To Diesel or Not to Diesel in a F250? Diesel truck owners check in.

[MichaelD]

I will be buying a new F250 in the not too distant future. It will be a 4x4 of course. Why not the F150? Because I prefer the "HD" aspect of it over the F150 as well as the styling. "Built like a tank" is how I prefer a truck.

I don't pull a trailer regularly; I currently have a SUV that I use for that, but the SUV is dying...fast. 13 years old and not worth pouring money into anymore. When I do tow a trailer it's typically not more than about 5K pounds...but that's right now and subject to change in the future. I want the diesel for "when I really need it" and that's coming soon too; we're buying a house and w/that comes the inevitable thousands of trips to Lowes and the Landscaping place.

I also want the diesel for resale value down the road. The vast majority of F250s I've seen have the diesel. So I'm reasoning that the resale value of an F250 with a gas V8 will not be good. Not to mention that the diesel would probably get better mileage anyway in a 4+ton vehicle.

I lived overseas for a few years and owned 2 diesel vehicles during that time; a Ford Escort station wagon and a Fiat Doblo van. They were awesome vehicles...just damn bullet proof.

This post is not about "But the F150 is 75% of what you need." I agree with you. But I want the F250 and have for a long time now.

An important note is that this will not be a daily driver. I have a little commuter car (with a 5-speed) for that. This will most probably be a weekend-driven vehicle.

Does my rationale behind the diesel resonate with you guys? Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[boomhower]

Get the V8, you don't need the diesel. Everything you listed the gas motor is fine for. The diesel is $8k, your not going to save that much fuel. The diesel if for people who are towing really heavy loads on a very frequent basis. Neither fuel saving nor resale is going to even come close to making up the gap on the extra expense. (fuel savings in the end after the higher cost of diesel is factored in will be minimal likely)

Now if you have the money to blow and want a diesel just for the hell of having one you get my vote. I love the diesel trucks. My father inlaw had a F350 with the 6.0 and loved the darn thing. But it's a lot of cash.

 

[skyking]

Agree totally. Michael, you'd be best served by the gasser. Plenty of towing power for your type of usage.
I tow a 10,000 pound 5th wheel with my diesel and I live and travel in the mountains out west, so I can and do use the power. For a typical utility trailer and smaller travel trailer, a new gas f250 would be just great.

 

[MichaelD]

I totally agree on the cost aspect; $8K+ is a lot of extra money to finance. I wish I could say "I'm paying cash for it" but ah, no. Nice down payment, yes, but basically will be financing the cost of an F150.

Thanks for your excellent input, boomhower.

*edit*
@ Skyking: Thanks to you as well. I don't see myself towing a 10K pound trailer w/any regularity...I'm not a boat guy, nor a travel trailer guy. Mostly large cargo trailer with band equipment or the furniture of a friend moving...or stuff from Lowes.

 

[MiataNC]

Another vote for Gas over Diesel based on your intended use.

Use the 8k you save on the diesel to buy a fuel efficient beater to drive when you don't need the capabilities of the truck.

 

[Greenman]

You have no need for an F250 what so ever. So the choice is simply whatever floats your boat. With that said, if it's all about heavy duty, then the diesel is the way to go, it's the heavy duty engine choice.

 

[phucheneh]

For Ford? Gas.

If you were open to other options, e.g. makes with more competent diesels? ...diesel.

Out of curiosity, I pulled up Ford's website and GMC's website, F250 vs Sierra 2500. The Ford is 31k with the gas engine, 40k with their diesel.

The GMC is showing 34.5k for the 6.6L with the Allison 1000. No-brainer of the century, IMHO.

edit: was curious about their discounts...not sure what the skinny is, but if you configure a Silverado the same way, there's no discounts and the price 5k higher, about the same as Ford. I'd still take the GM...the 6.6 is a proven motor and the Allison is not just hype. 10 years and 200k down the line, not only will it still work, it won't leak, it won't have a damned problem. They exude quality...and I'll add my usual qualifier here- I am not a GM fan. You still couldn't pay me to take a hot shit on some of their stuff. But HD trucks? Decent in gas form. Best on the market in diesel.

 

[WackyDan]

I have the F-150 with the 5.0. Tows fine, but I have a 7500# trailer when loaded and I went with the 3.31 gears for MPG when not towing and I can tell that was the wrong decision when towing.

To do over, I would have went with the 3.5 Ecoboost as everyone I know towing my type of trailer at similar weight raves about the 3.5.

Of course, in looking at the next trailer, all pointers are to a F-250 or 2500 of some other make in diesel. I also want an 8 foot bed... can't get that in a Super Crew F-150.

Yeah... a 250 diesel seems way overkill for your weekend and light towing needs... but if money were no object.

 

[thedarkwolf]

or find an older dodge cummins with a 6 speed manual. You aren't driving it much anyway so why go new.

 

[MichaelD]

Thank you all very much for your input. I read everyone's post twice to ensure I got it all.

I have a very strong aversion to buying any vehicle used unless it either comes with an iron-clad mechanical warranty (non-existent these days) or I can verify it's history (E.G. my wife's daily beater...the car, not me), which I bought from a friend whom I trust to watch my child (literally).

I know full well that an old Dodge with the Cummins engine will tow a mountain of marble at 40mph from NY to LA even if the floorboards have holes clean through and the electrical system basically doesn't work anymore. I DON'T want a beater; I want a NEW truck with a full warranty. "I ain't paying for shit when it breaks"...that should sum up my thoughts on "used vehicles."

I've not owned a GM product for a long time b/c I've had probs in the past w/said product lines. That said, I subscribe to all three of the major car mags as well as Truck Trend and GM seems to be improving a bit. But I don't want this to be about Brand A vs. Brand B. I personally have had good luck with Fords (cars) and would like to stick with them.

I'm pretty good at buying a new vehicle...I got skillz. :ninja: I won't come close to overpaying for a vehicle that I want. If I can't get a deal I'll wait until I can.

I'm not in a rush for this purchase, so I have the advantage of time on my side. I'll continue my research. Of course the midpoint of that was this thread. I sure appreciate all of you taking the time to share your thoughts! Thanks much!

 

[DominionSeraph]

You need a Unimog. Unfortunately they don't come in nuclear powered, which is what you really need for trips to Lowes.

 

[MiataNC]

Not all used cars are equal. Lease returned Certified Pre-Owned cars and trucks are backed with the same warranty coverage as new. Sometimes even better.

Ford/Chevy/Dodge offer crazy amounts of incentives at different times of the year. This kills resale and trade-in value for people who buy new at the wrong time. If you decide to go new make sure you are not paying too much.

 

[MBentz]

Get the diesel, it's what you want.

My step dad just picked up a new Dodge 3500 with the crew cab with all the incentives out. Shit is nice.

 

[MtnMan]

Everytime I hear a Powerstroke Furd go by they all sound like it's not hitting on all cylinders, never notice it on Ram's or Chevy diesel powered trucks.

 

[eldorado99]

From a practicality standpoint nothing you said "qualifies" having a diesel. In fact, it sounds like a huge waste of money because you are just buying it to go to home depot. That said: I have a diesel 1 ton RAM which doesn't go through much rougher duty than that, which is something a Ford Ranger could do, but I bought it because I wanted it just like you, and I love it.

 

[chucky2]

I'm a Ford guy, get Z plan through my dad, but here's another suggestion you don't want to hear...

...what about the new Dodge 1/2 ton, with diesel? It has a nice ride but obviously takes a capability hit to the rear coil springs instead of leafs, is a Dodge and not a GM/Ford quality, but, you can get an 8' bed, diesel, plenty of capability for what sounds like an occasional weekend warrior. The only thing, if you need to buy now rather than wait a bit, is see how Dodge's new diesel actually performs. And then of course there's the new 2015 F-150 coming. No diesel, but, lots lighter...

 

[CurseTheSky]

Keep in mind that while diesels are generally more robust and last longer than gasoline engines, they also can cost a LOT more if something does go wrong.

I would look at your projected life for the truck. If you're going to drive it into the ground and keep it for at LEAST 15 year or more, the diesel may not be a bad idea for the fun factor. If you think you'll be looking at another truck in the next 5-10 years, get the gas engine. Diesels do hold their value better when you're looking to sell or trade in, but the higher resale value will most likely make it significantly harder to find a buyer, as there are fewer people looking for a $10k used heavy duty truck compared to people looking for a $5k used average truck.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm a Ford guy, get Z plan through my dad, but here's another suggestion you don't want to hear...

...what about the new Dodge 1/2 ton, with diesel? It has a nice ride but obviously takes a capability hit to the rear coil springs instead of leafs, is a Dodge and not a GM/Ford quality, but, you can get an 8' bed, diesel, plenty of capability for what sounds like an occasional weekend warrior. The only thing, if you need to buy now rather than wait a bit, is see how Dodge's new diesel actually performs. And then of course there's the new 2015 F-150 coming. No diesel, but, lots lighter...

Will that VM Motori engine last?

 

[MichaelD]

Having spent quite a few years in Europe driving European diesel-powered cars and light trucks, I can say that the Fiat diesels are robust and powerful. Those cars don't get what Americans would call "regular maintenance" and they seem to last a good long time despite the neglect. Heck, I owned a Ford Escort station wagon with a 4-cyl diesel. It had seen a hard life before me. It had about 132K/Km (82K miles) on the clock and still got almost 30mpg. It had a little oil seepage around the head gasket but that was it for probs. Not a direct comparison, but still.

All the Fiat Doblos and the larger trucks/vans over there all have 4cyl diesels of some flavor. These are fleet-type vehicles that get ridden hard and put away wet and dirty. I see no reason why they wouldn't run long and hard over here. That said, I don't care for Ram styling. Trucks, like cars, are a personal decision. One size/style doesn't fit all.

My need for a pickup is definite. Despite owning a capable SUV, there is always some crap that doesn't fit inside. I've needed a pickup for a long time now; just couldn't fit it in the budget until now.

Definitely leaning towards a gasser now. If money was no object, then it would be the diesel hands-down. But CurseTheSky made a good point about resale value years down the line. I keep vehicles for a long time. It would be difficult getting "a premium price" for a 10-year old truck w/a diesel vs "a good price" for a 10-year old truck with a gas engine.

 

[LTC8K6]

I can't recall the reputation of the VMM 4 cylinder diesel in the Jeep Liberty here in the US.

At that time VMM was part of Detroit Diesel, I believe.

 

[heymrdj]

I'm a firm believer in just getting what you want, and if a diesel is what you want, i'd get it.

My only concern would be the fact that's it's not your DD (daily driver). The new emissions systems the diesels have to have take a major lifetime beating if they aren't allowed to get to temperature often. Driving a quick trip (have no idea what your trips are, so this is just a heads up) and leaving the vehicle to sit long periods of time is going to create issues on these new diesels. This is something the European diesels don't deal with.

If it were me? Down payment, trade in the commuter, and cruise around in a sweet Lariat. Me? I'm keeping an eye out for a one-two year old leased (13/14) King Ranch crew cab F-150 ecoboost soon (about another year, after the new ones come out).

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for bringing up the emissions system thing, heymrdj; that is an important thing and something I'll need to research further if thinking about the diesel.

My daily commute is almost 100 miles round trip, so 500 miles a week JUST going to work, not including weekend errands...I put serious miles on my commuter car. Which is why my daily driver is a Ford Focus w/a 5-speed. It's hard to argue with 34mpg. If I don't put my foot in it (which ain't often) I have seen 36mpg. I'd go broke using a pickup of any flavor as a daily driver.

I have a unique usage situation here. Need a gas-sipper 90% of the time but that other 10% of the time I need a work truck that I'm not putting money into b/c it's a beater. Of course there is NEED and there is WANT. :sneaky: I have jonesed for an F250 for a long time. Hey, I work for my money, so why not?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Still not sure what you're doing that requires a f250 or even a new f150. My usage scenario is just like yours. Long commute to work and still need a truck for typical homeowners stuff. I ended up buying a 2003 Silverado v6 for pickup duties. Sure I had a few things fixed and added a better sound system but that pales in comparison to the amount you'd be paying for a f250. Now the only costs I have are tags, inspection, routine maintenance.
I dd a Honda fit.

 

[MichaelD]

I have had plans for a "mobile DJ" side business for awhile now. It has been back-burnered for awhile due to my primary job which is obviously more important than a "side business b/c I want to." I own a pretty decent PA system. Tops/subs/amps enough for 500+ people, indoors. I also own stands/lights and all the cabling to hook it up. It requires a 12-foot trailer to haul it all b/c it doesn't stack very well, put it that way. That's roughly 5K pounds by my estimate. I have towed said trailer with my V6 powered SUV. It was barely adequate. I wouldn't want to do that for a long trip, for sure.

I'm planning for the future here, trying to ensure I have enough truck. Don't want another SUV b/c that's useless for the "Home Depot runs." V6 isn't enough for what I want to do. Don't NEED the diesel. WANT it, yes.

As I've stated; many good suggestions have been brought up here, so I'm considering a lot of options, but leaning towards the gasser at this point.

 

[heymrdj]

Having spent quite a few years in Europe driving European diesel-powered cars and light trucks, I can say that the Fiat diesels are robust and powerful. Those cars don't get what Americans would call "regular maintenance" and they seem to last a good long time despite the neglect. Heck, I owned a Ford Escort station wagon with a 4-cyl diesel. It had seen a hard life before me. It had about 132K/Km (82K miles) on the clock and still got almost 30mpg. It had a little oil seepage around the head gasket but that was it for probs. Not a direct comparison, but still.

All the Fiat Doblos and the larger trucks/vans over there all have 4cyl diesels of some flavor. These are fleet-type vehicles that get ridden hard and put away wet and dirty. I see no reason why they wouldn't run long and hard over here. That said, I don't care for Ram styling. Trucks, like cars, are a personal decision. One size/style doesn't fit all.

My need for a pickup is definite. Despite owning a capable SUV, there is always some crap that doesn't fit inside. I've needed a pickup for a long time now; just couldn't fit it in the budget until now.

Definitely leaning towards a gasser now. If money was no object, then it would be the diesel hands-down. But CurseTheSky made a good point about resale value years down the line. I keep vehicles for a long time. It would be difficult getting "a premium price" for a 10-year old truck w/a diesel vs "a good price" for a 10-year old truck with a gas engine.

At the end of the day, you're right in your own previous post, you gotta buy what you enjoy every once in awhile. Posters like above have other priorities. If you like to spend money on cars, more power to you, that's where I spend my money . There's actually a thread on my fordtruckenthusiasts forum with the same battle you went through previously, F-150 vs the 250. At the end of the day, if you want something that lasts a really long time, a gas F-250 with that beautiful 6.2L is the way to go, it doesn't need the maintenance of the diesel, but you get the major points of longjevity, the big one being full float vs. semi-float axles. If you want a truck you can put anything on or behind, and you're gonna take care of it forever, it really is the way to go. But if diesel is what you want, get it, the 6.7L is a beast of an engine, and 2015 it's getting even more powerful. Even I've thought about a nice gas 250 vs a 150, just because I plan to pay off the truck and keep it 11 years like the Expedition (until it got totaled).

Still not sure what you're doing that requires a f250 or even a new f150. My usage scenario is just like yours. Long commute to work and still need a truck for typical homeowners stuff. I ended up buying a 2003 Silverado v6 for pickup duties. Sure I had a few things fixed and added a better sound system but that pales in comparison to the amount you'd be paying for a f250. Now the only costs I have are tags, inspection, routine maintenance.
I dd a Honda fit.

Both of those sound boring as hell, I've been in those early decade chevy's, everything is like a vinyl covered plastic, even on high end trims (and it's not even the good quality plastic, it looks like the brittle crap. Every 10 year old chevy I've been in just looked disgusting). I think Ford really one upd chevy on those pickup and SUV interiors at the time in terms of having a quality look and feel.

I know your past history on vehicles and how you took a major loss for what you deemed as a stupid decision. You don't like to spend any money on decent, or especially fun, transportation. Your driving is life is boring. This thread isn't meant for you. :whiste: