Is It Worth It?

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Diesel will net you 25 to 30% better mileage. Just do the math in your area and find out if diesel wins out in the cost contest or not.

I agree with this.

Despite higher price at the pump you are still better off because your MPG is better in a diesel than gas. With a gas truck you will buy more fuel than you will with a diesel, enough to make it cost more in the long run.

but, the cost of a diesel truck is considerably more. How long the difference in price tag to the net in overall fuel costs would probably be long enough that it doesn't matter.

Then you have value. Diesel trucks - despite fuel costs - retain higher value than the equivalent gas trucks. So you pay more up front but it's worth more on the back end.

Finally, I think you said it yourself, that a diesel truck simply does the job better. The new gas trucks are phenomenal and likely better than a diesel truck a few years ago, but apples to apples, the diesel just does the job easier. No offense to gas truck owners. Either will do the job adequately.

Personally, I don't really care for my new truck to just drive around. It's big, torquey, bouncy and rough riding. Once you hook up the FW though it's like a Cadillac. It's made to haul a big load, not really made as a grocery getter. I do find that I like it on long trips even without the RV but otherwise it's not a lot of fun to run to the store.