without sounding like its working hard.

I also love the fact that its an intake, chip, and exhaust away from putting 400 hp/800 tq to the wheels without altering MPG or drivability.

... which reminds me of the other reason I love diesel. If you want more power from a diesel, give it more fuel. The increased exhaust mass spins the turbo faster (to a point). You don't have to change cams, timing curves, intakes, carbs, throttle bodies, headers.... Just flip a switch and lay tracks.

Diesel performance is so ridiculously simple. a 12v Cummins needs a 1/2" wrench and a flathead screwdriver to make 200 more hp.

curtis73 wrote: My Econoline diesel is that last thing you would *think* is "fun to drive" but its actually quite inspiring in a straight line. I love the fact that it sucks you back in the seat without sounding like its working hard. I also love the fact that its an intake, chip, and exhaust away from putting 400 hp/800 tq to the wheels without altering MPG or drivability.

I was blown away once I did a few cheap mods to my 95 Ram. It can be addictive having something that big move that well and still get decent economy.

Just curious as to whther J.G. has gained any interesting insights after six pages of fallout from his original question...

In reply to ransom:

Probably nothing he didn't already know......