[signit98]

...John, Europe has the MOST CRITICAL smog tolerances to fulfill for ANY automaker... and they have very functional Diesel-Catalytic Converters in place... these things far surpass the EURO 4 Requirements... they'd laugh about CA requirements. It's ALL in place... just not here.

As for Dielsel engines and Turbo diesel Engines... Love them... the newer generations are efficient, responsive and powerful (Just look who won the 24 hours of Le Mans last week and with what kind of engine!!!... and then look what place the first Gas engine came in...)

They leave nothing to be desired ... well, except the smell when you work on them... but other than that... My dream still is a Diesel Motorcycle... RoLoo has posted a link a while ago to a Dutch Manufacturer who makes High Performance Diesel bikes... it's just that the price tag of 17,000.00 Euros or so scared me a little...

I'd gladly pay around 10K or so... but not more...

I have fallen in love with Diesel engine a long time ago when I got my first Mercedes BEnz 200/8... man that thing would just run and run and run... then came a Peugot 205 Diesel... 465000 Kilometer with tht little 1.7l diesel engine and usually around 45 mpg when driving no faster than 75 MPH... that was great!

But, as you have seen, the Oil Companies have clearly seen the value of this (formerly worthless) by-Product of the refining process... and they are sticking it to the Diesel consumers as well... SIGH!