Posted: Aug 20 2004 at 9:37pm | IP Logged

Todd TCE wrote: Sorry Neal, I'm not buying. They ARE noisey as hell, they do take time to start up ...but I'm far more intereseted in the daily operation and enjoyment of the vehicle ...I don't want some clackity-clack noise under the hood everyday.

Todd, take a spin in the Mercedes E320CDi and then tell me you don't enjoy it. It's as fast as it's E320 brother, very quiet, and starts up immediately. It is only $1000 more and 25% more efficient than it's gasoline counterpart. It's service interval is greater too.

I have driven the BMW 325 TDi and the 6.0 Powerstroke diesel and I was blown away. These are not your Diesels of old.

You are right, I cannot convince you. Only you can by taking a drive in one. Just like the TITAN drivers here found out that it is indeed better than what the big 3 have to offer.   

Posted: Aug 20 2004 at 10:38pm | IP Logged

Todd TCE wrote: ...but Neal; what truck has that level of sound deadening? ...

VW Toureg. V10 5L Tdi. 300hp, 500lb torque, 130mph 

...now imagine this engine in the TITAN !

Posted: Sep 13 2004 at 3:24pm | IP Logged

I sold a diesel to buy the Titan.And while I love my Titan I would trade this gasser in in a heartbeat for a diesel(Titan diesel that is).

The performance upgrades on diesels get you much bigger gains because of the turbo.A chipped 6.0L powerstroke will toast a titan.

Posted: Sep 22 2004 at 3:02am | IP Logged

Let me begin by admitting that I'm no expert on diesel autos. I have never owned one, so this is just my 2 cents worth. First of all, you are probably preaching about fuel economy to the wrong crowd. If we were all that worried about fuel consumption we wouldn't have purchased a truck, much less one with a 5.6L V8. Your attempt to appeal to our pocket books is a smart one (I would love to get better gas mileage in my Titan and I'm sure most here would agree), but I'm guessing that your true objective is in convincing us to be more environmentally conscious (thats not a bad idea either).

I don't believe the worlds supply of fossil fuels will last indefinitely, only a fool would. On the other hand, no one knows just how much is left. You say 40 years. Ive read that some estimates go as high as 200 years and even beyond. As an American, I'm more concerned about our dependence on foreign nations for our fuel supply than I am about it running out. OPEC has proven time and again they can turn it on and off like a faucet, changing the supply and the price at will.

BTW, in your 40 year scenario, if we were to cut consumption by 50%, that would extend the supply by 40 years not 20.

You also make the general statement that diesel autos "boast a fuel consumption of around 50 mpg." That is certainly true for some, but I don't know of a single 5500lb truck, diesel or otherwise that can come close to that. Comparing a full size truck with the aerodynamics of a tool shed, to a car half its size & weight is simply ludicrous. No full size truck, diesel or not, could ever come close to achieving the fuel economy of a car half its weight and power.  

I think if we really want to worry about something running out, we should focus our attention on the world's population explosion and the food and fresh water resources they will require. Life expectancy is increasing in almost every part of the world, and birth rates are growing exponentially ..ie ain't enough folks dieing to offset all the childrens being birthed...lol. A square foot of land to stand on may soon be harder to come by than a gallon of fuel....but I digress    

As for diesel being cheaper per gallon and better for the environment than gasoline, it is true that recently a gallon of diesel has been 10-20 cents cheaper. But I recall reading an article that compared the diesel in the US to what is sold in Europe. (I think it was in last mths Pop Mechanics or maybe Motor Trend) They said that the Euro diesel was much more expensive over there $3-$4 + ?? and that a big reason for the price difference was that it was refined to meet the stricter emissions. It also went on to say that US diesel had worse emissions than reg gasoline. Now if that is true, the last thing I want to do is pay more at the pump. It already takes $40+ to fill up.

I'm kinda surprised you didn't mention Bio-diesel. Now that may be the answer to a lot of our fuel problems in America. Its made from corn or soybeans etc. Heck the govt pays farmers not to plant crops (never have quite figured that one out) Why not grow our own diesel? We got plenty of farmland in the Midwest..lets break our dependence on foreign oil and tell OPEC where to shove it. It can also be made from recycled vegetable oil...we got plenty of that huh McDonald's?  Can I get that super-sized?...lol Its true that right now Bio-diesel is more expensive but that might eventually be remedied by mass production/increased demand.  

I like my big truck, call me selfish, but I do...and alot of other Americans do too. I'm not against conservation nor am I against looking out for the environment. Maybe someday I will no longer be able to afford a "gas guzzler" and that is what it will take for me and millions of other like me to buy a small fuel efficient car. I admit I don't need a truck. 90% of my driving is going back and forth to work and hauling the occasional stick of lumber. But I truly do not believe we are anywhere near running out of fossil fuels. And that long before we do, it will become so expensive many of us will bitch and moan all the way to the VW dealership and drive home in our shiny new Jettas...lol ...until then...keep on truckin!!!   

Posted: Sep 23 2004 at 8:22am | IP Logged

Agreed. I own a dodge with a cummins. A desiel is excellent for serious pulling. You don't have to ring it's neck to get to the power.  The Titan is the best of both worlds. It will pull anything short of heavy equipment. It also has that high end HP delivery that makes it fun to drive. When it's half ton time. I take the Titan every time. I think the cool it on the breeding thing is the way to go.

Every one except whitey.

Posted: Sep 27 2004 at 10:48pm | IP Logged

I own a new Passat TDI and would have kept our Toureg if it had been a TDI (VW can't get enough of them).  The new turbo diesel common-rail engines are superb, QUIET, and quite clean (especially if you run Bio 2,5,20 or 100 warranty permitting).  I expect the new Liberty will get between 30 -35 mpg vs. the 20-25 someone guessed and it has increased load rating to 5000 lbs.  I would bet that a number of people in Florida wished they had had diesels when the gas pumps ran dry!  I would think a Titan diesel would be excellent, given the less than stellar mileage, but that said, we sure like our hard loaded Titan Crew.

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