Re-thinking this Diesel stuff...

[HammerDown]

At $2.50 a gallon now...can't say that my new truck will be another oil burner. Reason regular grade gas is now always less then Diesel fuel, milege on lets say a new 150 crew cab 4x4 6' bed with overdrive would be better than a 250 4x4 Diesel not to mention the 5K extra for the Diesel computer controlled engine. I don't really need a 250 anymore as I only tow the Drag Boat on a few weekends out of the summer.
Heck my x-girlfriends Ford Expedition got 17+ MPG towing 2 Harleys back from Daytona.

I belive F-ing fuel prices (and todays fill-up) are pushing me the other way.

PS. even the (pink) stuff is more than regular grade gas...

 

[geonc]

I would not make such a hasty decision......That EX may get equl mileage towing a couple scooters, but hows about your boat, building supplies etc......heavier loads that the EX can't handle.

Say you get a 3/4 ton gas pig...........

Stick with the diesel bro!

 

[NJKen]

Drive what suits you. I started driving diesels because they run cleaner. I know it sounds stupid but there is less bad stuffc oming out of the tailpipe. After I got used to the diesel torque I decided that there is no way I can go back to a gas engine. In my area diesel gets a little high in the winter (2.20 rite now) but is always cheaper than gas in the warm weather. That works out for me because that is when I do most of my traveling.
Ken

 

[HammerDown]

Well with respect to the above replys (thanks)..."drive what suits you"...this is also what Im thinking. Sure I like the grunt of the Diesel, but in todays world especially with the way "fuel" is going ^^^ unles I were going to work that (diesel) engine like it should be all day as in heavy towing and or a ton of weight in the bed or cross country trips I can't justify having one anymore.... just because it's a Diesel.
So many RUB'S are sporting Diesels these day's because (now) it's a trendy thing to have. They have no clue what the potential/power of that engine is for...and that's ok, but I got into them back in the 80's because 1, fuel was waaaaaay below regular grade gas and 2, yes I towed more often back then (Motorcycle/boat events). And 3, they were soooo simple and trouble free...not so anymore with all this computer crap.
I almost pulled the trigger on a new 2500 4 door 4x4 Dodge Cummins...because the love I have for these engines.
But realistically, I'll never use that diesel like it's called for. And extra 5K for the Engine and fuel prices higher than Premium Grade Gas.......for a grocery getter (more or less). it just ain't making sense...Know what I mean?
PS. that new F150 4 door 4x4 6' bed is a looker, at least in my eyes.

 

[Russ]

Ray, I hear ya. Sometimes I wonder if I really need my truck. Then I take it for a ride, and all is right with the world again. I'm actually starting to look for BIGGER truck Maybe I'm nuts but I really don't see that big of a differance in the cost of fuel(over a years time) between diesel and gas. But if you don't NEED a 250 or 350. then maybe a smaller truck is what you need. To each his own. Good luck with your decision. Russ

 

[Pacific]

Some of the contractors that used to own diesel 3/4 and 1 ton trucks have now gone to 1/2 ton crew cab Fords because they are cheaper to drive.

With the price of diesel fuel climbing higher and higher its not going to be worth owning a diesel truck.

 

[Russ]

I just ran some numbers. If I drive my truck to work every day. I fill up on average every ten days. Right now diesel costs me $2.35 gal. Compare that to my car basicly same mpg at $2.09 a gallon for gasoline. It costs ME approx. $285.00 a year to drive my truck over my car. But I don't drive my truck every day so that number is on the high side. But I use MY truck to tow my 5th wheel, a boat, car trailer, and I can haul a ton of top soil in the bed in one trip. The added insurance for a new vehical would easily cost me more thatn $300 a year. This is just my reason I keep my truck. Russ

 

[Mikes91]

I used to wonder if I need my truck... heck, I'm going to grad school in Monterey... why do I need a diesel, crewcab, drw??

Well, it is good for my heart to drive this truck. I wish the heck that urban yuppies didn't drive them as a statement... ruins it for those of us who DO need a diesel for working and makes them too expensive for us to afford, new.

My wife and I own 4 horses... so yeah, I need a diesel for pulling the horses. New trucks are too expensive for us to afford (save for the Dodge, but I can't justify the expense right now--just married about a year ago, already have a new baby and a stepdaughter...)

The 2007 Ford diesels will supposedly have twin turbos and will likely go for $50,000 from what I hear. New trucks are just getting too damned expensive--even for those of us with a college degree and a stable, well-paying job. Not sacrificing my children's college education or my retirement so I can drive a shiny new truck for a few years.

Now, if I had the money... would I go to a gasoline-powered truck? Probably not. I drove a 1991 F-150 (replaced a '98 F-150) for a few years. Pulling 3000 pounds, neither truck had power to accelerate unless I revved the heck out of it. The '98 was a 4.2L V-6. The '91 was a 302. Neither are very powerful engines, true.... but after getting 9 mpg with the '98 and 7mpg with the '91 when pulling a fairly light trailer I knew I needed a diesel. My truck gets 12 at 70 miles an hour pulling 10,000 pounds of horseflesh, trailer, and gear. Gassers have to rev way high to pull (decreases engine life) and get terrible mileage. You'll lose any money you may have saved at 100,000 miles when the engine needs a rebuild. Your diesel would have gone 300,000. Worth the $4,000 difference? Probably not.

The way things are going, it looks like I'll be keeping this truck a long time. Money for paint here, a new Cummins transplant there, and miscellaneous upkeep STILL would be less of a drain on the family than a mandatory $600+/month payment for the next 7 years on a new computer-controlled question mark. That's my kids' education and the downpayment on our 50 acres/house/horses. I don't need ANYTHING badly enough to sacrifice those goals.

Not to mention... I noticed that (at least in the half tons) you can no longer work with pickups as we used to be able to do. My wife's 2000 Silverado and the new F-150 both have front bumpers so low that you can't curb hop without dragging them. My '91 F-150 and my '91 F-350 are REAL TRUCKS, on the other hand.

What incentive do I have to buy new?? They're selling overprice garbage made for city folk who don't work trucks.

Ah, philosophy...


Mike

 

[The Warden]

One thought...what about a second vehicle?

Back when I had both my truck and my old 6.9l E-350, I put together a spreadsheet. In this spreadsheet, I compared the operating costs of only driving the truck, to driving the truck 20% of the time and driving a car that got 25 mpg and burned #2 diesel 80% of the time. Even with registration and insurance added in, I found that I would be saving over $600 a year. That was when diesel was averaging $1.55/gallon, and assuming that I'd be driving 16000 miles a year overall. I'll admit that I didn't factor in purchase cost, because I used the proceeds from the van's sale to buy the car.

I just opened up that spreadsheet and entered the current diesel price in this area ($2.49 ), and the cost difference went up to $1,000/year.

To me, this leaves the best of both worlds...I have a full-size truck that I can move anything I want with, and I have a fuel-efficient comfortable commuter car I can use for everyday driving. I also have one vehicle to drive if the other breaks down for whatever reason.

I don't know how well this would work for you, but it's been working very well for me over the past 2 1/2 years.

Just my $.02...good luck!

 

[argve]

Ray,

I have already been thinking about my next vehicle - finally realizing that I won't be keeping a vehicle forever and a day. Like I had with The E.

I'm having the same thoughts as you. I stand here looking at the newer vehicles and their tow ratings (considering fuel costs and mileage). I really only need a large truck for when we hitch up to the travel trailer to go off for a weekend and 2 long trips a year. With that thought pattern I could just get a half ton truck and deal with the less than stellar performance while towing.

But as you know I'm a power ****** so for me to "step down" would be a very very hard thing to take. I like the low end jet blast that diesel gives.

Heck truth be told I have been looking at the Nissan Titan (9400 - 9500lb tow rating) V8 powered crew cab. But it's brand spanking new cost is skyrocket high in my eyes.

Heck even thought about just selling the TT/diesel truck and getting a class c motorhome and picking up a small ecno box for motoring back forth to work - already own the small econ box.

Argh the choices... So I know where your at.

But my moods change from day to day type of thing because I love the power, when I want to go rip snorting off the line I can, in a 4 cyl car I slam the pedal down and yes it makes noise but nothing really happens... Only way to feel the power is drive it off a cliff, then it might accel at the rate I want/need/desire.

Then again as you know I'm not small boy so I'm a little uncomfrontable in a go cart (ecno box). A full sized truck is more to my size - basically it has the right "a$$ print" as I call it.

 

[HammerDown]

Another Option (maybe)

Ok so I've NEVER been the person that can bring myself to own a vehicle with a foreign (NAME PLATE) ie Toyota-Honda-etc .
Yes Im well aware that even my Harleys have foreign parts in them but it's still a US name. And I don't give a crap if Honda or others are made here in the US (I've got issues what can I tell ya) Those of you that own the above good for you...really. America is about freedom and choice. For me it's just a hard pill to swallow owning a vehicle with a foreign (name plate).

BUT... if maybe a very late modle or (new) somewhat sporty looking VW TDI (automatic) for the right price came along I could bring myself to use that for my several trips or maybe daily trips to the Jersey Coast for work and bop around town here with. I belive they pull down some steller fuel mileage (45+-) and are quite peppy to boot.

Hmmmm, Just let my ol 88 truck sit 90% of the time like my Vette, pay the insurance on it and use it for the rare boating trips?

Then...Id have a 3'rd vehicle and HD/Boat to care and pay insurance/operationg costs etc on (Vette-Truck-HD-Boat and>VW TDI) excuse me while I go > ..... ..and have a few >.

 

[yARIC008]

Just so you know... VW is foreign hehe

Anyways, you'll need to get the manual shift VW to get the 45+ mileage. The auto only gets about 35.

But yes, that's what we did. We have three huge diesel trucks, and one small fuel efficient car. Works well for us. Of course, i need a fuel efficient car now too running to school all the time. Maybe running WVO will fix that though.

 

[bentwings]

big truck

Well I look at it this way. I bought my Dodge CTD dually because I wanted a real truck not a car that thinks its a truck or a truck that thinks its a car. My truck rides like a truck, looks like a truck,makes lots of truck noise, smokes like a truck, and even smells like a truck. When I want to haul something, I just hitch it up and don't worry how big it is. Like I told the guy at the rv rental place...he was concerned that I didn't have enough hitch for the unit I wanted to rent.....I says, "Listen pal, if I were you I'd be more concerned about whether my trailers had a strong enough hitch to be pulled by a DCTD. But i said don't worry...if your hitch fails, I'll just load the thing up in the bed and bring it home."

I love the looks I get when I take up 4 parking spots at the mall in the back 40. Well if they want to park next to me and walk into the towing mirrors..fine..won't hurt the mirrors. It doesn't matter whether I wear a suit and tie or bluejeans and teeshirt the looks I get are still " gawd dam outlaw just drove in"

Secondly at my age, if this truck lasts 1/2 as long as it is supposed to, my family will be taking my keys away before it is worn out. As I tell them when that happens, they can take my oxygen bottle away too. Just give me my last ride in the bed and drop me off at the diesel bone yard.

bentwings

 

[JPR]

I came to the same conclusion. With the current diesel prices and the doomsdayers (spelling?) out there that say it will never come back down due to EPA regs on the sulfur content, it would be hard to justify buying a new diesel. The new F150 crewcab is a daily driver and the F350 is for towing and trips.

 

[towcat]

Now that I don't sit behind the wheel of a TT for a daily driver, my feul bill is nowhere as bad as it used to be. Still, the car is a diesel benz. great mileage, and for CA purposes....NO SMOG. At least until '07......