High diesel prices and pollution concerns put off potential buyers in Europe
We take it for granted that Europeans love diesels. This is quite a save statement if you're talking about countries like France or Spain, where diesel sales make up around 65 percent of all car sold. This might be changing, though, as recent changes in fuel prices has made the diesel vehicles less attractive. Since February, diesel has been more expensive than gasoline in Spain. The same shift happened in France in May and a similar situation is happening in Germany. This brings about at least two interesting situations.
First of all, the decline in car sales in Spain is affecting diesel cars more than petrol ones. The high diesel prices hurt, but a new registration tax scheme made for a milder decrease in sales of small and subcompact cars than in past months. A bit of surprising news comes from Germany, where one out of four diesel owners state that their next new car will likely be a gasoline vehicle, thanks in part to the complexity of owning a diesel and the high repair costs. Things even look worse for old models: those cars not fitted with Diesel Particulate Filters aren't likely to be purchased second hand (and will probably end up in Southern Europe), mostly due to the restrictions in some cities.
[Source: El País, Auto-Presse]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karkus 6:44PM (6/04/2008)
The popularity may have peaked, but I'm sure they'll stay popular as long as Diesel keeps it's significant tax advantage in Europe.
However, another factor working against Diesel is the new CO2 based regulations. Unlike MPG or l/100km, the CO2 corrects for the higher energy density of diesel. Yes, it's still more efficient to burn diesel, but not as much the way it used to be calculated.
But perhaps the diesel prices are just a victim of the diesels' popularity. As more people buy diesel, the supplies become constrained, and prices go up. If everyone start buying gasoline, then diesel prices should go back down a little.
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RainCity 12:01PM (6/05/2008)
I love this blog, I really do. But please spell and grammar check your articles. It takes 10 seconds and makes it look so much more professional!
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Nils 5:03PM (6/05/2008)
"thanks in part to the complexity of owning a diesel and the high repair costs" --> written by someone who never owned a diesel I suppose? My diesels always last longer and are definitely more trouble-free than gas ICE.
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Xavier Navarro 5:05PM (6/05/2008)
Nils:
I own a car with a VW 90 HP TDI engine. A durable, solid, satisfying and economical engine, but have you changed the distribution belt? It must be done every 100,000 km and it's never less than 500 EUR.
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montoym 7:20PM (6/05/2008)
Xavier:
That's not a maintenance item solely limited to diesels. I just recently replaced the Timing Belt and associated items on my VW 1.8T and it cost me about $600USD. It is also supposed to be done about every 60,000 miles(about 100,000 Km).
Owning a gas or a diesel doesn't exempt you from routine maintenance.
But, I surely can't expect 400,000 miles out of my 1.8T like you would get out of a TDI quite easily either.
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Snowdog 8:09PM (6/05/2008)
Maybe it's not high Diesel Maintenance, but high VW maintenance costs.
The new Subaru Diesel has a timing Chain BTW. Probably will last the life of the vehicle.
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Nils 12:44PM (6/07/2008)
I agree, this is not a diesel thing and belts are just one option.
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Slobodan 2:40PM (6/10/2008)
http://www.slobodandz.myffi.biz
Lowest diesel prices
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