geordi wrote:
Total cost for ownership is also a lot lower for any diesel, b/c they retain their resale value a LOT better than any gas version.
I got my 2001 Jetta TDI in January of 2003, with 5100 miles on it. No clue why someone would trade it back in. According to the sales droid (as if he would know a darn thing about the car's history) it had been a dealer loaner in South Carolina, but was for sale in South Florida. Yea, right.
Anyway, I bought it for 18k, and drove it for 145k miles. Sold it at 150k miles... For 10k. Supposedly the MSRP was 21k originally, but I paid $8000 for a total cost per mile (above consumables like fuel and maintenance) of 5.5 CENTS per mile. Not bad.
If you consider the Jeep Liberty CRD, I'm not doing so great... But I'm STILL a lot better than the gas version. Here are my numbers on the CRD versus a 3.7 gasser:
Purchase price: 16k, at 33k miles. Original MSRP (google) is $26.8k, ($25.2k for the 3.7) and I'm at 100k miles right now. Assuming I sell it now (not planning to) and get $10k for it... Then I would have spent 6 cents per mile to own it. If the value plummets because of Chrysler's misdeeds, and I only get 8k for it: 8 cents per mile.
If I bought it NEW, and paid full MSRP so that the numbers compare directly: 26.8 cents per mile to 100k miles. If I sell it for $10k, that drops to 16.8 cents per mile for ownership.
What about the gas version? I just did a quick AutoTrader search, and at 100k miles, the value of the 3.7 gasser is DISMAL. $7500 average. So if you bought it new and sold it at 100k... That is gonna cost you 17.7 cents per mile.
The difference over the same 100k miles (if bought new and paying that $1600 up-charge) is a whopping $900. It costs for the vehicle alone, just $900 more for the diesel, because they retain that value over the long term.
What about fuel prices for the same 100k miles? Using the EPA highway numbers for both 2005 models, and average fuel cost of $3 gasoline, $3.20 diesel:
CRD: 28mpg HWY: 3571 gallons, $11427 for fuel. Ouchie.
3.7: 22mpg HWY (HAH, yea right!): 4545 gallons... wait for it... $13635 for fuel!
So in conclusion... $2200 LESS for fuel over a standard ownership term, $2500 MORE in retained value, and merely $900 extra in cost-of-ownership when factored against resale value.
Why wouldn't you want a diesel again? As long as they are SUPPORTED by the manufacturer, that is. That is the real trick with a VW, that we can't have - our manufacturer has killed our value from what it could be even higher, by tossing us to the wind. Thanks Chrysler, I'll be certain to return the favor next time I'm looking for a vehicle. I won't be in yours again.
As for fuel availability... I'm in a city of 131k, and I have NO problem finding diesel. In the Historic District downtown, there are 2 stations next to each other that both carry it. Neither services semi tractor business. On the same street, there are 2 other stations within a mile of the 2 with diesel. Not bad at all. Less than 2 miles from those 4 stations, are 3 more, 2 with diesel, and one commercial fueling station with farm fuel that sells to the public. Finding diesel isn't an issue anymore, so stop trying to scare people TJKJ.
Actually finding diesel is a issue,try finding it on any military base that you can actually pump into your POV.
Oh by the way I paid $1000 more then you did for your used KJ when mine was brand new.I know for a fact mine has been cheaper to operate then yours not including suspension mods.You need all that junk just to run right and my engine and trans are 100% stock.