Flman is right... you guys have an inflated understanding of what are the "necessary" mods. HOT Tune? Not necessary. Any tune? Not necessary. Euro TC? Not necessary. Muffler mods? Not necessary. Provent/EHM? Not necessary... The ORM is free and about the only mod you "need" to do. Throw in the new fuel filter head and new CAC hoses, maybe. The Jeep will run fine without many of the other things that CRD owners do.
I bought my Limited CRD with 25k miles over a year ago, for $16,590 fully loaded, with brand new tires. I keep full records of everything I do to my Jeep, mpg, and cost. After performing a full fluid change out of precaution in the first few weeks of ownership, and completing all the mods that are necessary and for fun, my total cost of ownership is now at $19,274.20 exactly. That's $2,684.20 spent over the last 10k miles, or $0.27/mile. My actual fuel costs/mile are $0.09, so you can see that most of this money is in mods, nearly all of which I have done for fun/improved performance, not out of necessity.
Now, as a side by side comparison to other 2006 KJs, 3.7L, here are links to some of the gassers on Fuelly that have the most fill-ups (therefore, the best average):
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/tgchi/libertyhttp://www.fuelly.com/driver/lastoch/libertyhttp://www.fuelly.com/driver/caddie149/libertyAs you can see, costs range between $0.12 and $0.21 per mile, with the guy getting 17 mpg AVERAGE (as most of you all claim to get) costing the most - and yes, I see his fuel prices are a little higher, so let's call it $0.19/mile, for fun. Within 10k miles, factoring in two oil changes, my cost/mile will be down to $0.18. Another 10k, with my 50k mile service, my cost/mile will be $0.16... another 10k, $0.15, etc., etc., etc. And let me remind you that the costs you are seeing on fuelly ONLY counts gas, not maintenance. Therefore, it can be fairly claimed that I will "break even" with your average gasser's cost/mile within the next 8-10k miles. After that, I am earning money back. I've owned this vehicle for a year now, and plan to run her for another 10 or more... by then, I will have saved thousands in operating costs as my total cost/mile gets closer and closer to around $0.11, where it will likely peak (given fuel prices stay similar).
Yes, CRDs were more expensive up front... I don't by cars up front, as a general rule. I'm patient, I can wait a few years for the price to come down on a mint-condition used car like this one. Therefore, you spending $19xxx on your car brand new means nothing to me.... I spent $16,590 on mine; don't care what the brand new cost was. Count me as already starting about $3k ahead of you, before my fuel savings. A used gasser with similar mileage would only be a couple thousand less, allowing me to make up the costs relatively quickly given the longer lifespan of the CRD engine.
Then there are the intangibles.... I have more torque; I can tow more; I have more fun (admittedly a personal sentiment); I pollute less (which I care about); and it sounds so much better, as I've always loved diesels.
You guys can attack CRDs all you want. I have no problem with anyone owning a 3.7L KJ and I don't go out of my way to tell them to "suck on it" because I drive a CRD. I don't attack you all, I just defend myself when attacked. We all own Jeeps, can't we all get along?
