I was just reading about it in C/D Feb 08.

All new 50 state diesel.

Avg 33 mpg.

Heres why it appeals to me.

3069 lbs.
138 hp @ 4000 rpm
251 lb-ft @ 2000

Its roughly as quick as an L36 Bonneville.

0-60 7.6
0-100 22.8
1/4 15.9 @ 86 mph
70-0 186 ft
300 ft dia skidpad 0.83 g

Something a honda never had...SERIOUS TORQUE.

12.22 lb/trq doesn't sound too bad to me.

This thing is like a compact bonneville! Pretty cool!

Diesel is where it'* at!

I'm faster!

And I can get 33 mpg on the highway.

However, I think diesel anything is much better than hybrids.

1 point I have to question comes from all the people I hear these days talking about how they can't get within 5'ish % of the factory estimated mpgs.
If that is the case with this, it isn't so hot for a diesel in a compact car, and like Cody said, Bonneville'* (L36 mainly) with the 2.84 gearing can get just as good or better economy.
But who outside of reading this post will know? :? Yeah, there'll be a few, but why pay the extra $20k for one when there are plenty used cars out there getting that economy in unleaded 87 octane with a cost savings of about $.50+ per gallon, and possibly better economy?

Ok, it'* because it'* new and it'* gotta be something for the "look at me" factor.

33mpg...WTF....



VW'* new non-hybrid diesel gets 70MPG

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...*/4219904.html

imagine if it was hybrid..100mpg+

Honestly though, that thing could probably double its mileage if the EPA weren't so screwed up. This new low emissions thing is killing the mileage of the new diesels. Yeah, they're making more torque than a gas, but the mileage benefits are waning. My moms 9 yr. old jetta get 58 mpg on the freeway and makes good power, versus this new honda that'* only gonna get 33?

I said AVG 33. Meaning COMBINED. And that was C/D observed average. I'm guessing it'll do 40+ easily on the highway, and probably 32ish city. Thats not GREAT, but its not BAD either.

I know somebody who has somewheres around an '04 Jetta TDI. He'* in his late sixties-early seventies. He demonstrated his ability to lay 20 ft lines going up his driveway in the automatic w/ tiptronic. He also said he gets an average of 50 mpg between city and highway driving, and he drives hard.

He'* my GF'* grandpa. He'* a retired PennDOT employee, and still has all of his tools, to which I have 24/7 access to .

He told me that an F-250 diesel was riding his *** while approaching a mountain climb with two lanes on a 55mph highway. He knew the F-250 was going to try to blow by him when the second lane opened... so he simply prevented it with a downshift and some throttle. Weight does a lot... and it'* not modified in any way shape or form.

Either way, I think with the way diesel prices are right now and probably will continue to be in the future, I'd want to be getting at least an average of 45 mpg if I'm considering making the switch to diesel.

I already get 32mpg combined in good weather... under 30 in the depths of winter. the way this thing is geared, i don't see much more than 36mpg highway. considering the 91 SSE got 17, i'm happy...

and i have a torque converter sapping some economy to boot