denwood -- Toyota does make diesels, and they are great. So far, it appears that they choose to market them in their non-US markets. The absolutely best vehicle that I have ever had was our 2002 Toyota Landcruiser GXL Turbo Diesel in Australia prior to relocating to the US late last year (2004). I really did look into bringing back, having it converted to left-hand drive, and all. It's just that Toyota-US does not support it and I was worried about service in the long-run. There's a picture of it in my pictures, the 3rd one. That particular vehicle replaced a 1998 Toyota Landcruiser GXL with the 6 cyl petrol engine (4500cc) which replaced a 1993 model (80 series, again with a 4500cc petrol engine). The 4200cc turbo diesel was stronger, far quieter and smoother; even my wife noticed the difference. The diesel also got just about twice the range per liter of fuel when compared to the petrol engine. I could push to 800 km on 150 liters of diesel (95 ltr main and 45 ltr sub tanks) on bitumen (pavement) compared to about 500 or so with the petrol. In-town driving was to fill-up every 2 weeks with the diesel when compared to every week with the petrol, and the price of diesel and petrol was essentially the same. Never was there even the hint of a leak; the only "wet looking dust" that I saw was around the oil drain following a service. There was also larger displacement diesels there from Mitsubishi, Hino, Volvo, and others. When outside of the metropolitan areas or even the town there, diesel-engined vehicles seemed to be those that were preferred. In the larger vehicles, those that would be a step up in size from the small "utes" (utility) or pickups, diesel was about the only ones that one saw. All that I can figure out so far is the market here in the US continues the reliance on gas, or petrol, shunning diesel; sort of a tradition. I really wanted another diesel when returning back here late last year, but settled for another gas-engined Toyota since I could not find anything that I really "fell in love with." And I did look at Ford, GM, and a few others. Although this did not address the thread of the forum, it was a parallel thought to it.

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