Dodge Announces 1/2 ton Diesel Pickup

I wish they made a diesel tacoma sized truck for the USA. That half ton is way more truck than I need.
 
wickedsprint said:
I wish they made a diesel tacoma sized truck for the USA. That half ton is way more truck than I need.
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Mitsubishi markets a nice little Diesel truck in the rest of the world with a 2.4 TDI, Toyota markets a lot of smaller Diesel trucks in the rest of the world. If you want one, just go elsewhere and buy one, put 2000+ miles on it and bring it home.
 
Henning said:
Too bad that the premium now on Diesel fuel eats up all the fuel $$$ savings. When you combine that with the purchase and service cost premiums, Diesels are now a loser economically. :(
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This is sad but true. I'll keep my 04' because I need its load hauling capabilities not because of the economy.
 
They are not economical because the engines are way too big for anything but towing. The Dodge is a move in the right direction, a 200hp diesel woud be plenty enough for most 1/2 ton applications. Next vehicle is a truck, may end up with that one.

I have a jetta tdi. Even with the fuel price difference it is very economical (41-48mpg) . Oil is expensive, but 10,000 mile OCIs make up for that. You just can't allow the VW dealer to nickle and dime you with their various 'inspections' at 20k intervals. My Honda had no scheduled maintenance until 105k, the moden cars just don't need much.
 
Henning said:
Too bad that the premium now on Diesel fuel eats up all the fuel $$$ savings. When you combine that with the purchase and service cost premiums, Diesels are now a loser economically. :(
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I think this follows what you said about turbine airplanes, "they need a job." :D People that need diesel pick up trucks don't mind the costs associated with them. The days of every contractor in town driving a new F250 4X4 crew cab diesel are behind us, at least for now. :dunno:
 
Henning said:
Mitsubishi markets a nice little Diesel truck in the rest of the world with a 2.4 TDI, Toyota markets a lot of smaller Diesel trucks in the rest of the world. If you want one, just go elsewhere and buy one, put 2000+ miles on it and bring it home.
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I had access to a diesel hi lux and a similar izuzu when I was overseas. Loved em.

I did not know putting mileage on one was the only prereq to importing one.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Sometimes one can make technological improvements that don't improve visceral qualities.
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Very true. But the Bozos and Bozettes in this country want to drive with one hand firmly clutching the Double Whopper with Bacon.

-Skip
 
wickedsprint said:
I wish they made a diesel tacoma sized truck for the USA. That half ton is way more truck than I need.
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I think you will be getting you wish fairly soon. With Toyota

Henning said:
Too bad that the premium now on Diesel fuel eats up all the fuel $$$ savings. When you combine that with the purchase and service cost premiums, Diesels are now a loser economically. :(
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I don't think they are a looser in all cases. Clearly your points hurt the advantages of a diesel. I think the fuel cost is the biggest issue for me and my 7.3.


JHW said:
these days you have that backwards, on both points
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I agree. Today automatic are way better than the 1970s versions I still like a standard my self but very few are offered today. I think the clutch may be the issue with the standards being weak.
 
Nice to see someone doing it, but it's a Dodge which means it's a non-starter for me.
 
You really save on fuel with a Dodge because they are in the shop so much.:D
 
Foxhole said:
I think you will be getting you wish fairly soon. With Toyota


I don't think they are a looser in all cases. Clearly your points hurt the advantages of a diesel. I think the fuel cost is the biggest issue for me and my 7.3.




I agree. Today automatic are way better than the 1970s versions I still like a standard my self but very few are offered today. I think the clutch may be the issue with the standards being weak.
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The Dodge 1500 gas and diesel are married to an 8 speed auto.
 
Geico266 said:
The Dodge 1500 gas and diesel are married to an 8 speed auto.
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6 speed autos really annoy me when driving in the city 30-40mph and it goes to the highest gear and lugs the engine. I would hate to see an 8 speed. I wish they were programmed to stay in a lower gear unless it is at highway speeds. I like manuals so much better.
 
us AAirways said:
6 speed autos really annoy me when driving in the city 30-40mph and it goes to the highest gear and lugs the engine. I would hate to see an 8 speed. I wish they were programmed to stay in a lower gear unless it is at highway speeds. I like manuals so much better.
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Try reading the manual. If you click the gear shift to say 4 the tranny will use 1-4 only. Mine works fine. :dunno:
 
Geico266 said:
:no:

I have 300,000 on my Dodge, been in the shop twice for tranny's. Rebuilds and up grands, not failures. ;)
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Mine was never in the shop for repairs, we had the fuel pump upgrade done at the dodge dealer, set of brake pads and rotors at 85k and tires each 45k. worked great and will pull any thing you can hook to it.
 
Geico266 said:
The Dodge 1500 gas and diesel are married to an 8 speed auto.
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You guys didn't hear? the Dodge 1500 is like the RV10... it is the PERFECT vehicle for everything. Need to drive 400mph on the autobahn while creating fuel? Dodge 1500. :wink2:
 
Ted DuPuis said:
The decline of manual transmissions is perhaps the saddest thing for me. I haven't found an automatic I like, and love manuals. I guess I'm stuck buying old cars.

Sometimes one can make technological improvements that don't improve visceral qualities.
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A manual is the best anti - theft device around ;)

When I was car shopping I found that most cars had very very soft clutches (if I could find a manual on the lot) which I did not care for in the least. Sigh :rolleyes2:

The only way to get a decent manual is to buy a higher end performance car in the 30k range.
 
Seanaldinho said:
The only way to get a decent manual is to buy a higher end performance car in the 30k range.
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The VW Passat is available with a 5-speed manual in the lowest trim level with the 2.5l gas engine for 22k and a 6-speed manual with the 2.0 TDI for 26k. It is pretty much a special order item, they dont list any available for immediate delivery. The Accord in the LX trim is also available with a 6-speed manual for 22k.
 
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us AAirways said:
6 speed autos really annoy me when driving in the city 30-40mph and it goes to the highest gear and lugs the engine. I would hate to see an 8 speed. I wish they were programmed to stay in a lower gear unless it is at highway speeds. I like manuals so much better.
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Geico266 said:
Try reading the manual. If you click the gear shift to say 4 the tranny will use 1-4 only. Mine works fine. :dunno:
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denverpilot said:
He wants the automatic that reads minds. :)
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:rofl:

Narcissisism at it best.
 
weilke said:
The VW Passat is available with a 5-speed manual in the lowest trim level with the 2.5l gas engine for 22k and a 6-speed manual with the 2.0 TDI for 26k. It is pretty much a special order item, they dont list any available for immediate delivery. The Accord in the LX trim is also available with a 6-speed manual for 22k.
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The Ford Focus is available with a 5 speed, great little car, the new Focus ST is a really fun little car, but it falls into the $27K price range.;)
 
N747JB said:
The Ford Focus is available with a 5 speed, great little car, the new Focus ST is a really fun little car, but it falls into the $27K price range.;)
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We rented a Focus diesel in France last fall, we put a lot of miles er.. kilometers on it and it was a nice car that got great mileage. Any talk of bringing those to the states?
 
Seanaldinho said:
A manual is the best anti - theft device around ;)

When I was car shopping I found that most cars had very very soft clutches (if I could find a manual on the lot) which I did not care for in the least. Sigh :rolleyes2:

The only way to get a decent manual is to buy a higher end performance car in the 30k range.
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I dislike soft clutches as well. My car came with a vacuum booster for the clutch. I relocated it to the dumpster. :)
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I dislike soft clutches as well. My car came with a vacuum booster for the clutch. I relocated it to the dumpster. :)
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some cars have that booster linked into the traction control. It might be worth checking whether your traction control is disabled from removing it.
 
JHW said:
some cars have that booster linked into the traction control. It might be worth checking whether your traction control is disabled from removing it.
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My car doesn't have traction control, and the vacuum booster had no electronics attached to it. Even still, if it disabled the traction control I would have considered that a bonus. But thanks for pointing that out, something I didn't know.
 
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Alexb2000 said:
We rented a Focus diesel in France last fall, we put a lot of miles er.. kilometers on it and it was a nice car that got great mileage. Any talk of bringing those to the states?
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I would love to say it's on the way, but really Ford seems to be going with higher mileage gas engines over diesel right now. I like the small diesels that are available in Europe, I don't know if it's an emissions issue or something else, but for some reason Ford isn't bringing them here. :dunno:
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I dislike soft clutches as well. My car came with a vacuum booster for the clutch. I relocated it to the dumpster. :)
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What car is that? I've seen vacuum brake boosters, but never a vacuum clutch booster. My Ranger has a hyd clutch.
 
Tom-D said:
And they have the worlds worst air quality.

The last time I was in Singapore and HongKong they smelled like a diesel exhaust pipe.
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Quite apparently you haven't been around a modern common rail diesel. Go down to your local BMW dealership have them start up a gasoline car and a diesel car - you won't be able to tell the difference unless you have your nose right in the tailpipe.
 
us AAirways said:
What car is that? I've seen vacuum brake boosters, but never a vacuum clutch booster. My Ranger has a hyd clutch.
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I drive a 1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4. The clutch really isn't very heavy if you come from driving other higher performance cars or diesel pickups (which I do). The vacuum booster makes the clutch very light. Removing it made for easier access to the engine bay and probably lost about 10-15 lbs. I care less about the weight issues, but since I do all my own work the engine bay access is important.
 
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