btw, I love the minis, I just can't fit in one, my knees hit the dashboard with the seat all the way back.

Interesting...I've found the new mini to be one of the roomiest passenger cars as far as front occupant space goes...lots of head room, though not as much as the VW New Beetle my wife has.

I barely fit in the beetle.

I have weird body proportions. My legs are REALLY long, my knees bump up against my dash on my trooper right now if I slouch at all in the seat.

I test drove a mini when they first hit the street. Figured it would save me a load on gas. I'd like to see a diesel version then maybe I'd buy it, AND a set of kneepads.

Why would you want a diesel mini?

because I like the TDI's but I don't like their build quality. BMW's engineering + Diesel == high MPG in a great ride.

The new v10 diesel toureg is nice though, gonna have to give that a look (if its even in the states, haven't checked that)

It is - saw one the other day.

ah schucks.

to many toys wanted, to little time to buy them

I really like the Minis but until they come out with a hybrid elctric I'm keeping my Toyota pick-up.

Ya, the Toureg V10 TDi is starting to show up in some States...it will not be making it to CA and NY due to the braindead CARB air policies. What's so annoying is I can walk right in to a GM or Ford dealer and drive out with a diesel truck...can you say "protectionist"

Mike.

Just so you know. There is a TDI Mini in Europe. Maybe they'll bring it here...

The reason for my interest is that in my day job I design engines, mainly diesel engines and our perception in Europe is that you guys in the states are not interested in diesels, particularly not for economy as your fuel is so cheap.

But that is obviously not entirely true.

All the best

Gareth

Our fuel is recently becoming more expensive - although it's still nowhere near prices in Europe (I travel to Europe from time to time). Diesel fuel, in addition to sometimes being difficult to find away from the freeways, has recently become more expensive than unleaded gasoline. This makes the additional fuel economy from a diesel engine less attractive.

Some of those diesel VW Rabiits get ~55mpg. I'd pay the extra $$$ for diesel if I could get those figures.

grob: Design me a diesel that will produce 233ft/lbs torque at 800rpm, bolt up to an isuzucorp 10bolt bellhousing and will fit in my engine bay
(see above pic)

Basically when my engine dies I'm going to be swapping out a GM Aurora 4.0L V8 because it can be dropped in without to much trouble and I can get one from a junkyard for under $1000 in running order.

I'd prefer diesels because the price of diesel is a bit more stable over here. While it goes up and down, it doesn't do it with nearly the frequency of normal gasolines.

Plus I'm sick of spark plugs

Drive 65 mph with a manuel trasmission... I have a jetta TDI and I achieved 56 mph doing 65 along the highway.

Granted, I didn't have the boat attached at the time though

Mark Colby
1973 H16

Here's a good one for you Tad: Get a diesel vehicle, and for $800.00 you can get a bolt on kit to run it on vegetable oil from restaurants! I have a friend that has a diner near me, and he has a customer with a diesel Golf. The guy stops by periodically and fills up on used peanut oil from the friolator! The car still has it's original diesel tank seperate from a new one for the friolator oil, and uses both. I don't know what the figures for milage are but I bet it's the cheapest vehicle going! The other thing I wonder about is winter performance as my old diesel Rabbit had a lot of trouble with the New England winters. Did a fine job pulling my cats in Summer though! Brian

I had a Diesel Rabbit the first year they came out in Canada. I was just married and I wanted to start out properly. (In debt)

I loved the mileage (60 miles per Canadian Gallon) but didn't like it's gutlessness. No doubt they have improved the power.

I remember clearly "the only thing I could pass was the filling station!" (Notice I cleverly avoided saying Gas station)

Guys,

Here in the UK, a couple of the tuning companies are now getting Tuned (and turbo'd) Coopers up to around 275 bhp !

Makes me wonder if its time to sell the Subaru Impreza Turbo and buy a Mini Turbo !

Gareth,
One of the reasons folks in the US have been reluctant to buy diesels in cars is the horrible experiences had with the domestic manufacturers previous attempts to market them in cars. Some were merely converted gasoline engines that lacked the necessary strength in the bottom end. All had problems - those that bought them felt burned, and knowledge of the problems was well spread. Now there are younger car buyers that don't have the bad taste in their mouths, so diesels are probably once again a marketable option.

I'm paying $1.50 per gallon for diesel here in eastern Pennsylvania/New Jersey. My TDI returns 40mpg city and 50mpg hwy.I found the Honda/Toyota elec-gas wonder machines to be gutless commuters unsuitable for towing or climbing mountains. As skiing is my 1st love, the TDI was the way to go. Tons of torque and decent power.I sold a BMW to buy the TDI and I honestly don't think I could go back to getting 25mpg for any reason.I drive around 300 miles during the week and at least 500 miles every weekend driving to Vermont in the winter and Bethany Beach Delaware in the summer.