| I have been driving diesel cars since 1986. The diesels | | | | that if you use about half the fuel it will last about twice |
| back then were just the regular run of the mill diesels. | | | | as long? |
| They were the diesels that the politically correct crowd | | | | I have been driving the Volkswagen TDI since 1997. |
| of environmentalists decided were not good for the | | | | During that time I worked as a high end Canon copier |
| environment. It was true back then that the diesel was | | | | technician and drove my VW Jetta TDI diesel wagon |
| not as clean as it is today. Those days are past and a | | | | as my work car. The back of the car was filled with |
| new diesel engine takes away all that was wrong with | | | | my tools and copier parts. We technicians were |
| diesel cars. The new Volkswagen clean diesel TDI | | | | reimbursed for the mileage we drove and my monthly |
| engine has turned the diesel into a car that can help us | | | | check was routinely in the $600 range. This paid for |
| solve the energy problem. | | | | my fuel and my car payment. As a comparison, my |
| The TDI diesel is a new diesel that uses Turbo Direct | | | | colleagues drove gasoline powered cars and their |
| Injection to yield more power, more acceleration, and | | | | reimbursement checks barely covered their monthly |
| an environmentally friendly level of emissions. The VW | | | | gas bill. This is just another way of showing the |
| clean diesel is so clean that it is the first diesel | | | | economy and value of driving a clean diesel powered |
| powered vehicle to gain acceptance in all 50 United | | | | car. |
| States. Even California, with the strictest exhaust level | | | | The cars I owned since 1997 have all been |
| rules in the country has given the Volkswagen TDI a | | | | Volkswagen TDI diesels. Other than routine scheduled |
| clean bill of health. This takes away the long standing | | | | maintenance I have never had a malfunction or a |
| environmental argument against diesel powered cars. | | | | problem with my diesel cars. My 2004 VW Jetta TDI |
| Now the VW TDI clean diesel is environmentally | | | | wagon achieves 42 MPG while driving in the city and |
| friendly. | | | | 49.9 on the highway. I could increase the miles per |
| Doesn't it make sense to use a fuel that carries you | | | | gallon if I drove with care but I just drive and don't |
| 50 miles on one gallon rather than to use a fuel that | | | | worry about the mileage. |
| carries you 25 miles on the gallon. Think about it, if you | | | | It is a shame that American car manufactures have |
| are using half the volume then the fuel can last twice | | | | been building diesel powered cars for many years but |
| as long. Or think of it this way, if you will travel a | | | | have neglected to develop a clean diesel engine. Ford |
| thousand miles you can do that by using 20 gallons of | | | | has had a diesel similar to the VW TDI available for |
| diesel fuel. Using gasoline it would take 40 gallons, and | | | | sale in Europe for many years. But I have to say, after |
| using ethanol it would take 52 gallons. These numbers | | | | driving Volkswagens for so long and having the |
| are approximations based on my personal driving | | | | positive driving experience that driving a Volkswagen |
| experience. Yes there are gasoline powered cars that | | | | TDI diesel has given me I just don't think I would buy an |
| get more than 25 MPG. The number for ethanol is | | | | American made car today. Maybe at some point in the |
| based on the fact that ethanol has about 30% less | | | | future I may consider a Ford but probably not a |
| heat energy than gasoline and would require more | | | | General Motors built car. Do something good for the |
| volume to achieve the same amount of energy. So | | | | environment, do something good for yourself, Start |
| using my rough example, Doesn't it stand to reason | | | | driving a clean diesel powered car today. |