diesel vs gas

[Tim]

let the debate begin all around daily driver that will see about 300 miles a week

[bbm715]

Gas.
Towing something 300 miles a week?  Diesel.

[bcrewcaptain]

depends on the vehicle...but my little truck being diesel gets about 5mpg better in city/hwy than the same truck in gas version...

[bbm715]

That's a LOT of miles to make up the diesel buy-in penalty 

[Tim]

That's a LOT of miles to make up the diesel buy-in penalty 

what are you talking about? my week goes about 250 to 350 miles depending on if I got to chapel hill or not..

[catfishblues]

Get a Honda. Drive the Sammi to the trails. 300mi a week is going to end up being a LARGE fuel bill, and that stuff's going up! 

[Tim]

Get a Honda. Drive the Sammi to the trails. 300mi a week is going to end up being a LARGE fuel bill, and that stuff's going up! 

I have a honda it's alright....but having 3 cars would be killer I had an 06 f150 crewcab and it got 14 mpg my s10 gets around 16 or so I would like to just get a full size again

[bcrewcaptain]

I have a honda it's alright....but having 3 cars would be killer I had an 06 f150 crewcab and it got 14 mpg my s10 gets around 16 or so I would like to just get a full size again

I get that in the excursion with a mix of hwy/city driving...hmmmm

[bbm715]

Diesel buy in refers to the $2k more you will pay for a diesel truck.  5mpg better, even at the same price as gas, would take a long time to make up.   With the price difference it will take longer.
Unless you are planning on doing a lot of hauling, a ton of miles, or tow something large - go gas.

[ScotY]

For a new truck, to get the diesel option, it's quite a bit more than $2000...maybe more like $4-6k?

Anyway, I drive around in an '06 Dodge 4wd diesel and get about 13-14 mpg on average, mostly what you guys would call city driving.  My opinion is diesel is a superior engine design overall.  Financially, as said earlier, if you're not towing (or until someone comes out with a smaller diesel pickup), it's a poor decision.  One possible exception is if you drive a lot of highway miles and you can find an older full-size diesel.  Don't know about Ford or Chevy, but the older Ram trucks are suppossed to easily get over 20 mpg.

Diesel used to be much cheaper than gas a long time ago.  In some parts of the country, it still is.  I was in Los Angeles (of all places) this summer and diesel was $2.69 and regular gas was $2.87.  Diesel is right about $4 here  and it's always more than gas.  Maybe diesel is cheaper if you buy it at truck stops?  Luckily for me, I don't really drive that many miles.  Still spend about $300/month on fuel though. 

[durnzuki]

I say buy a Diesel.  Yes the fuel is higher, but you will get lots better milage.  If you get 15mpg average out of a gasser you are doing good.  You can get around 20 easy with most diesels.   I have an older 7.3 and get 20 unloaded and around 13 pulling my 40ft. trailer.  My son has a 2008 F250 with the 6.4 diesel and it gets 13 on the highway and 8 pulling a 12 ft. lawnmower trailer though.  I think if I was gonna get a new truck it would be a Dodge, I like the Cummins alot more than any other engine make right now.

[bbm715]

OK, lets do the easy math.
Diesel trucks cost an extra $2k (around here USED) purchase price.
300 miles a week is roughly about 1300 miles a month.
1300/15mpg = 87 gallons of gas per month.
1300/20mpg = 65 gallons of diesel per month
87g * $2.60 = $226 per month gas
65g * $2.90 = $188 per month diesel
Savings of $38 per month diesel over gas.  At $38 a month it will only take you 52 months (4 1/2 years) driving to make up the initial purchase price.  After that it's all gravy.
But wait, diesels are costlier to service.  This was also assuming you were buying the truck with cash and not having to pay the extra $ per month on the loan and all that interest for the extra $2k.
So you are absolutely right.  Go with the black smoke belching, can't pass on the highway diesel as you daily driver.  Everyone keeps their truck 10 years right?  By then you will have saved enough over buying the gasser that you can afford the stupid expensive lift pump that will have gone out.

And yes I know that for a new truck the diesel penalty is higher.  But really, if you are going to have a $1000 a month payment on one of these new monsters is it really a penalty to go $1100 and get the diesel? 

If you are going to WORK your truck or go a bizillion miles with it - get a diesel.
Otherwise go get yourself a 1/2 ton and enjoy the car like ride and responsiveness.

[bcrewcaptain]

find me a gas SUV that can haul the family, and dogs inside, the 26' travel trailer behind it and still get 16mpg and I'll make the switch 

good math though, but you forgot the variables that make having a diesel a little more realistic...

besides, while she drives the 8000lb "black smoke belching diesel"
I have a bike that gets 45mpg, so that makes me even right?

[flashboiler]

good math though, but you forgot the variables that make having a diesel a little more realistic...

True enough!  He forgot the $100 oil changes, the dual $300 batteries, the tires that wear out quickly due to the weight....

 

[bcrewcaptain]

True enough!  He forgot the $100 oil changes, the dual $300 batteries, the tires that wear out quickly due to the weight....

 

nah....$60 an oil change....batteries are $60 each at walmart.. and they NEVER date stamp them...so those 2 will last the life of your truck..tires...well...I bought my truck that was 5 yrs old with the orig tires...don't forget the tire rating increases with weight
each has their pluses, it all depends on yours needs....when I purchased my excursion I had a 6K+ rig/trailer or a camper to pull around as well as needing a truck to haul people/large dogs around in, plus be able to put a 4x8" sheet of something in the back...
limited options/no other options for a "newer" vehicle..and when the gas version gets about half the mileage...it is a no brainer