Ain't that the truth!
Went out there to help my friends move, getting to test drive the Jeep was a side benefit. I've known him since '81 when we were stationed on the same ship together (both of us retired Navy), just like a brother to me. Was best man at their wedding in '83, and get along just as well with her. Both the 16 year old daughter and 6 year old son (already 4 1/2 ft tall, size 4 shoe, gonna be a tall handsome kid
) call me "Uncle Mitch".
Just a local test drive at a dealer and looking at the EPA rating would never have convinced me to go to the expense of trading, even though I have been interested in CRD's since they came out. Getting to drive one real world for several days, seeing what that diesel was capable of, both in performance and fuel mileage, how well it rode and handled in some really rugged terrain, and how comfortable it was on an extended trip, that's what convinced me. I was on the computer as soon as I got home, seeing what was available at the local dealers.
When we figured out the fuel mileage from the leg to Amarillo, I made a comment expressing my amazement, replete with four letter adjectives. My friend laughed and asked when I was trading in my Dakota for a CRD. I replied "As soon as I (expletive deleted) get back!". After 30 years of getting their rears kicked by the Japanese, I just couldn't believe that an American OEM, in particular the one I worked for, had finally come up with a real winner.
And i don't trade cars on a whim, if they're good I'll keep them until they're worn out, I hate being in debt and making car payments. My first car was a '79 Mustang I kept for 9 years, my second was an '87 Subaru wagon that I still have. The fact that I traded in my '04 Dakota, which I loved and had only had for a year, should say volumes about what I think of CRD's.
crackercrd wrote:
retmil46
you werea long way from NC to test drive a new Jeep!
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), but I can imagine that many would suggest getting a GDE tune. Some people have had an EGR valve get stuck in the open position, but that usually throws a code and might trigger the CEL. I typically drive about the same proportion of Hwy/City was you and I get around 25 if I take it easy. The quality of fuel could be an issue. In general, it's going to all be from the same refinery as those tend to be regional. For gasoline, the additives package is specific to the brand of station (Shell, BP, Marathon, Total, etc). For diesel, I don't think the additives package is quite as extensive and there probably isn't anything that's going to raise the cetane value substantially higher from one station to the next. You might see a difference between premium diesel and the regular stuff, but it probably won't be astronomical. It seems to me that diesel here in MI isn't quite as good as that in KY where my parents live. Refiners are only going to meet state or local requirements, so it could be a region thing independent of your Jeep.