Quote:
Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
I am thinking about buying a new car. There may be a new, longer commute in my future, and with gas clearly over $3 a gallon, my 14MPG Jeep Grand Cherokee is going to be a painful option.
When I mentioned to my dad that I was thinking about this, and thinking about maybe a hybrid, he urged me to think about a diesel. I've done the research, and it turns out he's right... on a strictly MPG basis, the diesels blow doors on the hybrids.
I live in the deep south, so there's no worry about plugging the car in to keep the fuel warm or anything (Can you tell I once tried to drive a diesel in Syracuse NY?).
So, besides the fact that diesels are less green than hybrids and less ubiquitous, are there any other things I should be considering?
For the record, I'm looking at both Mercedes and Volkswagens diesel offerings.
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Haven't read the other responses, but I just bought a Mercedes diesel this past weekend. I ended up going diesel over hybrid not only for the gas mileage but simply because while the hybrid technology sounds great, I had some concerns - such as battery life and the cost of replacement batteries, accidents and the battery (I read something about firefighters expressing concerns) and just some general concerns that weren't there with the diesel technology. So far I am really happy. I take my kids to school and I have a 17 mile each way commute but have recently been looking for something different and most of what I have been submitting my resume for would increase my commute.
Also, the new diesel technology won't require the warmoing stuff unless you use biodiesel, and even then you could put cold weather additive in it....
good luck in your decision...
