In the UK diesel used to be cheaper than petrol, deliberately so by taxation. Add to that the far better mpg (or should that be Km/L) and it was very attractive. Then, once the suckered people in, they removed the tax incentive. Now it is dearer than petrol. But forget about the clean exhausts. I followed a 5 year old Passat diesel the other day and it was belching out black reek.
I enjoy minimalist cars as well. My favourite car I ever owned was a FIAT 126,594 cc, air cooled twin. 23 bhp. Huge fun to drive. You had to work it like a big truck.
