I must agree with Donald's solution.

However, TDI engines are one of the cleanest petrol-fueled engines around,
when
compared to the cleanest gas engines by Honda, when compared in miles per
gallon and
PPM emissions per gallon burned. Note, I say "one of the", not "the".
The reason is the Oxi-Cat (diesel catalytic converter) that VW uses, which
cleans up the
already very efficient TDI engine. I think there is a benefit to spending a
little more for
a car that gets nearly twice the mileage as it's gas counterpart.
On the other hand, when it comes to older diesels and newer domestics,
I would have to agree completely.

-Steven Dodson
Kneeland, CA
"Inga" the 87 Syncro

>I also can't help but find it a bit humourous that consumers will spend up
to
>$2000 more for a diesel model VW so they can save a couple of hundred
>dollars a year at the pump.  This with the full knowledge that we're not
>totally sure what the negative environmental effects of diesel's
particulate
>matter spewing into the atmosphere.
>
>My solution... drive less.  Bike and walk more.  The added benefit of that
>strategy is that it has preserved the life of my Vanagon  :-)