End of the diesel light truck

[newbury]

i like my diesel. in fact. if I ever find another 7.3psd ford 350 int he 99-2003 range for cehap and in great condition.. I'll buy it and put it on jacks till I wear out my current one.

What he wrote!

I like the sound of the diesel engine and the smell of the fuel.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

Those new direct injection engines are neat. I think a lot, if not most diesel trucks are sold to wannbe something or anothers. I see a F650 diesel occasionally that has a fancy tonneau cover, really nice wheels. It is used as a grocery getter. A neighbor of mine drives a F350. He is 84, can't drive at night, hasn't towed anything in years, but gets a new one every year.

By the time the guy's lived 84 years, I say let him drive the 350 for sentimental reasons. No judgment here!

 

[mjncad]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

As much as I like diesels; I bought a V-10 gasser when I ordered my F-250 in 1999 because it cost $350 versus $3,500 for the diesel. I knew I wasn't going to drive the truck daily or tow very often; so I went with the V-10 to get as much power as I could for our altitude without a huge jump in price. Now if I was going to drive the truck daily and tow on a frequent basis I would have gone diesel no questions asked.

It will be interesting to see what if anything Ford and Dodge do regarding diesels in their future trucks.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

The EPA along with increasing regulations on emissions and the addition of diesel fuel costing more than gas will continue to erode the cost advantages of a diesel in any light duty truck or car...
I find it somewhat ironic that the Europeans have more small diesel cars than us due in no part that their emissions requirements for diesels are less stringent than ours...
I would assume that the cost for diesel fuel is lower than gas in Europe but I am not sure...
My daily driver is an F350 4x4 dually...
It is paid for, I can tow anything that I need here on the farm, and I am keeping it...
The government and it's regulations can take a hike...

 

[wrooster]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

I don't think GM is capable of defining anything new for the truck market. They are at best a 2nd tier player rescued by my tax dollars, screwing the bondholders in the process.

Anyway, they are back in the courtroom as defendants, and I hope the judge sets an example using them:
Judge May “Rule Imminently” On Lawsuit Threatening New GM’s Existence | GM Authority

Wrooster

 

[mikehaugen]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

I have been wanting a diesel ever since I've driven full size pickups, never owned one but have driven quite a few. Yes, they pull a lot better. I too, however, am having a hard time justifying the price of a diesel. I have a ram 2500 with a 5.9 gas... yeah. It may be feel like I am pulling an 8 bottom plow behind me sometimes, but it does pull anything I have put behind it. Which includes an overloaded 10k 28' enclosed trailer (probably 12K). I also don't live in a hilly area and anything over 10k is rare for me. So, if I could still get a big block (v8 or v10) that is probably the route I would go. Since I can't, I will probably stick with a small block v-8. Diesels are losing their appeal to me. I understand there are people out there that "need" a diesel still though. There are those that pull 15-20k frequently and a gasser just wouldn't be practical, so they should still keep them available.

I also don't have a problem with people buying a 1 ton or bigger truck with a diesel for a grocery getter. I do have a problem when people buy these and complain that they don't ride/drive like their lexus did- they are trucks... deal with it!. But now the manufacturers have to accomodate them, who are a larger share of the buyers and redesign the trucks to suit them.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

na, i think the hayday for diesels is over... especially with T4 requirements and greater that will come. performance per dollar just suffers to much for lightweight operations.

Well I have to agree that diesel engines in America have never been inexpensive.
In 1998 a 6.5L turbo diesel in a chevy truck was a $2850.00 option.
195 h.p. and 430 ft/lbs @ 1800rpm
The 454 / 7.4 L was only a $600.00 option
290 h.p. and 410 ft/lbs @ 3200 rpm
Towing capacity for the diesel then was #14,500 and the gas was #19,000 (1 ton trucks)
If you needed towing capacity it was a no brainer to go gas for only $600.00
Towing needs from then to now really haven't changed.
Outdoing the competition hasn't either.
Thats why we have gone from 400 ft/lbs to 800+ ft/lbs and no improvement in cost / value.
Rather than producing a diesel motor that still produces 400 to 500 ft/lbs and surpasses the requirements for emmission and noise... and developing 3-6 cylinder diesels for the light contractor, parts store delivery trucks, DIY pick up owners and 50 mpg family vehicles.The focus was outdoing the the other guy with more H.P. and ft/lbs. and airconditioned seats.
America has had it days in the past where fuel prices have spiked, drivers have had limits on how many gallons they could purchase at a station, people have slept in lines overnight at stations waiting for the shortage of fuel to show up.
American automakers are there own worst enemy.
Sad but true.
Future US BMW diesel plans leaked
The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have - Businessweek
Fuel Economy of New Diesel Cars
Small Diesel Pickup Truck from India Coming to US
Taj Mahauler: We Drive Mahindra's Diesel Pik-Up - PickupTrucks.com News

The list goes on.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Maybe Toyota will finally bring out their 1 Ton diesel to market and not just the SEMA car show?
2008 Toyota Tundra Diesel Dualie - 1-Ton Diesel Truck - Diesel Power Magazine
View attachment 292812

na, i think the hayday for diesels is over... especially with T4 requirements and greater that will come. performance per dollar just suffers to much for lightweight operations.

Toyota won't bring it out and then fix it.
Toyota will bring it out to market when they have it right the first time.
They have learned what the Big 3 hasn't.

 

[scrappy isb67]

Re: GM announced the beginning of the end of the diesel light truck today

direct injection is not going to get a gas engine in the same league as a diesel!
I had a VW 2.0T (200HP turbocharged 2L DI gas) Jetta and the BEST it EVER got was 30mpg ONCE!
my current DD it a TDI ( 140HP 2L turbo diesel) and it is averaging 40+mpg with the WORST tank being 33 ONE TIME!
the TDI on paper has less power but is just as fast as the 2.0T and gets much better mileage! The 2.0T has higher HP but LESS torque than the TDI. and for a PICKUP, NOTHING will match a diesels's torque!

 

[salopez]

Didnt they only show the half ton truck? If so how does this show the end of diesel pickups?