2008 4.8 or 2010 35d

[JCL]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Interesting, I have a preference for diesel. Given the long, highway distances in the Southeast, its ideal. No surprise that there's a noticeable diesel presence in North Carolina; I see a higher proportion of diesels for any given model (Q7, Mercedes cars, and tons of VW Golf (US Jetta) wagons.

Ever driven a naturally-aspirated diesel? They can't generally get out of their own way.

I am a big fan of diesels. I have had several on-road passenger vehicles that were diesels (VW, Landrover, Vauxhall). I have made my living related to diesels for many decades. If I was buying a one ton truck or above, it would have a diesel. If I wanted an uber-economical small car, a diesel would be considered. But with my BMWs, the reason that I choose the vehicle is that I generally value the driving experience, including engine note, engine smoothness, upper rpm band, and so on. Diesels don't do as well on those categories as current technology gasoline engines.

I just see people comparing naturally aspirated engines with turbocharged engines, port fuel injection engines with direct injection engines, and ignoring those differences while thinking it is all about the existence of spark plugs or not. The preceding features have at least as much to do with economy as the combustion cycle, IMO.