The Colorado will be available in diesel

The Cummins 3500 isn't mine, but I have full access to it and it averages 23 - 25 mpg empty - as a one ton.

 

Like I said earlier, I don't drive a diesel truck because of cost savings. I drive a diesel truck because I would rather drive a diesel than a gas (except my taco!). I don't know if the savings are really there, but I think you should jsut buy the fuel that you like better because the difference in cost is likely negligible.

 

Even that is a deal breaker. No fucking way am I plugging my truck in at night, and then wrapping the cord back up in the morning when it's -10 outside. I just want to jump in, turn the key, and go.

 

I have never ever commented on someone elses choice between diesel and gas. If you like one over the other that's none of my business. BTW if it wasn't for the position of the urea tank, the timing belt, and the design of the transmission to minimize shaking in the cab I'd look into the Colorado more. From the research I've done this truck has a lot of flaws and will not be good for either long term reliability or offroading.

 

They do look worthless offroad, lots of clearance lost by that MPG BRO splitter thing. They're about as high off the ground as a minivan with the plastic installed.

 

F'n california. Nothing is simple there. How is that possible? How the hell is diesel cheaper then gasoline, calling bs on that . Guy forgot to change the 2.81 to 3.81 no doubt. In NY diesel is always more then gasoline. Right down the block from me 2.79 for regular and 3.09 for diesel. Diesel has been more for a long time now.

So your math will look a whole lot different. So if you use real world numbers and not the bogus diesel is cheaper then gas, then the savings per year is a solid $250. Whoopie. So payback is 15 frigin years!!!!

EDIT: Looks like california does indeed have cheaper, and by chaeper I mean much cheaper diesel! So if you live in cali, break even is much quicker!

 

I know it - the gas companies gouge us pretty badly. Diesel has been cheaper in my area for about 2 years straight now, contrary to the rest of the country.

 

Wow. That is amazing. I didnt believe it till now. Progressive liberal taxation, gotta love it, especially if you drive a diesel, ha!

 

Where I live in AZ diesel is 0.05 to .24 per gallon more than regular unleaded.

 

In this thread, people who've clearly never owned a diesel rag on diesels.

Not saying diesels are for everyone but yes, there are a lot of times when a diesel is much better than a gasser. Yes, there are a lot of times when a gasser is much better than a diesel. And to the person who said sell your tacoma for a diesel colorado? I plan on it, in about 4 or 5 years. I want the diesel colorado to prove itself first and I want someone else to take that depreciation hit.

 

Funny how this always comes up.

It's like saying I wonder how many people who rag on the 3.5 L in the new Tacoma have drove one? Who cares.

I drive a light truck all day for work at this time of year scouting fields and I've had a Diesel in the past. IMHO I just need a motor that's reliable and has good power for the gearing of the truck. This Colorado has some issues (bad ground clearance in the back because the urea tank fits on top of the spare, a timing belt on the engine, and a stabilization system for vibrations in the transmission that is famous for failing) that are specific to the Diesel that have scared me off even after some of the more encouraging numbers came out. In my Tacoma I'll likely always prefer gas. I might be talked into trying a Diesel in my work truck again if the company goes that direction. Right now our fleet is almost all gas because of the higher cost of Diesel according to bean crunchers I have nothing to do with. Fuel economy seems to come and go with Diesels sometimes. We have some light Diesel trucks at work that report +20 mpg and some, probably because of exhaust issues or possibly injectors, that report less than 15 mpg.

 

Not drove. Owned. I'm talking about the people saying maintenance costs are higher, repair costs are higher, diesels are slower, etc.

 

The huge difference we are seeing right now here in CA is insane. I shit you not gas prices 1.5 months ago was in the $2.20 range... gas has literally gone up 2 dollars a gallon (over a 3 day period i saw the local station go up 80 freaking cents). And its all due to a shortage of a "special" ingredient ONLY found in california gas.... FML, thats what i get for living in a state where i can (and have) literally strapped snow skis to the back of a street motorcycle, ridden world class twisty canyons to the local ski spot, looked out at the ocean and islands from the top of the ski lift, rode the motorcycle home, put the surfboard in the truck and did some evening surfing.

Typically though gas and diesel prices hover right around eachother though.

 

They are. Oil changes are even a lot more if you go to the dealer, and a bit more if you do them yourself. Is it a huge cost. No, but it is a cost.

On Diesels it's always the injectors that scare me. If the fuel system gets fudged it is $$$$$.

As for the Diesels are slower I'm with you there. They can feel sluggish compared to a gas job but a lot of that is gearing on the 3/4 ton trucks. If they gear the Colorado well it shouldn't be an issue. I am still surprised though they don't have an 8 speed in the Colorado with that Diesel. With truck diesels with their slightly narrower rpm range of operation more gears always helps.

 

But overall costs though, not individual.... There's less things to go wrong on a diesel and less things to repair. So what if you have to spend double when doing an oil change if you only spend $500 a year maintaining it and $2k a year maintaining a gasser.


Totally agree on the 8 speed.

 

Perfect example is glowplugs vs sparkplugs.

 

Where are the extra costs on the gasser? Spark plugs?

I think your talking about 5-10 year old trucks. Not new ones. Yes, in there old age, the Diesels tend to hold up better. For most people these will be new vehicles though.

 

Spark plugs are just over $100 for the set, and that would be for iridium plugs on a S/C Tacoma like more. Cheap copper ones, which are actually better for naturally aspirated engines, would be less than half that.

 

At current fuel prices the diesel would pay for its self in about 100,000 miles, even if diesel goes up. It is currently cheaper than gas here. My Taco does 20mpg at best. They are vague, only saying the Chevy diesel will beat 27 mpg So lets guess at 30 mpg which seems reasonable. With that in mind you'll use about 1700 fewer gallons of fuel in 100,000 miles. At $2.50/ gal it is a $4250 savings in 100,000 miles. If fuel prices go up you'll break even a lot sooner. Consider also that the diesel engine should be good for about 1/2 milllion miles compared to 200,000-300,000 miles for most gas engines and it makes sense. Yea, I know there are some maintenance costs, but the savings more than offset them in the long run. These aren't trucks for guys who trade every 4-5 years, but guys interested in a 15-20 year investment.

The extra towing helps some, about 1,200 lbs more than my current Tacoma and solidly in the range of most 1/2 tons. Toyota offers diesels in many vehicles sold in other countries. I personally hope they get it together and start selling them here. I'd consider the Chevy, or a new Tacoma if offered in diesel.

The acceleration issue can be resolved. I've driven some 3/4 and 1 ton diesels that will snap your head back and get 22 mpg. Better than 15 mpg towing big loads. Gas engines often drop into single digits with much of any load behind them.

 

You're going to get 15-20 years out of a GM

Call me when the dashboard cracks up into pieces. Something will go wrong way before then even IF the engine and emissions system make it a half million miles.

Good for you guys getting 22 mpg on a 3/4 ton. The best number in my fleetwave system for work is that high. Average on all the Diesels under 1 ton we have is closer to 15 mpg.