We've been looking at potential cars for Canada recently and noticed that almost all cars run on gas / petrol. We have found a few diesels, but with the apparent shortage can you tell me...

...does every gas station have pumps for both petrol AND diesel? Or is it harder to find Diesel (like finding LPG in the UK)?

Thanks

A fairly new Golf "TDI" was sitting next to me at the traffic lights yesterday. I heard the car-diesel sound and checked as it went past. I remember it because it's such a rare occurence!

Diesel cars are a much smaller market over here. From what i've seen, at least at most stations, one of the pumps is a diesel. You might want to consider resell value also when considering niche markets. Same goes for manual gearboxes.

I don't think I have seen a diesel car since we moved here - 2 years ago - a lot of service stations here in Calgary only have gas, most of the larger ones will have one pump for diesel

Short answer is 'No. Not all garages sell Diesel'. Those that do generally (here at least) specifically say 'Diesel' on their signage.

There are few diesel cars in Canada - VW's and Jeep Liberty CRD's to the best of my knowledge. From there its the jump up to the heavy duty pickup trucks. (Ram 2500 / GM/Chevy 2500 / F250) with their 6.0L diesels. And then transport trucks of course.

VW are pulling out of the diesel market, citing the difficulties in making their engines pass US emissions stds. Similarly Jeep have discontinued the diesel Liberty for next year. However Jeep (part of Daimler Chysler) appear to be committed to diesel vehicles in North America for the future as they will be bringing out a Diesel Grand Cherokee next year. I'm convinced the demand for diesel vehicles will strengthen as gas prices increase.

So convinced in fact that I have just this weekend swapped my extremely thirsty petrol Liberty for a spanky new CRD. Initial impressions are that it's nippy and frugal, or at least as frugal as SUV's get. I have mitigated the risk of diesel vehicles being unsellable pariahs in 3 years time by leasing it. So, worst case I give it back and walk away. Meantime I pay less per month which makes sense to me!

AX

That seems extremely unlikely to me. One ton trucks very often have diesel engines and so do some 3/4 and 1/2 ton ones. There are very many diesel powered trucks in private use so there will always be diesel readily available.

Smart Car is diesel too, but thats about it (excluding older mercs you see about)

Ive never noticed a shortage of diesel pumps though, most gas stations here in Ontario have one.

Agree with that. Perhaps what I should have said was the risk of 'small' diesel vehicles no longer on sale being unsellable pariahs. Although I meant to say 'unsaleable' which is much better english!

Worrying about one's English is excessive posh, innit.

Thats me to a tee Old boy.

Hi,

Apart from some of the smaller privately owned businesses nearly all Gas stations here sell Diesel and it is very common to see especially VW diesel cars. I'm surprised to hear that they dont in places like Montreal?

SAW 04

Sounds like a secondhand manual diesel SUV could be right up our street then! That is, if the price is significantly lower than its petrol equivilent.

I take it that Diesel is more expensive than Petrol there too? In the UK Petrol is currently 89.9p and Diesel 93.9p - a few pence per litre more. However, when Petrol rose to 98.9p Diesel was only a penny more expensive at 99.9p. The savings with Diesel are apparantly felt when you do more than 10,000 miles per annum... Not had a Diesel car before, but many colleagues and friends have and highly recommend them!

Huh? Yes they do. almost everyone (apart from perhaps the odd '2-pump' gas station).

Nope, it's about 4c/L cheaper where i live... I guess when gas hits the $2/L mark diesel cars will perhaps enjoy the limelight here.

The ONLY secondhand diesel SUV will be the Liberty. (& probably auto but thats not a problem). Otherwise it's monster truck time and that rather defeats the object.

Petrol here (pricing not indicative of mainland canada) is about 7 cents a litre cheaper than diesel.

Hmm... Monster Truck.... Now you've got me thinking!!

I could defeat ANY object with one of those bad boys...