Time to replace my '98.

[fest3er]

My '98 (2500, 12V, 4WD, club cab, long bed, auto, ordered 8/97, delivered 10/97, 355k miles, ATS tripleloc TC and VB, 3k GSK, 215HP injectors) is finally reaching the end of its golden years after driving it 27 years. (I think the clutches in the rear diff are disintegrating, and body cancer is rampant.) The question is, what do I replace it with? I've been away from the diesel scene for about 17 years, so I really don't know much of what's happened in the meantime.

I rarely tow or haul any more, but still prefer diesel. I'm thinking a megacab 4WD, post-2010 or so that gets decent fuel economy (which may mean one that uses muffler fluid). I'm not married to Dodge/Ram, but (obviously) I've been—and still am—content with my '98; performance is still right where I want it. If the cost was reasonable, a restoration (not necessarily back to as-manufactured condition) isn't out of the question. I might even consider something with a Duramax; even a 1500 with the VM Motori V6 might be acceptable.

Has anyone ever posted a general comparison of the various makes/models/years of diesel-powered vehicles here? What's good? What's lousy? What's preferred? What should be avoided?

Thanks,
Neal

 

[Grumpy8811]

I'd get a gasser if I wasn't planning on towing heavy based on the general idea that no one ever saved any money driving a diesel and the gasoline models available today out power your 97 truck and are far more plentiful, especially if you aren't tied to a HD truck.. other than that idea I think it comes down to what you want as there seems to be an endless variety of choices in 4 door trucks..

 

[Jim W]

If you are still a member, I would visit the LH side column on the home page and read the buyer's guides. I believe the buyer's guides highlights the +/- of each year on the Doge/Ram diesel trucks.

As far as gas vs diesel in a vehicle that has been an ongoing debate since diesel engines have been installed in trucks/cars. If they were available in the US, my wife's vehicle would be another diesel SUV. She had a 2010 VW TDI that we both loved and used a lot having it for 11 years before trading on in on a new 2021 Santa Fe Gas engine model. On trade in we got over $4,000 more than a gas engine model of the same make and year. So, to me they are worth the extra money when buying, also getting better fuel economy in use over time.

Just my $0.02

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Honestly since DEF and EGR and all that goes into a 2007+ diesel, not sure. I would be in the same boat, except my 2001 has zero rust and still is a solid truck, but I might consider a gas pickup, if forced to replace I don't know.

In 2023 I was in similar boat with my car, a VW Jetta TDI, it was 18 years old and starting to give lots of issues. no more diesel VW or diesel anything except HD pickups, nothing gas excited me, so I jumped into the BEV world and bought a Tesla Model Y, yep I am that guy with a Tesla in the garage and an old dodge Cummins in the driveway, I enjoy both for different reasons but can say the pickup gets very little miles unless I actually need a pickup these days. Drove the Ram 8000-9000 miles in all of 2024 and it is actually my work truck that I take for my field work.