Diesel cars have 2 big drawbacks

Dear Terry,
It's time you highlighted the benefits of German diesel cars and kept it front page for those less informed, which is about 90 percent of the U.S. population. Volkswagen is set to bring the Jetta sedan and wagon -- which get almost 60 miles per gallon -- back to the U.S. this year. Audi hopefully will bring the A4 to the U.S. in 2009, if it's not a lie.

The EPA has been screwing the effort of Europe to sell these cars in all 50 states by making ridiculous clean-air rules to stop them from competing with inferior American cars, which are all gas.

Well, guess what? The Germans have won. Now, driving a diesel will actually make California cleaner by sucking up all that smog and trapping it, then burning it off in the engine.

I have just really had it with everyone complaining about fuel prices, and everyone ignoring the fact that there is a country that builds superior fuel-efficient/sporty vehicles because it's their bread and butter.

Unfortunately, in the U.S., cars are just one more poor-quality thing we mass produce.
-- John

Dear John,
You feel passionate about this, huh?

Well, there's no doubt that diesels will play an increasing roll in the automotive mix in the United States. Diesel types will include straight diesel cars like the Jetta TDI -- which VW says will get about 50 mpg on the highway -- and diesel hybrid models. Japanese manufacturers are also planning diesel sedans.

There are two big drawbacks to U.S. consumers buying diesels: The fact that a gallon of diesel costs more than a gallon of regular gasoline and the $1,000 to $3,000 extra a buyer will pay when purchasing a diesel model instead of a comparable gas-powered model.

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