Going from 3 - 4 children

[SamH]

Trust me its not the emissions. E.U. standards are far higher than US standards on emissions. But theres loads of other differences that mean that its not worthwhile having type approval obtained for a vehicle you dont intend to market in the US.

Besides I mentioned Ford and Chrysler which are american vehicles. Opel is a name used in Europe by General Motors:another american company.

The fact all the vehicles I named run on diesel engines is a far bigger issue. I believe that’s not a widely used fuel in the US and not even all heavy goods vehicles use it. But you can now get 80mpg in a big sedan shaped car like a VW passatt and over 100mpg from some of the small cars. Those figures are unobtainable from the petrol hybrids.

The emissions issues have been dealt with using active exhaust filters.

Actually diesel is very widely used and sold in the US - I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen a “gas” station that didn’t sell diesel. US emissions for light vehicles are very stringent and the cost to make a European engine meet US standards prevent them from being imported.

Diesel generally returns 30% better mileage than gas, and in the dominion of $8 gallons, this is no small advantage.

Mind you, there are two distinct factors working in favour of Europeans’ wallets: fuel with a higher cetane rating, which makes it easier to control NOx emissions, and EU emissions standards that are generally comparable to the US’s Tier 2 standards in all areas apart from, yes, NOx. Even our EU 6 standards, due in 2015, do not quite match the States’ strict limits on smog- and acid rain-causing emissions.

Relative to a gasoline-burning engine, it is more difficult to control NOx in a diesel, which is why, to meet those comparatively stricter emissions limits, diesels in the US are required to use expensive, onboard after-treatment systems, which decrease the amount of particulate matter that leaves the tailpipe.

bbc.com/autos/story/20130109-why-do-americans-not-buy-diesels

The US has more relaxed emission standards for heavier vehicles such as trucks. I can’t recall the last time I saw a heavy truck (bigger than a one ton) that had a gas engine - unless it was over 25 years old. If Ford could import their diesel Festiva to the US I would own at least one.

 

[MomaMary8]

But you can now get 80mpg in a **big sedan shaped car like a VW passatt **and over 100mpg from some of the small cars.

hehe…American here, having a little giggle. I would not call a VW passat a “big” sedan or vehicle.

$6000 for a vehicle with just 60K miles is a fantastic price! That price savings should help offset the extra money you’ll spend on gas and carpooling will also help. DH and I laughing thought of becoming a shuttle bus on the weekends to bring in gas money.

 

[gmarie21]

DH and I laughing thought of becoming a shuttle bus on the weekends to bring in gas money.