No one should buy a diesel to save money! There is no way a base gas V6 drives the same as the Ecoboost or Ecodiesel in a 6000 pound truck. Is the base V6 acceptable to you? Maybe, but they do not drive the same.
Eco-diesel is about the same mpg..as the Ecoboost at 16.5mpg lifetime average? No way. The diesel will use less fuel under all driving conditions except maybe shorter trips at cold temps.
I have only had my diesel vehicle for 2 years. I track every fill with a Fuelly account. I pay $4/gal. +/- 20 cents. Meanwhile regular unleaded gasoline has fluctuated $2.92-$4.29. Gas prices fluctuate a lot over the course of a year higher April-Sep and lower Dec-Feb. People like to throw anecdotal data out as a basis for long term estimation which is largely inaccurate. Diesel is 25% higher than 87 Octane in Taxes in January. Premium unleaded is 10% higher than diesel in California in July.
Fuel costs over the next 3-5 years for any new vehicle purchaser is unpredictable. Thankfully it is still relatively low % of ownership costs for anyone buying a new $30-50k vehicle. Back to the beginning. Buy a diesel because you want one. You like how it drives. Otherwise, don't get a diesel. As much as they have improved, they are still bit bit more effort and care than something like the Ram 5.7L, Ford 5.0L, and GM 5.3L.
One local dealer I stopped by after business hours had two ED Rams on the lot. One looked like a stripper work truck with base steel wheels. The second was a mid trim level Big Horn. I'd like to test drive one, but the Grand Cherokee fits my uses more than the Ram - and it has more payload! :p
