2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Diesel Cost Effectiveness?

[gsbrockman]

* Heavy-gauge extension cords are readily available (My old Cummins always starts without it--I only plug my truck up for quicker heat)

* Fuel additives are readily available at WalMart, K-Mart, and usually your favorite diesel fueling station.

* There's nothing like my bank teller at National City Bank asking : "Sir, could you please turn your truck off ? I can't hear the customer to the right of you. " This is best accomplished by using the center drive thru lane. The Cummins can then make its presence known to the cars on the right AND the left. Same holds true at McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.



You'll never get that with a stock gasser.

 

[Deezul1]

I know when I bought my used 97 that the diesel was about $3500 more than the same truck with gas motor and in a 2500 or 3500 truck around here you about have to give them away without a diesel engine

 

[DOWG]

Hmmmmmmm.



All I have ever owned is diesel vehicles; Volkswagen, Ford, Mercedes, and finally Cummins. Ok, 1st time through life, took me a while to get here.



Hmmmmmmmmm. Looks like they give folks a discount on the gassers; low power, poor fuel economy and the darn things wear out so fast, why bother to change the oil?

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

As far as the cold starting issues go, Last winter here in utah we had one of the colder winters here, i am at about 5000 feet here and I never plugged my old first gen in all winter long. just cycled the heaters once and it always fired up by the second revolution. once you drive a diesel you will always be a torque lover, every time i drive my wife's honda civic with a 5 speed trans and stall the engine cause i am used to my 6 speed and cummins. I always cuss and say this guttless piece of ------

 

[clem]

There is no way a Dodge V10 will get 11-12 mpg towing a 38 ft 5 wh, it might get 6 mpg at 100k the gaser is all done a 24 valve is just getting started . IF he can't see that there is no hope for him just head to the GM STORE for he is lost. And will own a CHEVY

 

[Berrigan]

Cummins Cowboy



You hit the nail on the head.



My buddy used to drive a 400 ci chevy small block in a 3/4 ton 4wd



I was driving my old 1 st gen Dodge Cummins in a 1 ton 4wd.



We went everywhere together as families hunting, fishing, camping. Running solo and pulling equal loads.



My mileage was always double his minus one. Pulling equal trailers if he got 7 mpg I got 13. Solo if he got 10 I got 19.



We did this for years and the side by side double minus one mileage always held true. Also the resale as you stated, you get most of the diesel premium back at resale.



My 1990 Dodge Cummins in 8 years cost me zero $ in motor repairs and 135 dollars in drivetrain and chassis repairs. It was the best and most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

I only sold it because I wanted a 2nd generation Ram and I love that one too.



By the way my old buddy with the chevy now pushes the pedal of a Dodge Cummins and he loves it.



The old saying goes DIESEL twice as far for half as much.



The new saying goes DODGE CUMMINS dont send a kid to do a RAMS job.

 

[1lawnman]

hey barrington

show this to your buddy

a real life story

in 87 i bought a new ford--- 460 engine

in 92 i bought a new cummins truck

87ford ---- 9 miles to the gal loaded or empty 185000 miles

92 cummins 20 miles to the gal

11 miles to the gal savings at $1 per gal for fuel {price at that time}

when this truck hit 200,000 miles i had saved 22000. 00

by the way this truck cost me 20,000. 00 in 92

in sumary the truck cost me nothing

by the way 92 dodge now has 285,000 miles on it

no major breakdowns

replaced trans at 215,000

o i almost forget and one water pump

and just in case your wondering it pulls a tralier now and has every day of its life

people ask me every day gas or diesel

its simple diesel is for pulling

gas is just someting you pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rember the only people that hear a diesel is those gas boys pumping fuel at the gas station

 

[daveshoe]

Originally posted by gsbrockman

* Heavy-gauge extension cords are readily available (My old Cummins always starts without it--I only plug my truck up for quicker heat)

* Fuel additives are readily available at WalMart, K-Mart, and usually your favorite diesel fueling station.

* There's nothing like my bank teller at National City Bank asking : "Sir, could you please turn your truck off ? I can't hear the customer to the right of you. " This is best accomplished by using the center drive thru lane. The Cummins can then make its presence known to the cars on the right AND the left. Same holds true at McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.



You'll never get that with a stock gasser.

You mean yours fits in those little skinny bank drive thrus? I had to back out of one last week!

 

[HC]

I agree with those who say "they're not for everybody". Some want the pulling power, others don't need it. Some drive 20k per year, some drive double or even more than triple that. Some trade before 100k, some think it takes 100k to break in a good vehicle. Some think diesel gets your hands oily, others think paper towels or gloves were invented for the purpose of holding the fuel nozzle. Some don't mind cooling the turbo, others do.



If you want to talk about savings, I feel the biggest factor is not when you hit 80k or 100k and fuel costs have paid for the engine; the big savings comes when you hit maybe 150k and you realize you have the option to go another 300k with no car payments if you want to.



On diesel prices, they fluctuate with the seasons. When heating oil is selling, diesel is more expensive, and you're getting less mpg on winter fuel. You can't base long term calculations on just your summer mpg, 'cause it won't be that good in the winter. But on the other hand, if you take vacations in the summer, that's when diesel is cheaper and mpg is better.



As for me, I don't WANT to talk everyone into buying a diesel. If everybody wants one, it just increases the price I'll have to pay for my next one!

 

[hammersley]

HC's rightWe don't want all those loosers to have a diesel -

Oh well I guess they all don't - some own a Duramax or a PSD - nasty, nasty. And some of those folks are pretty good people also - just bad judgement. Kinda like voting for Clinton - no - that was just plain STUPID!

 

[illflem]

I don't think a heavy duty CTD pickup is the right choice for commuting. You'd be much more comfortable in and save more on fuel in a compact gasser. I know a guy who drives his '00 Cummins on a two mile commute every day, what a waste, I'll bet it doesn't make it much more than 100k.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

isn't it funny how you can't seem to find any one who will admit they voted for clinton LOL

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by illflem

I don't think a heavy duty CTD pickup is the right choice for commuting. You'd be much more comfortable in and save more on fuel in a compact gasser. I know a guy who drives his '00 Cummins on a two mile commute every day, what a waste, I'll bet it doesn't make it much more than 100k.

I totally agree. For that matter, I have a friend that owns an '01 QC LB 4x4 2500 HO that just bought a used Honda Civic to drive instead of the truck. He is on the other end of the spectrum, a contract medical professional who drives about 40-50K miles/yr and the little Honda pays for itself in fuel savings alone. It also cuts down on maintenance cost, however, it seems like Hondas are expen$ive to repair when they break.



You pays your money and you takes your chances I guess.



Duane

 

[mikel]

I use my truck mostly for commuting 100+ miles a day. It may not be the most "economical" thing to drive but I'll tell you one thing, I'd rather trust my life to this 7000lb truck than some little honda any day. If I honestly believed that some idiot wouldn't run me over then I'd consider the honda, but the way people drive these days I'm just not willing to take the chance.



To me there's more to be considered than just bottom line dollars.



Peace, love, and diesel fumes.

Mike

 

[jeepit]

Peace,love and diesel fumes? Far out and solid man!

 

[sheldon]

Amazing, on the Dodge trucks the diesel engine is more valuble than the gas engine. On my old 82 Chevy the gas engine is more valuble than the diesel engine. My Chevy diesel was very reliable but no one will touch it. I'm keeping the truck as a garbage hauler now.

 

[RichR]

Originally posted by mikel

I use my truck mostly for commuting 100+ miles a day. It may not be the most "economical" thing to drive but I'll tell you one thing, I'd rather trust my life to this 7000lb truck than some little honda any day. If I honestly believed that some idiot wouldn't run me over then I'd consider the honda, but the way people drive these days I'm just not willing to take the chance.



To me there's more to be considered than just bottom line dollars.



Peace, love, and diesel fumes.

Mike

I agree whole heartedly,will never drive any thing but a pickup.

That was one of the reasons I started driving trucks.

RichR

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by duaneparks

a used Honda Civic to drive instead of the truck

I'm considering an alternative to my Ram for commuting to work (52 miles one-way), but I'll look for an older turbo diesel Benz. They're cheap to run, fast and heavy, and offer about the best protection a car can offer. No tin jap box for me!



My theory about vehicles is if I'm in a wreck, I'd rather go over it than under it.



Blake

 

[duaneparks]

I thought I might stir some sentiment up with that Honda story!



Dont get me wrong, I'd much rather drive my truck (and I do) than any other vehicle out there... . just relaying what others have done.



This is wayyyy OT anyway, and I took it there. Sorry.



Duane

 

[clem]

Originally posted by sheldon

Amazing, on the Dodge trucks the diesel engine is more valuble than the gas engine. On my old 82 Chevy the gas engine is more valuble than the diesel engine. My Chevy diesel was very reliable but no one will touch it. I'm keeping the truck as a garbage hauler now.

Now you know why we bought a DODGE we wanted a truck to hold up and run