>>>>>On the emissions front - isn't most of the U.S. *way* behind California ?
>>>>
>>>>Not so much anymore - but I do remember a time when the first thing you would see the minute you crossed the California/other state border was huge car saleslots. And the last thing a Californian would do before he moved out of the state would be to sell his car, because it was so woefully underpowered and he'd lose about 5000$ off the resale outside the state.
>>>>
>>>>As far as diesel goes, in the last 5 years diesel fuel went from about 20 cents/gallon less than regular to 20 cents/gallon more than regular, at least here in Texas. That's another reason diesel isn't as popular here. And, on a purely personal note, some of us can't take the smell - even of the 'clean' diesel engines. In fact, I'd much rather be behind an older diesel that the owner has kept maintenance up on than one of the newer. It's a sinus migraine just waiting to happen.
>>>
>>>Hmm. Can't say I've noticed that effect - I wonder if diesel fuel in the U.S. is less refined ?
>>
>>If it doesn't bother you, great.
>
>I didn't say it didn't bother me - just that I'd never noticed it.
>
>God has a sense of humor, so he gave me a sense of smell that most dogs would kill for...and made me allergic to most man made scents and anything tar/petroleum based.
>
>Maybe you should pursuade San Antone to adopt this type of measure:
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_low_emission_zone
>
>$300/day to bring a non-conforming vehicle within the city limits would likely reduce the problem ......
>
The problem is I'm allergic to the smell of even conforming vehicles.