Nope.

This is exactly how so many Americans are in dept....Gotta have a big house, gotta have the biggest vehicle, gotta have everything.....

 

If I didnt need something to pull my travel trailer I would have a 1/2 ton CC 5.3 or I would have kept the 1/2 ton avalanche I traded for my 2500

 

No I wouldn't it just wouldnt be practical to me just my opinion. Thats a lot of truck to do nothing with just get a 1/2 ton if you dont need to tow anything .

 

Well, if you wanted to have a really fast truck, then you could get the diesel, but seeing as you dont NEED it, i wouldnt. And besides you would have to deal with all the emmision stuff, and void your warrenty with any mods you do to it.

 

do the math on savings in fuel, it takes like 7 or 8 years to justify the additional cost of the diesel just for fuel savings. get a gasser and not something you dont need. It is people that get them and dont need them that are making diesel costs $.30 cents more than hi-test gas. supply and demand. Just my 2 cents

 

do the math on savings in fuel, it takes like 7 or 8 years to justify the additional cost of the diesel just for fuel savings. get a gasser and not something you dont need. It is people that get them and dont need them that are making diesel costs $.30 cents more than hi-test gas. supply and demand. Just my 2 cents

how is this statement justified in any way? where or who are your sources of information that makes this statement true to you?

if you want the diesel get it, you will not regret it. if you want the gas get it, although i prefer the diesel much more than the gasser. i will own my truck a long time and i think people need to stop thinking as a truck or new car as an investment, because it is not an investment. you will always be behind financially in any vehicle you drive because the price you pay for it always goes down every year you own it. get the diesel and just enjoy it.

 

I bought mine without needing it. I have only used it to tow my mower and trailer a few times. I love it and would not have it anyther way. I have a 1/2 ton CC F150 also, and while its nice, its no diesel. Once you get used to the power of the diesel its hard to drive anything else. BTW my DMAX gets 18-20 in town and my F150 gets 13-15 driven the same way.

DMAXBOB

 

I wouldn't do it. Not on a new truck.

With the up-front cost of the diesel package, plus the added cost for diesel fuel (anywhere from 45 to 79 cents per gallon MORE than regular gasoline) and the added maintenance cost, you will NEVER break even from fuel mileage savings.

Additionally, you'll have to contend with all the extra emission control crap that the tree-huggers have forced the manufacturers to put in these trucks.

As far as I have been able to calculate, the only ones who can cost justify the diesel package any more, are those who tow heavy, drive a lot miles per year and can write-off the truck as a business expense.

Other than that, you have to be a big diesel enthusiast to justify the diesel.

If I were buying a new 3/4 ton truck today, I would save the money and headaches and get the 6.0L gasser. Take the extra money I would have spent for the diesel package and put it into a CD and get some interest out of it. If I didn't need the 3/4 ton truck, I would get a 1/2 ton with the 5.3 L V8.

 

Unless I towed for a living, if I had to buy a new one right now it would not be a Diesel. Thanks to the EPA they get more expensive, less reliable and worse mileage with each incarnation. The cost to benefit ratio is no where near what it used to be. My first new pickup was a Diesel and that was in 94. The engine was a $3k option, Diesel was $.70 a gallon, gas was about $1, and the truck got 24 mpg highway. Now the engine costs a fortune, the lousy new ULSD costs a fortune and has less btus and lubricity than our engines need, and the mileage of the new DPF trucks sux. Even my LBZ mileage stinks compared to what my LB7 got. The 08 with the standard 6.0 and 6 speed auto gets decent mileage and rips for a small block gasser.

 

I have wanted a diesel ever since I was a kid and I worked for my uncle hauling garbage with the big trucks. But now I am like some others I don't need that big of truck to tow my bass boat so here I sit with a 5.3 silverado, that does pretty good. I towed right around 6000 lbs, with no issues and consistently tow 4000 without any problems when I tow my boat. So no diesel for me even though I could afford it I can't justify it to myself.....

 

If you got the bug and the money go for it.

 

I dont need the diesel. The heaviest I tow is about 5000 pounds (very rarely). I do need the crew cab. I do need the 4wd. I do love the diesel power. I do hate the diesel cost! This truck is expensive to own! 10 quarts of oil vs 6. fuel filters every 10k versus never. spin on trans filters versus never. fuel is $.40 more per gallon. 15mpg either way. I do love the power though. I think the diesel is tough to justify.

For those talking return on investment though...check out the resale values. Diesel trucks hold their original value difference right on through. 5 year old diesels are roughly $5k more than 5 year old gassers. Diesels also still have value with more than 100,000 miles on them whereas gassers have little.

ac

 

I dont need the diesel. The heaviest I tow is about 5000 pounds (very rarely). I do need the crew cab. I do need the 4wd. I do love the diesel power. I do hate the diesel cost! This truck is expensive to own! 10 quarts of oil vs 6. fuel filters every 10k versus never. spin on trans filters versus never. fuel is $.40 more per gallon. 15mpg either way. I do love the power though. I think the diesel is tough to justify.

For those talking return on investment though...check out the resale values. Diesel trucks hold their original value difference right on through. 5 year old diesels are roughly $5k more than 5 year old gassers. Diesels also still have value with more than 100,000 miles on them whereas gassers have little.

important to remember because diesels hold their resale value better at higher mileage since the engines are more durable and will last longer than a gas engine. even if diesel is a little more expensive the mpg savings somewhat offset it a bit.

 

If I didn't need to pull a trailer for work, and enjoy an RV trailer for play, no way would I have this beast. I'd have a wind up toy that goes cross country on fumes...
...but that's what my wife drives, so we're even...

 

Buy it. If you like it and can afford all that goes with it why not? Your trying to justify if you need "this much truck".
Does your wife really need an Escalade?

 

I bought my truck needing a pickup up but not nedding a 3/4 ton or a diesel. Now I don't even really need a pickup.

I would not trade it for anything though. Every time I have to drive something else at work or the fiances car I miss the max.

Yes it is over $100 to fill up but I have always had fast cars and I got tired of trying to make power on 91 octane horse piss in 100 degree weather

 

Well I have a 2006 Dually and I bought it to use to use for hauling, but because of insurance that didn't work out. I am now thinking about selling the truck because I am using it mainly as a car with me having haul something on rare occasions. The heaviest I've hauled is around 12K and if I need to do that again, my uncle or dad will let me borrow their truck (both 06 4x4 duallies with flatbeds). That is why I am looking to go to a 2001-2002 ext cab 1500 4wd. I figure between payments, fuel and insurance I will save about 250 bucks a month.

But here's the kicker. When I can haul few rolls of carpet with my truck, the dually can save me a couple hundred dollars in fuel over my Isuzu FTR in just one trip. not to mention the extra comfort.

What would you guys do?

 

Hell yes!

Ill quote someones sig: "horsepower is like a condom, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it"


And its your money, spend it as you wish.

 

:chevyo It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You sure have gotten a lot of "honest" answers considering this is a diesel pickup enthusiast's forum. You asked opinions, you got plenty and most told you if you don't have the need, save your money and buy a 1/2 ton gasser. Probably really good advice.

I really like having the capacity to tow my 12K dump trailer even though I don't all that often, or my car trailer loaded with car, construction supplies, stone, pipe, or anything else I need to move. Honestly, I probably have more miles driving empty or unloaded than towing or hauling much of anything. But I have the ability to safely do much more. That means something to me.

At the time I bought my truck, considering what I traded and what I had for a purchase price through the employee purchase plan, I handed over $4k and my title for the trade. That made it easy for me. Handing over $45K all at once would make this a different deal.

Cars and trucks are bad investments. I personally think they are better hobbies than drugs or alcohol or gambling or sex (well, ahh, you get the idea anyway) but you "loose" money. If you can pay your bills and aren't making your family go cold or hungry, then the option to "loose" money is part of the reason you "make" money. Spend it if you wish.

Financially, not a smart move if you don't need it. I think you get similar pleasure out of the gasser with less expense, but you're a big person and can make your own decisions.

Good luck!

 

I say let your conscious be your guide. There are many good reasons for and against. Some are political, some are moral. But none are more important than what you can comfortably live with. In my opinion, the world is going to hell in a handbasket. You might as well enjoy the ride!

 

Aw hell...I went through this crap 8 months ago. Since the Duramax came out, I've always wanted one. Did I need it? Nope. Then I joined this place and it was all over. Went through a 2002 and a 2004 HD with gassers to convince myself to get the diesel. I'm glad I did.

 

In a word YES...don't have something to pull...don't worry you find something.

 

hahaha exactly, mainly fords

 

I dont/didnt realy need one. I only realy got one becuse there was no way i was gonna have a crew cab with a midget bed or a 2500 crew cab gasser. So yes i would do it again. You may not need it at first but you will find something to do with it. Hell i've been doing some hot-shots for the local farmers who apparently dont have anything to pull with. They have trailers and equipment which is good enough for me. Side money.

 

After working for G.M. for 35 years and watching all those trucks come down the line year after year and drooling to own one,I finally got my wish. I pull a trailer about 6 to 8 times a year,I haul light loads of firewood, but thats about it. But my truck is my hobby,I love to change the fluids when needed, I enjoy washing and waxing my truck... you get the idea.... can I justify the added expense ? Probably not. But I don't own a boat,4 wheeler, snowmobile, cottage,big house, rolex watch,etc. I wish I could but I don't,so this Duramax is my toy. I plan on keeping it a long time.....So,if you can justify your truck to yourself,then I say go for it...........

 

Do you have any friends with diesels that are tune or plugged in just go for a ride. If you like toys how about brunning rubber,smoken,fast toy. Or 1/2 ton every day driver something you can wax an drive to bingo

 

I probably could have done without a diesel but needed a 3/4 ton to safely pull my current 5th wheel. The plan is that the truck is part of my projected retirement package (5 years away) and it will be paid for when I pull the plug and will be able to better enjoy my retirement and have a dependable truck I will not be afraid to put 300,000 miles on. I may also upgrade the 5th wheel in the mean time and would need the added power at that point. The deal on the new truck was too good to pass so I pulled the trigger and bit the bullet.