Horsepower is horsepower?
If that theory is true (in real circumstances), then a 385hp 6.7L Cummins diesel shouldn't spank a 381hp Toyota Tundra when both are tested 0-60 towing a 5740# boat. But it did. Must be the adva...
Forum Discussion
Taco wrote:transamz9 wrote:
Please explain.
I'm not running all the numbers too much time. A diesel doesn't even come close to a break even proposition for me. It might not add to 10k but it is every bit of 8k. I plan on keeping a truck for 12 years. I drive about 6000 miles a year with my truck.
8000 (initial purchase cost)
320 (sales tax on diesel option)
650 (finance charges on diesel option)
4000 (additional virginia vehicle tax caused by diesel option)
1000 (additional diesel related maint over 12 years)
=13970
fuel cost savings
3100
So 10870 cost over 12 years.
The diesel option might be worth 3-4k at resale time according to current nada values for 12 yr old diesel trucks. However there is no promise of what might be 12 years in the future. We all might be driving cng vehicles, or electric vehicles or a certain engine might be found to be unreliable (i.e. 6.0 powerstroke) There is also the possibility that the vehicle is crashed before my planned replacement and since the insurance company will not cover my anticipated fuel savings in the future that never materialized and will not cover the full cost of the diesel option I also lose out there. Finally there is the possibility of the dreaded 10k plus diesel engine failure. These things just plain aren't nearly as cheap to fix as gas engines.
Sorry you live in a high tax state, and where do you get $1,000 additional maintenance in 12 years, I know my Cummins 5.9 is cheaper to maintain than my old Ford 460! Way easier on fuel, and has more towing power! Based on KBB, I haven't lost a dime in value in the last three years since we bought it.
Way too many gas owners base their diesel facts and cost on the Ford 7.3, 6.0, 6.4 and 6.7 Ford seems to be the most costly to maintain, Duramax second, and Cummins least.
Dodge and Cummins worked together to put a medium duty truck (existing and proven) into a full size pickup. I can get many parts for less for the local Cummins dealer than a parts house or Dodge dealer.
Here is the story.
Ram-Cummins story
