What to Drive Daily, Diesel vs Gas vs MPG Options

[Barney]

I have been daily driving a 2003 Chevy Duramax for the past 3 years. The cost of Diesel has been driving me nuts for over a year! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif) Fuel usually exceeds the cost of Super.

I only need it to tow to races at max once a month. It is hard to justify the extra cost of Diesel for that much towing. It gets about 14-15 mpg average. On the highway, no towing, it will get between 17.5 and 19. Towing my 28 ft white box 11.5 to 12.5. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I think I would be better off with a 6.0L 3/4 ton gas Suburban for daily use and the ocassional tow. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) I even thought about a 1/2 Suburban but I would be just over the tow rating and I am afraid it would collapse the rear suspension.

What is everyone else's experience? Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Suburban-Expedition-Excusrion-1500, 2500, minivan?

This post has been edited by Barney: Mar 23 2006, 09:39 PM

[AndyJ]

What is everyone else's experience? Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Suburban-Expedition-Excusrion-1500, 2500, minivan?

1996 K2500 Suburban 7.4l 4x4
28' Pace

13-14 mpg running without trailer on regular pump gas. 6-8 mpg towing. 42 gallon tank gives decent range.

284k on the clock, 4L80E tranny - neither has ever been opened up. {looking for a piece of wood to knock on}. Latest oil analysis shows just a trace of coolant...need to pull the intake and replace the gasket.

That trailer is ALL that Suburban wants -- The E250 Ford conversion van I just sold with 5.4l Vortec would NOT handle it.

This post has been edited by AndyJ: Mar 23 2006, 10:03 PM

[Barney]

Yea, I saw the van. Thought about it until you said No Dice on pullin' boxes.

I had a 2003 1/2 suburban it would get almost 20 mpg at the speedlimit on road trips. I usually only got 18. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

[CMC #37]

The diesel is only worth it for gas mileage/maintenance costs if you keep it for 8-10 years. Sell it now and you'll take a painful depreciation hit besides bearing the cost of a new or used vehicle. Get a cheap economy car if you need a commuter and you'll be bucks ahead.

[Sam Strano]

That's why I have a '90 Celica with 202k miles on it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I drive the truck now and again when I'm not towing, just so it doesn't sit too much.

Lately, around here gas and diesel are *FINALLY* pretty close... probably because winter is ending and heating oil demand is less....

[marka]

Howdy,

Everyone's deal is going to be a little different... With my old 3500 dually v10, I was getting 6mpg towing and 10mpg empty. With the 2500 diesel we've got now I get 11mpg towing, 17mpg empty.

With that much difference in mileage, it doesn't take long to be able to justify the extra cost for the diesel, whether we were towing or driving empty and almost regardless of the difference in cost between gas & diesel. The extra pulling power, better longevity, and better resale are just bonus.

But... For daily driving you can't beat a small econo car. Our Civic is a 2006, so obviously it wasn't _only_ justified via the savings in fuel costs, but over a five year period I bet you can pay for a used Neon or something like that in fuel savings with _today's_ prices, not prices a few years from now. When I ran the numbers a while back, I could spend around $6k on a daily driver w/decent fuel economy and break even in five years.

Its all just numbers though... Estimate the number of miles, the mpg you'll get, and the costs for fuel. That's the easy part. For us in terms of a truck, it didn't matter if we ran it with 8k miles a year towing only or 25k miles a year combined... Diesel was the way to fly.

Mark

(btw... the above is assuming "normal" mileage... With my 120 mile/day commute, I do about 36k miles. The Civic saves me ~$2700/year in fuel. So pretty much compared to a truck, it pays for itself.)

This post has been edited by marka: Mar 24 2006, 03:39 AM

[Barney]

My perplexing delima is based on the use of a Diesle truck for daily driving, not actually needing a truck, for the daily driving. It must be a Texas thing. My neighbors seem to do the same thing. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

A good friend of mine, Mike Patterson, drove a crew cab Chevy dually with a big block for over 130K not towing anything and not having a family or any real need for the motor or size of the truck. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

Having a payment on a vehicle that may not be being utilized and possibly paying a premium to do so. I think a family truckster like the 3/4 ton Sububan may be a better choice if only to get reasonable braking.

Fuel seems to be getting even more expensive and I can justify helping Exxon's 32 billion dollar profit! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif)

Bring on the Ethanol! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

Mark, I am thinking that would not be normal. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Not for me anyway. I work from my home office but still mange to burn a tank of Diesle a week running errands and kids! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

This post has been edited by Barney: Mar 24 2006, 10:05 PM

[CMC #37]

Just look up your neighbor Willie Nelson and have him set you up with some biodiesel! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[jensend]

Keep the diesel for towing and find yourself an early 90's Honda Civic Hatchback with a 5 speed. You'll get stupid good mileage on regular gas and have almost as much fun as if you'd bought a new Mini. Might have to fight some damned kid to get one though. My son commutes in an '89 DX 1.5L 5 spd, shifts at 5k and gets 38 mpg. The little rat box is a blast to drive. He, of course,had to put Koni/coilovers and bigger tires on it. Only had 129K on it, cost $500. It's got 178k on it now. I should have had cars like that to commute in the last 30+ years, I could've afforded a real track car from the savings.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

That's why I have a '90 Celica with 202k miles on it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I drive the truck now and again when I'm not towing, just so it doesn't sit too much.

Same here. Had a 95 Accord that I took from 140k miles to 215k before I bought an 06 Corolla 5spd. Cheap on gas, cheap tires, cheap brakes, easy. Figure I'll drive it to 200k+ and save the truck and the Camaro for the long haul by keeping miles down. Camaro has 32k, and truck has gone from 105k to 115k in ~3 years.

[nape]

I just bought a 2000 E-150 to tow my car and when I was running the numbers, it made sense to keep my '96 Beretta to drive everyday based on overall costs. Between the multi-car/occasional use on the van insurance discount (~$200/year) and fuel cost savings (~$1400/year), it was a no brainer.

On top of it, it saves wear and tear so I don't have to worry about it being ready to tow when I need it. With as beat as the Beretta has got driving around Chicago, I'm glad I don't have to do it to the van.

That's my $.02

[BigEnos]

2003 2500HD and an open trailer to tow the car. Truck gets 11.5-12.5 towing and 16 highway unloaded (at very best). It sits most of the time though because I picked up a 1985 Nissan Maxima for $1500. The car doesn't get great mileage and is pretty quirky, but it starts most of the time and is in very good shape. I even got $500 more off of the price of my truck because I owned a non-GM vehicle. Go figure.

A beater is the only way to fly. If you are running kids around and stuff you may need somehting a little better, but I think used minivans are pretty cheap (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

[pknowles]

Get an ecobeater. I picked up a 98 Civic EX with 67k miles for $6200 for my wifes car and a shared run around car. We have put 9k miles on the car in 5 monthes, best tank has been 35 mpg and the worst was 30 mpg. It's a nice car with power everything and a power roof. Already have saved about $1200 in fuel vs my truck.

When I was in San Antonio 2 monthes ago, there was a 1/2 ton truck in every drive way. My aunt is single has no kids left in the house and just bought a brand new Tahoe. Doesn't make sence to me other then you Texan's love your trucks.

[Barney]

I don't do japanese carz. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think a German would do even though over all costs would be higher. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

Trucks and Big SUVs are definately a Texas requirement! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif)

[BigEnos]

I don't do japanese carz. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think a German would do even though over all costs would be higher. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

Trucks and Big SUVs are definately a Texas requirement! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/whip.gif)

Get a Cavalier or Mali-spew.

[Barney]

The boo is the nastiest chevy made. Sometimes I get them as rental, what a piece! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

[MikeP-99Z]

I think you should get a Chevy Aveo. Perfect fit for you.

[98_1LE]

Gas mileage stats from my '05 2500HD 6L A4 2WD
YMMV

This post has been edited by 98_1LE: Mar 29 2006, 11:50 PM

[Barney]

Mike, I don't think the Aveo is big guy certified! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Damn, I thought your gas truck would do better. That sucks for mileage. That makes my Diesel look pretty good. 15.5-16.5 city. 19.5 hwy 12 towing a 26ft box. $2.72/ gal

Maybe it is the 4.10 gears? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[MikeP-99Z]

Fix the A/C in the silver benz and drive that. Let Jamie drive the Tahoe, and use it to tow locally. Borrow your dad's truck for long hauls.

The Aveo would fit you perfectly - in no way should that be interpretted as having room for passengers... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)