Mazda5 Diesel?
- Thread starter chief_wiggum
- Start date
Yep, diesel is nearly $1.00 per gallon more than regular gas here in the Southeast (US). I've heard that there's a higher tax on diesel these days, maybe because the vast majority of vehicles using diesel in the US are heavy, road-damaging vehicles like semi trucks and heavy equipment.
Yep, diesel is nearly $1.00 per gallon more than regular gas here in the Southeast (US). I've heard that there's a higher tax on diesel these days, maybe because the vast majority of vehicles using diesel in the US are heavy, road-damaging vehicles like semi trucks and heavy equipment.
I remember when diesel had its 1st round of popularity back in the late '70's/early '80's, and back then, diesel was significantly less expensive than gas. Wish it was still that way now.
Today my wife ran into the driver of a grey market diesel. The German born woman driving it was surprised that the US version only seats 6, and didn't want to trade down over 15 mpg by swapping into our 5. The seed is planted anyway. If they ever want to sell it . . .
remarquian
Member
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- 2007 Mazda5 Sport AT
Diesel is more expensive do to the fact that there is more of a demand for it, internationally.
A 44 gallon barrel of crude oil produces about 19.5 gallons of gasoline and 9.21 gallons of diesel. So you get twice as much gasoline than diesel outta a barrel of oil. Since the ratio is fixed, a higher demand for one will pull up the price of crude, with the other one (with less demand) becoming cheaper.
From what I've read overseas demand for diesel is why the price is higher than gasoline. We (North America) been sending a lot of refined diesel to Europe and Asia, because they're willing to pay a premium for it.
With regard to taxes, the US Federal Excise tax is 6 cent higher than gas per gallon. State taxes of course vary, but they don't add up to a dollars worth.
Source: Energy Information Agency, US Department of Energy.
I own a VW diesel that gets 45 mpg and love it. The 07+ diesels are very clean and don't even emit any smoke. I'd love a diesel Mazda5 in a heartbeat (even better fuel economy and loads of torque). I e-mailed Mazda about the idea (or even buying a Europe Mazda5 and shipping it over) and they kindly said:
"Thanks for contacting Mazda. We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry.
I am pleased you took the time to bring your suggestion regarding diesel fueled vehicle to our attention. Consumer feedback is always very important to Mazda. Certainly, we want to offer exciting vehicles, and comments such as yours help us to achieve that goal.
At this time, there are no plans to introduce a diesel fueled vehicle to the US market. Research is conducted to determine what is best for the market and what is demanded by consumers.
Also, we do not assist with import/export of vehicles from another country. In order to learn what products are offered in Europe, you can visit www.mazda.com . Shipping it to the US would not be recommended because the warranty would be voided and it may be difficult to get repairs done or parts when needed.
Rest assured I have documented your suggestion for our corporate record. These records are continuously being reviewed by our Product Planning Department in an effort to provide only the highest quality products to our customers.
Again, thank you for contacting Mazda."
"Thanks for contacting Mazda. We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry.
I am pleased you took the time to bring your suggestion regarding diesel fueled vehicle to our attention. Consumer feedback is always very important to Mazda. Certainly, we want to offer exciting vehicles, and comments such as yours help us to achieve that goal.
At this time, there are no plans to introduce a diesel fueled vehicle to the US market. Research is conducted to determine what is best for the market and what is demanded by consumers.
Also, we do not assist with import/export of vehicles from another country. In order to learn what products are offered in Europe, you can visit www.mazda.com . Shipping it to the US would not be recommended because the warranty would be voided and it may be difficult to get repairs done or parts when needed.
Rest assured I have documented your suggestion for our corporate record. These records are continuously being reviewed by our Product Planning Department in an effort to provide only the highest quality products to our customers.
Again, thank you for contacting Mazda."
rweatherford
Member
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- Mazda 5
At least it wasn't just a generic response.
mazdadude
ZOOOOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOOOM
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- '16.5 Mazda CX-5 Touring
Is anybody interested in my views regarding this issue as a german Mazda 5 (diesel engine) driver?
Yes, especially if your were able to compare both the Petrol, and diesel versions.
Danke!
That could become difficult.. Because, as far as I know, your petrol engine is the 2.3 litre engine.. which isn't offered here in Germany (and most, if not all, european countries too).
As I said.. I don't own a petrol powered Mazda 5... So I can't give you a DIRECT comparison. But I can give you some insights on the diesel engine and its strengths and (more important) problems, which you may never have heard of...
Some of the posts here in this thread sound for me like "the grass is always greener on the other side".. Maybe you don't want the diesel engine anymore if you know more about it (..maybe you still want it, it depends..
)I'm not too sure about that.. the 2.3l seems to be a good deal stronger.. In fact, every year there are some people in the german mazda forums which start a thread where they are craving for that engine... (so much for "the grass is always greener"... but from the other side of the fence now..)
.... But I can give you some insights on the diesel engine and its strengths and (more important) problems, which you may never have heard of...
..
OK OK. Go ahead and give your review on 40+ MPG diesel which can go up 15% grade on 6th gear at 7000+ feet altitude.........
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
I've rented a 2008 Mazda3 with a 2.0L engine and, yes, it was a nice ride, but the USMD 2.3L Mazda5 feels much more peppier all along, even with the extra weight (i.e. torque, response, acceleration). Granted, my 2 cars are manual, but I've also rented an auto-tragic 2.3L Mazda5 sometime ago
Yes please, gives us the ups and downs about the Diesel, we've only read the good things in articles and saw some members from Netherlands responding to questions, but I'm sure it has its flaws
Oh, and if the damen und herren im Deutschland want the 2.3L, you may better want to wait for the new MZR 2.5L, more power and better fuel economy!
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i think he is talking about the massive shortened livetime of the diesel engines with DPF setup. but afaik the diesel engines dont come with DPF in north america, so there should be nothing to worry about.
*DPF: Diesel Partikel Filter
its a peace similar to the catalytic converter on reg fuel cars, which is in this case designed to eliminate unhealthy exhaust emissions. it works but leads to thinner oil in some circumstances and in some cases following a severe engine failure.
> sorry for my weird english, maybe somebody can explain it in better language (hippy) <
*DPF: Diesel Partikel Filter
its a peace similar to the catalytic converter on reg fuel cars, which is in this case designed to eliminate unhealthy exhaust emissions. it works but leads to thinner oil in some circumstances and in some cases following a severe engine failure.
> sorry for my weird english, maybe somebody can explain it in better language (hippy) <
Indeed they must have DPFs. In fact, our diesel-emissions regs are tighter than Europe's, mainly because we now have (or nearly have) the same regs for both gasoline and diesel, which is not the case in Europe at least at present.
The diesel engines have some desirable power characteristics (very good low-end pull), and of course they achieve higher mpg, but they are not cost-effective. Gasoline engines are less expensive to produce & buy, and the fuel cost is enough lower to more than offset the lower mpg (Things change a bit when you're talking $4 gasoline in America, but just like in the '70s, that pricing was an anomaly rather than a new paradigm). Plus, even at their higher mpg, diesels produce more of those evil greenhouse gases (I'm being sarcastic here) than gasoline engines.
Aside from all that, Europe preferring diesel and America preferring gasoline works out quite nicely in terms of global supply and demand of the two fuels. If we all used either one, the price would skyrocket, and the price for what we didn't like would plummet.
The diesel engines have some desirable power characteristics (very good low-end pull), and of course they achieve higher mpg, but they are not cost-effective. Gasoline engines are less expensive to produce & buy, and the fuel cost is enough lower to more than offset the lower mpg (Things change a bit when you're talking $4 gasoline in America, but just like in the '70s, that pricing was an anomaly rather than a new paradigm). Plus, even at their higher mpg, diesels produce more of those evil greenhouse gases (I'm being sarcastic here) than gasoline engines.
Aside from all that, Europe preferring diesel and America preferring gasoline works out quite nicely in terms of global supply and demand of the two fuels. If we all used either one, the price would skyrocket, and the price for what we didn't like would plummet.
