Audi wants more diesels/so do most Americans

[BeetleGo]

Be sure to vote!

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/15/audi-wants-more-diesels-in-us/

 

[texcross]

Looks like 64% have gone diesel so far on the voting. Interesting article. With electric cars being shoved in our faces by various groups and the government, no wonder Audi feels that way.

 

[Rico567]

The flaw in this voting is self-selection*. I ask myself who is going to go and read this Audi article, i.e., what proportion of diesel owners vs. gas owners. I think the answer is obvious, and the Internet is full of such "surveys." The results are almost certainly meaningless.

*If you don't understand this concept, it's worth looking up.

 

[BeetleGo]

Rico, you're mostly right. There are plenty of people and political entities that are comPLETely swayed by common polls like this! Sway 'um!

 

[03_01_TDI]

Basic fact - people like a powerful feeling car with acceptable mpg. The diesel provides plenty of power to the drivers seat and with great real world mpg.

 

[BeetleGo]

People have bought horsepower for so long, it takes a bit to find out that what they really want is torque. The people who hang out at this site are total torque converts.

 

[rocketeer928]

I would love an Audi diesel if it came with a 6-speed. Unfortunately, automatics rule.

 

[JettaJake]

Unfortunately (perhaps), by the time most drivers can afford an Audi, the importance of Economy trails so far behind Performance & Longevity that the 3-legged stool doesn't stand anywhere close to straight any more....yeah, I want one and have the means but I would still have to fall over the edge of reason before it happened, 6-speed or no 6-speed...hmmm, hand me that stool?

And hello to all my NE TDI pals Been long absent from any GTGs, Ho5Gs or Fests but I'm still kicking, as is the real JettaJake who turned just 11 years old a month or so back; with 185K on the odo, TB change #2 is just around the corner and I solemnly vow to post again before #3 comes due

 

[BeetleGo]

Hey JettaJake! And yes, I've heard people ask where you went! Good to see you're still around. Keep your eyes peeled. I hear from a very reliable source that there will be a GTG soon. Not saying where!

 

[ruking]

The flaw in this voting is self-selection*. I ask myself who is going to go and read this Audi article, i.e., what proportion of diesel owners vs. gas owners. I think the answer is obvious, and the Internet is full of such "surveys." The results are almost certainly meaningless.

*If you don't understand this concept, it's worth looking up.

Diesel passenger car / gassers is @ less than 5%. Fully 50% of diesels are light trucks, which oxymoronically are not very light (2.5, 250, 2500). So using a 2011 (registered) US passenger car population of 257.5 M,= 12.875 M/50% = 6.437 M diesel passenger CARS. So the reality are more like 2.5% diesel cars.

I see it more as severely "DISCOUNTED". In that sense the (this) "opinion" percentage poll has a real translation in the real world. So for example VW (brand) has a total US market production take rate of app 25% TDI's. Each model does have variances. There is even a recent VW marketing press release saying that VWA upper management is both pleased and surprised to see a 30% diesel take rate for US market Passat. That is fine and dandy, but when one understands that VW (total) has app 2.5% to 3% (US) market share. VW's shorter term goal is 5%. They will have significant logistical issues if the Chattanooga, TN plant were to be forced to put out 850,000 units (their wildest dreams) without significant plant upgrades. But true to form the unions are trying to muscle in on that plant. This year we are on track to sell 15.5 M vehicles.... The math, as would be obvious does FALL in line.

 

[tikal]

Looks like 64% have gone diesel so far on the voting. Interesting article. With electric cars being shoved in our faces by various groups and the government, no wonder Audi feels that way.

I do not think there is so much 'shoving' of electrical cars in my humble view.
What would happen if VW and other car manufacturers offer smaller SUVs and pickup trucks with diesel engines?
The American consumer will buy the cars they like and sedans and station wagons are not our top choices of vehicles.
Offer a diesel SUV with around 40 cubic feet of cargo space and comfortable space for four passengers that gets a combined 35 MPG and see the results. Oh and don't forget to do 0 to 60 MPH in less than ten seconds please

 

[BeetleGo]

^^^
I think that's doable and full of promise. Just do Subaru, but bigger, and add a diesel. Watch 'em line up! . Just hurry up and do it before everyone else does.

 

[tikal]

The title of this thread should be: "Audi wants more efficient SUV diesels in North America/so do most Americans"

I hear so much about the Mazda CX-5 being offered with a diesel engine and then nothing. It is so tiring !!!

I bet you that if Audi offers the Q5 in the diesel flavor in the US for like $35K (average) it would sell relatively well (as compared to the Q7 and other large and expensive SUVs).

 

[ruking]

I really do not mean this in a pejorative way, but Audi is not putting its money where its mouth is. I would also say for good reasons/reasoning. However, I do think they are attempting to influence the TDI narrative. Another is it is blatantly obvious that when the hybrid is put to task in a bigger vehicle, that it not even close to being cost effective. Why would one buy a Prius for commuting when a Corolla is more cost effective? VW even has a diesel hybrid Touareg.

A case in point is the VW brand JSW (26.2k msrp) @ 75 % TDI , aka Audi has ITS counterpart A3 (30.2 k ), is it anywhere even close in both volume AND TDI % ???? !! . Indeed they know the product in the VW skin will sell !! DOES it one wonder why the Audi counterpart is not even CLOSE ??? .

 

[jni3]

I would love an Audi diesel if it came with a 6-speed. Unfortunately, automatics rule.

i'm with you on this.

 

[S2000_guy]

...
A case in point is the VW brand JSW (26.2k msrp) @ 75 % TDI , aka Audi has ITS counterpart A3 (30.2 k ), is it anywhere even close in both volume AND TDI % ???? !! . Indeed they know the product in the VW skin will sell !! DOES it one wonder why the Audi counterpart is not even CLOSE ??? .

I own a '14 Jetta Sportwagen TDI; my wife owns a gasoline '05 Audi A3.

The A3 is the Audi counterpart of the Golf, not the JSW; the JSW is larger. Audi has no equivalent to the JSW.

I wonder what percentage of Golfs in the US are diesel?

I suspect that the JSW appeals to the "tree hugger" cohort. The "Sport" in Sportwagen must refer to lifestyle (like SUV) because the car (like an SUV) has absolutely no Sports Car or Sports Sedan qualities. None. That makes the diesel hugely popular because of its high mpg rating, even though at current gas prices ($3.90/gal for diesel vs $3.10/gal for regular unleaded today at the BP station where I filled up), the TDI makes no economic sense.

But this is just one man's opinion...

 

[PassatSE4me]

... though at current gas prices ($3.90/gal for diesel vs $3.10/gal for regular unleaded today at the BP station where I filled up), the TDI makes no economic sense.

Maybe not at first glance, but factor in mileage and it's another story. Gas would have to drop another 50 cents to approach a diesel not making sense.

 

[burpod]

i want a7 hatchback with a 3L tdi... only option would be to win the lottery to afford it though

 

[BeetleGo]

If Audi only put stick shifts in their TDI's....

 

[S2000_guy]

Actually, I've been comparing the cost of my fuel against 30 mpg gasoline at the current price when I fill up. Yesterday's refueling was 39.36 mpg for the TDI. Compared to 30 mpg regular unleaded at $3.10 per gallon, I saved $1.69 for the two week time period. (I've never saved more than $8.44 for a two-week period since I've been tracking it. Gas was $3.36 and my mileage was a bit higher in the warmer weather.)

The TDI costs about $1500 more than the comparable gasser Sportwagen? At a couple of bucks every two weeks, it is going to take a LONG time to recover that additional investment. Thus the statement that the TDI makes no economic sense at today's gas prices.

 

[Wankel7]

Actually, I've been comparing the cost of my fuel against 30 mpg gasoline at the current price when I fill up. Yesterday's refueling was 39.36 mpg for the TDI. Compared to 30 mpg regular unleaded at $3.10 per gallon, I saved $1.69 for the two week time period. (I've never saved more than $8.44 for a two-week period since I've been tracking it. Gas was $3.36 and my mileage was a bit higher in the warmer weather.)

The TDI costs about $1500 more than the comparable gasser Sportwagen? At a couple of bucks every two weeks, it is going to take a LONG time to recover that additional investment. Thus the statement that the TDI makes no economic sense at today's gas prices.

Torque, range, and longevity are other selling points.

 

[WrEkkED]

Get a HPA dsg flash and put your car in S mode and it will only switch when you hit the paddle shifters.

Drove my uncles A3 TDI S-Line a few times ... easy to see why the price tag is much more. Far superior vehicle in every aspect to a golf/jetta.

After driving his DSG, I can do without the stick. When comuting with a coffee keep it in auto and when you want to give er put it in S and enjoy the extra redline too.

What they need more than a stick shift is quattro!

My .02

 

[BeetleGo]

Torque, range, and longevity are other selling points.

I was thinking the same thing....

 

[Oilerlord]

Drove my uncles A3 TDI S-Line a few times ... easy to see why the price tag is much more. Far superior vehicle in every aspect to a golf/jetta.

My .02

Superior...perhaps. But "far" superior is a stretch. No doubt the Audi A3 has a nicer interior, more luxury & convenience options, but otherwise, it's the same basic car as a Golf.

 

[pparks1]

Most people I know, would like my fuel mileage, but they don't WANT to deal with having a diesel. Most seemed interested a lit in my car until they find out it is a diesel and then they are like "oh well, knew it was too good to be true".

I would be surprised to see people choosing the diesel option if it were made available to them. Especiallywith diesel costing more.