Ford Escape or Jeep 3.0L Diesel

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

You know, I liked the PACER. Especially with the 258 cui engine. Too bad it didn't have a 5 spd. on the floor instead of the 3 on a tree.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

You know, I liked the PACER. Especially with the 258 cui engine. Too bad it didn't have a 5 spd. on the floor instead of the 3 on a tree.

Picky, picky, picky..........

[MCDenny]

Ken, I use fuelly for virtual new vehicle shopping all the time. It gives a real world view of actual mileage as recorded by people who at least care a little about economy, otherwise why would they bother typing in the data every time they gas up. Interesting too is the range of mileage for identical vehicles but different drivers. Obviously the driving style can have a huge impact on mpg.

[Ken C]

I never knew about the site, thanks. I was looking at trucks wondering what load was in the back or what was being towed. it's fun to look around at all the different combos

[MCDenny]

Bill, when I bought my last car, a 2007 RAV4, I really debated 2vs 4 wheel drive. The 2wd was $1000 cheaper and got a little better mileage. When I looked at 5 year old used Rav4 prices though, the 4wd option increased the used value more than $1000. Especially up north, I think people expect SUVs to have 4 or AWD, and demand quite a discount to settle for 2wd.

I'm probably going to get a 4 WD jeep grand cherokee next summer. I bet a 2wd Laredo V6 model is the least expensive (around $30,000 if you are serious about not wanting a lot of fancy options) rear wheel drive vehicle you can get outside of a pick up truck. 6200 lbs towing capacity and 24 mpg highway is pretty good.

The replacement for the Liberty is coming out later this year but I bet the 2wd version will be FWD as it is built on the Dodge Dart platform. I can't imagine it would tow more than maybe 2000# either.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Thanks Denny, I'm in the same thought pattern as you except resale doesn't concern me. My everyday drivers are driven until the "wheels fall off" as the expression goes.

[Ken C]

Today in USA today has section B cover story about Chrysler announcement that they will offer a diesel in their standard duty Ram 1500 truck.

[Night Sailor]

Diesel is the way to go. They pull great and the maintenance on the is minimal...mostly oil changes

[Bob Miller]

Ya, those gas-o-lene engines are real maintenance hogs, what with new spark plugs every 100,000 miles & oil changes only 1/2 as often as diesels you hardly ever get a chance to go to the dealership for service.

[Carol H]

yup its hard to believe that some of the gas-o-lene engine builders actually expect you to find the time in your busy schedule to change the oil ever 20,000 miles these days!

[Night Sailor]

Gale Banks will be selling these engines in the US with the associated computer module. It would make a good retro-fit for make Tow Vehicles. I can see these installed into Tahoe's, Suburban's, Wrangler's, older station wagon's, and any car that would fit a small block V8. These motors will be a hot riders dream for the fuel efficiency.

[Bob Miller]

Per #51: Which engines?????

[Night Sailor]

Gale Banks is a diesel performance shop. I was speaking about the new 30 liter diesel.

[Mike Magee]

30 liters, wow, must be for a Kenworth!

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Night Sailor

Gale Banks is a diesel performance shop. I was speaking about the new 30 liter diesel.

Presumably this is the Gale Banks 630T, which is a 3.0 litre of course. It is made by VM Motori.

[Bob Miller]

Not to be sour grapes, but I doubt if there will be much of a market within the FGRV market to have a single source diesel engine installed for around (WAG) $20k+, in a 10 y.o. TV.

In the Diesel "Performance" market, where they seem to have lots of money to throw around, maybe.....

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Not to be sour grapes, but I doubt if there will be much of a market within the FGRV market to have a single source diesel engine installed for around (WAG) $20k+, in a 10 y.o. TV.

I agree, and the Banks website treatment of this engine as a "project" rather than a "product" makes me think that Banks agrees.

The engine seems to have attracted attention among truck enthusiasts primarily as a preview of the engine's possible availability in Dodge pickups. For the FiberglassRV owner, the practical way to get one is to buy a 2014 Grand Cherokee. Of course, one could shovel similarly huge piles of cash at Volkswagen for a similarly powered Touareg instead.