Huh?!?
At least 80% of diesel produced for on-road use for the past year is Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. If you look at a diesel pump, you will see a little sticker on it somewhere that looks like this:
I haven't seen the old diesel fuel anywhere on the West Coast since summer of 2006.
You left-coast folks much be lucky. I have been all over Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Eastern and Central Texas and never once saw such a sticker. Every pump still was the “Low Sulfur not for use in 2007 or later vehicles” variety.
In addition - I actually was casually shopping for a car about 6 months back - and was really interested in a Jetta or Passat TDi. I noticed that they had none, so I asked.... The response was that VW was not importing any until after the 1st of the year because of the “new diesel regulations” - and the fuel isn’t widely available. I emailed VW thinking this was a crock excuse - and the reply was rather vague but did seem to support the answer I got. Wish I had saved it.
I think California has required the use of the Ultra-Low sulfur fuel for some time now... thus the reason for the availability there.