Should I or shouldn't I?
 

I am currently putting around in a 99 Ford Ranger. It gets 19-22 mpg(depending on weather, and if the AC is on). Its very small, crappy acceleration, and because its only got a 15 gal tank, I still have to fill up about every 270 miles, or twice a week.

My future father in law has a 97 Ram 1500 Larmie SLT, 5.9 auto, with 139k. He's just recently put a new transmission and rearend in it because of pulling a tractor way over the capacity of the truck. He's thinking about buying a diesel so he doesn't have as much of a problem of things like this.

So I'm thinking of buying it from him. Cacluating into KBB in its condition its worth $5000. Also adding it needs a new front bumper (bent in from several several years ago when my fiancee was learning to drive, she hit a pole in a parking lot at 5 miles an hour), and a clip on the driver seat so it will recline properly, plus I'd want to add dual exhaust, then result of the truck comes out somewhere around $6000. Now, I'd like a diesel, but a low mileage one, is average around $15k around these parts. Obviously I'd be saving $9000, but also obviously, the Ram 1500 would get slightly less gas mileage. It seems the average is between 13 and 16, whereas the diesel seems to be the average of 16-19 (so says two different friends of mine, who both have or did own 97 and 99 Ram 2500's. One now owns a PS, the other has a 07 6.7 (so nice))).

Saving $9000 on a truck, is that equal to my loss of a couple miles per gallon? Currently, diesel is only 8 cents more expensive around my house, so the loss in buying diesel or gas is mimium. Where I'm figuring is, overall in the long run.

I hope this makes sense enough for someone to give me some advice here. I'd appreciate it!

RE: Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Buy the Ram. Assume the following calculation for fuel usage difference between the Gas and Diesel Engines:

Gas engine: Est 12MPG
15,000 miles per year / 12 mpg = 1250 gallons
1250 * 2.70 per gallon = $3,375 for gas per year.

Diesel engine: Est 15 MPG.
15,000 miles per year / 15 mpg = 1000 gallons.
1000 * 2.78 per gallon = $2,780 for diesel in a year.

$3,375 per year for gas minus $2,780 per year for diesel = $595 per year extra gas over diesel.

$595 per year * 5 years = $2,975 extra gas over diesel.

Remember to calculate the difference in maintenance costs between the two also which over 5 years is probably minimal.

RE: Should I or shouldn't I?
 

So it looks like my fuel consumption would be obviously more with the Gas. However, maintance is cheaper I know with a gas truck. Especially because the rear end and transmission is new, I would think it wouldn't be that bad.

Any other thoughts as to why I wouldn't want to get it? Next I have to figure out how to ask him....