eco Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee 20.8 MPG at 55MPH

Not to beat a dead horse but: One more consideration would be the increased resale value of a diesel powered vehicle over a gas powered one. I'll bet once you figured in this increase it would make the diesel not seem to cost that much more.

[mecicon]

Originally Posted by Stone859

Not to beat a dead horse but: One more consideration would be the increased resale value of a diesel powered vehicle over a gas powered one. I'll bet once you figured in this increase it would make the diesel not seem to cost that much more.

Well of course you paid more for the diesel, if it depreciates at the same rate the diesel will always retain more resale value (as long as the diesel is not a 1970's-1980's GM diesel).

In most cases the model with a higher original MSRP will always cost more.

[Padgett]

Don't get me wrong, if I were in the market today, a turbo diesel will be a big plus (and we will see more diesels as the new MPG requirements go in place.

However, when I bought my GC in '12 there was no diesel available. Further when I buy a new car that I like it tends to be kept for decades (why I have a lifetime warrenty) and the V6 has proven to be fine for pulling the TM. The only downside was that after 20k miles the OEM tires began felling a touch squirrely in the rain so I replaced with Michelins.

BTW the mix may change dramatically in the next decade as new CAFE requirements take effect.

It is not just the initial higher cost of the diesel that gives it a higher resale value, but vehicles with diesel engines depreciate at a lower "rate". You can read this in the attached article where the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) spells this out in the attached article:

http://autos.aol.com/article/diesel-cheaper-gasoline/

In summary they say that the vehicles they tested saved between 10 - 39% in depreciation costs alone over there gas powered counterparts.

[Padgett]

Since the value of my '12 is a bit less than $2k less than when I bought it that would be hard to top. The issue with the GC is that the diesel is not avaliable on the lower lines in this country yet so you have to add a few high depreciation options to get it.

A Ram with a supercab would be the most efficient way to get the ecto-diesel but I have never had a pick-em-up truck & like my 50-50 weight distro.. For long items I can fold both the rear and the passenger seat down.

[Redtail Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Padgett

Since the value of my '12 is a bit less than $2k less than when I bought it that would be hard to top. The issue with the GC is that the diesel is not avaliable on the lower lines in this country yet so you have to add a few high depreciation options to get it..

Car values are a very subjective thing. A lot of wiggle room with interpretation.

[Padgett]

Agree, why TrueCar is very handy for buying a new car/truck and NADA is usually pretty good or a bit low about current real values.

Key is to buy right in the first place and in my case with the right timing & rebates I was able to buy a new GC with the V6 and towing package and 15 miles for just a few hundred than a 2011 with 10K miles. Then GCs became popular so the plant added more workers.

ps Have been towing with 6s since a '92 MiniVan replaced a V-8 stationwagon. My RV had a BMW turbo diesel and they are really nice but expensive in Florida & VVTi&e requires DOHC (or some really creative clockwork).

pps with direct injection & boost you can get close to diesel efficiency with 87 PON. That may be the next big thing.