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Just saw that the new Ram ecodiesel will be rated at 32 mpg. The Silverado diesel is at 33 mpg.
These engines seem to make full size trucks the perfect combination of utility and practicality. You get a large car-like interior with all the features and about the same fuel mileage. I think these economical diesels also have as much power as one really needs - 0-60 in 7.x seconds is fine...especially for a truck. I’ll gladly take 30+ mpg and 450+ torque over 400hp/19 mpg. Maybe we will see a 40 mpg full size diesel within the next 5 years.
I’d like to see these engines offered on lower priced trim levels. Ram is the only one doing that so far and I bet they’ll sell as many as they can make.
We'll have to see if the Chevy is reliable, but Im hearing the Ram is not that great. I only know of 2 close by, and both have had the engines replaced under warranty.
The smaller diesels in a 1/2 ton pickup don't give such a huge advantage over gas as it might sound like. First, add up what the additional sales price is of a diesel engine is over a regular gas engine pickup. Sometimes they load every possible option from the factory onto a diesel pickup to juice the sales price $10K or more over the same truck with a gas engine. That $10K buys a lot of gas.
Then, factor in the pump price difference, diesel over gas. Many states, diesel is 10 to 20 percent more per gallon, which makes it often 30 cents more per gallon or more. That also cuts into the fuel economy savings of diesel over gas. Don't forget to stock up on that blue DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) at the auto parts store either.
I would like to see how many miles a person would need to drive to really come out ahead by buying a diesel over a gas pickup. Do diesel pickups need more frequent oil changes, with special oil designed for diesel engines? Does that cost more?
These questions do not pertain to the 3/4 or 1 ton pickups, where a diesel engine has clear advantages for large load hauling. In those cases, the buyers of diesel engines are getting them in order to give their vehicles better performance for hauling 5th wheel travel trailers, toy haulers or commercial applications. That is a whole different game than the 1/2 ton pickups that most people use as suburban shuttles.
We'll have to see if the Chevy is reliable, but Im hearing the Ram is not that great. I only know of 2 close by, and both have had the engines replaced under warranty.
Not to mention, Ram had to retune the older Ram Ecodiesels because of the emissions cheating and now they get crap mileage and can't get out of their own way.
When you factor in the additional cost, maintenance and the length of time most people keep their vehicles the advantages of the diesel vs the gasser it’s really not worth it. Not to mention the gassers have higher tie ratings. At least they did for Dodge ecodiesel vs Hemi. The Hemi has a higher tow capacity. Most people simply do not keep their vehicles long enough to warrant the additional expense of the diesel.
The returns in fuel savings is really a long term investment as it would take a few hundred thousand miles to recapture those savings at the pump. And you do recapture some of that cost when you sell a diesel vs a gasser. Sometimes. Depends on the liability ofvthat diesel. I know a lot of 6.0/6.4 diesel owners who are losing their butts
I would say for 1/2 ton trucks stick with the gassers with proven powertrains such as Fords 5.0 Coyote V-8, Ram's 5.7 Hemi and GM's 5.3 and 6.2 Vortec V-8's...
Save the diesel for the 3/4-ton and up heavy duty models
An optioned up RAM 4x4 runs about $70,000 OTD. What is the diesel version going to cost? $100K?
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