Would you buy diesel again?

kohldad wrote:
.... I did extensive analysis and calculation which showed the gasser for me would cost about $1k more per year to operate but the piece of mind was worth the cost.

Cool deal on actually doing a spreadsheet to analyze the estimated costs.

More folks should do that instead of issuing a blanket statement that "a diesel will cost more over the long haul"
It may or it may not.

I agree on the part about diesel being more logical when towing heavy.

Here's where I spend more money to operate / maintain my diesel:

Replacing fuel filters every 10k miles or so: $30-40
Allison spin-on trans filter every other oil change: $10.00
Additional cost for fuel since diesel costs more than gas - WHO KNOWS.

Cost for 10 quart oil change is a wash because most of the oil changes are done for free at my selling dealer.

I tow almost all the time I take the truck and camper out.

I had to make the decision in 2015 when I upgraded my 04 Dodge Diesel because my wife wouldn't drive a manual and for safety reasons due to my health that was becoming a requirement. The new diesel just had to much emissions crab and potential problems to suit me, especially for my needs since I don't tow heavy and I use it for a daily driver. If I went back to towing heavy, over 8-10k, I would go back to diesel. The Ram 6.4 gasser handles all of my needs and gets the job done. I did extensive analysis and calculation which showed the gasser for me would cost about $1k more per year to operate but the piece of mind was worth the cost. Actual cost has been a lot closer to equal when comparing to my 04 Diesel MPGs which was better than today's trucks. One thing of interest is that diesel has averaged 17% premium over the last 4 years here in the south east, but for the last 4 months is at a 40-50% premium.

I will buy another diesel.

jefe 4x4 wrote:
Doing our part in downsizing we did buy a new AWD Subaru Cross Trek last week as it has one of the best drive systems of any small SUV with something called X-mode, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance for our snowy lane.

X-MODE is awesome.

Mine doesn't have it, but I've driven the Outback with that system.

My Crosstrek Videos

Would I buy a diesel truck again? Not likely. Actually, no truck is on the purchase radar. I bought the 2001.5 Dodge 24valve Cummins Ram new for the motor and drivetrain which I had a good feeling it would outlive me. So far so good @ 174K miles, but our life clock is ticking. Yes, low on power compared to the newest renditions in the Diesel Warz, but we're like the tortoise part of the tortoise and the hare and fine with that. Simple 4 inch exhaust with a free flow muffler. Almost nothing to trick the engine. That's it; No smog device; No pee canister; No DEF tank to deal with. With the manual 6 speed NV5600, we have had no use for an engine brake, even with a 16K pound GVW going downhill @ 6 % grade. Just keep downshifting.
Things are changing very quickly in the new truck market. Some good new gassers coming onto the scene. California has added an exorbitant tax on diesel fuel hoping our dirty diesel pick up brethren will skip the state in protest. It's a win-win for the State. I tried to find out how many are leaving CA but that is privileged information apparently just for politicians.
Doing our part in downsizing we did buy a new AWD Subaru Cross Trek last week as it has one of the best drive systems of any small SUV with something called X-mode, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance for our snowy lane. Now we have only 4 vehicles left, all with 4WD or AWD.
jefe and Jean my queen, a mating pair of septuagenarian love birds.

Compared to the across the board power of a newer diesel, a gasser runs anemic, but regular diesel maintenance is a must....DEF has greatly improved the reliability of the emissions gear as the NOx is being treated chemically rather than (primarily) mechanically, so is a HUGE improvement over my former 07 6.7 Cummins (first year of 6.7 EGR beta-junk emissions equip)...

Now at 37k miles, my 16 6.7 has been trouble free and purrs like a kitten under any load, grade or speed...But having said that (based on my previous 07 beta emissions gear experience), I’m now more inclined to trade it off by the time the emissions warranty runs out - I think this is the sweet spot for trade-in time...In my view, longevity of the engine is of little to no concern, though concern about the longevity of the uber costly emissions equip and injectors can be very sobering to ponder...

3 tons

Nope,to much plumbing on the new ones. Now a 12v cummins or 7.3 IH definitely.

I'm currently on my forth diesel (which I love), so I would say absolutely.

I had a 2002 GMC 6L gaser , a 2007 GMC duramax, and now a 2017 duramax. Hand down for the diesel.
I pulled 5th wheels with all three trucks and thencamper onnthe 2017 duramax. The 6L gas, sucked gas like I owned a refinery, and had get up and go but never when towing.
The 2007 diesel used fuel but nowhere near as much at the 6L gas.
This new 2017 is a great new addition to my long list of vehicles that I have owned over many years. With out a question if your going to be hauling a camper for any long distances or an extended period of time diesel is what you want.
I live in the mountains and I also tow trailers for snowmobiling and my Side X Side diesel is the only way to go. Engine last much longer than a gas but you pay for it. I got rid of the 6L because of the fuel consumption, the deesels are much better mostly because the engine isn’t working very hard to do the same job the 6L gas was doing.
To each thier own on what they buy and many will stay away from the diesel because of the sticker price. However that’s shouldnt be an reason if your serious about buying a truck.
As for emissions control devices on the new diesels what wrong with that? I put a few gals of DEF every few months, and only used 1.5 gals between southern BC and Yuma last year. It cost me $11 and it’s helping the environment, what could be wrong with that? Buying and pouring DEF into the trucks DEF storage tanks is not the end of the world.
Soup.

I wouldn't have a modern diesel engine with the emissions stuff. So no. If my current truck dies, I'll probably buy a gasoline powered truck and deal with the mpg.