How to Pick a Diesel Vehicle Over Gas
Diesel fuel lubricates a vehicle's engine better than regular gasoline, so diesel engines routinely get as many as 500,000 miles before they require costly repairs. Diesel vehicles offer above average fuel economy and also can run on biodiesel fuel, a renewable resource, which makes them much more environmentally friendly than cars that run on regular gasoline. Finding a diesel in the U.S. can be challenging, though.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Learn about the pros and cons of diesel cars before you start your hunt. Edmunds, an online service that gives new and used car values and offers tons of resources for car buyers, has an entire section devoted to information about buying diesel cars. Kelley Blue Book's website also offers information on owning and operating a diesel car.
-
2
Decide what style diesel vehicle you want. While the selection of diesel vehicles for sale in the U.S. is a fraction of non-diesel models, you can still find compact, SUV, light truck and heavy truck models available. The Diesel Technology Forum site includes information on the models currently available for sale in the U.S.
-
-
3
Research the cost of ownership, prices and features of diesel vehicles in the same way you would for any car purchase. Check out reliable resources such as "Consumer Reports" annual car reliability ratings and cost of ownership comparisons. You can also find crash test safety ratings on diesel and other vehicles by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
-
4
Shop for a new diesel car by visiting local dealerships that carry diesel models. You can also shop for a new diesel car online, using price quote services such as Autobytel and CarsDirect.
-
5
Buy a used diesel car. You can find used diesel cars for sale on some dealer lots, particularly those of manufacturers selling current year diesel models. You can also find diesels vehicles for sale on eBay, in your local classifieds and on Craigslist. And if you don't see any for sale listings, you can place a "Wanted" ad.
-
6
Import a diesel vehicle from Europe. If you don't find the diesel vehicle you want stateside, you could import one from the larger selection of models available overseas. However, importing a car into the U.S. can be an expensive hassle, and any vehicle that is imported must be brought into compliance with U.S. safety and emissions standards. You can read more about vehicle importation regulations at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
-
1
