I remember when I was young, my dad bought a 1992 Ford F150 base work truck for less than $11,000 brand new. Straight shift and no a/c. Those days are long gone.
I know the auto makers say they test new engines and vehicles well before they sell them to the public. But I would be one to wait a while before thinking of buying anything new.
HD vinyl floor, and a stick shift, now you're talking my kind of truck ! :thumbsup:
Shaking out new technology in the field is always important. The tough (but very important) things to figure out on these motors are:
1) How long have these motors been in use in Europe ?
2) What platforms have they seen use in, across the pond ? (GVWR, extra points for commercial duty, police vehicles, etc.) What history do they have as a result in Europe.
If we take VW as an example, we are usually
at least a generation behind the diesel tech they use in Europe. Hopefully, that means most of the bugs are shaken out by the time the "new" motor makes it to N. America. (Insert smiley with fingers crossed here).
3) Last, but definitely not least: What
changes to the emission controls were done, to satisfy the
Extra
Profit
Always folks ? IMO, 9 times out of 10, that is where the reliability and expensive repairs lie - back to reading the fine print at the dealer, as the Manufacturers have done a really good job of convincing the government to allow them to erode their Emission Warranty coverage - in most cases it is nowhere near as long as it used to be.
I like diesel TQ curves a lot, but Caveat Emptor....
Rgds, D.
