hankdz wrote:
OK. Here goes again. I thought I had it sorted out when I looked at it last time. So I think I'll try the Economics 101 approach.
1) I already purchased the SEGR, cut and spliced and installed the gizmo. Approx $250 or so.
2) I'm reading that both the GDE and Inmotion increase MPG by some vague amount.
3) the GDE costs approx $500 and the Inmotion approx $300. Yes?
4) GDE replaces SEGR activity. Inmotion Does not replace SEGR activity.
5) GDE helps with TC, Inmotion does not; further GDE will redo if acquire new TC, Inmotion will not.
6) I purchased our 06 CRD used with 22,200 miles and now have 37,900 miles. During that period I spent $1,849.78 for 594.3 gallons of fuel. That's true average for 21 months of 26.75 mpg at a cost of $0.116 for fuel per mile. I have gotten as low as 14 mpg when off road in low 4wd on snow and ice going up and down our mountain and have gotten as high as 34 mpg when on highway cruising at 2 mph below speed limit whatever is posted. However, for this post 26.75 mpg is real.
Now let's do some good old American mathematics.
Suppose I were to spend $300 for the Inmotion and achieved the aforementioned vague mpg increase (it ranged from 3 to 5). So let's call it 4 for this exercise. Let's use my actual costs over the past 21 months. If I now got 29.75 mpg the fuel used would have been 89.9% of that actually used then the per mile cost of fuel would be $0.104, a difference of $0.013 per mile. At less than 9,000 (8971 actual math) miles per year average, it would take less than 3 years to recoup the expense. Not a bad investment.
Now let's do the same math with the GDE. If the GDE is purchased at $500 and I add the $250 I spent for a now useless SEGR the total needed to recoup is $750. Using the same $0.013 difference per mile fuel cost and the same 9000 miles per year it would take almost 6 1/2 years to recoup the cost. Not a good investment, but not the worst I ever made either.
Clearly from an economics viewpoint the Inmotion is better for me. However, I don't know the value of the other variables to be able to make a calculation that makes the GDE palatable.
So, I ask anyone out there with the experience of other costs to please help. What does a new TC cost, taking into account that I have an extended warranty to 100,000 miles with a $100 deductible, so it will cost me $100 if it goes before 100,000 miles? How long will it last the way it is now? BTW I don't get severe vibrations at lock up or at 55 mph. I had an 83 Buick with the V6 4.3 liter diesel and lock up TC that went through TC's every 20,000 miles so I know the problem, and I know severe vibration.
Anyone able to provide more info?
Thanks
Could you sell the SEGR and recoup some of that cost?
Just a thought. I am curious about the InMotion hand held device now though...
So far loving the GDE tune all the same.
