1) Starting at $38k+ for the CDL is way too expensive. DaimlerChrysler should be trying to encourage a smaller carbon footprint and responsible vehicle purchasing practices by keeping price for diesel vehicles lower.

2) The EPA fuel ratings are disappointingly low. Are they kidding with this 20/25MPG nonsense? Why don’t they yank the CDI out of the Mercedes-Benz ML-class and get around 22 city / 35 hwy??

“Now with regards to my comparison not being a fair one, I do disagree. So the engine I cited has more horsepower. The diesel has more torque. Each engine will do better in certain areas. ”
Torque is the true power output of an engine. Horsepower is derived from torque using a mathematical formula. The only reasons diesels have lower horsepower relative to their peak torque output is because of their lower RPM operating range (redline is usually half that of a gas engine), and their longer stroke.

Diesel buyers look mostly at the torque numbers – horsepower is a distant second.

My Suburban diesel has only 195hp, which most people would laugh at pulling a 6,500 lb. vehicle. But it has 430 lbs. of torque at only 1,800 RPM’s, and that’s the number that matters. It’s the 430 lbs. of torque that enables my truck to nearly match the acceleration of a big block (454, 7.4L) gas version, and tow the same, while getting better fuel economy than the small block gas engine (350, 5.7L).

“Besides, the purpose was to show that the diesel 6 was not the answer to gas consumption by any means. ”
I do agree that this particular 6 cylinder diesel from Benz isn’t generating impressive fuel economy numbers for its output. Not sure why that it is, but it could be gearing, transmission, or weight of the vehicle. Most diesels would do better on the efficiency front.

I know for a fact that the diesel in my Suburban gets 33% better fuel economy than a big block gas version with similar torque output. The efficiency differential is higher when towing.

The reason why Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mercedes etc have so much better cars is because they need to to survive in Europe. If the government don’t tax rape you then your domestic makers definately do. That Ford Focus was a a good car when I had it some 10 years ago. Where almost on our third and you………

At least give Jeep the credit for bringing diesels back to america. The high price will be worth it when you drive the Grand Cherokee. The engine is probably the best diesel V6 engine avalable on the market around the world. What you should be complaining about is the high sulphur diesel that you have especially since we europeans have had low sulphur for like a decade.

P.s. Hope they put this engine in the 2&4 Door wrangler.

Z06ified – Hard to disagree with you on reliability of diesels. They do have a better resale value, agreed. Is the extra added value at resale exceeding the extra cost at purchase? But one thing is for sure, the value of your dollar today will always be more than tomorrow. Most people purchase on that principle, some not even knowing it. Besides, the pick-up market is a bit different from the SUV market. SUVs are traded on the 5 year plan where as pick-ups have a much better chance of being held onto beyond 5 years. Men get attached… Point is, at the 5 year mark, the disparity between a diesel SUV versus gasoline SUV will most likely be the difference in cost.

Now with regards to my comparison not being a fair one, I do disagree. So the engine I cited has more horsepower. The diesel has more torque. Each engine will do better in certain areas. Besides, the purpose was to show that the diesel 6 was not the answer to gas consumption by any means. If it means anything, I’d purchase the diesel too because gas consumption is not the top of my priorities.

LamboZ – You overheard that!? Sorry, I was talking to Fatstrat, I didn’t think anyone else could hear me.
Try making legitimate arguments besides flaming all things domestic, and I’ll take you off my special list. And Al Gore is a jack ass. It’s a fact, not opinion.

As Bio-Fuel capable vehicles, the Federal Gov should give tax-breaks on Diesel passenger vehicles just like they did for Hybrids. (Never happen, but hey.) ANYTHING to encourage americans to cut foriegn oil dependance. And I love big power, Gas Guzzeling carburated BigBlocks, and screaming 400hp 4 cyls just like you guys, but as a whole this nation needs to find a new way when it comes to energy and transportation.

We have Synthetic oil, when do we get Synthetic Gasoline, or Synfuel, at the pump? Something a normal old 1985 F-150 could burn, that performs as well as standard unleaded, and doesn’t come from a hole in the ground in IRAN. E-85 is great for modern vehicles, but it’s still atleast 15% unleaded, and can’t run in older vehicles.

Here’s a nice little Wiki bit on synfuel…

The United States Department of Energy projects that domestic consumption of synthetic fuel made from coal and natural gas will rise to 3.7 million barrels per day in 2030 based on a price of $57 per barrel of high sulfur crude (Annual Energy Outlook 2006, Table 14, pg52). Synthetic fuels require a relatively high price of crude oil in order to be competitive with petroleum-based fuels without subsidies. However, they offer the potential to supplement or replace petroleum-based fuels if oil prices continue to rise. Several factors make synthetic fuels attractive relative to competing technologies such as biofuels, ethanol/methanol or hydrogen:

The raw material (coal) is available in quantities sufficient to meet current demand for centuries
It can produce gasoline, diesel or kerosene directly without the need for additional steps such as reforming or cracking
There is no need to convert vehicle engines to use a different fuel
There is no need to build a new distribution network
While at present synthetic fuels are primarily produced because of subsidies, they are a proven technology that offers the potential to solve the energy crisis due to the depletion of oil (Hubbert peak), at least for the next hundred years.

Hmm, a 100% oil free unleaded fuel, that will happily run in an old pickup, and require no changes to the distribution system or the vehicles that burn it. This technology may well carry us through until Hydrogen is truely a feasible reality for the masses. Sure it’s still burning fossil fuels, and not as Green friendly to burn as hydrogen, but it’s conflict free. Personally I’d rather end WAR for oil first, and then worry about cleaning up the tail pipes.

most diesel motors run forever… one of the reasons why they hold their value so well. I haven’t seen a diesel rebuild under 250,000 miles. My father’s old ‘84 MB 300SD Turbodiesel was still running relatively well at the 292,000 mile mark when he donated it.

I want my next daily driver to be a car that I can drive into the ground, and take a long time doing it. If I don’t want to go the japanese route and still want to ensure a long engine life, I will go diesel.

GMnumberone4ever – I appreciate the good words, but doncha think you might be as bad as they are on the opposite end of the spectrum? Maybe? I know you do it to piss the ‘import humpers’ off. I get it. They are all begging for you to be banned, it’s too funny, too hypocritical. But there are plenty of ways to do so without fighting fire with fire. My weapons of choice are facts.

Piablo, CTS an Fatstrat, we need to ban together and continue to fend off these foolish import humpers and you guys are doing a great job.

I will now sit back and watch as the hate fills the room….

Let’s compare the standard GC to the diesel.Gasoline in my neck of the woods is $2.10, and diesel is $2.50 to $2.60, but we’ll use $2.50 because I’m ****y as hell. We’ll use EPA estimates, 17/23 for the gasoline engine and 20/25 for the diesel. Crunching the numbers through a 20,000 mile year, having driven 12,000 miles in the city, and 8,000 on the highway, who is the victor? It’s the gasoline engine coming in at an estimated $2213 vs $2300 for diesel in cost of fuel consumption. In terms of clean air, both are essentially equal in that diesel has been brought up to gasoline standards.

This diesel solution is clearly not the answer everyone is looking for. It’s another kneejerk reaction to situation that is not as bad as it’s been made out to be. The engine will not sell many units at all.