Wow, I missed a lot in the last few days, lol.
Where do I get off saying that?
It's a broad, sweeping statement among the others in this thread. The statement reflects the reality and perception of diesels in the North American market.
If the Jeep marketplace (i.e. consumers) thought diesel was so great Jeep would still be offering diesels in the KK and WK2 due to demand. If diesel was that popular in those platforms surely Jeep would have started offering a diesel engine in the JK by now or at least be talking about it openly given the bankruptcy and design cycle time frames.
The reality is that the KJ CRD outsold original expectations. The official line was that Daimler-Chrysler used it as a test vehicle to gauge consumer interest diesels. The original allotment of 10,000 the first year sold out due to high consumer demand. It only existed for roughly a year and a half before the model was discontinued due to tighter emissions regs in 2007.
Clearly there is a demand for diesels in the states or Volkswagen wouldn't be doing so well with their TRD models, nor would you see so many diesel trucks out there on the road. Like I said, before, if there was ever a market for it and with a user base that was VERY active online it would be wrangler owners. The aftermarket is simply huge and a large percentage of users are online and involved in one of the many communities. To say that doesn't happen and that owners aren't involved in online communities seems ludicrous. I don't know anybody who doesn't do research online before buying an automobile and the vast majority of people I know are NOT involved in things like expedition travel or offroading.
Someone said to expect diesels when gasoline reaches ~$4.50/US gallon. That is being optimistic IMNSHO. It will likely have to reach $6 before consumer demands cross the line of corporate awareness at Jeep/Chrysler. See "myopia" below.
Scott was the one who said that and it was in this thread. He said it came from product planners at the largest auto manufacturer in the world - Toyota.
The other reality is that the majority of people that buy a new Jeep in the North American market only keep the Jeep for 3-5 years; basically until the lease runs out and they get bored with it and move on to some other shiny, new conveyance. They are not enthusiasts; it is just a car to them that may reflect the lifestyle they want to project at that point in time.
True, although again, I would argue it is a bit different with this target market. If there was ever loyalty to a brand, it is with Jeepers. "It's a Jeep thing" is their anthem and if anybody would jump on the opportunity for a diesel, it would be this group. If not for the fuel economy, simply for the torque. After all, this is the group that is spending 15-25k a pop on hemi swaps and keeping a number of shops in business as a result. An extra 3k or so on top for factory warranty, better mileage, and outstanding torque... I think that Jeep could sell as many as they could make.
Do these kinds of people really care to pay the premium for diesel when they won't recoup their money because they don't keep the vehicle long enough? The majority don't drive far enough to really recoup the difference in MPG over the ownership cycle even if they wanted. At the relative differences between MPGs you have to drive a lot to get ahead. We aren't comparing a 20 mpg gas engine to a 45 mpg diesel engine. The relative difference is minimal. A lot of people that buy these Jeeps are in debt to the t!ts so the premium of the diesel is a big deal up front..
See above...
Jeep as a Corporate entity does not give a damn about used car buyers when designing new vehicles. Why should they? There is no direct cash flow to their shareholders. Typical corporate myopia. That's why the vehicles are built so cheaply to begin with: minimum engineering at its worst. Disposable vehicles.
I agree, and who mentioned anything about Jeep giving a damn about used car buyers? I don't think I did.
The flip side of that argument is that Chrysler can only go down the road of cost cutting and minimum engineering so far before it hurts profitability and ultimately shareholder value. That being said, I actually believe that Marchionne is on the right path. I think the guy actually gets it after listening to him on Autoblog at the NAIAS and other snippets online. Only time will tell, but the reality is that First Daimler then Cerberus gutted Chrysler. They have posed a remarkable comeback this year. Hopefully they can keep up their momentum.
