Cummins, Duramax or Gas? Help!!!

[PBJ2500CTD]

Thank you for all your help. It's nice to straighten out my thoughts. Do you think a diesel makes a good daily driver?

I've been daily drivin' a diesel for years - and love it!

 

[hobigusn]

There is a variety of uses and applications... dayly driver, towing and hauling. My wife drives her '03 2500 about 38 miles each way to work. I have an '09 4500 I drive 6 miles each way to work and they work great. Our decision to buy deisel trucks is longevity and durability. We buy 'em new an run 'em at least 10 years or more.



I spent 30 years in the Air Force, and while assigned in DC, used my '02 3500 dually as a daily driver. Gotta lotta looks driving down town and parallel parking in the city.



Test drive some gassers and deisels to see what feels good. And shop around for the best deal. You can save thousands or over pay thousands. Look on e-bay... several dealers post there.



Anyway, let us know what you decide to do.



wiredawg

What kind of mileage do you get on those short trips? Would short trips where it won't fully warm up hurt the mileage? I would only be driving 5-25 miles.

 

[AWeiman]

What kind of mileage do you get on those short trips? Would short trips where it won't fully warm up hurt the mileage? I would only be driving 5-25 miles.

my wife drives her 06 80 miles a day to work all highway miles. however if she takes a lot of short trips to town it probably drops the mileage by a mpg.

so my experience is yes short trips are not the ideal situation to recieve maximum mpg's, but its not like you would see terrible mileage either. i run mid to low teens with my 01 and it is all short driving and towing. i rarely drive over 30 miles in a day.

 

[DMeurer]

I would really think about whether you want to get a 2wd vs a 4wd considering you have some pretty harsh winters in Michigan. A 2wd truck in the snow is, in my opinion, pretty worthless. You may not use 4wd very much but the times you do need it may be well worth it.

 

[sheamc]

With my '01 in the sig I can average 18-20+ in all conditions. I have been daily driving 16 miles one way to work on 2 lane roads. Mileage will be better in all conditions. The mileage figures shown in most pubs. are optimistic for gas engines, especially if you tow at all. Buy the absolute best you can afford so that there will be fewer troubles later. All of this I learned the hard way, don't do it my way, it ends up being much more expensive. :{

 

[Superglide]

I've been using mine as a daily driver for 6 years now and not a single problem commuting. I drive about 20 miles to work.

 

[AABEN]

I would buy the 4X4 the heavy eng is not good on ice or packed snow so that is why I would by the 4X4. Jest look under the hood of the Chevy then look at the Dodge that will tell you to buy the DODGE 2500 or 3500 === Good Luck---

 

[Dieselnut59]

I have been daily driving my trucks since I have had them, obviously one at a time of course!!:-laf

I bought the Liberty as a daily driver/runabout. If you REALLY want to save fuel, that is what I would suggest is getting a good used older truck in 2 wheel drive and then get a good used Jeep Liberty CRD. I consistently get 25-30 mpg out of my Liberty. It is powerful and a comfortable ride. I love it, but prefer my trucks for daily driving honestly because they are manual transmission and they get the left lane laggers out of the way! Whatever you do, I would buy what you can see yourself still enjoying 10-15 years from now and I would go with diesel... not that I am biased or anything!

 

[FFeiller]

not to throw a wrench in the gears. i had an 04 ram2500, 6sp standard, quad cab, long bed, hemi without mds. avg 16 mpg city/ hwy mix not towing. it actually got better mileage then my 03-3500dully and 05 3500dully quad cabs ctds under same daily constr use. had all three trucks at the same time. had no problem towing a 10k cargo trailer. parts for diesels are expensive.

the interiors and body of all the dodges i have owned in recent years have held up very well, no complaints. i find the interiors comfortable and serviceable. my german shepherd loves her truck (if you own a dog that's important to know ) it's true fords interiors were more like the interior of a car, but i found the rams to have everything i needed. now the 4th gen rams are as plush as a car.

longivity can't beat cummins, if you turn your vehicle frequently and tow very little i'd go gas. i need the advantages of the best diesel rig on the road, thats why i drive a ram 5500 C & C with a cummins, end of story.

 

[daniels]

TRUE STORY THAT HAPPENED ABOUT 6 weeks ago in April:

One day, I had my motorcross bike in the back, my girl and her friend in the truck, and I was heading back home south on the I-15 after a long day of riding the track. Along side me on the freeway, a new Ford F350 Powerstoke Dually rolls up quick with an attitude. This dually was friggen nice: lowered, nice Alcoa wheels, black, thing looked really trick. Two guys in their mid 20's driving it, probably Daddy's truck. Me and the other driver make eye contact and immediately knew what time it was. We both MASH our Diesels.

We raced up a long 1. 5 mile gentle grade. We were DEAD EVEN at 120 MPH at the top of the hill. He looked at me and smiled.

I told my chick: "Baby, roll down the window and hold up the number 6 with your hands. " She said: "Why?" I said: "Just do it, he'll know what it means. "

I knew right them I was driving the right truck.