RAM 1500 EcoDiesel sets new record for MPG

itguy08 wrote:
. . . So let's run the #'s again using the EPA since it's the same for all.....

We'll use this station as it's near me:
Local Gas station

Regular: $3.36
Diesel: $4.29

EPA:
F150 Ecoboost: 17 combined
Ram Ecodiesel: 23 combined
Ram 5.7/8 speed: 17 combined

15000 miles Ecoboost: 883 gallons * $3.36 = $2,964.70
15000 miles Ecodiesel: 653 gallons * $4.29 = $2,797.82
15000 miles Ram 5.7: 883 gallons * $3.36 = $2,964.90
Yearly savings: $166.88

Ecodiesel cost - $2k over Hemi

Payback period : 11.98 years

No thanks, I'll pass. I think most motorists will see 23 and go "yeah". Then look across the street at Diesel price and say "NOPE!".

I remember when the Diesel Jeeps were supposed to be the hottest thing. Now the local dealer is saying "Lots of Diesel Jeeps in stock now!"...

Yup, diesel is gonna be a tougher sell in your neck of the woods. In my neck of the woods gas is 3.11 and diesel 3.63. Much, much quicker payback.

Your analysis aside, it's just a matter of time before some testing organization is gonna drag out the Ecoboost, the high-torque V8's, and the Ecodiesel, and do a head-to-head realworld MPG comparison test. My gut tells me the Ecodiesel is gonna do much better in the realworld than on paper.

I've driven quite a few Ecoboosts on long, commercial-type trips. You can't get an EPA MPG of 16/22 (2WD) unless you consciously try to--almost to the point of hypermiling. Test after test has shown the Ecoboost, in daily, crap, suburban type driving, gets the same 15 mpg that all the other high-torque V8's get. So far, a number of tests have shown the Ecodiesel is not nearly as temperamental and seems capable of meeting EPA MPG specs without much effort.

Your stats as of now are a valid argument (at least in your neck of the woods). But, the more things play out, I believe we're going to find they're not nearly as black & white as they seem.