Lost the Magic? Hybrid Sales Dwindle 12.7% In June - Diesel Sales Rise 8.8% For Month

If this keeps up, Audi's diesel expansion will prove to be that much better of a decision. The timing couldn't have been better. The A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 are all available with a diesel and the forthcoming A3 TDI will be too.

There are problems with current Hybrid, Diesel, and electic vehicles
1- They are MUCH more expensive than the cars they are based on with gas engines (If they are based on them)
2 -Dealers option them to the gills to bring the price up even higher
3 - And dealers do not discount them as much as well.

Either the Electric vehicle is small - and has limited range - or it is a Tesla and priced out of the Ballpark for most people. And while electric cars may be cheaper to run - when you factor in the extra cost - it takes a LONG TIME to make it worthwhile. And if you need a greater range than 30-40 miles - most won't work at all.

Hybrid cars have the same problem - you cannot justify the extra mileage based on the higher prices. ANd you really do not get the mileage specified. At more affordable prices - the hybrids also do not drive as well as a gas car.

Diesel Fuel in my area is around 20% higher than regular gas - and Diesel cars cost a lot extra too - so while they might get better mileage - again - it takes a long time to make it worthwhile. And diesel cars are not "green" cars - so some who buy electric cars for that purpose - would not consider a diesel.

So - when you look at it over time - they really do not save anything.
In europe - where diesel is much cheaper than gas - diesels are the preferred choice - and can be justified - not in the USA

Depends on the vehicle you are looking at. For Mercedes, some of their diesels are the same price as the gas version, although I haven't looked recently. VW varies, but you also have to look at the equipment packages to make sure you are comparing equivalent levels. BMW and Audi, again they can be higher, although I don't feel a couple thousand extra is a bad deal. remember that diesel gives you more than improved economy. That low end torque can be intoxicating.

Diesel prices seem to vary wildly across the country. Here in the Seattle area, diesel has been much higher than even premium gas for years, when suddenly a few months ago it reversed and now I see D2 at or below regular prices. Go figure. Since my car recommends premium, I would save quite a bunch if it was a diesel.

VW tends to load the TDI's to the gills.

One of my cars (the one I drive the most) is a Mercedes GL350 Bluetek. Its a 6,000 lb 7 seater SUV and it gets 27 MPG on a highway trip. My lowest tank EVER (I live in nyc) was 22 MPG. The comparable gas version averages at best, 17 MPG.

If you can afford a $70k suv, you are not that sensitive to fuel prices, and I have observed that diesel in NY area costs exactly the same as 93 octane gas.

However, the best, most underrated benefit of driving a diesel is that you NEVER HAVE TO STOP FOR FUEL. I can easily go 600 miles on a tank. My old ML350 gas, could go about 375 miles on a tank. That is a huge convenience difference and is the best reason to own a diesel. Aside form the fact that (for all intents and purposes) the engines are so good, they are great in traffic and only slightly slower than the somewhat overpowered gas engines (ahem...MB twin turbo 450 horsepower V8 in the GL450).

German diesels are awesome. Test drive one, you'll be amazed. In MB land, the diesels are usually the least expensive versions of the model lines too.

Yes this is another "fuzzy logic" piece by Agent009