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Why haven't diesel cars taken off in America?

If there is one continent suited to the diesel engine it is the US. Diesel cars have become more powerful and cleaner. You can get the same power from a 2 or 3 ltr diesel than a much larger petrol engine and yet in America they build 8 ltr cars that guzzle petrol. Why, when for a 2 ltr diesel you could get the same performance and 1/4 the petrol bills?

Update:

Am vearing towards Tricky dicky at the moment. Diesels are reliable, they start easily, and although cost more per galon, are cheaper than a V8 to run. It sounds like marketing and American technology, but will wait to see what other ideas people have on this.

8 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    Evelyn explains it all.

    When Americans think of diesels, they think of large trucks, what the British call Lorry's. They are big, loud, rattling engines that don't make for a pleasant drive. People have that stigma attached to the word "diesel" along with the black smoke that used to come from the exhaust stacks on those large trucks, and don't want any part of it. Little do they know, however, that the BMW 320d in front of them, or the VW Golf TDI behind them that are whisper quiet, are diesel powered. Some people get it, but all too many don't. There is a growing number of people who are wanting diesel options (a diesel fiesta would be nice...Or a small diesel in the smaller trucks), but it's still relatively small in comparison to the rest of the auto-buying population.

    I actually wanted to convert my I6 gas jeep into a 4 cyl VW diesel when I still had it, but it never came to fruition.

  • ecker
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    positive there'll be sometime - assume reason interior the country you haven't in any respect been in any respect in touch re gasoline economic device - prob in europe is that numerous folkscontinual diesel autos that diesel is in short grant, plus its utilized in autos and trains etc - yet there's a lot of petrol about - even extra so with LPG - subsequently the low tax to shift the stuff - many folk interior the united kingdom and Europe locate petrol engines longer lasting - plus a lot of issues nonetheless with speedy chargers, speedy lag, gasoline pumps, glow plugs - meaning diesel engined autos will be extreme priced to maintain, plus fee extra new and second hand - so i have stuck to petrol myself - ideas u i do no longer do many miles - about 6,000 in step with twelve months - have a tendency to stroll / cycle when I can .

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The price of gasoline in the USA is half what it costs in Europe. Gasoline is a habit, and the drivers are junkies. I hear Americans constantly complain about the cost of gas, and then they go out and buy another huge SUV with a V-8.

  • ?
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    deisel is the most expensive blend here. deisel cars cost more upfront...our mechanics aren't prepared to handle deisel repairs...and a sizable portion of the US has consistently cold mornings, and hurried drivers..since deisel engines are so difficult to start in the cold, nobody wants to spend early morning commute time, coddling a finicky motor...we want cars that start from a remote on a key fob, and warms up quietly while we're sipping the last of the coffee and watching the weather report in our warm kitchens.

  • 1 decade ago

    Car corporations in the US are in business with OPEC to keep huge cars that suck up gas and our $ what a world no one can stop it but fighting back And making rich white people feel unsafe when they leave the house in the morning

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Yanks have more sense than to drive these dirty rattly unreliable pieces of sh&t. Also petrol being about £2 a gallon helps.

  • 1 decade ago

    because diesel is usually more expensive then gas and it usually means bigger cars which means more to fill up and less mpg

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    They dont have any wings!!!

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