Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MarkM66
So what technology has the French and Germans put into their Diesels that the dummy's at the Big Three can't figure out?
|
i think its just the fact that they have been doing it for so long now, even the jap car makers are behind the likes of bmw, audi, citroen etc because they had very little demand for diesel in asia until recently, its ironic that one of the most popular mini vans in europe is the grand caravan which has a turbo diesel engine that gets over 30 mpg and its not even an option in the usa! its also in the new nitro but again not an option over here, speed limits can be much higher in places like germany and a big motor uses way too much gas at 140mph plus so they develop sub 3 litre motors that will do this all day without breaking sweat. Also, does any one here know why the oil companies and car makers recommend oil changes at 3000 miles when the same car in europe with the same motor has an interval of 15-20000 miles? audi and bmw to name two have this interval and yet they have the same parts in them as north american models, even mobil one has "long life" oil for 8ooo miles yet the same oil in europe is rated for 25000 miles, the car makers would not risk ruining the engine by trebling or quadrupling the service intervals so i think the us oil companies have every one brainwashed into making out you need do change oil just to boost the profits, the first service on a brand new cobalt in europe is 12000 miles! before anything gets checked. drivetrains on most north american cars get a much easier life too due to the fact that autos rarely have the motor screaming and the speed limits are generally lower, most euro cars are standard transmissions and drivers bang down the gears to slow down which is harder on a drivetrain.I am not down on the us cars , i live here, its just that being from over the pond i can give a good account of the way things are different in different countries.