[daver]

Had my MINI yesterday checked out by the dealer, regarding the transmission cable-problem. And had a good chat, where I had the confirmation that the diesel-MINI was to be expected in autumn 2003 or even spring 2004. This is due to problems with the engine developed by Toyota (under supervision of BMW/MINI).

[plaztik]

I'm just curious as to why anyone would want a diesel MINI. Perhaps someone could fill me in?

Thanks.

[Fant]

High fuel prices in europe make diesel's much more economical.

[plaztik]

Ah. Gotcha!

Diesel is such a pain to find in the US that it really impacts the usability of the vehicle. It's just not practical here. I'm glad they are giving Europe the option though.

Thanks!

[medazza]

Having had a New Beetle TDi for 4 years, you'd be surprised how many diesel pumps are here in North America. And I'd buy another turbo diesel in a second. The gas mileage is incredible. I regularly got 800 kilometres on a tank with combined driving and about 1000 kilometres on the highway. My new Cooper gets around 550-600 kilometres combined, 700 max. on the highway. That's a big difference...but I don't suspect they'll bring it over here, just the same...but if they did I'd definitely sign up!

[majormike]

Quote:

Originally posted by medazza
I regularly got 800 kilometres on a tank with combined driving and about 1000 kilometres on the highway. My new Cooper gets around 550-600 kilometres combined, 700 max. on the highway. That's a big difference...but I don't suspect they'll bring it over here, just the same...but if they did I'd definitely sign up!

What's the performance comparison?

[medazza]

If you're taking about the gas engine of the Beetle versus the diesel, the performance worked out to be the same as Car and Driver discovered. Same 0-60 times. But the diesel is a lot quieter at highway speeds and a little noisier.

As for how the Cooper compares to the Beetle...the handling is a lot tighter on the Cooper (but the Beetle was pretty good back in '98 compared to other cars)...and while the Cooper is relatively good on pickup, I really hate the lag getting off the mark sometimes from a stopped position. So advantage Beetle TDi on that one!

[majormike]

Yep, I was asking about the diesel vs gas comparison, but nice to have the GTi vs Cooper.

[skobylenski]

Hey, I'm new here, but I do know diesels. I've got a '92 Dodge W250 with a Cummins out front, and let me tell you, diesel is NOT hard to come by, unless you are in the middle of Bum F*** Nowhere and the only signs are "Last Gas for 400 Miles"

Anyway, the diesel also gets incredible mileage, and if you do the right things to it, it will OUT PERFORM almost any other Mini on the face of the planet. I've seen 7,000+ lb. trucks literally dust everything from NOSed rice-rockets to 'Maros and 'Vettes. Don't under-estimate the power of a diesel. For example: bigger injectors, a HUGE exhaust, a turbo charger, and a tweaked fuel pump make a difference you have to see (and/or feel) to actually understand and appreciate.

On the economic side of things, with rising fuel prices these days, the diesel is actually cheaper to run, mile for mile. Diesel may be more expensive that gas, but the diesel goes farther on each tank. Don't dis the diesel until you've driven a BOMBed one. (Don't know if you have that as a term, but it means Better Off Modified Baby )

Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down
Scott

[tys42]

Quote:

Originally posted by plaztik
Ah. Gotcha!

Diesel is such a pain to find in the US that it really impacts the usability of the vehicle. It's just not practical here. I'm glad they are giving Europe the option though.

Thanks!

Does anyone know if the USA will be given a Diesel option? If so, when?

[minimug]

Why do you guys ove rthe pond need diesel when petrol is so cheap ? if you had to pay what we do over here ( lets say 1 UK pound is equal to 1 and a half bucks) we pay about £3.85 a uk gallon ( approx 5 litres) and I believe you lot pay about a buck a gallon, so thats about 80 pence !!!Hence the brits so interested in diesels, our fuel is 5 times what you pay !! happy motoring enjoy while you can...Minimug

[medazza]

Well, having had both a Volkswagen TDi (diesel) and my current Cooper, I can tell you that - money for gas aside - diesel engines are way more effecient than gas engines. For combined city and highway driving, my New Beetle could easily go 800 km on a 50-litre tank of diesel, whereas my Cooper Sport on premium gas goes about between 550 and 600 km, if I'm lucky. So, that's a considerable savings on fuel...

[BrantV]

Quote:

Originally posted by minimug
Why do you guys ove rthe pond need diesel when petrol is so cheap ? if you had to pay what we do over here ( lets say 1 UK pound is equal to 1 and a half bucks) we pay about £3.85 a uk gallon ( approx 5 litres) and I believe you lot pay about a buck a gallon, so thats about 80 pence !!!Hence the brits so interested in diesels, our fuel is 5 times what you pay !!

A few observations:

Our gas is is quite a bit more than $1.00 per gallon, and our gallons are 16.74% smaller. You're getting 20.1% more litters per gallon than we are. That still leaves us quite a bit cheaper.

If you're paying £3.85 an imperial gallon (4.546 Liters) That would be $6.08 with todays exchange rate, $1.33 per liter or about $5.06 per US gallon (3.785 liters). Our prices are currently about $2.11 per gallon (our fault), which is less that 2.3:1 ratio not 5:1. If you're actually paying less because you accidentally multiplied by 5 instead of 4.546 than the ratio gets closer to 2.18:1.

As for differences in prices, a lot of it comes down to taxes. I wish we'd add more taxes, and remove the senators that are trying to add penalties for hybrid cars because they think they don't pay their fair share in gas taxes. In Oregon they doubled the registration fees for hybrid cars.

But I suspect diesel is attractive here for the same reasons it's attractive elsewhere. It costs less to operate. Not to mention a fairly good longevity track record.