Compact Diesel trucks that we can't get here

[3930dave]

Well guys finally we have a bit of green coming from you folks in the States. Usually, it goes the other way given what you play for your tractors, implements and the variety of both.

I own a VW Amaork Ultimate (fully loaded) and it is the ****z. Unladen I do get about 30mpg but on average, with all the towing I do I get about 24mpg. You can see my usage here Amarok (VW Amarok) | Fuelly

Great vehicle and I've owned a few in the "Dual cab ute" range. Here is another tempter Ultimate in the Yawal dirt - YouTube of my ute in the dirt.

Now just so you folks know this vehicle has a 2l 4 cylinder turbo diesel motor, small by anyone's standards, the normal size here is still 4 cylinder but 3.0l. It does put out 120kw and 400nm (sorry didn't convert to old money) and I find it ample for what I need. It's legal for me to tow 2.8T with it.

If you really want to see them look here AusAmarok - Volkswagen Amarok Forum of Australia & New Zealand

:drool::drool::drool:

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

You're forgiven dave... Thats a sexy car!

Quite the GranTouring platform...... they were quoting some crazy cruising range...... :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[Scooby074]

Well guys finally we have a bit of green coming from you folks in the States. Usually, it goes the other way given what you play for your tractors, implements and the variety of both.

I own a VW Amaork Ultimate (fully loaded) and it is the ****z. Unladen I do get about 30mpg but on average, with all the towing I do I get about 24mpg. You can see my usage here Amarok (VW Amarok) | Fuelly

Great vehicle and I've owned a few in the "Dual cab ute" range. Here is another tempter Ultimate in the Yawal dirt - YouTube of my ute in the dirt.

Now just so you folks know this vehicle has a 2l 4 cylinder turbo diesel motor, small by anyone's standards, the normal size here is still 4 cylinder but 3.0l. It does put out 120kw and 400nm (sorry didn't convert to old money) and I find it ample for what I need. It's legal for me to tow 2.8T with it.

If you really want to see them look here AusAmarok - Volkswagen Amarok Forum of Australia & New Zealand

Cool Amarok. Ill have to cheek out that site. 30mpg average would be pretty sweet. I thought our diesel prices were high at around $1.44 /l last week, you guys at $1.65/l..

 

[3930dave]

I saw one of these 110's last weekend, in the next town over from me....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_rover_defender#mediaviewer/File:2009_Land_Rover_Defender_110_Pickup.jpg

Diesel, of course. Sigh......

Rgds, D.

 

[Morelia]

Here are a few from downunder that havn't been mentioned. All better than the amarok.

1. Ford Ranger - 3200cc turbo diesel Ford Australia - Ford Ranger


2. Mazda BT-50 - same specs as ford above Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab 4x4 Ute


3. Toyota landcruiser 70 series - single cab, dual cab, wagon and troop carrier. 4.5l V8 turbodiesel





4. Isuzu Dmax - 3ltr turbodiesel

 

[3930dave]

It's not that difficult for Canadians to immigrate to Oz, right !

I've read a bit on the Duratorq motors in the Ranger...... tdi mileage in a 4 door p/u........ I posted those links about real world road tests in Malaysia, maybe even in this thread (there's that memory of mine, again...). Great pics Morelia, even though I now have to wipe drool off the keyboard....... :drool:

A long time ago (late 80s) we could still get Toyota diesels here, nothing since though.

Rgds, D.

 

[dfkrug]

Here are a few from downunder that havn't been mentioned. All better than the
amarok.

I notice most of those pickups are 4-door. This trend is a bit disturbing as traditional pickups are becoming
scarce in some countries. By traditional, I mean 2-door, with only 2 front seats or a front bench seat. Of
the 100s of newish pickups I saw in South America last year, I do not remember seeing even one 2-door.

 

[Morelia]

I notice most of those pickups are 4-door. This trend is a bit disturbing as traditional pickups are becoming
scarce in some countries. By traditional, I mean 2-door, with only 2 front seats or a front bench seat. Of
the 100s of newish pickups I saw in South America last year, I do not remember seeing even one 2-door.

Hey dfkrug,

All the pickups I posted above come in a single cab, extra cab as well as double. The Toyota land cruiser sells the two door mostly. Very common to have the two door Ute's in rural areas.
The dual cabs are popular here because during the week they are a work vehicle and on the weekend they are used to ferry the kids around. The price for these vehicles in oz are ridiculously high for what they are so you can't afford two different vehicles.
The Isuzu sells for about $40,0000 AU to the landcruiser which you won't get for less than $75,000 all kitted up.

Cars are exy here!

 

[buickanddeere]

As far as longtivity of diesel vs gas. It isn't 1980 any more.gassers go 300,000 miles without fanfare. Find a common rail emissions diesel with egr, particulate filter, cat converter, urea injection, variable vane waste gate , turbo and glow plugs.
Any bit of money possibly save with 30% better mileage while burning 30% more expensive fuel doesn't exist.
The diesel option never pays for it's self and the repair bills set the owner back farther.
If this was 1990 with 1990 engines and 1990 fuel prices.
Canada has a higher percent of diesels on the road with all the VW TDI burning diesel on par with gasoline price.Most exist in herds on the 400 or 401 wailing down the left lane at Autobahn velocity.

 

[houstonscott]

As far as longtivity of diesel vs gas. It isn't 1980 any more.gassers go 300,000 miles without fanfare. Find a common rail emissions diesel with egr, particulate filter, cat converter, urea injection, variable vane waste gate , turbo and glow plugs. Any bit of money possibly save with 30% better mileage while burning 30% more expensive fuel doesn't exist. The diesel option never pays for it's self and the repair bills set the owner back farther. If this was 1990 with 1990 engines and 1990 fuel prices. Canada has a higher percent of diesels on the road with all the VW TDI burning diesel on par with gasoline price.Most exist in herds on the 400 or 401 wailing down the left lane at Autobahn velocity.

Not sure what you are trying to say, not sure you know yourself. HS

 

[buickanddeere]

Not sure what you are trying to say, not sure you know yourself. HS

I'm saying you are not saving anything or gaining anything with a diesel in 2014. The days when diesels ruled from 1990 to 2002, maybe even to 2007. That era of cheap diesel and reliable low cost diesel equipment are gone .

 

[buickanddeere]

Not sure what you are trying to say, not sure you know yourself. HS

I'm saying you are not saving anything or gaining anything with a diesel in 2014. The days when diesels ruled from 1990 to 2002, maybe even to 2007. That era of cheap diesel and reliable low cost diesel equipment are gone .

 

[3930dave]

You have a point B&D.... that's part of why I drive a 2001 diesel.

My hope is that present day diesels continue to evolve... they have already, to a certain extent. There is a parallel with late 70's/early 80's gas motors - emission controls on those gassers were crude and didn't last long - EGRs, cats, and O2 sensors have come a long way since then - both in terms of reliabilty, and relative cost.

Time will tell....

Rgds, D.

 

[2458n]

I believe the days of driving a diesel rabbit on home heating fuel oil are behind us now in the USA. Was great for the wallet for a while. The reason people bought the old 6.9 Fords was to get 200 thousand miles on a truck. At a auction last week they had a company ford 250 with over 400 thousand on the original 4.9 gas motor. Bruns construction got their money out of that truck.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I believe the days of driving a diesel rabbit on home heating fuel oil are behind us now in the USA. Was great for the wallet for a while. The reason people bought the old 6.9 Fords was to get 200 thousand miles on a truck. At a auction last week they had a company ford 250 with over 400 thousand on the original 4.9 gas motor. Bruns construction got their money out of that truck.

The 4.9 gas engine is world famous and still being produced new today with 30 new twists.


Wet-Sleeve 4.9L Engines

 

[houstonscott]

I'm saying you are not saving anything or gaining anything with a diesel in 2014. The days when diesels ruled from 1990 to 2002, maybe even to 2007. That era of cheap diesel and reliable low cost diesel equipment are gone .

I think you are wrong, diesel is a far superior fuel when compared to gasoline. Beats gas in every way, including economy. Most of the world has already made the move away from gas, not sure you really understand modern high pressure diesels. You have have much homework to do to still hold your opinion. HS

 

[aczlan]

I think you are wrong, diesel is a far superior fuel when compared to gasoline. Beats gas in every way, including economy. Most of the world has already made the move away from gas, not sure you really understand modern high pressure diesels. You have have much homework to do to still hold your opinion. HS

Diesel is a superior fuel, but in the US it costs more for diesel and with the new emi$$ions equipment that will need to be maintained the cost per mile may actually be better with a gas engine.
For example, a nearby gas station has regular at $3.759/gallon and diesel at $4.299.
Lets take the Chevy Cruz and compare the cost per mile:

Diesel = 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel
Gas = 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (S6), Regular Gasoline

	Fuel	City	Highway	Combined
	Cost/Gal	MPG	$/Mile	MPG	$/Mile	MPG	$/Mile
Diesel	$4.299	27	$0.159	46	$0.093	33	$0.130
Gas	$3.759	22	$0.171	35	$0.107	27	$ 0.139
Diesel-Gas	$0.54	5	$(0.012)	11	$(0.014)	6	$(0.009)

I looked at available on the lot models with those engines/transmissions and found that the diesel was $1120 more.
The number of miles that you would have to drive for a diesel to pay for the price difference in fuel savings (assuming the same fuel prices) would be as follows:

City (27MPG vs 22MPG)	Highway (46MPG vs 35MPG)	Combined (33MPG vs 27MPG)
96,165	80,288	125,091

This obviously doesn't take into consideration residual value or repair costs, but GDI might be the way to go for a car that it cheap to drive.

Aaron Z

 

[3930dave]

While modern diesels have had their hiccups, in the same vein, I personally want to see more long term data on DI gas, before owning one.

One concern with DI gas is fuel dilution in oil.... not something I want to figure out/deal with in a 2'nd or 3'rd owner vehicle, esp. one where the oil changes have been stretched out...

People tend to appreciate the high torque levels of a diesel (yes, DI Gas is catching up) more typically in trucks, but the folks I see up here who get into tdi cars (VW) drive them for a long time, and are repeat buyers.

I'm still wondering if EPA gas mileage #'s are based on E10 fuel.... I'm betting they test with pure gasoline.....

Rgds, D.

 

[buickanddeere]

Thankyou Aczlan . Guys like Houston can't move past the 1990-2002 era of P pump Diesel engines and burning fuel 2/3 to 3/4 the price of gasoline.
It's about cost per mile and they don't get it. One set of common rail injectors and the truck will never break even on cost vs gasoline.
Now many try to use economy, reliability etc to justify a reprogrammed diesel with stacks.

 

[Renze]

Thankyou Aczlan . Guys like Houston can't move past the 1990-2002 era of P pump Diesel engines and burning fuel 2/3 to 3/4 the price of gasoline.
It's about cost per mile and they don't get it. One set of common rail injectors and the truck will never break even on cost vs gasoline.
Now many try to use economy, reliability etc to justify a reprogrammed diesel with stacks.

On certain types of Deere engines, untill 2 years ago when they sorted it, it was common to replace a head gasket and a variable turbocharger every 3000hrs... which meant 3 dollar per operating hour... Which meant serious sales talk to be able to sell another, in the cost conscious earthmoving business... Turbos were improved by using stainless steel to which soot caused by EGR didnt stick (it stuck onto the turbo on the cold (intake) side, jamming the mechanism) and the head gasket problem was solved by increasing the head bolt torque by 25%.... Especially the head gasket problem, you wonder why they didnt catch that on the test bench.... But it happens when new generations of engines have to be introduced in a hurry to meet the upcoming new emission stage every 2 to three years... Luckily after 2014 the final stage takes effect, after which manufacturers can focus on reliability instead of meeting an emission deadline.

Also with soot filters, it was a relatively new OEM market (it used to be just an aftermarket) and many companies with little experience jumped into it. Now when you cant meet the current on-road and offroad emission stages without either DOC or DPF, large manufacturers test them on the testbench and sort out the poor designs i a hurry. New materials are being explored, which dont need additional diesel injection or regeneration because they regenerate on their own at as low as 250°C exhaust gas temperature, are taking over, thereby greatly improving overall reliability.

Diesel reliability will return within a year or two once the dust has settled...