[2ndDivisionVet]

Can't or won't? My 1984 Mercedes 300D turbo that cost me $100 runs just fine four years later. It'll probably make it to a million miles (I only have 140K on it).

[Spktyr]

Can’t. That engine doesn’t meet US emissions standards.

[mnehring]

$100.. wow, I would love a classic Merc Diesel from the 80s..

[gridlock]

The US taxes diesel at a higher rate in order to keep people from shifting over from gasoline as a pollution-fighting measure. It costs less per gallon to produce diesel, and diesels get better milage. It is only our benighted tax policies that keep the US consumer from benefiting from this simple math.

[Spktyr]

Locate a spare transmission for it and get it rebuilt ahead of time. The 300D Turbo trans likes to go out around 150-200K.

[ari-freedom]

the problem is not Ford but the govt and the unions.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

GW ping.

[factoryrat]

When I worked for Chrysler, we were testing diesel engines in just about every vehicle in the Chrysler lineup. They performed great, and are a lot cleaner with the new emissions systems. Too bad the EPA wouldn’t allow them to be sold in the U.S. The engineers I spoke with said that the EPA policy against diesel passenger vehicles is the only reason why they’re not sold here.

[randomhero97]

Nice. Are many of these still around?

[Cicero]

It’s another case of the crazies screwing things up in the name of the environment—when, in fact, it wastes more fossil fuels and in the end produces more pollution.

I had a diesel Rabbit back when they sold them here. Great car, even back then before the technology in Europe really improved diesel engines.

Obama will predictably make things worse. It’s part of the Democrat game plan, and most Republicans are too fearful to fight it.

[garykfd]

makes me want to given a 25B bailout...how bout you??

[DustyMoment]

Old news and previously posted. Nothing to see here, move on.

[Sender]

If Ford goes bankrupt or begs for a Federal bailout, while withholding their world cars which could turn their story around, I will cry no tears. Ford has marketed energy-efficient cars for years in Europe while building giant SUVs here. Love them or hate them, small cars are the future. Ford has them all designed and produced. How about the Ka and SportKa? Not for America. New Fiesta? Nope.

Hey Ford, I'm not bailing you out of stupidity. Stupidity. Hello?

[martin_fierro]

[I got the rope]

Man you’re lucky. I’ve been trying to buy an old mercedes diesel and people just won’t sell them over here. People love them.

[The Mayor]

Great car!

[B Knotts]

NOx rules imposed by California and adopted by many other states make it impractical to import small diesels. It could be done, but the exhaust treatment necessary would make the cars too expensive for this market.

The most annoying part of this is that the NOx limits are pointless, because of the balance between NOx and VOCs. Without cutting VOCs by a lot, the NOx reductions accomplish nothing, other than wasting fuel, and reducing vehicle choice.

So blame CARB.

[Bellflower]

ping

[American in Israel]

But Ford doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic.

But Europe, who is on a much tighter budget than we are is able to pay?! No wonder Fraud is in the bread lines at Congress. Such progressive thinking they have.

Let me ask, would you buy a 65 MPG car over a 18MPG Ford truck these days?

My bet is you could not ship them over here fast enough to meet demand.

[Cacique]

btt

[FreedomPoster]

The closest gas station to me, a Chevron, just converted their diesel tank/pumps to E85, which is a pure boondoggle in my book, meant to placate the ADM lobby / Iowa voters.