Mercedes Diesel offensive in Japan

Guess the Japanese are as ingnorent as the Americans

— torsten (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 4:29:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I agree

— PlanoA4 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 4:35:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I read about this awhile ago and I am very interested in what will happen.

The Japanese have a very strong stigma against diesels, like Americans, but unlike us, I gather that they're even less willing to try them.

This will be will very interesting to watch.

Having said that, I just returned from Europe last night and I had rented a Mercedes E280 CDI, which I was told was a new car. I look for the specs online and I was pretty much impressed. It's powerful alright and I got excellent mileage. Drove from Frankfurt to Munich on the autobahn at an average speed of 160-180 km/h and averaged 7.3 liters per 100 km (have to figure out how to convert that into MPG but I know it's an impressive result). Diesels? I am won over.

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 4:37:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

And you're a moron Zedani. I've seen your posts here. Say something intelligent for once.

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 4:49:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

BMW530i - quick ball park 7.3 l/100km is about 32 MPG, which frankly i find rather impressive for averaging just over 100mph. The Mercedes A170 CDI I had in got somewhere in the ballpark of 45 MPG when I was driving it over in germany, and that included peaking at just over 120mph (tiny little 1.7 can only go so fast)

— jeffy210 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 4:58:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Jeffy210,

Exactly. I was speeding and I was also hammering the thing. Then in the city, I wasn't exactly holding back either. Really enjoyed the car and the mileage.

Now imagine if you drove it in a relaxed and stately manor? What mileage this car would get will be impressive.

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 5:08:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I drive from toronto to ottawa weekly. I usually drive at 75 mph. 6.0/6.1l/100km!

— lfong (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 5:29:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Ifong,

What car do you drive?

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 5:37:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

6.0 l/100km is about 39 MPG for all us non-metric folks. Additionally, here's a good page that does metric to US and Imperial units (it's what i used to convert these)

http://www.tdiclub.com/misc/conversions.html

— jeffy210 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 5:59:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Japan probably still wonders why the Germans are still stuck with old-world technology. They may think the Germans are incapable of anything more.

Jeffy, 530i, lfong,
If only the world was just one big highway. Unfortunately it's not and diesels have to spend most of their time idling in the city.

Would you guys like to read my hybrid defeats diesels in the real world article?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 8:50:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Hybrids are maybe the future and will take some time to catch on. Diesels are right here right now.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 10:09:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford, Nissan beg to differ. They already outdo diesels and they're only 2nd gen.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2006 10:38:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

huu76

Wait untill the revised (real life) EPA test comes out in 2008 and SLAMS the hybrids.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 1:59:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

huu76,

I feel sorry for you. You've obviously never even driven a modern diesel. I assure you they're quite different from the older diesel's we get in the US. Quieter, smoother, more responsive, less toxic emissions...you name it.

Stop bashing diesels just because your beloved Toyota invented hybrids, the second coming of Christ...

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 3:46:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

"Hybrids are more efficient and the performance is so much better. Diesels are incredibly noisy and slow."

Wow, unless I'm feeding a troll the sheer ingorance towards diesels on this board is amazing. To take both of jakemiller's points into consideration. What do you mean by performance? Show me a hybrid that is capable of putting out anywhere near the amount of torque that a diesel can and I'll consider it. The saying goes "people buy horsepower, but drive torque".

Additionally, diesels are no longer the noisy and slow engines that were from the 70's. Have you even had a chance to drive a modern diesel? I've driven an E320 CDI and I can tell you, that thing is not slow. It has more torque than the E500 and has no problem throwing you back in your seat when you punch it, additionally it was one of the quietest engines I had heard. The only time you heard anything was when you really open it up, which I would expect from any engine.

So please, take your antiquated notions and keep them to yourself unless you are willing to weight both sides of the story equally.

— jeffy210 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 10:14:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This jakemiller character is crackin me up with his ignorant posts. He's just mad cause his Corolla's in the shop.

By tha way, diesels are way to go.

G

— RefuG (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 10:33:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'll say this and I hope all diesel/Hybrid buff take note.

The problem with hybrids AS they exist today is that they are not as durable as diesels, a diesel is made for life, a hybrid is made for 120,000 miles.

If a car recharges a baterry of any nature, it must eventually be replaced, and the time frame for the replacement is about 10 years. Then you must replace the batteries. Hope these stupid batteries are cheap in 10 years time cause right now they will set you back by $2-4 K.

Then of course the popular software problem that come with the Prius! It's not the perfect car people like to think it is. Can anyone say Microsoft here we come.

The hybrid ALSO cost more to buy than a comparable diesel. If we compare similar sized hybrid to a similar sized diesel... say the Prius and one of those little Peugeot... they can all do 50 miles/ gallon.

To explain the FUEL economy figures, the reason is they are ALL SMALL CARS! Try get the same fuel economy in the RH lexus... impossible. Yet the E-class Benz's already do about 35-40 miles/gallon and are not saddled with complex programs to help the car work.

A good case would be the Suzuki Swift that does 80 miles/ gallon... how many do you see on the road? It's just to small to be anything but a motorcycle!

In fact, if you plan on buying a hybrid... wait for the diesel/electrics soon to come out of Europe. They expect 80-100 miles/gallon on these, compared to similar sized gas/electric variants.

Non-believers please visit this link and see a comparison test between a diesel Jetta and the Prius. Read and enjoy!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-06-10-diesel-vs-hybrid_x.htm

— sedaine (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 1:06:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

That guy with the Lexus logo as his avatar sounds like an idiot, a troll.

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 2:33:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Sedaine,
Do any of you keep your cars beyond 5 years? All the enthusiasts must trade them in every 2 years for the latest model.

The last VW diesels were junk. They were loud, inside and out.

big deal, old article. So what point are you making, the diesels are more efficient on the highway. Who's arguing against that? They say hybrids are best in the city (where 80% of driving/idling occurs). They even bluntly state diesels are much dirtier. Are diesel drivers that selfish they'd rather pollute the env't to save 6mpg?

I'm also waiting for someone to rebuke my past link that diesel takes 25% more oil to make (litre per litre comparison).

Here, I'll rehash mine.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars_trucks/1215782.html

Mine covers every major car class, and diesels lose in each one.

But anyway, nice try Old-Europe.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 6:56:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

OH yeah, that 6mpg is in your article. Look at mine, they pollute more and get less mpg, REAL WORLD.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2006 6:57:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I think this jakemiller clown got scared or banned. He truly is / was an idiot. :p

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/30/2006 8:57:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

BMWExpert,
Besides showing you're ignorant, is that the best comeback Germany has to offer?

No wonder the Germans are losing. BMW going to start posting "White is Right" in their ads next?

Unrelated,
I read in the paper today that Bayer had an 11.3% increase in net profit this last quarter, and are laying off 1500 N.American workers as a result (wtf?). Typically German. Yup, it's up to Japan to keep America rolling. No wonder the U.S. favours the Japanese.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/30/2006 9:48:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1