Originally posted by 98CoupeV6
Yeah, he is really picky 
Horsepower is a measure of Torque. Remember that.
Diesels smell bad, are hard starting in our harsh winters, are very polluting, and there aren't that many gas stations that sell diesel. Plus the ever important factor: American consumers remember the absolutely pathetic and horribly unreliable diesels that they were fed from the Big 3 twenty years ago. They will never come back. Fuel Cells have a far better future than diesels do in the US.
98Coupe, you're exactly right. In fact we used to have a diesel Oldmobile wagon. I think these types of raw zero technology diesels tramatized the US. I think GM completely disregarded one of the major advantages of diesel, and just simply engineered an engine to burn the fuel. If you check out those VW TDIs, the only way you can tell its a diesel is from its split second start up clatter. Now with common-rail fuel injection and all sorts of piston technology, diesels are cleaner burning and much quietier.
BTW, I hope you guys don't think I'm some beer belly trucker. In fact, our household includes a Prius. When I drive my MDX, and see those huge F350 Power Stroke diesels run, sometimes I wish I had a loud beast like that. But in all practicality, I have no use for that type of vehicle.
And from my poor memory of 8th grade physics class, horsepower is essentially a measurement of kinetic energy released over a period of time, right?