In fact, the spirited output of Volkswagen's diesels puts a lot of gasoline powered engines to shame. These cars are already selling faster than Rolling Stones tickets. Fuel shortages and work. Diesels were gaining popularity when prices of gasoline were high and supplies were low. The engine is also used in trucks that need Herculean hauling ability.
Most diesels sound somewhat like ball bearings in a blender.
To start a diesel, you have to wait until the glow plugs have warmed up sufficiently to ignite the fuel. To my surprise, however, the diesel Beetle' s burble was surprisingly pleasant. I actually enjoyed hearing the rpm rise and fall through the torque curve. The horsepower ratings on diesel engines can be somewhat deceptive. But the best measure of a diesel engine is its torque, not its horsepower.