In europe we generally have diesel at every pump rather than have somewhere where trucks fill up.

If it's like that in US too then I too don't understand the FUD as we had to come from there too.

ABC

 

I wonder what the power to weight ratio is?

ABC

 

Aside form the fuel economy, performance wise, I would much rather have a petrol twin turbo 535 than a twin turbo 535 diesel.

 

Not all stations sell diesel simply because there are very few diesel cars. There seems to be only a few VW's and MB's on the road. Other than that it's light trucks like some of the pickup's and commercial vehicles. Still, diesel isn't hard to find. Around this area, maybe 1 in 5 stations sells diesel and there are often 4 stations within a mile of each other. Historically I've found less of a need to visit a fuel station in a diesel so it balances itself out. The problem will be that people will still look at the price of diesel to be equal to that of premium unleaded per gallon and not think about how much farther that same gallon will go in a diesel. I'm happy that they're finally offering it. I almost went with a MB CDI a few months ago but just couldn't bring myself to getting a automatic transmission.

 

The next time you are in Europe you should try test driving a 6-cyl diesel especially the 535d.
There is a feeling of relentless, discreet power and the torque across the rev band make the car feel more powerful that a petrol car and always ready to move with you. Driving around town especially, the diesel feels so elastic as there are fewer gear changes and you are not waiting for the engine to wind up. On the motorway, diesels are so, so quiet as the revs are so low; the overtaking power is tremendous too.

I still like the sound of a petrol car revving high (especially the BMW inline 6 engines) but the newer diesels sound very serious indeed (not as much high-pitch song but low rev growl).

I could go either way with petrol and diesel. Over here though, apart from fuel economy you have to think of resale value and it can be much harder to shift a petrol car. Personally, I buy diesel for the performance and driving characteristics the other things are bonuses (but very nice ones).

 

Agreed. Diesels are addictive, once you have driven one its hard to go back to petrol. My car cruises at 80mph at just 1900RPM.

 

Have you driven a 535dA?

 

Or even a 535i!

ABC

 

No, I havent driven either...I have only driven the 335...Im not trashing the diesels, im just trying to see what its all about. When they come to the states, I will definitely test drive one. It sounds like everyone prefers them over the petrol models. To me it will be all about performance. All in all it sounds great..

 

It will be interesting to see what the effect on he engines will be to comply with the harsher US emmisions regs on particulates.