The cost of fuel and other items is definitely a consideration. But if someone can get 26mpg on the highway versus 17 with the Hemi, at a fuel cost of, say $3.99 for diesel versus $3.40 for unleaded, the diesel still comes out way ahead in expenses. The specific and factual number matter, of course.

Rob

 

I get 23mpg with my hemi (burning 100% NON-ETHANOL gasoline), so it wouldnt benefit me in no way shape or form to even buy this new 1/2 ton diesel. Dont get me wrong, i love the fact they`re doing a diesel in the 1/2 ton, its just not economically smart for me to buy one. Diesel fuel around here where i live is only .05 to .10 higher in price compared to gas... in THAT particular sense, i`m not worried about the fuel price here. I`m more concerned about the UP-CHARGE`S in dealership robbery department to do the maint on these new diesels. You K-N-O-W its gonna be ALOT higher priced due to demand to keep these trucks running. Diesel`s are not a vehicle you can avoid maintaining... they do require alot of TLC and very often. (i`ve been around the block a few times about diesel maint.) Parts will be out of control on the price. Most will only look at what they`ve got when they buy it, its the sticker shock AFTER the sale to keep it correctly running during warranty periods so that chrysler won`t/can`t void your warranty`s. For first time buyers that want a good work truck, this diesel 1/2 ton should fill the needs of many... just not mine.

 

Two major considerations that many people ignore are:

1) Resale, used diesels have a resale much higher than gasser equivalents. Used diesels also sell much faster in the truck market. At a truck shop that use to be near me, they have resorted to shipping used diesel trucks from Texas into Virginia to just meet demand for their customers. Most won't stay on the lot more then a week.

2) Life of the engine, the diesel engine will last 2-2.5 times longer. By 150,000-200,000 miles the gas engine will start to fail, cost a lot in repairs. Plus loss of power from work/wear is much greater with gas engines. I would not be surprised if by 100,000 miles the diesel engines are still making the same amount of power as day one.

I work with, drive, tow with both types of engines. Diesel engines hands down wins the award for best engine. Would I buy a VM diesel, nope. Why? Because I already have 6.6L Duramax at my disposal.

 

Don't know what year or config your truck is, but if you're getting consistent 23mpg on the highway with a Hemi then good for you. Best I've ever gotten is 19 and that is rare. Most interstate driving at a steady 75 on essentially flat roads nets me 15.5-17 depending on the wind. As you note, in your situation it wouldn't pay for you to upgrade. In other situations with worse average MPG it definitely would. In the right conditions the savings in fuel could easily offset initial buy-in costs and higher maintenance costs. Not always, of course.

Rob

 

Ditto on the highway mileage.

 

Ditto back an forth guys, hand calc`d using NON-ETHNAOL, gettin 23mpg all day long on the highway. It will drop off when winter hits and changing to snow tires, running to warm up. Not always a perfect world. Friend of mine has a full size chevy 4x4 with a 5.3 engine, he gets 23mpg as well. He burns NON-ETHANOL gas as well.

 

Thats funny, they dont want them around here, they dont sell, they`re conciderd money pits...lol.
There are tons of used ones sitting at all the dealerships in my area...lol.
Maybe you could contact virginia and have them come get them all...lol.

 

Good for you... many of us don't have acces to ethanol-free fuel.