First drive Ram 1500 diesel

jus2shy wrote:
However, if I did live around where he lives, I don't know if I'd consider a diesel. That price spread in the north east is pretty harsh. Looks like west coast, southeast and west of Chicago have the prices much closer together (unless you're in California). I'm figuring the price strain in the northeast though is due to heating oil competing with diesel.

And back to itguy, I'd have to agree with your duty cycle. If you're not having much in the way of constant highway commuting, it would murder a modern diesel. It seems like in your specific use-case, gas just make sense.

I think you may be right on the heating oil competing with Diesel. I know in lots of the NE there is lots of heating oil and maybe it's a "this time of year thing". But I do notice that around here Diesel is usually more expensive than premium. Maybe if I drove it daily it would make sense but to sit around it doesn't even though my commute is 35 miles one way. That's the reason I kept the Taurus (besides we both love that car) - getting 20-26 MPG on the highway and it's paid off.

In a car it just makes sense - a co-worker has a TDI VW and loves it - gets 50 MPG and that makes sense there when the regular one gets, what around 30.

BillyW wrote:
The Ecoboost definitely got my attention, but doesn't appear to be living up to it's projected MPGs. The numbers aren't out for the Ecodiesel yet, but virtually ALL of the reviewers are raving about their mileage.

Huh? The sticker for my 2011 says: 15/21, 17 combined. I'm getting 16.5 combined in 20 degree weather. And I've got about one of the worst setups for fuel economies with the 3.73's and 4wd. Sounds about spot on to me.

23 in mixed with the Ecodiesel is good but I'm sure there are guys out there with the EB and 3.55's or the 3.31's that can break the 20 MPG barrier. And nobody towed anything other than a small boat. I'd expect the numbers to slot in above the Ecoboost but not that much higher.

BillyW wrote:
The Ford's larger payload options would have been the deciding factor for me just a few years ago. Now, as an empty nester with bad knees, not so much.

Don't forget Ram has the lowest payload of any 1/2 ton. It's only going to be worse with the heavier Diesel.