I want to test drive a VW TDI to see if maybe I should rock one of those over the Miata. I'd save something like 900 bucks a year in gas. I called up a dealership to see if they had anything on lot. The guy I spoke to said that they haven't been selling diesels in CA since 2004, because they don't meet the CA requirements :confused

Is he full of it or right? I know they made the TDI through 2006, and that 2007+ diesel grade fuel will be mandatory at gas stations within a few months. I searched autotrader and found a few TDIs newer then 2004 for sale. Were they brought in from different states? Or is the sales guy simply talking out of his ass, like most of them do.

he's right, you cant buy some diesel cars new in CA, but you can get them from out of state with over 7500 miles on them. The toureg as well as the new E class bluetec arent sold new in ca

Diesel passenger cars have been banned in California due to emissions, but you can still buy a used one or pick one up in state and register it here in California. But watch out, some dealers are buying used TDI's out of California and marking them up well over retail even when the car has obvious signs of a couple years worth of wear and tear.

VW dealerships are specifically suspect to marking up their cars no matter what it is and notorious of using the "rare car, high demand" excuse to justify their outrages prices.

you should wate it out for the "ones" I think they are going t have a rocken TD

Alright, thanks for clearing that up. Would you have problems passing emissions with it? Also, with the new regulations of 2007, will diesels be allowed back into CA?

There are no emissions tests for diesels.

I know of a few diesel VW's that don't have diesels in them but are still titled as diesels and thus never have to be smogged.

I also know a few VW's that aren't diesels but have since been titled as such even though they never were diesels and thus never have to be smogged.

MIata > VW TDI. Fun and reliability are worth $900 a year. IMO.

MIata > VW TDI. Fun and reliability are worth $900 a year. IMO.
I'd rather over think something then under think it. But I pretty much agree.

Go to Rose Motors in Fullerton. The guy specializes in bringing TDI's into CA. He is pricey but you could at least check them out. We brought an `04 Jetta TDI wagon for $20,500 from Oregon with 13k miles on it in Nov. `04. It was loaded with every option/package.

We drove ours for 15 months and it had 50k miles when we sold it this past February for $21,500. Yes, we made profit off of it because of the demand. Nor.cal is where it's at for the selling part since there are a lot of hippies/environmentalists up there. Our buyer was a hippie.

If the diesel car has 7.5k miles or higher it's legal to register in CA since it's viewed as a used car. We had no problem registering and diesels are exempt from smog so one less thing to do. Many Arco throughout CA have been selling ULSD (ultra low sulfur diesel) for a few years now.

We filled up on it ~90% of the time. It noticeably put out less soot under full throttle but a very minor hit in mpgs...but anything over 40 on the freeway is good so who cares. Plus older TDI's have had intake clogging issues with US's dirty diesel so it's good to use the ULSD which is mandated nationwide Oct. 15th. From my experience I wasn't so fond of the last gen Jetta, it just feels cheap plus with the heavier diesel engine/FWD...no fun. If you could afford the new generation Jetta (came out as late `05 models) that would def. be worth it. tdiclub.com has good info...PM me if you want any more help since I'm familiar with the Jetta diesel world.

Thanks for the info, but spending that much more a month on payments for a diesel sort of defeats the purpose. I think the TDI is going to be too much work. Too hard to find, and too much monies.

Why environmentals are so excitied and willing to pay more for a diesel is beyond me when they aren't certified by the state because they pollute MORE than their gasoline equivalents. Douchebags.

Why environmentals are so excitied and willing to pay more for a diesel is beyond me when they aren't certified by the state because they pollute MORE than their gasoline equivalents. Douchebags.

They don't necessarily pollute MORE, they pollute differently.

because as clean as diesels can burn, they still produce particulates, which is going to be hard to get around with the new regs coming in.

I want a diesel runabout and then put a Biodiesel rig in my backyard.

Why environmentals are so excitied and willing to pay more for a diesel is beyond me when they aren't certified by the state because they pollute MORE than their gasoline equivalents. Douchebags.

Diesels, particularly the diesels from the 1980's, are good investments for some people because of their ability to utilize biodiesel, and, with the proper equipment, one can manufacture their own fuel. The price of gasoline in general has risen to a level where biodiesel is competitive enough pricewise to warrant an investment in the equipment and conversion technology.

Why environmentals are so excitied and willing to pay more for a diesel is beyond me when they aren't certified by the state because they pollute MORE than their gasoline equivalents. Douchebags.

They are hypocrites to the max. Ignore them.

Go to Rose Motors in Fullerton. The guy specializes in bringing TDI's into CA. He is pricey but you could at least check them out. We brought an `04 Jetta TDI wagon for $20,500 from Oregon with 13k miles on it in Nov. `04. It was loaded with every option/package.

I just looked online and I saw that most of the TDIs are at Rose Motors. They are all out of my price range, but I may still go over there and test drive. Because the idea is still in the back of my mind. Even though I don't like VW.

By the way, this article is completely bias, but here are some dangers of deisel as of right now.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/big_rig_cleanup/sick-of-soot-solutions-to-californias-diesel-pollution.html

Here is another one since I don't trust the organization who wrote the first one
http://lungaction.org/AM_LUNG_CA/alert-description.tcl?alert_id=2818726

Deisel is horribly poluting as of right now. Windsea, do you know if the new grade of deisel will be able to be used in older models?

Why environmentals are so excitied and willing to pay more for a diesel is beyond me when they aren't certified by the state because they pollute MORE than their gasoline equivalents. Douchebags.
This post makes a lot of sense :confused First, diesels put out far less carbon monoxide than gas engines. Second, a lot of the environmentalists turn their diesels into vegetable oil burners which is perfectly clean. Third, diesels do put out out more nitrogen compared to gas motors.

Also what is better for the environment, a typical car getting 20mpg or a diesel getting double that? Sure our country is happy to sell tons of SUV's/trucks getting 15mpg avg. but oh man a diesel that gets 40mpg+ is HORRIBLE.

Windsea, do you know if the new grade of deisel will be able to be used in older models?
Yes it's fine as they have been using it in CA for a few years now and in Europe for even longer. For much older diesels (80's and older) I've heard recommendations of running an additive in the fuel to help raise the lubricity but I don't believe that's mandatory as I have yet to hear of failures directly related to the use of ULSD.

Cool, good to know. :thumbsup. I'm going to try and swing by rose sooner or later to see if I even like driving the cars.

This post makes a lot of sense :confused First, diesels put out far less carbon monoxide than gas engines. Second, a lot of the environmentalists turn their diesels into vegetable oil burners which is perfectly clean. Third, diesels do put out out more nitrogen compared to gas motors.

Also what is better for the environment, a typical car getting 20mpg or a diesel getting double that? Sure our country is happy to sell tons of SUV's/trucks getting 15mpg avg. but oh man a diesel that gets 40mpg+ is HORRIBLE.

Okay junior. Whatever you say :rolleyes

First, who gives a shit about carbon monoxide. Diesels put out hundreds of times more nitrous oxide, which is more dangerous and is also responsible for that lovely brown color air turns in urban areas drive around. Also, diesels put out WAY more particulates which is the real health concern.

Secondly, that percentage is probably 1% or lower.

Thirdly, you are wrong. Pure nitrogen? No. That would be nice, but N02 is what comes out the tailpipe and that stuff is not healthy.

A diesel getting 40 will pollute more than a car getting 20 mpg. That is why they are not certified in CA.

Bear in mind we are talking about diesels available currently.

Diesels from Europe that run on the ultra low-sulfur fuel they have there and are equipped with particulate filters would pass CA emmission standards, both current and future.

Those cars actually do pollute very little, and get even better fuel economy that the diesels we have now. You can also start them up immediately and they make little to none of the noise commonly associated with diesels.

Soon we will have those cars and the fuel that they require, and diesels will be a viable option.

EDIT - Nevermind, it's been covered already.

While Europe is great and all, this thread and all my comments have been regarding diesels in America.

While Europe is great and all, this thread and all my comments have been regarding diesels in America.

I understand that. I was merely pointing out the (near) future of diesels in America.

Near as in October

get the miata pls

get the miata pls

I actually found a great deal on a Z4... but don't tell anyone, okay?