The general US public is interested in what reduces their pain at the pump.

Prior to the gas run up beyond $4 / gallon, you could have said "...but IMO the general US public is not interested in efficient compact automobiles. Guess we'll see what BMW decides..." and been correct.

Economic realities tend to force the reconsideration of past value decisions.

 

Just saw a close formation of hamhocks and bacon do a low pass over the house.Check it out on Motoringfile.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/07/...the-us-market/

 

From Automotive News

Jim McDowell, vice president of BMW's Mini division, told reporters in Detroit on Tuesday...

-- The diesel-powered Mini is being studied for the United States, but it won't be offered here until it can be sold in all 50 states, McDowell said. He did not give a model year when the diesel Mini could be available in the United States.

 

Wow, this is really a great example of selling an idea to yourself. As others mentioned you're comparing the slower D to an MCS, clearly the MC is more suitable. You've also negleted the initial purchase cost which would likely be $1k+ more, a significant amount when the end goal is economy/mile.

I'm all for choices, I just don't see the benefit being significant enough at this time. I haven't driven a diesel in awhile but they were never as nice as gasoline cars, and there's the challenge of finding diesel (not as bas as it once was but many stations don't carry it and most pumps are not diesel).

 

Diesel MINI - great move, money in the bank for BMW and the consumer! Like the other small diesels in the US market today, the MINI dealers won't be able to get enough of them to keep up with demand.

 

Yeah, I love the idea too! I also like the idea of the Jetta Sportwagen TDI that is coming out later this year. It's a full sized wagon that is supposed to get 50+ mpg, and of course can take biodiesel (while not perfect, at least it's another alternative to gas)...but right now I'm just currently awaiting my wait listed Clubman...

 

alfa romeo is coming back to the usa now and they are part of fiat and they going to bring a dieel to the usa. also bmw is scheduled to bring at least two diesel in the fall to the usa. vw is already here with there new common rail TDI. Honda and Toyota also have announced they are bringing diesels to the usa for 2009. so it is not far fetched that mini would bring theres. however the toy diesel are some of the worse on the planet. so do not look at them.

 

What is the problem with these diesels?

 

I heard a commercial on the radio today from BMW offering diesel engines as an option, or soon to be an option on their cars or something. They were claiming high efficiency and/or high mpg as their sales pitch, cant remember exactly what they said though. If the BMW cars are getting diesel, I would think that the MINI might not be too far behind- but what do I know.
edit: i remember them saying something like "get the performance of diesel without the old rickety loud clunky diesel engines you remember (frome those old diesels) with BMW's new diesel engines...redesigned..." something along those lines

 

Well, a Mini owner should at the very least identify with the concept of rabid fanaticism. Diesel owners tend to be fanatics too. It's not so much selling an idea to myself, but trying to find something that delivers what I'm looking for.

I'm not looking for 0-60 mph in my daily driver. I am looking for good performance with excellent economy. My daily driver is a VW Golf TDI. I average 43 mpg mixed over 125K miles. Sure it has a 10 second 0-60... who cares? My TDI has more top gear passing "ummph" at highway speeds than either my old Boxster or current Elise. No downshift required.

Regarding purchase cost, I keep my daily drivers at least 100k miles. The MCD would likely be more expensive than the MC, but less than an MCS. In my case, the cost would likely be in my favor as I was leaning to an MCS instead of the MC anyway. I've test driven both the MC and MCS, and the MCS turbo response is very similar to the turbodiesel response that I'm accustomed to. My VW is 8 years old and starting to show some interior wear, so I'm looking for a replacement. I have issues with the 2009 Jetta TDI that are causing me to consider other cars and the Mini is at the top of the list.

So if you haven't driven a diesel in awhile, chances are it wasn't a modern high performance diesel engine. These aren't the same loud, smelly, smoggy lumps that are in big rigs or those 80's cars. A modern diesel relies upon ultra low sulfur fuel, high pressure precision fuel injection, a variable vane turbo, and emission controls... things that are absent with the deservedly maligned diesel engine of yesteryear. The result is an engine that putters instead of clanks, and the elimination of smell and smog. It's by no means perfect, but it's fun to drive.

Challenge of finding diesel? Perhaps one doesn't notice it unless they're looking, but pumps are plentiful, else the trucking industry would be in dire straits. I've never run out of fuel. When the low fuel light comes on, 2 gallons is good for another 80-100 miles. I think I can find a pump by then.