Diesel vs Gas

[Padgett]

Having just sold my Vixen I no longer have a diesel but was amazed at the 2.4 liter 6's ability to move the 6500 lb rig.

If a diesel had been available when I bought the GC, I would have seriously considered it because of the added efficiency, but not for the premium demanded.

When gas was cheap, a big (400 cid) V8 was my preference but that was when American 6 cyl were small and underporered, the V6 in my GC has more HP than the V8 Pontiac (in fact it has more power than an E-Jag) & in the interim I used a 3800 V6 Buick in a minivan for towing (but was always overloaded). A selling point of the GC was the 5,000# rating for the towing package and under $30k OTD (new was only a few hundred more than used and dealer had exactly what I wanted).

OTOH the VM diesel in the '14s is a wonderful engine with 420 lb-ft of torque from a 3.0 DOHC turbo V6. The problem is the $4500 option plus it is only available in "upscale" versions (have a convertible, do not want a panoramic sunroof) so the total is north of $45k.

So you have a $15k shot there and in Florida 87 PON is now $3.25 and Diesel is $4/gallon. So I am paying 20% less at the pump for 22% worse MPG (18vs23). Break even is not this century.

This could change. In many parts of the country diesel fuel is less than 87 PON and eventually CJF may offer the diesel in the Laredo trim (no sunroof).

And on the gripping hand, direct injection allows diesel like CR and much higher RPM from 87 PON gasahol engines so the only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.

ps didn't mention 4 or 8 cyl engines. Have no use for them this century. YMMV.