Regardless of whether you are looking to purchase a truck for commercial and towing purposes or a daily driver, getting a vehicle with a diesel engine has pros and cons.
First we will go over the negatives.
Noise Level: Diesel engines are usually are louder than gasoline engines but the modern diesel engines in today’s automobiles and trucks are very quiet when compared with diesel engines which were manufactured ten or twenty years ago. In fact today’s modern diesel engine runs almost as quietly as a traditional engine.
Pollution: You don’t want to put out a ton of pollution and soot everywhere you go. Diesel engines are not environmentally friendly and they do put out more particulate matter (the soot) and they have higher levels of the gases that contribute to pollution in the air. You will smell a diesel engine when it is running and you may see more smoke coming out from the tailpipe.
The Accessibility Of Diesel Fuel: If you are out the road it will be more difficult to find gas stations which sell diesel fuel. Make sure your local neighborhood or a station on your commute or near your place of employment sells diesel. Do some research to see how many, if any, gas stations in your neighborhood or city sell diesel. It’s very unpleasant to run out of gas while you’re on the road.
Selection: There is less selection available in terms of the cars that are available. At one time there were about 119 different diesel models to choose from in the United States. Due to strict emission laws there aren’t many diesel vehicles produced anymore.
So now the pros for buying a diesel.
Fuel efficiency: Diesel engines substantially more efficient than gasoline engines. This will lead to less trips to the gas station and will help to save you dough. Some new diesels are approaching the 50 mile per gallon mark on fuel economy. According to Walter McManus, an auto analyst at J.D. Power and Associates you can see significant savings.
McManus compared the price of a Jetta with a gasoline engine to a Jetta with a turbo diesel. The turbo diesel car was about $1,000 more, however, the gasoline engine only had an EPA estimate of 31 MPG and the turbo diesel had a 46 MPG rating. The savings on fuel over approximately three years would have covered the cost of buying a diesel car.
Longevity: f you take good care of it, it is not unusual for diesel engines to last 250k miles and in some cases even much more. Some big rig diesel engines have reportedly hit 700k to 1 mil! That is truly some longevity there.
Performance: Do you like to accelerate and drive fast on the road? Diesel engines have better get up and go than gasoline engines. So you can take off quicker and still have better fuel economy.
Towing Capability: Diesel engines are tough and so durable. If you plan to haul heavy loads, tow a boat, a trailer or a 5th wheel a diesel engine gives you that extra boost of power. Since Diesel’s are so powerful, many trucks and big rigs utilize their engines.
If you want to save money on gas, have a need to tow heavy equipment on a frequent basis and like to drive fast, then a diesel car might be perfect for you. It may be a bit harder to find in the States but it might be worth your while!
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