FCA(Marchionne) says diesel is dead

Just my thoughts, I think diesel will stay. The reason why more questions pop up, such as: if gas jobs can pull this or that is simple.
1) upfront cost, yes we can argue all day about the resale but the trucks eventually fall apart and gas jobs last a lot longer now then they used to.
2) knowledge of potential issues down the road related to emissions, yes I drive them at work and really dislike the emission issues that still plague units.
3) when they break, they break and are expensive...... ask me and others we know....
4) fuel related issues, such as bad diesel fuel from the station and repair cost associated with any damage.
5) complexity, yes open the hood and look at all the wonderful plumbing.... scratching our heads and trying to figure what is what and how to do basic stuff. Yes I have worked on cars/trucks all my life. But looking at a diesel now is a lot to take in, and most of the time the cab has got to be taken off for major stuff.
6) maintenance cost overall. I know another all day argument, but overall it's more expensive then a gas job from what I have personally found out.
I'm sure I can add more, but this is seemingly like bashing diesel trucks which is not. I love the power they provide for sure. But as much as people brag about them, this is the other side. My experience only guys, I have had both. I prefer the diesel power but won't pass up the gas job for many reasons. In today's diesel the fuel mpgs are not as good as the older ones were for sure, so for me overall gas is just much easier to own and maintain. Again my experience with both trucks and nobody take the above wrong or personal cause that's not repeat not the intention of my post! Thanks.

Don't know about anywhere else, but the price difference around here seems to make up for the difference in fuel mileage. About 20 cents per gallon or so. I get about 8 mpg and fuel up at Walmart.

troubledwaters wrote:

ppine wrote:
...We are about to see more diesels in small trucks than ever before...

You're also seeing more and more people asking "Will a gasser tow a _________?" Must be some reason they're asking the question.

Because they don't know about diesels. The rest of the world runs on diesel power. Not just all trucks, but lawn mowers and outboard motors and over half the cars.

Had a 2006 Chevy diesel. Great truck great motor. I was very disappointed when diesel cost 50 cents more per gallon than gas. There went one of the reasons I bought a diesel. Then first oil change cost me $130 and there went the second reason I bought a diesel. Started service myself fuel filter cost$40 and air filter cost $72. There went one more reason. Cost of operations cost far more than savings. I did like the power but it came at to great a cost. Never again.

I’m looking forward to a motor that has the heavy duty diesel construction but burns either propane or natural gas. No def, no egr and no cold start issues but all the torque and toughness of a diesel.

I’ve been running diesels since 1966 and at one time every engine I owned was diesel except the string trimmer. Now I’m down to one and it is 25 years old and I like it but will no longer buy a diesel since they got all the emissions junk.

A friend of mine sold his ‘99 Ford 4 liter Ranger which never saw a dealer after he took possession and bought a Jeep diesel which has cost him thousands and to listen to him complain and saying he should have never sold the Ranger and bought his Jeep. His Jeep mileage just passed his Ranger mileage by less then 10,000 miles last fall.

My ‘84 Escort wagon 2 liter diesel got 54 mpg running the Pa turnpike with three teenagers, two adults, and baggage for all. It regularly got 61 mpg driving to Cleveland and back for work with just one on board. After the car was junk I pulled the engine for someone to use as a power plant for some other project. Name me one vehicle that will do that today. My GM diesel spoiled it for me in vehicles and my 5 liter F150 has confirmed it. No more diesels.

Tyler0215 wrote:
I sure wouldn't listen to that clown. He's almost run Chrysler into the ground.

And everyone else after Lee Iacocca.

The Man

Sounds like Macaroni took that EPA slap on the hand a little personal.

Bah Bye Eco Diesel

Travlingman wrote:
Doesn't look good for those of us who like diesels. Sounds like the pollution controls are killing it. Article

US is unique too every other market on the planet in having a very anti diesel bias

I would be more than happy to go to a gas engine again if they could match diesels fuel economy and most of all, torque.

BTW, I agree with Tyler above, that guy is a clown and I would not give his opinion the time of day.