Diesel sales in Europe are artificially pushed by significant government tax incentives. Here in the USA diesel cost the same as gas and there are no difference in vehicle fees between gas and diesel variants, and so we Americans choose gas or diesel based soley on their respective merits. In this fair situation, diesel does not fare very well. I have driven the Mercedes diesels of the 1980's and they were truly awful cars and did not last as long as hyped. Just look for the phrase 'rebuilt engine' in advertisements for used turbodiesels.
The question you should ask is why do are half the European sedan sales remaining with gas engines when diesel costs so much less for them?
DelJ
Quote:
Wolfgang - 3/27/2005 12:46 PM
Quote:
DelJ - 3/27/2005 8:20 AM
It is the new advanced diesels that are unproven and full of hype.
| DelJ, I disagree and so do many others. Here's the percentage of diesels sold in a market where Mercedes offers both gas and diesel versions.
diesel market share
=================
Sprinter 100%
Vito V-class 97%
M-class 88%
G-class 67%
E-class 58%
Vaneo van 56%
C-class 55%
A-class 47%
S-class 40%
smart 35%
CLK 0%
SLK 0%
SL 0%
|