6spd diesel A6 Avant

[Smeins, Larry]

Todd Young Exclaimed:
>Most European diesels will not function on US diesel fuel. Our fuel has too
>high of a sulphur content. That's why we don't get the nice high
performance
>turbo diesels here in the Colonies, not too mention the prevailing (read
>idiotic) negative attitude in general against diesels. Probably a good 90%
>of Americans view diesels as dirty and noisy, and as long as we have cheap
>gas, the attitude won't change.

Call me a skeptic but I am of the opinion the sulphur issue is just an
excuse.  Sulphur content of US diesel has been dropping for several years
and it is an emissions issue not an engine capability issue.  The issue of
importing diesels is a matter of perceived market.  VW is the only
manufacturer with enough balls to bring in a modern diesel and then only in
their bottom end models, i.e. no Passats or Audis, but CARB is doing its
best to kill them.  I drive a 7 year old American diesel and it is noisy but
not dirty.  Actually, I enjoy the noise and on the highway it is quiet and
pleasant in the passenger compartment.  The power and economy is phenomenal.
Today's American diesels are both quiet and clean, i.e. the new GM/Isuzu and
the Ford/Navistar Powerstroke,  as are the European diesels.  Diesel
acceptance in the US is growing strongly, especially with the P/U truck guys
that have discovered diesel and would like to have the same performance in
their cars.  I know I'm waiting for an A6 TDI, be it the 2.5 or 3.3.   BTW:
a few nights ago  my 4kcsq was left in the dust, not smoke, at a stoplight
by a modern diesel P/U truck that has a dry weight of near 8,000 pounds.

Larry in Loveland, CO