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Cheap fuel prices and the Volkswagen-Audi-maybe-others emissions flap take sales of diesel fuel passenger cars down to virtually nothing. Almost 200 diesel passenger cars were sold in January — less than, say, Bentley and Rolls-Royce sell in a typical month, and ane-twentieth as many as were sold a year agone.

Diesel SUVs fared slightly improve, nearly a 1000 units  in January 2016. The lone strong point was diesel fuel engine lite trucks (mostly pickups sold for piece of work use), about 22,000 in January versus 26,000 a year ago. It's all a drib in the bucket for a still robust United states of america low-cal vehicle marketplace that sold i.1 million vehicles.

2014-20BMW-20328-204

Perfect storm overtook diesels

In good years and bad, diesels become further on a tank of fuel (500 to 800 miles) and your hands scent bad after you make full up. They get better mileage than the same car with a gasoline-engine. That'due south important when fuel cost $iii-$4 a gallon. Only now information technology's downwards to $one.73 a gallon for regular, or $1.98 a gallon for diesel (as of the week of February. 22, average of all regions of the U.s.). The acknowledged 2016 Honda Civic (upwards 43% versus Jan 2015) gets 33 mpg combined, and a 300-mile trip sets yous back less than $16 in gasoline costs. For a lot of people, that's cheap enough.

The bigger hit on sales came from the diesel fuel emissions scandal that started with Volkswagen, then expanded to corporate sibling Audi, then cast a shadow over all German automakers. They're the ones supplying the bulk of diesel engine passengter cars to American buyers.

2015_jetta_tdi_4218

Volkswagen, Audi aren't selling diesels

Last September, the Environmental Protection Bureau discovered VW had a pollution-command cutout that sensed when the automobile was being emissions-tested, via inputs such as driven wheels moving versus un-driven wheels not moving (as on a roller) and steering wheel e'er directly ahead. When information technology didn't sense the likely test conditions, the EPA said, VW backed off on pollution controls and cars emitted nitrogen oxide at upwards to 40 times the Usa limit. The recall affects a half-meg VWs and Audis here and the ripple effects may expand to cover as many as 11 million vehicles worldwide. There is talk nigh whether Porsche (part of the Volkswagen group) and BMW may exist affected.

The event is that you tin can't purchase a new VW or Audi diesel fuel in the US now. A year ago in January, VW sold nearly 3,500 diesels, Audi another 800. That was the majority of the early 2015 diesel fuel passenger car marketplace: VW plus Audi. For January 2016, the highest-seller among diesel passenger cars was the BMW 3 Series with 69 reported sales. The total of all diesel rider cars sales — all brands, all models — was 222 last calendar month, co-ordinate to WardsAuto.com. Diesel SUVs and crossovers fared a flake better, with about ane,300 Jan 2016 sales amongst Land Rover, Jeep, BMW, and GMC. The only lower numbers last month belonged to Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, and Martin O'Malley.

2014 BMW 328d Sedan and xDrive Sports Wagon.

Good time to buy a diesel (if they'll let you)

We still believe this is a great time to purchase a diesel passenger car or diesel, if you tin can buy one. Think like baseball philospher Yogi Berra ("the place is so popular, nobody goes there anymore") only in opposite: Diesels are and then unpopular, you should get find one. Basically:

  • If the vehicle is for sale (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover sedans and SUVs particularly), it's not going to be in need. Virtually people are put off past cars with possible emissions problems. Dealers will be anxious to dicker.
  • If there are problems that need fixing, the toll won't put the automaker out of business. Only at VW does the full cost of repairs look steep relative to VW'due south total worth (market cap).
  • If problems are worse than you expected, or if future repairs reduce fuel economic system, you'll go money back. If the motorcar tin can't be brought dorsum into compliance, the car will exist bought back.
  • The ability to do an unabridged mean solar day'southward driving and withal take fuel in the tank the next 24-hour interval is crawly. It'south true that you'll still demand bio breaks every couple of hours, but not having to refuel saves 10 minutes added on to one of the rest stops.
  • If demand is reduced, so besides will be the cost. Just call back: About a half-1000000 sedans were sold last month. Only 222 of them were diesels. Many more are sitting on dealer lots.

Now read: What is diesel fuel technology?