Thread: Car Talk
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Xaqtly
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Join Date: May 2004
 
2009-12-03, 12:08

Quote:
Originally Posted by Quagmire View Post
While diesels have a lot more torque especially in the low end of the RPM's, diesels do take longer to rev up then gasoline engines. Take the 335i vs 335d. 335i is a gas engine producing 300 HP and 300 lb. ft of torque at 1500 RPM. The 335d produces 265 HP and 435 lb. ft of torque at 1750 RPM from its diesel inline 6. While down 35 HP, it has a 135 lb. ft of torque advantage. Though performance of the 335i is 0-60 in 4.8 seconds while the 335d is 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.
Right. Well there's a number of factors in play there; Horsepower gets better 0-60 times, not torque, and diesels always have longer gearing to compensate for the much shorter rev range. The good thing is that the higher torque compensates for the longer gearing in day to day driving, it just doesn't really do anything for 0-60 times. Additionally, the 335d weighs over 300 lbs. more than the 335i.

But diesels really aren't suited for nor are intended to be performance cars. The 335d gets 36 mpg highway, which for a car of that size/class is pretty damn good. And since that would really be the only reason you would get a 335d over a 335i, performance shouldn't be an issue for most people. Like the Jetta TDi, 140 HP isn't a lot but 236 lb-ft. of torque will get the job done no matter where you go. And I think that's a good compromise for getting 42 MPG. And it should probably be said that both the 335i and d are pretty expensive. in the $40-50k range.

When I was in high school I had a friend who had a diesel Rabbit. That thing was so small and light, he could go for weeks without refilling it. He figured once that he was getting over 50 MPG on average. It was not a fast car but it was fun to drive and 50 MPG was pretty ridiculous.
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