Justifying a cost of a diesel

[WilliamBos]

Thats ok. I wont own GM.

Chris

The old Chris has left the house? Don't mind reading responses like this from you!!

Was building online last night, Dodge has started with 96 month financing. Owning a Cummins could be a possibility... I am sure GM will follow. Either way, next one will be diesel.

 

[suprnova]

The old Chris has left the house? Don't mind reading responses like this from you!!

Was building online last night, Dodge has started with 96 month financing. Owning a Cummins could be a possibility... I am sure GM will follow. Either way, next one will be diesel.

I'm not sure I understand their "Customer Choice Financing with optional Amortizations". If we were all smart we would have just waited until two or three months ago when the dealers who over reached their capabilities and went overboard on ordering 2012's were selling them like they were the three legged step children. The 2012 QCLB Longhorn I was looking at in the small town near my property in TX had an MSRP of $61,210, my uncle bought it after I left for deployment for $34k and some change. $1,000 more than I paid for my used 2006!

I digress, sorry to derail the subject.

 

[WilliamBos]

I'm not sure I understand their "Customer Choice Financing with optional Amortizations". If we were all smart we would have just waited until two or three months ago when the dealers who over reached their capabilities and went overboard on ordering 2012's were selling them like they were the three legged step children. The 2012 QCLB Longhorn I was looking at in the small town near my property in TX had an MSRP of $61,210, my uncle bought it after I left for deployment for $34k and some change. $1,000 more than I paid for my used 2006!

I digress, sorry to derail the subject.

I will be getting a crew cab... Wish we get the deals you folks do, if I could pay cash, i would, otherwise 96 month financing does not bother me.

 

[mikehaugen]

I will be getting a crew cab... Wish we get the deals you folks do, if I could pay cash, i would, otherwise 96 month financing does not bother me.

I don't know too many people that buy brand new vehicles and keep them for 8 years. I usually buy trucks that are about 8 years old, so I have no doubts about them lasting that long and still being useful. I just couldn't imagine paying for something for that long. My truck has been paid for for 5 years, I had gotten a 3 year loan originally. I later bought my car and got 5 year financing and it seemed like forever to pay for it. Of course with the ridiculous list prices on new trucks, it doesn't leave most people with much choice.

 

[WilliamBos]

I don't know too many people that buy brand new vehicles and keep them for 8 years. I usually buy trucks that are about 8 years old, so I have no doubts about them lasting that long and still being useful. I just couldn't imagine paying for something for that long. My truck has been paid for for 5 years, I had gotten a 3 year loan originally. I later bought my car and got 5 year financing and it seemed like forever to pay for it. Of course with the ridiculous list prices on new trucks, it doesn't leave most people with much choice.

I am the opposite, with all the complex systems, i want as new as possible, with as much OEM warranty as possible.

Will keep my 04 another three years, then trade it for a new one.

I used to buy older vehicles. Just got sick of fixing other peoples problems.

 

[crazyal]

I looked into getting a small SUV diesel and after a year of watching fuel prices around here it became clear that it's not worth it unless you will work the engine. I really wanted to wait until Mazda put it's 2.2 diesel in the CX-5 but doing the math made it clear that at an average of $.50 per gallon for diesel it would take the life of it to pay it off. Plus that assumes no major repairs, something that seam to be plaguing diesels right now due to the EPA requirements.

If you're towing 10k on a regular basis then you are getting into diesel country. If you can buy the diesel at or near the same price then that would change things. But when it costs $3k more for a diesel in a small car like the Cruze or SUV it takes a lot to over come that upfront cost. Then you have to deal with things like limited places to get diesel. Around here about 1 out of ever 4 gas stations will have diesel. Once you get into the rural areas you are lucky to find diesel. Most places will carry off road or HHO before they will have a diesel pump. I would like to own a diesel but there are too many forces in this country that make owning one not likely.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

For many diesel vs gas is just a 'want' thing. It is good to be concerned with the buy-cost but most do not it seems. It seems that either fuel choice the engine will outlast the transmission/chassis. If it is going to be a work truck towing/hauling beyond its specs daily diesel can be the best. If it is a PU that seldom does more than haul one or two and only on hard surface roads then diesel would mainly be a 'cool' factor in truck country I think.

 

[newbury]

Maybe you and I can trade 06's. Mine sure as **** won't get 21 in town, it takes an extreme amount of patience just to get it to 21 at all. However, I never expected my leveled, 7,820lb, 4x4, QCLB, 4.10 geared pickup to get amazing mileage unladen. That being said, I'm a huge fan of connecting 9,000lb to the back of it, being able to merge safely and make it to my destination when I'm in a hurry following the 75mph posted speed limit without thinking twice about the pickup struggling. Along with that, 75mph pulling a 25' GN through rolling hills doesn't yield amazing fuel economy, I come in around 9.5ish on trips like that.

Well put. When you have to haul donkey you need power. When your just going for a Happy Meal use an econobox.

I don't know too many people that buy brand new vehicles and keep them for 8 years.

Add one to your list.

Depends on the vehicle-
1988 Ford E350 converted Maxivan 7.3L w/ ~ 100K miles about 15mpg overall.
1993 Dodge Caravan 2.5L STANDARD shift ~100K miles, about 24mpg overall.
2004 Honda Civic hybrid w ~ 100K miles, about 40mpg overall.

Bought the van which had been ordered by a construction company with a stripped interior new because we wanted a diesel Maxivan to convert, raised roof, captains chairs etc. Ended up with a great conversion taxed at stripped price.

Bought the Caravan new because it was just what we wanted for SWMBO's commuter car, and it was hard to find a standard.

Bought the Civic new because at the time hybrids were hard to come by and SWMBO needed a hybrid for the new HOV commuter lanes so she could drive them solo.

I've also got a 2009 Jetta diesel station wagon, only 4 years old w/ about 55K miles I PLAN on keeping for many years more (gotten up to 47mpg on long trips, only about 40mpg around town).

If I go through the research to buy a vehicle I usually keep it.

My 2002 7.3 is usually hauling something somewhere or coming back from hauling, I rarely drive it round trip unloaded.

 

[WilliamBos]

Well put. When you have to haul donkey you need power. When your just going for a Happy Meal use an econobox.

Add one to your list.

Depends on the vehicle-
1988 Ford E350 converted Maxivan 7.3L w/ ~ 100K miles about 15mpg overall.
1993 Dodge Caravan 2.5L STANDARD shift ~100K miles, about 24mpg overall.
2004 Honda Civic hybrid w ~ 100K miles, about 40mpg overall.

Bought the van which had been ordered by a construction company with a stripped interior new because we wanted a diesel Maxivan to convert, raised roof, captains chairs etc. Ended up with a great conversion taxed at stripped price.

Bought the Caravan new because it was just what we wanted for SWMBO's commuter car, and it was hard to find a standard.

Bought the Civic new because at the time hybrids were hard to come by and SWMBO needed a hybrid for the new HOV commuter lanes so she could drive them solo.

I've also got a 2009 Jetta diesel station wagon, only 4 years old w/ about 55K miles I PLAN on keeping for many years more (gotten up to 47mpg on long trips, only about 40mpg around town).

If I go through the research to buy a vehicle I usually keep it.

But when you only need one vehicle, like my case, get the best of both, go diesel!!

 

[3930dave]

Well put. When you have to haul donkey you need power. When your just going for a Happy Meal use an econobox.


Add one to your list.

Depends on the vehicle-
1988 Ford E350 converted Maxivan 7.3L w/ ~ 100K miles about 15mpg overall.
1993 Dodge Caravan 2.5L STANDARD shift ~100K miles, about 24mpg overall.
2004 Honda Civic hybrid w ~ 100K miles, about 40mpg overall.

Bought the van which had been ordered by a construction company with a stripped interior new because we wanted a diesel Maxivan to convert, raised roof, captains chairs etc. Ended up with a great conversion taxed at stripped price.

Bought the Caravan new because it was just what we wanted for SWMBO's commuter car, and it was hard to find a standard.

Bought the Civic new because at the time hybrids were hard to come by and SWMBO needed a hybrid for the new HOV commuter lanes so she could drive them solo.

I've also got a 2009 Jetta diesel station wagon, only 4 years old w/ about 55K miles I PLAN on keeping for many years more (gotten up to 47mpg on long trips, only about 40mpg around town).

If I go through the research to buy a vehicle I usually keep it.

My 2002 7.3 is usually hauling something somewhere or coming back from hauling, I rarely drive it round trip unloaded.

Nice collection of application specific vehicles - right tool for the job. As much as I like driving my 1 ton, long haul commuting (esp. at Canadian prices) in one takes deeper pockets than I have.

I think GMs Orlando can be had now with a stick option - nice to see that in today's auto-centric market.

Rgds, D.