Diesel Fuel Pricing

[suprdtydvr]

I have been back and forth on what to do with my truck as I am sure many others have. With the price of diesel relative to gas as well as the cost of any fuel in general it puts even more emphasis on getting the right truck for what you do. I had considered at least somewhat seriously the last few weeks trading my diesel in for a 08 F150 5.4L since for about 95% of what I would use a truck for it will get the job done. May be a little slower on the ramp, may be I'll make 2 or 3 trips to Home Depot but it will do. I came to another realization this weekend as well. Here in Upstate NY I can get diesel for $3.20/gal and unleaded for $2.30/gal. My truck gets roughly 16 MPG for the driving I do where I am assuming 12 MPG for the set-up I would run on an F150 (5.4L, 4x4, AT, Super Crew). So I get about a 25% advantage there. Or said another way it is like paying 25% less for the fuel I run (diesel) which means that $3.20 x (.75)=$2.40. So that pretty much takes away the efficiency argument however for the money spent the VALUE is that I get more performance at 570 ftlbs of torque vs something less for the 5.4L. Not real worried about the money I put into paying up for the motor as that should come out on the other end should ever sell it. So, in reality the only other thing to talk about would be the cost of maintenance. I have never owned a 5.4L but I am going to assume for now that it costs less to maintain. Guess I'll do some digging through my manual to come up with a comparison there. Lastly there is the "penis factor" in owning a Super Duty. I am not sure you can put a value on that as each individual will have to assess that on his(or her???) own

 

[polarbear]

The main, and obvious issue, is the shellacking you're gonna take on the old truck if you try to trade it in. And forget any future resale return on the new truck- at this point, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone trading a late model anything right now is going to get clubbed like a baby seal.. This actually has nothing to do with fuel mileage or gas vs. diesel anymore. The used car (and new car) market is major league fubar.