Here's why I am asking this question. In this day and age, all of my buddies (which are seniors in high school) think that diesel trucks are the absolute way to go.

The thing is, I was thinking about ordering a truck soon (like as soon as I get hired as a utility or apprentice engineer) and I thought that a new 5.3L with the AFM would fit the bill of all I would need in a truck.

And I could still tow a car trailer once a month when I go to pick up old broncos and parts (I plan on making some small money restoring these awesome vehicles). But I would like to put a bit of a prerunner stance on it. I was thinking reg. cab longbed with a 6" lift and 35's.

I do change my mind a lot though, so we'll see what happens. But, I have ultimately decided that a diesel truck would cost me way too much moolah when I first start a job (another 200-300 bucks a month or more), and I wont be able to find what I want exactly unless I buy brand new. Hence the 1/2 ton.

Anyway, what do you guys think about how the truck would look (if you can picture a RC/LB with 35" BFGs, MT Classic Locks and a lightbar on the front with a 6" lift).

And, is there anything morally or otherwise wrong with getting a gasoline-powered truck? Are my buddies a little wrong here? Maybe biased?

What kind of MPGs can I expect with a light foot and AFM on this truck?

High schoolers will be high schoolers. Nobody thinks all that rationally in high school-except maybe you. Of course you don't need a diesel, and neither do they. They just want to seem cool, and there's nothing wrong with that. Get the truck you can afford and yes, it would look good IMO with the lift and 35's. You will get as good if not better MPGs with the AFM 5.3 than the diesel.

Diesel is great. Diesel is powerful. Diesel is cool.

BUT - Unless you just happen to have lots of cash laying around begging to be spent, you get the truck that suits your needs best. If you use your truck more as a daily driver and if you're sometimes going to tow loads of 3,000 to 7,000 pounds, then get a half-ton with the 5.3. Lower purchase price and more economical to run on a daily basis. I love driving my brothers 5.3 CC half-ton - really sporty.

At this point I do not think it matters too much anyway. I have a feeling conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles are going to start going bye bye, if we are smart anyway. Many people do not understand that this country's wealth is being drained into the oil bearing nations which could possibly result in the U.S.A. no longer being a super power in the not so distant future. This might just be a theory, but it is still something to think about. Like mentioned, a gas truck is probably all you need. I knew a few kids from high school who got big diesel trucks to be "cool" and I am sure at about 4 bucks a gallon, that coolness is starting to wear off some. I have a feeling Hydrogen and synthetic diesel fuels are going to be some of our most successful alternative fuels in the future, but who knows.

A couple of thoughts,

If you dont need the towing capacity go with the 5.3. Put the money you save in an IRA or something, you'll come out way ahead in the long run.

If you really want a diesel, wait for the new 1/2 ton diesels to come out.

Final thought, you could build a truck. Put a 4bt cummins in something and you have yourself a really cool diesel, without the $40,000+ price tag.

At this point I do not think it matters too much anyway. I have a feeling conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles are going to start going bye bye, if we are smart anyway. Many people do not understand that this country's wealth is being drained into the oil bearing nations which could possibly result in the U.S.A. no longer being a super power in the not so distant future. This might just be a theory, but it is still something to think about. Like mentioned, a gas truck is probably all you need. I knew a few kids from high school who got big diesel trucks to be "cool" and I am sure at about 4 bucks a gallon, that coolness is starting to wear off some. I have a feeling Hydrogen and synthetic diesel fuels are going to be some of our most successful alternative fuels in the future, but who knows.


I agree about the hydrogen cars, Here is GM's Hy-wire car on the British TV show Top Gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLKExuHlQMQ

Also take the price of fuel into consideration. If you don't need it, it aint worth it right now IMO.

I do change my mind a lot though, so we'll see what happens. But, I have ultimately decided that a diesel truck would cost me way too much moolah when I first start a job (another 200-300 bucks a month or more), and I wont be able to find what I want exactly unless I buy brand new. Hence the 1/2 ton.

And, is there anything morally or otherwise wrong with getting a gasoline-powered truck? Are my buddies a little wrong here? Maybe biased?

What kind of MPGs can I expect with a light foot and AFM on this truck?

You're fresh out of high school and starting a new job?? I can almost guarantee you that you'll eventually regret the extra $200-300/mo in payments.

My advice is to buy used. Get a used LBZ diesel if you want one that bad. The LBZ was the best Durmax ever and most of the LMM crowd wishes they could go back due to all the problems with the new diesels.

If you don't need diesel then get a gasser. Once again I'd suggest used - it's a buyer's market right now.

If you decide to go gas and then get a lift, try to find something with a 4.10 gears. If you can't you can always do it yourself later down the road. Running a lift with bigger tires you may want something like a 4.10 so those big tires don't rob you power.

i put over 15,000 miles on my gasser in the first 3 months of owning it. i loved it and still do. it's got 123k on it and still going strong. the trans is getting a little weak, my fault for working it too hard in the summer. have not heard much about the new 5.3's, but my buddy has an '04 6.0 and from a 25 roll, he only stayed 3-5ft in front of me through every gear. that is when i had my 285's on too. sorry for the lengthy post, but gas is definitely the way to go if you don't need a diesel. the "wow" factor just isn't as cool when you're paying $4+ for fuel, plus filters, $55 oil changes, etc.

Heck no ... I miss my diesel, but at amost .60/gallon less, gas is easier on the wallet. I don't pull a trailer anymore, diesel maintence is much higher than gas.

And Gassers are pretty good looking trucks also.......

but gas is definitely the way to go if you don't need a diesel

I dont mean to sound too much like a smart ass here. But if I dont need a diesel, gas is the ONLY way to go. Unless I like driving a golf cart around.

Sounds like your buddies would jump off bridges if everyone else is doing it . I'm pretty sure none of them actually really need a diesel. They just think everybody will think they are cool because they have a diesel. Be smart ,and save some cash and get a gasser. I really don't think 4.00/gallon is cool, do you?

What kind of MPGs can I expect with a light foot and AFM on this truck?
I am getting 17.5 mpg with my New body style 07 5.3 Chevy, Ex cab longbed . I have just over 9000 miles on it now.It is getting better the more it gets broke in.

A new 2008 Silverado 1500 LT1 RC/LB, 5.3L Gas, auto trans, 4.10 axle, Z71 Package, with every option in the book carries an MSRP of $32,675.00.

The same identical truck, but as a 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison powertrain carries an MSRP of $43,284.00

At an interest rate of 6.25%, that will be an extra $236 per month for 4 years to finance the extra $10,000 for the diesel, plus the additional maintenance expense you'll have.

Around here diesel fuel is over a dollar per gallon MORE than regular unleaded gasoline. Even if the diesel got 30% better fuel economy than a gasser (which now a days THEY DON'T), there is no way you are going to recover the extra $10,000 for the diesel truck from fuel savings. You can't count on recovering the extra cost for the diesel at resale time either, 'cause used diesel trucks are NOT selling at all right now.

So unless you need the diesel power & torque for high mileage, heavy towing, business use, you will never recover the extra cost for the diesel truck.

Diesels can no longer be cost justified simply by the fuel savings, because it is NOT there any more.

If you have a lot of disposable income and you can justify the diesel for its "Coolness", then go ahead and get one. Otherwise, I would do as kbailey suggested above; get the gasser and put the extra money into an IRA and save for your future.

Your high school buddies with the diesel trucks will soon be bitchin' up a storm and envy you, when they start paying over $1.00 per gallon MORE than you'll be paying for regular unleaded gasoline.

Get your education and save for your future. Those should be the highest priority for you right now. Once you get your education, you'll be better able to afford any of those fun toys you want right now. :D

If you don't need a diesel then buy the gas. Who cares what they think. I loved my Z71 to death but a guy made me an offer I couldnt refuse so away it went. I bought a duramax as a replacement. It got to the point where I thought I didnt really need the truck anymore. Boom now I haul 6-8K every day for work. I need my diesel, but like I said if you don't need yours, stick with a gasser.

Whats an IRA?

By the way, there is only one buddy that I have that thinks that he needs a diesel. He's my best friend and the heaviest hauling that he does is tows a car trailer about 3 times a month. He wants a diesel because of the power. When he graduates, hes going into the carpenters union and thinks that he'll be getting a diesel truck right away.

Get a new Volkswagen Jetta diesel and a old beater truck:cool: 50 mpg is pretty cool to me:D

I was thinking about that. Get a Jetta and rebuild an old bronco or something as money permits.

The thing is though, that a Jetta is kind of a chick car, and they cost like 26K for a (slightly) used one.

But believe me, I have thought about a Jetta with the diesel in it, and it may be a great option for me.

Whats an IRA?

By the way, there is only one buddy that I have that thinks that he needs a diesel. He's my best friend and the heaviest hauling that he does is tows a car trailer about 3 times a month. He wants a diesel because of the power. When he graduates, hes going into the carpenters union and thinks that he'll be getting a diesel truck right away.

An IRA is an Individual Retirement Account.

There are basically two types of IRA's. The traditional IRA allows you to invest up to $4,000 per year and you deduct the $4,000 from your income, so you don't pay taxes on that money for the year you invest. The funds then will grow and compound tax free until the date you begin to withdraw funds after age 59 1/2, usually after you retire. The funds you withdraw after retirement are then taxed at ordinary income tax rates. By allowing your investment to grow tax free, they will grow much faster than if you had to pay taxes on the income for each year of the investment. You basically postpone paying the taxes while your investment grows.

A ROTH IRA also allows you to invest $4,000 per year, but you can't deduct the amount you invest from your annual income taxes. The funds also grow and compound tax free while they are invested. However, the big difference is that once you start to withdraw money after age 59 1/2, the money is totally TAX FREE. You pay no taxes on that income. This is especially good for a young person, because your money will compound tax free for a long long time and unless the politicians change the law, every penny you take out after age 59 1/2 is tax free. :)

[quote=getpower;2535688]that a Jetta is kind of a chick car, and they cost like 26K for a (slightly) used one. quote]

:exactly:

get what u want if u can afford it when i graduated in 03 i wanted a duramax. but my dad was tellin me just get a gasser blah blah blah so i got a brand new 03 6.0 4x4 rc/lb i loved it but always had the diesel in the back of my mind not 2 mention i was gettin 12 mpg!! kept it 4 a little over 2 yrs and got the truck i have now which i should have gotten in the first place and it would've been paid off by now but i guess live and learn if i did it over again id buy the dmax first! but fuel prices suck so either way theres pros and cons. get what you want and can afford

Get a used 1/2 ton if you need a pickup and save money for education for the next several years then get what you want. I know it would be great to have a new pickup now, but unless you really need it, save you're money. It doesn't sound like you really need an HD pickup anyways. HD stands for Heavy Duty. They aren't really designed to be treated like a car, they are for work and hauling loads. I started out with an 1988 1500 RC/LB about 12 years ago and it was a great pickup till I got a bigger cattle trailer and needed the heavier setup.

Remember to, the bigger you go, the more expensive it is. One thing for a young person to keep in mind as well is insurance. Insurance for under 25 on a new vehicle is going to be A LOT more then insurance on an older vehicle.

There's nothing wrong with a gasser. I have a 7.4L in my dually and I love it. The thing has snort that is always impressive when I am dragging a trailer full of round bales out of a road ditch.

It all depends on what you need the truck for. Daily driver to tow a very occasional load, a SB will do you wonderfully. Even if you are towing heavy, a BB gasser is awesome and will give you a lot of fun. A diesel is cool and does do better with towing, and I would love one.......but for now the gassers do me well.

I was in the same shoes you were. Get a 2006 Chevy 2500 fully loaded every bell and whistle plus had tv's in the headrest with a sound system already in it with exhaust and a intake with a leveling kit and after market rims and tires. It had 800 miles on it and the guy traded it in the time the new tundra came out. I have a good friend that works there and we tried working the deal. I could have had it but instead I looked at the long term approach. Either A- Get this bada$$ chevy now and take loans out for college. Or B-Get a brand new 2007 F150 XLT extended cab. I went with option B. As college is only 3 months a way and I have been able to save up some money for it. Were if I went with the diesel I would have no money saved. Also I would never use it to its full advantage for towing and stuff as I couldnt afford to tow with it or buy a toy hauler. Were know I have that option to buy a toy hauler and such. In the end get a gasser and then when you get out of college the truck should be paid off and you could keep it and make it a play toy and then go and get a brand new diesel or sell it and mod your brand new diesel.