Diesel pickup or light duty van? Is it cost effective over gas?

[Asymtave]

1/2T trucks typically don't have the strength/chassis to carry the large displacement diesels in the HD pickups. Also, 1/2T trucks are also typically under 8,000 GVWR and therefore cannot have the current diesels for emmissions reasons.

The good news is that we're likely to see a flood of light trucks and cars offering diesels. From Honda cars to medium and full size trucks, diesel buyers should have their pick of the litter soon.

The Supreme Court handed down a ruling yesterday that essentially requires the EPA to regulate "carbon" emmissions from vehicles. Essentially this means that automakers will have to look everywhere for efficiency improvements, and this means diesel among other things.

As for the price of diesel long term, who knows?

 

[coffeeman]

I am going to confess what many of us are unlikely to do. I own a diesel. I like it. I sounds purty. I like the smell. It is tough and has lots of torque to pull over buildings and things like that. It will run 500,000 miles, which is much longer than I will own my truck, and likely much longer than the truck will exist. It takes a lot of oil and fuel filters and air filters and is easy to maintain. I like buying my oil in the gallon containers. It makes me feel tough too. I like telling people who ask why I have a diesel, "Well, you know I have to pull my tractor" (which by the way with trailer only weighes about 7000#--much under the limit of most 1/2 ton pickups). My confession is that I cannot, nor likely ever will, be able to justify my diesel truck purchase based on the numbers, and I doubt our original poster will be either. But, that is not the reason I have a diesel. I have a diesel because I enjoy having one, even though it has paid nothing over the V10 250 I had before. Will I buy another? Absolutely--but for our poster--go gas.

John M

Hi John

I have a read lot of good informanation on my question. Thanks to all. However, your post is most interesting. You really like that truck! Kinda like how I like my 94 full size rear wheel drive Cadillic Brougham all black with white wall tires. Car should have 200,000 mi by May. It's not a pickup but it might be as heavy as some. Car is in perfect shape except for the back bumper and I think I'll spring for the $500 for a new one. It's actually made out of chrome.

My wife really thinks the car is too old for me to drive. I think she sort of thinks the car makes the driver look bad; driver cheap, not modern or like these old guys that are driving mint condition old cars till they make it to the bone yard. I think she's unfair to the car since it's her old car. Then she got a new one and abandoned the old one to me. There's no loyalty today.

A few months ago I had car all cleaned up and we had an occason to be in "my" car. The car looked real good, especially from the front. (The back bumper has had some rust for a while now.) We pulled in to a hotel valet. I get out of car and the guy who gives the valet ticket looked over my car and says, "Where's the funeral?" The wife says on way in door of hotel, "You gotta get rid of that car."

Here's the icing on the cake. I am sort of keeping my eye out to find a backup 94 with low miles. I might be lucky and find one. Then, when my car plays out, I'll have a new ride waiting for me.

Like you with your diesel; I like my 94. It rides better than my wifes 03, I get ok gas milage, there's no payments, emission tests are not strict, more power that wifes' 03 and again.... I like to drive it.

Cheers....Coffeeman

 

[Chuck_Lind]

I was at the Chevy dealership in Dubois, Pa., checking out the new trucks. $8250 extra for a DuraMaxx diesel.

When you have to pay that much for a diesel, then pay higher prices for diesel fuel...well, the cost speaks for itself.

 

[dogranch]

Get the Ford with a V10. I have an 2003 4x4 crewcab long bed with 56k on it and no problems as of yet. I talk to everyone I see just driving around and they are easily getting 100,000-200,000 miles out of em. I get about 12mpg hwy/city it dont change much. I dont tow a lot but when I do it is my 3820 Branson TLB weiging in at about 6150 plus trailer and it does it easily. MY mpg's suffer though. I came up with about the same calcs on price also that it would take close to 120-130k to break even.

 

[Bytesmiths]

I don't drive while at my desk, and I don't want a computer in my vehicle!

I like older Dodge diesels. I had an '89 2wd that routinely got 24-26 mpg. But I needed 4x4, and so found a nice '91. But it only gets 20 mpg. But it will get it no matter what I do, towing, around town, etc. Don't go past '93 if you want an all-mechanical design.

Lot of people here telling you to get Fords or Chevys. Look at the price and availability and make your choice. The Dodge in-line 6 has 40% fewer moving parts for the same HP and higher torque. They also cost more, but have higher resale value. And people hold on to them, so be patient and wait for the right one to come along!

If your only consideration is cost of ownership, and you intend to hold the vehicle forever, the longer life and savings on repairs of an older diesel might make it worth while. But not if you get a newer one, and it needs a $1500 injection computer! The Bosche pumps on the all-mechanical Cummins engines can be re-built for about $600.

I run a Frito-Lay truck with a four cylinder Cummins on vegetable oil! And I run my Dodge and everything else on biodiesel that I make for about 80 cents a gallon.

 

[cowpie1]

I know that a diesel in my '06 Jeep Liberty is cost effective. Even with the price difference in fuels.

Most of the gas Liberty's are lucky if they get 20 mpg to a tank. I consistently get above 25 mpg with the diesel. And that is gravel roads, town, and Interstate. Plus it will pull a 300 gallon fuel wagon regularly without a missing a beat.

As soon as the U.S. auto makers pull their collective heads out of tight places, we will see diesels in more cars and light trucks. Europe figured this out long ago since 50% of vehicles sold there are diesels for the economy, power, and longevity (they keep vehicles longer on average). We like cheap throw away vehicles. Then we like to waste our money on 3K oil changes. Europe has been on 10K oil changes for years. Same vehicles as ours.

Oh well.

 

[penokee]

A few comments, I'm driving a Chev Classic 07 Duramax Diesel:
- Didn't get it to save money, don't think I will
- The new 5 year/100,000 mile warranty gives you some protection on expensive engine repairs.
- Diesel in my area is now only 3 cents more then regular gas.
- Coal to liquids (diesel) is on the horizon.
- Tow with this vehicle and my 01 HD gasser - Diesel wins
- Get 12 mpg towing in tow/haul mode (based on +6,000 mi)
penokee and otto

 

[the_sandman_454]

I drive an 05 RAM 3500 diesel, with the manual 6 speed transmission. I would not go back to a gas powered truck. Cost of maintenance is only marginally higher with a diesel if you do it yourself. Mileage is significantly better than my previous truck (92 Chevy with 4.10 gears an automatic and a 350). My Ram gets better mileage towing the boat (16 mpg if I go easy on the throttle, and not show off how much power it's got) than the old Chevy could get running empty and driving like an old fogey. I have gotten up to 21mpg with it on the expressway a time or two. Typical is between 18 and 20 for my normal mix of back roads and a small patch of city driving here and there.

The diesel option costs more up front, but look at the resale of gas powered trucks versus diesels of the same year, and similar mileage. At least from what I've seen, the diesels are pretty much getting the premium paid up front back upon resale.

Electronics aren't the big devil everybody is making it out to be. I used to dislike electronics too, but look how easy it is to tune a new diesel. Just plug in a connector, and poof, instant power upgrade. Just don't forget to upgrade the other components too so nothing overheats from the extra fuel you're adding. I do dislike the EGR and other emissions crap that is being tacked onto the 07+ engines. I'll not have one. Therefore I'll just have to make sure I keep my current truck running until a new power source is developed.

You have to run the numbers and decide for yourself whether it's worth it or not. If you typically get a new vehicle every year or two, you won't see the benefit of the longer life a diesel engine gets. However, if you plan to keep it forever, you will eventually start to see the payoff.

Don't forget biodiesel, which is IMO a much better technology than ethanol (unless I'm planning to get drunk, in which case I like that ethyl alcohol). Thanks to the increased efficiency of diesels over rival gas engines, I suspect we'll start to see more and more diesels. Plus the more we get biodiesel in use, the more people will start to like it, I mean how can you not like a vehicle whose exhaust smells like french fries?

 

[Garandman]

We just ordered a Ford Transit 250 van with long wheelbase and medium roof, and elected to go with the EcoBoost over diesel.

• EcoBoost has 400 ft lbs of torque vs 350 for the diesel.
• Ecoboost was $1,100 to $1,600 more than base engine. Diesel was $5,000 more.
• We only drive our vans 15-18,000 miles a year.

As far as mpg, the joke on the Transit forum is "Eco, or boost: pick one." :laughing:

 

[RalphVa]

I go with diesels where I have the choice because they're more "green", e.g. generally less crude/mile.

Ralph