A wealthy friend of mine is in the market for a new SUV, and he wants a diesel. He's looked at the diesels from Audi, BMW, Merc, even Porsche - and they only sell slushbox models here in the states. I've looked online at the Jeep and VW diesels - same story. The Mazda CX-5 is rumored to be coming with that combo, but no confirmation has come from Mazda. These SUVs are available all over Europe - is there really no such thing here?
There is absolutely no such thing. Despite enthusiast forums clamoring for them, automakers know for sure that, even if they did import them, 98% of the people who clamor for one will never actually buy one.
I hate to E36 M3 in the pool, but I've driven such a unicorn, albeit in passenger van form (maybe 4700lbs, not much heavier than a new SUV), with 6 speeds and a modern 5 cylinder turbodiesel. I cant really say I didn't think it would be better off with a good automatic. It had a powerband like a 2 stroke, except the whole 4500 rpm redline thing. You really had to keep after it to get any acceleration, needed all 6 of those gears.
Yes! In 1986 the Isuzu Trooper was sold with a diesel and a stick! :D
Kenny_McCormic wrote: I hate to E36 M3 in the pool, but I've driven such a unicorn, albeit in passenger van form (maybe 4700lbs, not much heavier than a new SUV), with 6 speeds and a modern 5 cylinder turbodiesel. I cant really say I didn't think it would be better off with a good automatic. It had a powerband like a 2 stroke, except the whole 4500 rpm redline thing. You really had to keep after it to get any acceleration, needed all 6 of those gears.
Why do you think Semi's have such short gearing and 2 speed differentials? You -do- row the gears a lot in a diesel
300GD
Oh, you said new....
mad_machine wrote:Kenny_McCormic wrote: I hate to E36 M3 in the pool, but I've driven such a unicorn, albeit in passenger van form (maybe 4700lbs, not much heavier than a new SUV), with 6 speeds and a modern 5 cylinder turbodiesel. I cant really say I didn't think it would be better off with a good automatic. It had a powerband like a 2 stroke, except the whole 4500 rpm redline thing. You really had to keep after it to get any acceleration, needed all 6 of those gears.Why do you think Semi's have such short gearing and 2 speed differentials? You -do- row the gears a lot in a diesel
I'm lazy, I like lots torque down low and all over the place, having to keep a turbo spooled just to keep up with traffic in a SUV is annoying. Semis also have huge engines that are pulling hard at high idle.
I fully understand the why, just saying, it isn't all its cracked up to be. A small displacement euro style turbo diesel utility vehicle just doesn't have the powerband for putting, you MUST bang gears to keep it moving at a reasonable pace, which is NOT something most people, enthusiasts included, like to do. A car with that kind of setup might not be bad, but the trucks really need a auto for driveability.
Nice surprise about this shorter form. Can you tell us what it is you are talking/writing about? Has any info. about this shorter form been posted before (and i just missed it)?
michaeljee wrote: Nice surprise about this shorter form. Can you tell us what it is you are talking/writing about? Has any info. about this shorter form been posted before (and i just missed it)?
Did anybody order a canoe?
I think a manual Diesel in an SUV would get old fast. I'd love it for off road rock crawling but street driving? I just think the low redline would be maddening while constantly rowing through the gears.
Did the Liberty Diesel come with a manual? Bronco II had a diesel, again not sure about the manual, but I'd guess so. The K5 Blazer/M1009 could be had with a diesel.
Kenny_McCormic wrote:mad_machine wrote:I'm lazy, I like lots torque down low and all over the place, having to keep a turbo spooled just to keep up with traffic in a SUV is annoying. Semis also have huge engines that are pulling hard at high idle.Kenny_McCormic wrote: I hate to E36 M3 in the pool, but I've driven such a unicorn, albeit in passenger van form (maybe 4700lbs, not much heavier than a new SUV), with 6 speeds and a modern 5 cylinder turbodiesel. I cant really say I didn't think it would be better off with a good automatic. It had a powerband like a 2 stroke, except the whole 4500 rpm redline thing. You really had to keep after it to get any acceleration, needed all 6 of those gears.Why do you think Semi's have such short gearing and 2 speed differentials? You -do- row the gears a lot in a diesel
pulling hard at high idle with -very- small powerbands. Listen to one pull away from a light fully loaded. The driver is banging a gear every couple of seconds as they get up from first to up around Fifth
I was thinking that you could get a crew-cab truck with a diesel and a manual and then add a cap, but no one seems to offer a diesel with a stick. Hmmm.
Nope, you can do it with Dodge. Up to Lonestar trim, you can still get the 6-speed manual. Crew cab with a cap on the back, it will be pretty close.
Put a topper on the back of a cummins ram pickup. BAM instant SUV.
ALSO:
I know mazda 6 diesel will come with a 6 speed and is heading to dealers sept/october.
CX5 is the same platform and I'm unsure when it will get it but I know overseas it already does.
Nothing new available in the US unless the turtle top thing is acceptable.
Available in other markets:
Land Rover Defender series & Bowler trucks based on them
Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ-series utility trucks)
Mahindra Scorpio (cheap thing, he probably won't want it...decent truck though)
Mahindra Axe (H1-like thing, but not so huge and heavy)
GameboyRMH wrote: Nothing new available in the US unless the turtle top thing is acceptable. Available in other markets: Land Rover Defender series & Bowler trucks based on them Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ-series utility trucks) Mahindra Scorpio (cheap thing, he probably won't want it...decent truck though) Mahindra Axe (H1-like thing, but not so huge and heavy)
LR does not want -any- new defenders in the US. I know they even took a few importers of antique Series Land Rovers to court, claiming they were newer than advertised in an effort to shut down the importation of Defenders.
Which is a shame, the Defender is what I think of when I think "land rover"
fidelity101 wrote: Put a topper on the back of a cummins ram pickup. BAM instant SUV. ALSO: I know mazda 6 diesel will come with a 6 speed and is heading to dealers sept/october. CX5 is the same platform and I'm unsure when it will get it but I know overseas it already does.
You sure about the manual 6? Everything I have read says no manual.
Even going back 20 years, you're manual+diesel options are just pickup trucks and euro sedans. It's so disappointing that Land Rover and Mercedes chose not to bring their rugged diesels to the US. And even the Hummer H1 was auto-only!
But there were a handful of manual diesel SUVs back in the 80's: Ford Bronco II, Isuzu Trooper, Jeep Wagoneer.
I recommended spending $10K on a good used VW Passat TDI Wagon then adding mud tires and a lift kit.
Enyar wrote:fidelity101 wrote: Put a topper on the back of a cummins ram pickup. BAM instant SUV. ALSO: I know mazda 6 diesel will come with a 6 speed and is heading to dealers sept/october. CX5 is the same platform and I'm unsure when it will get it but I know overseas it already does.You sure about the manual 6? Everything I have read says no manual.
You can get the manual with leather now (touring trim) but not top trim (grand touring) but thats the gas engine.
I spoke with the dealer and bugged the right people. they take delivery in them on sept/october.
You can get them in manual with diesel but only FWD and only sport and touring trims.
but this is the mazda6. I'm unsure on the CX-5
Unicorn, but at least in '96 the full size two door blazer could be had with diesel and manual. Believe that it was the NV 4500.
mad_machine wrote:Kenny_McCormic wrote: I hate to E36 M3 in the pool, but I've driven such a unicorn, albeit in passenger van form (maybe 4700lbs, not much heavier than a new SUV), with 6 speeds and a modern 5 cylinder turbodiesel. I cant really say I didn't think it would be better off with a good automatic. It had a powerband like a 2 stroke, except the whole 4500 rpm redline thing. You really had to keep after it to get any acceleration, needed all 6 of those gears.Why do you think Semi's have such short gearing and 2 speed differentials? You -do- row the gears a lot in a diesel
Depends on the diesel. The older Detroit 8.2L V8's made a nice fat lowend powerband. The newer inline turbo 6's can't match that. Kind of like comparing a K-series Honda engine to a TBI SBC.
RossD wrote: Did the Liberty Diesel come with a manual?
Not here...... overseas yes. As soon as mine has tranny problems (knock on wood) I'll be converting. Believe it or not the electronics of the conversion are the easy part, just a GDE flash of the ECU away.
Teh E36 M3 wrote: Unicorn, but at least in '96 the full size two door blazer could be had with diesel and manual. Believe that it was the NV 4500.
Sure it was a '96? Edmunds, KBB and FuelEconomy all say that year Blazer was gasoline only here in the US.
You can configure a Ram 2500 with Diesel + Manual online, at least.
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