Diesel Dilemma... - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Shane · 08-08-2008, 11:13 AM

I had a Diesel Rabbit and loved it ( great longevity )...

I want to get on the smart waiting list, on the other hand
I want to wait for a chance at the Diesel. I wonder what our
prospects are that a Diesel Smartcar will be available in the USA
in the next couple of years?...

Is there a good strategy I can take to get myself into position to get a
Diesel smart if and when it becomes available?

If I get on the list now and 2 years later I receive my smart,
would it be a 2008 or a 2010 model...

Why are the bureaucrats in Washington keeping us away from our 75 MPG Diesels?

Shane...

**jwight** · 08-08-2008, 11:23 AM

The only strategy for now is move to Canada and buy one of the diesel 451s up there (whenever they show up.)

Don't think bureaucrats in DC or anywhere else have anything to do with it - M-B and VW both have diesels available in the US now.

MPrice2984 · 08-08-2008, 12:39 PM

I agree with JWight that the lack of diesel availability in the US all comes down to marketing, not lack of demand or government regulations. I doubt that we in the states will ever see the option of being able to get the turbo engine either. It also would be very easy to add the 16 in wheels available as an option in other countries, but there is no impetus to do so because demand so exceeds supply.

Shane · 08-08-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPrice2984

I agree with JWight that the lack of diesel availability in the US all comes down to marketing, not lack of demand or government regulations. I doubt that we in the states will ever see the option of being able to get the turbo engine either. It also would be very easy to add the 16 in wheels available as an option in other countries, but there is no impetus to do so because demand so exceeds supply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The UK are getting Diesels in 09', I wonder if I could have one shipped to the States from England, or just buy one from Canada...

There must be a way...

Shane...

Old smart · 08-08-2008, 02:09 PM

Canada isn't getting diesels either, though there are three years of W450 CDIs grandfathered there, '04-'06 (lots'a '06s).

The reason is the same as here. If one actually does their homework (and it seems like an awful lot of people here choose not to) they will find showstoppers in EPA and the Canadian equivalent concerning NOx and particulate emissions and all the equipment and support required to deal with it to be 50-state compliant. The situation in the EU (UK & Continent) is completely different. Their interest in primarily in CO2 and to a lesser degree particulates. NOx comes in last.

True, M-B has not chosen to have diesels homologated here, but it isn't just to be mean, it is a logical engineering and business decision.

**jediknight36** · 08-08-2008, 02:29 PM

SO the question is are diesels worse for the environment than gasoline? The CDI should be better, according to various articles, than petrol.

Old smart · 08-08-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jediknight36

SO the question is are diesels worse for the environment than gasoline? The CDI should be better, according to various articles, than petrol.

Depends upon what your {{national government's}} interest (and interests) and politics are. The EU is fixed upon CO2 almost exclusively and tolerate a lot of whatever goes with fuel-tax subsidized diesels. NOx is much worse for the environment than CO2, but their politics, Kyoto, et al, allows them to set it aside. And remember (one might remember if the homework has been done) that the EU burns "D50" diesel (50 parts-per-million sulphur) while we (US - not sure about CAN) are now mandated "D15" ULSD. Not that the EU is now grossly spewwing sulphur compounds, but the US EPA is trying to spew less than a third as much. A couple of years back we were blowing "D200+"! Anyway....

The EPA has some pretty tough regulations on NOx and particuate emissions, and there is some merit in it. But they have a "one-size-fits-all" mentality. The bulky, complex equipment required to meet the standards for 50-state compliance are only practical for medium-size vehicles and above (including railroad locomotives), and with readily available service support required. The smart is just too small to carry the stuff and the dealer network is just way too thin to stand with the big boys (M-B E320, VW Taureg and Jetta).

People, do the homework!

**jediknight36** · 08-08-2008, 03:26 PM

I am doing my homework. I am on a site with someone who obviously knows more about the subject than I.