Why is Europe so fond of diesels?

[TM]

Brett,
Do you know if these harmful exhaust fumes from
diesel cars is alleviated in the catalyser diesels
sold by VW, Audi, Merc and BMW? I know the catalyst
virtually eliminates the particulates, but don't know
about the rest.

I got a ride in a 2000 VW Jetta TDi and it was a nice
car with decent pickup. However, this car still made
a rather horrible rattling sound every time it accelerated.
I wonder if the E300 turbodiesel makes that kind of racket,
or the V-6 TDi that Audi has in Europe.

I still want a Land Rover Defender 110 with the BMW 3.0L
TDi V-8 that is offered in South Africa and the Middle East.
That would be a sweet truck.

BTW, from reading the car tests in British car mags, the
larger diesel engines in the German cars seem awfully nice.
Big fat torque curves and decent hp. The BMW 330d is no slouch-
0-60 in 7s flat, IIRC.

Taka