[DarinS]

I would love some kind of diesel option.

Being in the U.S. i know it would never happen, but a nice increase in MPG's would no doubt pay for the added costs associated with it.

Im surprised with the push for higher and higher MPG's and the desire to consume less fuel that more people aren't looking to get into diesel. With todays technology, the total emissions from the higher MPG's should be lower then a conventional petrol motor.

People here love diesels when we can get our hands on them. VW TDi models sell like hotcakes at every dealer across the country because there is so much demand. BMW sells out of the 335d and X5d and can't even keep them on the lots, despite the significant price premium over the turbo I6 gassers. If the auto companies would wake the eff up and actually sell diesel cars here, they'd find that there is indeed a market for them. But since there are only half a dozen diesel cars offered out of all the automaker's lineups, we don't even get to make the choice for ourselves

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

If the auto companies would wake the eff up and actually sell diesel cars here, they'd find that there is indeed a market for them. But since there are only half a dozen diesel cars offered out of all the automaker's lineups, we don't even get to make the choice for ourselves

That won't happen anytime soon, the big three are still reeling from the olds diesel debacle from the mid seventies. That engine left such a bad taste in everyones mouth that detroit is still tasting it 35 years later.

 

[Rogerschro]

I want the electric! no, really! I like the idea, and for the driving I do, (not much) it would be perfect! Can't afford it though......gas costs too much!

 

[kam327]

That won't happen anytime soon, the big three are still reeling from the olds diesel debacle from the mid seventies. That engine left such a bad taste in everyones mouth that detroit is still tasting it 35 years later.

Oh I don't know. There's a whole generation out there that has no experience with those old diesels and would be open to buying one I think. The trouble for me is the price premium a diesel usually gets and the at the pump diesel has traditionally been more expensive, sometimes by over 50 cents. It's like the argument against the hybrid. It's still cheaper in the short run to get the base gasoline engine and use the money you would've spent on the engine and fuel premiums to buy "free" gasoline for years.

 

[TDiGuy]

Too bad our government taxes the hell out of diesel fuel. If they didn't do that the fuel would be cheaper than gas and provide superior fuel economy. Diesels are known to return real world MPG figures that are higher their window sticker ratings I prefer driving diesel. They are no longer the dirty smoke belching hard to start engines that most Americans think they are. VW even races some of their models and they win.

 

[DAC17]

1.6 TDCi with 6-speed manual. I really don't get why Amercians don't like diesels. Maybe it's the price differential for the fuel. But the MPG more than makes up for it.

 

[HillbillyInBC]

1.6 TDCi with 6-speed manual. I really don't get why Amercians don't like diesels. Maybe it's the price differential for the fuel. But the MPG more than makes up for it.

I just spent two weeks driving a rental with this combo in France, and I really liked it. I haven't been back in mine yet since I got home, but I'm pretty sure I'll spend the first day or two stabbing for the clutch pedal and wondering why it doesn't shut the engine down when I stop.

Here's a link to a thread I started during my trip: 2012 Focus rental in Europe

 

[Creamsicle]

1.6 EcoBoost please

 

[DarinS]

That won't happen anytime soon, the big three are still reeling from the olds diesel debacle from the mid seventies. That engine left such a bad taste in everyones mouth that detroit is still tasting it 35 years later.

True, there are some Americans who remember that. But no one inder 50 years of age was even driving when that happened. A huge majority of the population never drove one of those monsters and would, I believe, welcome diesel with open arms.

To everyone who thinks diesel is "not worth it" because of the price difference:

Diesel fuel, at least here in OR, is only about 5 or 10 cents more per gallon than premium fuel. A quick GasBuddy search gives $4.09/gal vs $3.95/gal at today's price. That's a 3.5% difference in cost. Compared to regular @ $3.75 the difference grows to 9%

The Focus 2.0 TDCi gets 45mpg, the 2.0 gas gets 37mpg. That's a 22% difference. PLUS 50% MORE TORQUE!

[cheers]

 

[kam327]

True, there are some Americans who remember that. But no one inder 50 years of age was even driving when that happened. A huge majority of the population never drove one of those monsters and would, I believe, welcome diesel with open arms.

To everyone who thinks diesel is "not worth it" because of the price difference:

Diesel fuel, at least here in OR, is only about 5 or 10 cents more per gallon than premium fuel. A quick GasBuddy search gives $4.09/gal vs $3.95/gal at today's price. That's a 3.5% difference in cost. Compared to regular @ $3.75 the difference grows to 9%

The Focus 2.0 TDCi gets 45mpg, the 2.0 gas gets 37mpg. That's a 22% difference. PLUS 50% MORE TORQUE!

[cheers]

You forget the premium in purchase price for a diesel car. A couple grand over 48 months is $42 per month just for the privilege of owning a diesel car. Some of that is probably due to the added emissions technology required (e.g. urea aftertreatment) and some is probably due to high demand for the few models that offer diesel engines. But that for now is the only thing that would turn me off to diesel

 

[st falcon]

Diesel will always be lame in a car. Always. I know, I know, torque out the ass...yes thats nice. I want a motor that REVS. I'd take electric over diesel...

The only urea I want to deal with is the stuff I leave in the urinal and flush away...

 

[TDiGuy]

Diesel will always be lame in a car. Always. I know, I know, torque out the ass...yes thats nice. I want a motor that REVS. I'd take electric over diesel...

The only urea I want to deal with is the stuff I leave in the urinal and flush away...

Spoken like a true rice boy.

 

[st falcon]

Spoken like a true rice boy.

[thankyou]If thats what you like to call people who understand what Jeremy Clarkson does, my friend, a rice boy I must be.[headbang]

Dont be so serious all the time, its bad for your compression, which is not a malody a TDiguy wants to suffer from![hihi]

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

[thankyou]If thats what you like to call people who understand what Jeremy Clarkson

Who the H33l is Jeremy Clarkson?

 

[TDiGuy]

Jeremy Clarkson is the host of Top Gear UK. Love that show. However he isn't all about high revving engines. He much prefers huge hp and that doesn't necessarily come from insanely high rpm. He also hates electric cars.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Jeremy Clarkson is the host of Top Gear UK. Love that show. However he isn't all about high revving engines. He much prefers huge hp and that doesn't necessarily come from insanely high rpm. He also hates electric cars.

Oh, OK. I watched that show once. Hated it, can't stand those uppity brits who think they are better than the rest of the world.

 

[TDiGuy]

If you can get past their uppity attitude it's a fun show.

 

[Creamsicle]

Oh, OK. I watched that show once. Hated it, can't stand those uppity brits who think they are better than the rest of the world.

Off topic but the UK version of Robot Wars was about 79 trillion times better than our version was.

 

[BiggerBoat]

Oh, OK. I watched that show once. Hated it, can't stand those uppity brits who think they are better than the rest of the world.

Your killing me, I LOVE that show...fall off the couch laughing...just like I used to with the Monty Python stuff. Give it another chance or two.

Now, engine:

I waffle back and forth between wanting more power and more MPG. With gas headed to $4.00 and beyond again, the 1.0 EcoBoost is COOL stuff.
"...With 125 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque and an astonishingly quiet way of going about its business, Oh, and Ford's engineers tell us their target EPA range is 50-55 mpg...the entire engine's weight is less than 215 pounds."

Wow, that would be hard to pass up. A bit of a dog still but those MPG numbers would make me forget very quickly. I'll just get two Foci, one for the weekend (ST) and one to drive out to the National Parks across the USA while spending practically no gas money.

 

[thelongone13]

I wouldn't mind a 2.0 turbo, or maybe a 2.5 4 with about 20-40 more HP. A 220 HP 2.0 Turbo would make this car just freaking awesome.