FordExcursions.com Forums
Mike Margolis
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• Hartford, CT, USA |
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• Registered on 3/4/2004 |
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• 45 posts |
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 Posted:3/15/2004 09:29 |
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OK, somebody help me here, I thought I saw a 40,000 mile payback, maybe I'm wrong on that....
Here in Connecticut, regular gas is $1.67/gallon, diesel is $1.89.
If I figure 12mpg for the gas and 18mpg for the diesel, I get the following cost per mile for just the fuel:
gas: $0.139/mile
diesel: $0.105/mile
Figuring that the diesel vehicle costs roughly $4000 more than the gas, it seems that based on the 3.4 cents a mile savings in fuel costs, it'll take me 117,647 miles to break even buying the diesel versus gasoline engine. (And I think that $4000 number is low, too)
Plus, factor in that a diesel oil change is like $100 vs $25, I can not see where buying the diesel makes any sense if my only consideration is MPG. I'll never tow ANYTHING with this vehicle, it's only to haul the six of us around.
I know in many places diesel fuel is less than gasoline, but not here where I'll be filling it 90% of the time. And the wholesale club that sells gasoline cheap cheap does not sell diesel.
2003 Excursion 5.4L |
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JohnBoy
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• DFW, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/3/2002 |
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• 972 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:3/15/2004 09:57 |
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I would think it absurd to make the decision based on MPG....
After all, it's an 8k lb truck  get a minivan if it fits YOUR scenario better....
MPG can't help you with that decision - only you can...
I will probably never use the diesel "as it was designed"
I just use it as I want to use it...
that's why I got it - "cuz I wanted it" 
that, and the tremendous potetial inside these engines for "improvements"...
I like running down the road @ < 3K rpms and still HIGH MPH !
2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo )
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats." |
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Mike Margolis
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• Hartford, CT, USA |
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• Registered on 3/4/2004 |
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• 45 posts |
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Posted:3/15/2004 13:46 |
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HUH? How else do you make the Gas Vs. Diesel decision?
I am not a macho man who wants to drive a manly truck to stroke my ego. I am a smart man who wants to make intelligent financial decisions.
Perhaps I am asking the question in the wrong venue.
2003 Excursion 5.4L |
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wct_ny
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• Rochester, NY, USA |
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• Registered on 3/4/2004 |
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• 22 posts |
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Posted:3/15/2004 14:37 |
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| Quote: | HUH? How else do you make the Gas Vs. Diesel decision?
I am not a macho man who wants to drive a manly truck to stroke my ego. I am a smart man who wants to make intelligent financial decisions.
Perhaps I am asking the question in the wrong venue. |
I think you each have a point. There is an intrinsic appeal to the sound and power of a PSD. There is also the towing advantage. If long distance trailering is a part of your lifestyle the advantages of a PSD are spoken of in many other posts on this site.
If MPG and vehicle operating cost is the primary factor in choosing gas vs desiel.. then the debates can go on and on and on..Depends how you use the truck.. Also, if you change yur own oil the cost isnt that painful..FYI in West NY, diesel is less than gas by a few cents..
I have received some good advise in this forum... One person said that if you really WANT the PSD, get it or you will always wish you had..
Good luck with your decision... I am now out of the research mode and actively seeking My PSD "X"... However I drove a Suburban 2500 today and liked it alot... I may be open to the Chevy.. unless anyone wants to convinvce me otherwise??
Bill
Bill T
Rochester NY
2002 "X" V10- 4x4
3 teens, 1 wife, 1 great dane, 2 cats |
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:3/15/2004 15:42 |
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| Quote: | | One person said that if you really WANT the PSD, get it or you will always wish you had.. |
I'm a former PSD owner and I have to say, because of the manner in which I use my X (similar to Mike, if fact), I have not, yet, wished I had a PSD. I OCCASIONALLY tow my Jeep behind the X and the V10 works better than I thought it would. Thus far, I have been very happy with it.
Mike - your reasonings are just and I think you have made your argument.
I'm not knocking the PSD by any means. When I had it, I loved it. Now that I have the V10, I don't miss the noise from the PSD! 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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JohnBoy
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• DFW, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/3/2002 |
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• 972 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:3/15/2004 17:50 |
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May have missed my point here...
I'm just saying if we're talking about fuel mileage as the deciding factor on an 7000-8000 lb truck, then we're splitting VERY fine hairs...
Fuel mileage could be better in a lot of other vehicles...
I didn't get my truck for any macho deal - just that I liked the looks, liked the performance,,
like all of it...
it IS a personal decision...
and like Kevin says... the debate could go on and on and on...
2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo)
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats." |
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:3/15/2004 19:57 |
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A few other considerations to make:
1.) Warranty. 100,000 miles transferable warranty on all diesels...no need to buy an extended warranty, it comes with it because it is a rock-solid engine.
2.) Longetivity. 300,000 miles on a diesel is common. I'm still making payments on my '00 and I have 105,000+ miles. I drive A LOT. Longetivity was an important consideration for me as I plan to drive this thing into the ground.
3.) Power. I have towed 2 or 3 times in the hundred thousand miles I've owned this thing. Power also comes into play when cruising on the highway, up hills, in every day driving. It is a nice luxury that is worth the $4500 price tag, in my opinion.
4.) Mileage per tank. 44 gallons X 18-19MPG (highway) is a lot of miles without needing to stop. If your bladder can handle it, this makes vacationing in this thing really pleasant. It is not uncommon to get over 800 miles in a tank of diesel when I'm going on long distance trips. Otherwise, I routinely get 650+ miles out of each tank of fuel with normal city driving.
Diesel fuel here is roughly $0.15 cheaper than gas this week. The breakeven point is much, much quicker for me.
If you're buying new, which I assume you're doing since you're factoring in the $4500 price difference, drive it for more than 100,000 miles otherwise you'll lose big time, financially. Thus the 117,000 (or whatever it comes to) breakeven point is a non-issue. Just my perspective.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Charles Jackson
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• Raleigh, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 12/23/2003 |
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• 71 posts |
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Posted:3/16/2004 14:04 |
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If you're buying new, perhaps you should consider pre-owned PSDs, like the '00 or '01. There is unquestionable value in a used PSD in good shape with low milage (less than 60K miles.) Plus you're getting the 'tried and true' 7.3 and not dealing with the little glitches that are apparently going with the 6.0.
Think about it - you get the warranty, you get the growl, and you DON'T get the immediate depreciation assocated with driving a new vehile off the lot! Granted I'm sure Ford is offering incentives and low financing, but still...
Basically you reap the advantages of PSD power, reliability, and warranty yet you absolve yourself of having to take the major depreciation hit (because the guy that bought it new absorbed it for you.)
Obviously I'm loving the deal I did on my '01 PSD X.
Thx.
'01 X Limited w/PSD - STOCK all the way..and plan to stay that way. Pockets turned inside out with 4 kids! |
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Susan Howell
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• Oxford, AL, USA |
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• Registered on 10/10/2003 |
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• 11 posts |
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Posted:3/17/2004 22:58 |
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I think I'm the only female to have responded to this post. I wanted a PSD not to show how manly I am, LOL, but for the gas mileage savings. I drove a vortec chevy sub for 3 1/2 yrs. It averaged 13mpg with around town and about 200 a week of highway miles. It had a 41 gallon tank and I could go 515 miles before refilling. I do the same exact travel in th 00 PSD it gets anywhere from 17-23mpg and about 730 miles, with only four more gallon of fuel. Basically I can go 3 weeks on a tank of gas usually. Here in central AL that's close to rural diesel is either cheaper the same price or 4 cents a gallon more. I save money. The engine also pulls the hills around here a lot better. I can see the highest peak in AL from my driveway. With the windows up the "rattler" as my daddy calls it is as quiet as the sub with turbo mufflers was. I guess the debate is to each his own. I agree with several other posters about buying a used PSD. It took a year for me to find one, but when I did the price was good.
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monsta
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• The Big Island, HI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
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• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:3/18/2004 04:35 |
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Fuel prices are indeed the dictator in this "arguement".
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