It’s likely that you don’t consider yourself a square. You might even like to be a nonconformist like myself. So what happens when an opportunity arrives that allows you to purchase a new vehicle for the better good of dear, old Mother Earth? Well, you do your research, of course.  And what will be the best for you and the planet isn’t necessarily a Hybrid like everyone else who jumps on the Green Team. We’re not talking Hybrids or electric but good ole’ diesels.

American drivers have carved in their minds a preconceived notion of a diesel automobile. It’s that loud, black smoke cloud following an ancient Mercedes at the end of the block, driven by the weird lady who happens to have way too many plants in her yard. This is a shame because today’s diesels are nothing what they once were. If you happen to fall in the 35% of people surveyed by PACE who would consider a diesel, then you’ve done your homework and wouldn’t turn your cheek to the possible 20-40% increase in fuel mileage. Apparently, that fact has caught the attention of consumers, because diesel automobile sales doubled in 2010.

Both diesel and gasoline come from the same source, but diesel is cheaper to make, produces lower emissions and slower burning. But since 2004, diesel has cost more than gasoline, which has resulted in less Americans wanting to pay the extra for a diesel powered automobile, even when long term facts are presented.  When Audi introduced the Q7 TDI, it came with a public awareness campaign about the positive effects clean diesel can have on America’s dependency on foreign oil. A U.S. EPA study found that if one-third of Americans fueled their vehicles with clean diesel instead of gasoline, the United States could send back 1.5 million barrels of foreign oil per day. At a time in our history where our dependency on conventional petroleum is at its highest, the need to find other sources besides petroleum based engines will continue. But when diesel is such a viable alternative why have we not jumped on the same band wagon that nearly 52% of Europeans have?

The average price for a Hybrid vehicle ranges from $19,000 – $25,000, which isn’t harsh and may even qualify you for a federal tax credit for hybrid vehicle owners. However, Edmunds.com found that most the high sales prices, insurance costs and related expenses will offset the savings. In the first five years of ownership, a hybrid can cost as much as $5,283 more than its non-hybrid counterpart. Edmunds.com analysts also determined that gas would have to cost at least $5.60 per gallon for hybrid drivers to break even if they drove 15,000 miles per year over the five years.  Electric vehicles are improving, but look at the Nissan Leaf: it has an msrp of $32,780, but finding one that hasn’t received a dealer mark up (even with the rebate) still seems pretty steep. The Chevrolet Volt has an msrp of $40,280 but like the Nissan, will have a dealer mark up plus a rebate, which still translates to a big chunk of money for a car you have to charge overnight. The offset cost of charging the cars is minimal based on their battery sizes and the average U.S. per KWH we pay for electricity, but most homes will require a special meter to charge them.

While Japanese manufacturers have focused their time on Hybrids, Europeans have focused on how to manufacture and deliver diesels at a lower cost, because they’ve been serving that market for years. Strict U.S. emissions limit the variety consumers have to pick from, thus making diesel options a minority market because the cost to manufacture a “clean” diesel for U.S. standards isn’t exactly cheap. Together with the normal manufacturing costs that are required in order to produce diesel engines translates to higher initial upfront cost. It takes longer to pay back especially with the average 51.4cents a gallon tax each state carries on diesel fuel. However, take the Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel for example. It delivers 30% better fuel economy and reduces carbon emissions by 20% over gasoline. The TDI allows you to travel up to 600 miles with 12% more power in each drop of diesel. Earthdaycoalition.org found that “a typical well-made Honda Civic if properly maintained, it is believed that the typical service life of a Civic is roughly 200,000 miles (7,500 engine hours) under the rough conditions of the typical suburban commuter (based on 45% highway driving, 55% city driving).  However, an equally well-built Volkswagen Jetta TDI has an average service life of 400,000 miles (15,000 engine hours) under those same conditions.  2010 Volkswagen TDI buyers are even eligible for a tax credit up to $1700 if the automobile was purchased before December 31 2010. Making the upfront average spent on a diesel worth it in the long run.

Currently Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen are the only automobile manufacturers in the U.S to offer cars with diesel options. Their fourth quarter sales show diesels outselling their gasoline versions, and in the case of the Volkswagen Jetta, buyers chose the diesel version 5:1 in 2010. Volkswagen hopes to have 30% of their U.S. sales to be diesel by 2018, and with the Touareg TDI, Jetta TDI, Jetta Sportwagon TDI and Golf TDI, they offer plenty of options to suit any buyer. Audi led with 48% of their 2010 sales being diesels, with their top selling A3 TDI and Q7 TDI. Audi wants a diesel option in most U.S. lineups by 2015, which will include the Q5, A6, A8 and A4. BMW offers the diesel in two models, the 335i and X5i, which resulted in 35% of their 335 sales being diesel. “We believe diesels have a future in the U.S. By 2014, between 10-20% of our mix will be diesels,” said Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW North America. Now Porsche is considering selling the Cayenne SUV and Panamera in diesel versions in the U.S. – their biggest single market. In Europe, diesel and Hybrids make up 30% of the Cayenne sales.

Volvo recently announced the V60 Plug-in Hybrid which is also a diesel giving you the best of both worlds when it comes to efficiency, ultimate fuel mileage and a minimal carbon footprint. The V60 will come equipped with a 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbo diesel coupled with a 70-hp electric motor on the rear axle. “One important aspect of the project was to retain the Volvo V60′s excellent driving pleasure, high safety standard and luxurious comfort. At the same time, average CO2 emissions and fuel consumption will be halved compared with what is available on the market today”, says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. “We’re taking a giant step forward towards our “DRIVe towards Zero” vision, that is to say the hunt for zero emissions. In fact, when the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is run solely on electricity and recharged using renewable energy, we’ve already reached that goal.” It is still unknown though if the V60 Hybrid will reach the U.S. next year.

J.D. Power predicts diesel sales will exceed 1 million by 2013. They’re also predicting continued growth in the diesel market, accounting for 9% of new vehicle sales by 2016.

My 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, who is named Hans, just might be the love of my car life. Stickering in at just a little over 25K, it has everything but navigation and isn’t ugly by any means. Bonus is the fact it averages me $50 each tank of fuel which equals around 500 miles in the city alone. I like to read TDI Tank Wars which further prove that averaging over 50mpg isn’t farfetched among many different types of drivers. If you’re like any American who loathes modern gas prices, you may just become smitten with driving a diesel for this one reason alone. I know my pocket book and the planet thank me for pulling on my Green shoes.

Unlike Boston’s famous World of Wheels auto show that allows car owners and aftermarket suppliers to showcase their own fire breathing, custom painted, tricked out rides, The New England International Auto Show is more focused on the world’s major automakers and their new vehicle lineups for the upcoming year. This year, 30 manufacturers were represented from December 2-6 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Just about every major production vehicle for the 2010 model year rolled its way onto the carpeted floor of the massive convention center. With the Ferrari booth sandwiched between those of Acura and Hyundai, the collection of vehicles spanned a wide array of price brackets and purposes. In typical fashion, the exotics dropped jaws of all passers by, but the showstopper was undoubtedly Chevrolet’s engine testing exhibit. Every half hour, a GM engineer (clad in a full-length lab coat) ran a small block Chevy V8 through it’s paces on an industrial dynamometer. Large monitors displayed the engines horsepower, torque, and RPM’s while the non-existent muffler system drew everyone away from the subcompacts and hybrids that suddenly seemed a lot less cool.

After being so tactfully lured to the Chevrolet section of the exhibition floor, the emphasis on horsepower translated throughout the show. Camaros, Challengers, V10 powered Audi R8′s, and the new Corvette ZR1 — capable of speeds over 200 MPH — set a tone of raw, unadulterated speed. Despite high fuel prices and an ozone layer with the structural makeup of Swiss cheese, there is no denying that the muscle car is bigger than ever for 2010.

Electricity, though, was not to be outdone. The Tesla booth garnered more oohs and ahhs than the massage parlor your “friend” “read about” on Craigslist. Despite having to (ironically) shout over spine tingling V8 wales, the brand’s representative made a good case for the battery operated 2-seater, which is capable of out-accelerating most of its petrol-powered competitors. Show-goers were pleased to hear Tesla’s plans for a new dealership in the Boston area.

Hybrids, too, were well represented, with models like the new Escalade proving that there is a low(er) emissions vehicle for everyone.

The show was not limited to the observation of still-life. High-tech driving simulations gave even young enthusiasts the chance to get behind the wheel of a racing machine. Beyond simulations, Cadillac offered test drives on four of its new models: the CTS, CTS wagon, SRX and new Escalade Hybrid. I had the chance to pilot all four on the closed track set up around the convention center. While it is always fun strapping into a brand new drivers seat, I was a bit disappointed by the suggested speed limit of 20 MPH and confined testing area. While I am convinced that the new Cadillacs would do a fantastic job negotiating my driveway, it was hard to get a feel for how the cars performed in real world conditions. When GM decides to host a test drive at an airstrip, call me, but this didn’t really do it for me.

But overall, the 2009 New England International Auto Show was a huge success. It is an event that thousands of fellow enthusiasts mark on their calendars each winter, and now it’s just a matter of waiting 364 days until the next time the world’s leading auto manufacturers ride into Boston.

How do a majority of us end up with the vehicles we drive every day? We look at practicality, affordability and then the logical need to have some form of transportation. All of which translate into mundane reasons. Then there is status, trend and a reflection of who we are. I somehow missed out on the last 3 and now I am having serious buyer’s remorse.

This past July I needed a car after my divorce. I had been a loyal Chevrolet owner for the past eight years with 5 vehicles for proof. That loyalty soon went out the window after some shenanigans at a local dealer. I have absolutely no animosity towards General Motors , none. Especially after I received a letter from GMAC offering zero percent interest a month after the fact. Well, maybe not today but that day I saw red. Instead of going to another domestic dealer, I traveled up the road to Nissan with my dear old Dad.

What I went there for was not what I bought. Funny how that works, right? But a difference in a $100 a month says a lot for a car payment. Regardless of that savings I still curl my lip when I bill pay Nissan on the 15th of each month. Especially when the thought of the same car payment could be on a leftover Pontiac G8 GT found a short distance away that is begging for me to take her home. What was once going to be a $16,500 car turned into $21,000 after all the crap that gets added. The extended warranty, battery fee, tire fee, blah blah blah fee, dealer fee, state fee, and my favorite you’re going to walk out of here just happy that you only spent 4 hours at our dealership instead of 9 fee. The G8 can be bought for under $26k. What’s 5 grand more with zero percent anyways?

So what is it that I drive myself around in every day? A Sentra SE-R Spec V. La de dah! Don’t get me wrong, she is a fun car to drive. She is cute to look at and surprises me with her zip but I’m past owning the fun car and I just don’t want her. At all. Ten years ago, this car would have screamed me all over it but that was high school and I had a cool car in the same category back then. I know I should be grateful to own a brand new car but if it’s not something I want and I’m obligated to pay for it for the next X years; my feelings are completely valid. Not to mention the fact that I get approached at every red light by some punk in a riced out Civic with a fart pipe to race which lessens the enthusiasm to go anywhere. Add to the mix I’ve been to dealer for service 3 times since I bought it and my disgruntled customer attitude starts to seep out.

Oh G8, how I long for thee.

The Diva refers to all of the cars she has owned as “Her.”