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RedSHED · 10-20-2008, 09:54 PM

There was a show and tell I was able to attend recently, and I got to drive the Honda Accord Diesel as seen here. Granted in the states that's an Acura body, but who cares - 50+ MPG. My understanding is they're going to sell the US spec Accord with a diesel starting sometime in 2009.

If your curious, it drove fine, the fit and finish was typical Honda, and while it sounded different than a typical Honda, I wouldn't say it was noisy. No worse than our Silverado, I think. Redline was around 5000 RPM give or take. I quite liked it.

(also got to drive a diesel Mini Cooper and the E Class oil burner. Also very nice).

ROBERT CROSS · 10-20-2008, 10:05 PM

Oh boy..can't wait

overlander63 · 10-20-2008, 10:24 PM

Here's a photo of said Honda, from Diesel Forum:

wingfoot321 · 10-21-2008, 03:59 AM

I thought I had read somewhere they were going to put a diesel into the civic starting in 2010 model year.

The accord with diesel would be a very tempting package. My Camry will get 35mpg on the open road. 50mpg sounds like a bit of a stretch in a car the size of the new accord?

I had heard 50+ in a civic size car. We live outttttt in the country. A trip to town has gotten expensive even with the camry getting 27-28 around town, stop & go, etc.

Silvertwinkie · 10-21-2008, 06:44 AM

I read about this nearly a year ago and am glad to see it is progressing.

According to the info it could produce 34mpg city 53mpg/ hwy. Still very respectable. Who knows, maybe the 2.2L might find it's way into any of their SUVs....might even have enough power to yank a 16 footer around.

I personally, though clearly tempted by the thought of a diesel Accord am eagerly awaiting the Chevy Volt. I think by gen 2, it will be just a phenomenal car and I can only see the battery mileage getting better. Diesel, though great, unlike the late 70s, early 80s has costed more than regular gas. Plugging in a car to the grid for initial charging costs significantly less. However given the current state of the distance the GM folks are quoting and the extreme price of the Tesla versions, it's not for everyone.....yet. Depending on how well it does (and cost), my next car may be a Volt because my daily to and from commute is about 20 miles and I could recharge at work at no cost.

longdog · 10-21-2008, 07:43 AM

After checking out a honda civic hybrid at my local dealer last month, the dealer wouldn't budge at selling me the car at $4000 OVER MSRP. I am also on the "reservation list" for a Smart for Two (which gets about the same MPG but seats only 2 people), which I also suspect will be fetching above MSRP.

So, I looked with new eyes at the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D turbo diesel sitting in my driveway. Granted she has 324000 miles on her and the paint isn't glossy, but she gets about 34 MPG with my in-town driving, and is fully paid-for. I took her to the local independent MB specialist who did about $2K of work on her, and figures she'll run for another 200000 miles with no problem. I may even get her painted.

Ike T · 10-21-2008, 07:44 AM

We love our 2003 Accord EX. Maybe by the time we replace it, diesels will be available in them.

Tim

overlander63 · 10-21-2008, 07:45 AM

BTW, Nissan is planning to release a diesel version of the Maxima for next model year. It pretty much is the same car they have for '09, but with a diesel powerplant.

willyd · 10-21-2008, 09:27 AM

Put me on the list. I have owned Hondas for over 20 years. Great car matched with a diesel.

cooperhawk · 10-21-2008, 09:37 AM

There is no free lunch! Employers who may not charge you to recharge your car at work haven't gotten their electric bill yet. It's not free! Think about what it will add to you home electric bill. Add that into the equation. Also think about replacing those batteries eventually.

We have driven the VW Jedda diesel since we bought it new in 05. On trips it gets 45 to 46 mpg and is a full sized car. It weighs 3500 lbs and has six air bags. We also tow it behind our 345.

Yep, diesel is more expensive, but if you can do math you will realize that diesel would have to be twice the cost of gasoline before it would cost the same to drive the Jedda diesel and say any car in the 20 to 25 mpg range. It never has been anywhere near twice the price.

Westfalia · 10-21-2008, 10:19 AM

Recharging any electric car is approx $1 per charge at an estimated range of 50 miles, or about 4-6 cents per mile. Certainly not free, but affordable if compared to the cost to fill up a gas tank these days. If I were a city commuter, I'd consider electric. But for just about anyone else, passenger diesel makes a HUGE amount of sense.

AZ-JH · 10-21-2008, 10:41 AM

An electric car will be ideal for us and is in our future. We have a 6.3 kW solar array on our roof in sunny Arizona with enough clean energy to spare to charge the car.

Solar electric gets more attractive next year since the Feds are lifting their $2,000 cap on the 30% tax credit!

mutcth · 10-21-2008, 10:46 AM

Very few vehicles would get me from my Odyssey minivan. But an Odyssey with a diesel (and a 5000 lb towing capacity) - well, we'd be at the dealership tomorrow.

I've driven other modern diesels, including a new Jetta TDI and Euro-spec versions of the Mini Cooper and BMW 1-Series. Lovely engines with impressive refinement and tons of torque.

I'm also excited about electric and hybrid progress - there isn't going to be a single solution or mode to improving fleet fuel economy.

Tom

purman · 10-21-2008, 12:37 PM

Yeah, Well if the US would catch up with the rest of the world, This should have happened 10+ years ago.... My brother in England drives an Audi Diesel that you can't get over here.. And most of the Jeep Cherokee's over there are Diesel.

It's the same with Cell phones.. . Every other country has a sd card with your account info on it.. All you do is take that card out put it in ANY phone and that is now your phone... BUT NOOOOO the companies over here what you to buy there phones...

Some times the US is so Backwards.....

biggoofball · 10-21-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longdog

After checking out a honda civic hybrid at my local dealer last month, the dealer wouldn't budge at selling me the car at $4000 OVER MSRP. I am also on the "reservation list" for a Smart for Two (which gets about the same MPG but seats only 2 people), which I also suspect will be fetching above MSRP.

So, I looked with new eyes at the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D turbo diesel sitting in my driveway. Granted she has 324000 miles on her and the paint isn't glossy, but she gets about 34 MPG with my in-town driving, and is fully paid-for. I took her to the local independent MB specialist who did about $2K of work on her, and figures she'll run for another 200000 miles with no problem. I may even get her painted.

This is almost always the answer. Repair and keep tuned your old car. the cost of replacement only gets made up if you drive the car for over 100,000 miles (many many variables but when I did the math for me and my drive 50 miles a day to work and back). In addition you may even be greener. Little thrown away except for the replaced parts. $2000 well spent in my opinion.

RockStar · 10-21-2008, 02:53 PM

We are in the market for a retirement automobile and have checked out the hybrids and the big drawback - here in Canada, at least - is the cost to replace the batteries. The dealer in Edmonton told us that the 'expected' lifespan was only 4 years and the replacement cost was $4000!!

We absolutely love our '97 Infinity and will buy a Honda or Acura as a last new car, but it definitely will not be a hybrid. The diesel, on the other hand will be a definite maybe - depending on the additional cost for the engine and the availability here.

Just my two cents worth. Thanks

cooperhawk · 10-21-2008, 03:03 PM

I'd forget all about PC and just use CS, (common sense). Check out Volkswagon's line of diesel cars. All the way from the bug to the SUV's. Great economy and no batteries to replace. Well, the regular one of course.

Ramp · 10-21-2008, 05:00 PM

VW has been making diesel cars in the US for years. My 2002 TDI New Bettle gets 50mpg. The new TDI with common rail injection gets close to 60 mpg. Mine has 100,010 miles on it and still runs great.

purman · 10-21-2008, 05:41 PM

The Only problem with VW is there customer satisfaction rate sucks..... Not sure why? in Europe it's pretty good...but most people I know who have had one (the newer ones) have had lots of problems..

Look, I like the hybrids but they are not very environmentally friendly... (batteries) The Greenist car you can buy is the Mini... Plus where I live the hybrid uses all the gas engine going up the hill anyway... so the mileage sucks....

Watch a show on BBC America called TOPGEAR.

They took a toyota prius and a BMW M5.. The prius drove around there test track as fast as it could go with the BMW following... Who got the best MPG ...... The BMW....Because the Prius is made to drive in the city not the highway or go FAST....
I average 19-20 mpg with my Sequoia just driving around here on the highways Descending and climbing 2000 ft form my house to delta..

Those little Smart cars are cute, My aunt has one... But I don't care how safe they say they are, you get hit by a 3/4 ton Dodge and it's all over... Good for the city...

I thought if I ever got a motor home I would tow one on a trailer...(a very small trailer)

mutcth · 10-21-2008, 06:14 PM

Like I said above, there isn't a single answer to this. But there are a lot of myths that keep getting kicked around about hybrids.

Hybrids haven't been needing widespread battery replacements after 4 years; the oldest Prius in the US is almost 10 years old, and battery replacements are rare. Toyota has also announced a big reduction in replacement battery cost. Finally, given the success rate in replacing "normal" car batteries, there isn't a reason to suspect that hybrid batteries would be any different. After all, there is a lot of material value left in those batteries.

Hybrids aren't the answer to every situation - and no, they're not made to be flogged around a track when racing a BMW M5. (Top Gear goes to ludricious extremes to flaunt their anti-PC-ness.) Diesels excel on the highway; even the best hybrid can only manage about 35 mph on the flat on the battery alone. After those speeds, the battery will assist the engine - and get recharged when coasting down hill. But driven in a combination of urban and highway driving, like most people do - they do improve fuel economy.

One nice thing - when you drive a hybrid like a Highlander or a Lexus GS, the near-instant torque is just like a diesel....