61 replies to this topic

[realbtl]

My solution to this was to buy used. My F250-4x4, manual, 351 V8-gets about 14 mpg running at somewhere around 60-65 (the 4.10 gears crimp mileage but plenty of power) but I only paid $8k for it with 72k miles. I can buy a lot of gas with the $20k+ saved over a new truck. Just my 2 cents.

[Mountainrats]

My thoughts exactly. Bought a 1978 K20 with 61,000 miles on it for $3500.00 loaded up the FWC, Sold the late model pickup and can afford a lot of fuel with out a truck payment along with the added bonus of being able to fix just about anything that might fail in the middle of nowhere.

[HERR42]

another issue is that "in the old days" diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline.

after all, refining costs are less.

now days we have lost that advantage.

[ntsqd]

Re: Price for diesel fuel

When I had my diesel Rabbit pick-up in the late 90's I kept rough track of how consumer (rather than OTR) diesel pricing compared to gasoline. As an average it ran about what mid grade gasoline ran. When ever there was price spike the diesel prices would lag the gas prices, but then ultimately would top out slightly more than the premium peak before slowly settling back down to about mid-grade pricing.

Now that my DD is another Rabbit diesel I'm finding that my old observation is still pretty accurate. Things are a bit more unstable than they used to be, but the observation has been generally accurate for my part of the world.

[Barko1]

On my curent trip froM NM to Tahoe I have seen Diesel $.30 higher all the way to $ .10 less than reg.

[ScottBailey]

My next vehicle purchase is in 2013. I want a diesel Jeep, or maybe the Mahindra? If neither is available I will try to postpone my purchase....

[camelracer]

I see that Audi diesels just finished 1,2&3 at LeMans. Pretty neat for an oil burner.

[craig333]

A dodge ctd finished first in its class in the baja 1000.

[Kilroy]

Fuel costs are the biggest reason I don't make more trips.

I'm hoping to do a trip to Alaska next year. Anchorage is 5000 miles from home with out side trips. I'm figuring I will need $3000-$4000 just for diesel. Definitely have to save up for this, which will probably be a once in a lifetime trip. Need to do it sooner than later too, as getting to the age when how long is a lifetime is a significant question.

[imix]

Wanderers...if you have some cash and an older Toyota truck, why wait for Mahindra, why not convert?

http://www.dieseltoyz.com/

Plant Drive will put in a separate veggie oil tank and you are doing what a diesel was mean to...running on plant oil. Fuel up at Costco, turn some heads. I admit there is not a huge price advantage to this suggestion when a turn key conversion will set you back 15K, but if you can find free fuel (used veggie oil) or cheap (make your own Biodiesel-Utah Biodiesel supply has a fantastic video section on making it yourself for .75 cents a gallon) then you can get back some of your investment.

With an intercooler installed several toyota truck owners are reporting low 30's mpg. Obviously with a FWC onboard you'd get less.

Also, I can never quite shake that feeling at the gas pump that I might as well be pumping blood into my truck. The disaster in gulf doesn't make me feel any better about my dependence on fossil fuels either.