The End All/Be All of Non-Slide Rigs - Or No?
Hi folks. New to the truck camper world. Will be retiring late next year and have a very specific question regarding truck campers. Here's the setup to the question: I need the most rugged, inde...
Forum Discussion
The gas/diesel debates too often are influenced by moderators, who act on sponsors behavior.
Below is copy of my real life experience with comparable Mercedes cars, while I think depreciation and fuel difference on truck will make even bigger difference in comparison.
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In last few years I had 2 MB cars that I consider "20 years old technology"
1st one was E300DT, the other E320 wagon 4M
Both of them I bought for about $7000 and both of them sold for $4500.
Both of them average 1 cent per mile repair cost (DIY obviously).
But to get that depreciation diesel took 8 years and 100,000 miles, while gasoline wagon 3 years and 25,000 miles.
So depreciation-wise diesel cost us 2.5 cent/mile gasoline 10 cent/mile
Diesel was making 29-30 mpg, gasoline wagon 21-22 mpg.
So with today's $2.35 for diesel and $2.55 for premium:
fuel-wise diesel cost 8 c/mile, gasoline 11.6 c/mile
Summary
DIESEL cost 11.5 c/mile
GASOLINE wagon 22.6 c/mile
Obviously part of the difference is due to wagon 4M using more fuel, but we are talking almost double fold in operating cost mostly due different engines.
Bottom line, if you are making 10,000 miles annually, you can save about $1000 every single year by driving diesel.
Now, let's talk 10 years old technology.
Our 2008 E320 Bluetec makes 35 mpg and with massive torque, 7 sp and no turbo lag, it is true kick-ass car that I can only compare to 12-cylinders BMW I drove in the past.
2008 E350 has balance shaft issue. .....
Below is copy of my real life experience with comparable Mercedes cars, while I think depreciation and fuel difference on truck will make even bigger difference in comparison.
--------
In last few years I had 2 MB cars that I consider "20 years old technology"
1st one was E300DT, the other E320 wagon 4M
Both of them I bought for about $7000 and both of them sold for $4500.
Both of them average 1 cent per mile repair cost (DIY obviously).
But to get that depreciation diesel took 8 years and 100,000 miles, while gasoline wagon 3 years and 25,000 miles.
So depreciation-wise diesel cost us 2.5 cent/mile gasoline 10 cent/mile
Diesel was making 29-30 mpg, gasoline wagon 21-22 mpg.
So with today's $2.35 for diesel and $2.55 for premium:
fuel-wise diesel cost 8 c/mile, gasoline 11.6 c/mile
Summary
DIESEL cost 11.5 c/mile
GASOLINE wagon 22.6 c/mile
Obviously part of the difference is due to wagon 4M using more fuel, but we are talking almost double fold in operating cost mostly due different engines.
Bottom line, if you are making 10,000 miles annually, you can save about $1000 every single year by driving diesel.
Now, let's talk 10 years old technology.
Our 2008 E320 Bluetec makes 35 mpg and with massive torque, 7 sp and no turbo lag, it is true kick-ass car that I can only compare to 12-cylinders BMW I drove in the past.
2008 E350 has balance shaft issue. .....
