I has been a long wait since new diesel cars were wiped off the lots of California. No manufacturer could meet the stringent standards set forth by the sunshine state. States who followed California's lead were also denied access to new diesels. However, now the tide is starting to turn. Mercedes has now cleaned up the E-Class sedan so that it will meet the toughest standards. There's even a Craigslist ad from a Torrance, CA Mercedes dealer touting the October 15 announcement of the return of the diesel. You can check out the add here.
That's great news for us! Oh sure, some people might balk at the starting MSRP of around $53k but there were be more, cheaper, cars to follow. VW will be bringing it's 50 legal diesel to market soon as well as Audi, BMW, Honda and Nissan. Good stuff indeed. Right now in California used diesels are commanding a hefty premium as folks seek to run biodiesel. I'm sure that buyers will appreciate the new options available.
Update: Mercedes-Benz is opting to lease rather than sell the vehicle because only about 100 cars will be available. The E320 will be offered only as a lease vehicle for 2 years/24,000 miles for about $600 a month — the same rate as a gasoline E Class.
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