Posted on 06/28/2013 5:26:37 AM PDT by thackney
It costs less to own a diesel vehicle than a gasoline-powered one, according to a study that looked at new car prices, fuel economy and resale values.
Owners of diesel vehicles saved average of $6,000 compared with the cost of owning similar gasoline-powered cars over a five year period, according to the study from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
The results were released Thursday at the 2013 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo in Washington D.C., according to the Diesel Technology Forum, an advocacy group that celebrated the study.
The main savings came from resale values and fuel costs, according to the study, which also considered repairs, insurance and maintenance expenses.
“These new findings that clean diesel vehicles are a more cost-effective investment for car owners reinforces what auto analysts and other comparative studies have determined in recent years,” Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, said in a statement.
Though a gallon of diesel is currently more expensive than gasoline, at about $3.83 nationally, diesel vehicles are far more fuel efficient, on average.
Diesel versions of popular cars are typically more expensive than their gasoline counterparts, but also hold their resale values better, according to the study.
The study also showed that diesel vehicle owners saved an average of $2,000 on vehicle costs over a three year period.
There were also some extremes in savings. On the low end, a Dodge Ram 2500 owner saved $67 in total costs for the diesel version compared with a gasoline version over five years. On the high end, a Mercedes-Benz GL Class diesel resulted in a savings of $15,619 compared with a gasoline version of the car over five years.
Diesel engines held a large edge over gasoline engines in terms of fuel efficiency, with several models showing more than 30-percent advantages in mileage per gallon.
As long as the diesel engine doesn’t need major work.
I just bought a Scion FR-S. It came down to that or a TDI Golf. I went with the Scion because it was a LOT more fun to drive on my 122 mile round trip commute and it meets all my needs.
The big thing that got me looking at the Golf was that I think Diesel is actually dropping in price relative to gas, and I like not having to hit a filling station every few days.
However, my best friend sold european cars for decades and was the sales manager at a Volkswagen dealership the last few years. I said that I would need to plan ~$2,000 a year in repairs. And because I no longer live in a megalopolis and the nearest volkswagen dealer is 90 minutes away, I backed off. It was also kind of expensive though I confess that in the LONG run it would probably be cheaper to drive.
As long as the diesel engine doesn’t need major work.
Not sure how that pans out...diesel fuel around here is the most expensive fuel. Just as you posted, diesel engines are more expensive to repair.
Another take on the subject:
Dual batteries, double the oil volume, fuel filters. Hmmmmm..”.
I would not have one simply because they are next to impossible to start when the actual temperature is 30 degrees below zero without being preheated by a block heater or garage. If you do get one going, they will bang and clatter until warm, which I don’t think is a good thing.
“However, my best friend sold european cars for decades and was the sales manager at a Volkswagen dealership the last few years. I said that I would need to plan ~$2,000 a year in repairs.”
I have a 2010 Jetta Tdi. It gets between 39-47 mpg. I have 51k miles on it and have never had a repair. Perhaps your friend is referring to the regular VW services? If so, yes, they are expensive. I did the 30k $900 service myself with $250 worth of fluids and filters. (I have since learned you can get the fluids at Wal-Mart and the filters at Advanced for a fraction of VW’s cost.) Based on my research, I am expecting to get 300k miles before doing anything major. By that time I will probably buy a new one.
Do you live in an area that goes below 30 degrees and not use a block heater? We did on both our gasoline trucks while living in Alaska.
This is a 5 year study, you WILL save money ON AVERAGE.
For every diesel that “needs work” there are enough that did not to offset the expenses.
Gassers are prohibitively expensive to service these days. The gasser BMWs cost over $600 just for a spark plug change at the dealer, Land Rovers $1,000 for spark plugs and wires, same for Fords with those weird 2 piece spark plugs. Other manufacturers’ cars are equally expensive as well.
Fuel injection service costs are the same gasser or diesel.
There isa reason you see zero gas engines in large trucks, they are too expensive to operate, and it holds true for cars as well.
I’ve been driving an F-250 for the last 104,000 miles. 99% of the time on bio diesel I make for about 50 cents a gallon. That’s about 7,400 gallons total used which cost $3,700 to make as apposed to dino diesel which would have cost me $27,380. This more than paid for the diesel version of the truck ($6,000 extra).
Bought a used 2002 VW Jetta TDI in 2011 for my 50 mile 1 way commute. Put more then 60000 miles on it getting 52 miles a gallon. Best investment in a car I ever made.....
But if you are one of the outliers, you are really hosed.
I will not buy another diesel that runs with a diesel particulate filter. What a jackassed concept. I’ve owned several TDIs and if I had known my 2012 had one I would not have bought it.
*IF* I keep this one till out of warranty (doubtful) the first time something in the dpf system breaks it’s coming out of there.
I bought a new ‘06 Duramax for my company when my ‘03 Silverado was getting 12mpg and gas prices soared in summer of ‘05. Got “Employee Discount” on last day, Sept. 30th.
The day I bought it diesel prices jumped higher than premium for the first time in my life. I was sick. Until I drove the truck just like I had driven the gas one. Consistent 17 mpg. Even at the high price of diesel, I was saving a lot on fuel costs.
Sold it 5 years & 60k mis. later for $12k less than I paid for it.
A no brainer.
Oh, yeah. Defective fuel injectors replaced twice under factory warranty.
Love my 2011 Ford F250 with the 6.7 liter diesel. Great for towing a heavy trailer in the mountains. After 2 years of ownership no mechanical issues.
I have a 1983 Diesel Oldsmobile — you know, one of those huge boats
— last time I did a MPG calculation I was getting just under 40 MPG (most of it was highway)… but, remember, this is one of those huge cars and 30 years old. In my experience Diesels break down less than gasoline engines, too.
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