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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

9316 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 9:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Biodiesel, Diesel, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Hatchback, SUV

Messages Page 769 of 932

#7678 of 9316 Re: Who really considers TCO when buying??? [gagrice] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (10:53 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 17, 2013 10:21 am)
gas was a very small part of the equation
 
That's what I've been saying. I feel validated now.

#7679 of 9316 VA politics by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (11:03 am)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mcdonnell-proposes-eliminating-v- irginias-gas-tax/2013/01/08/7858ba96-59c8-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_story_1.html
 
eliminating Virginia’s gas tax
 
would maintain the 17.5-cent gas tax on diesel fuel
 
Alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles would have to pay a $100 annual fee.
 
Makes no sense, it's like they are encouraging you to drive gas guzzlers.

#7680 of 9316 Re: Who really considers TCO when buying??? [ateixeira] by ruking1

Jan 17, 2013 (11:15 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:53 am)
Indeed. It is one reason why running 17/19 year old TLC's makes ALL the sense (TS in Gagrice's case) . Each TLC STILL easily passes smog. Both of mine are IDENTICAL to NEW, even though the smog ONLY test stations have much more accurate and exacting test equipment. Indeed getting a smog for either or both is really a travesty. In any case, I hope to run each to least the 30 year mark. Each engine has more than 200,000 miles.
 
SUV's would have to do a minimum of 45 mpg for it to make ANY economic sense. SUV's CUV'a are not even close yet.

#7681 of 9316 Re: Who really considers TCO when buying??? [ateixeira] by gagrice

Jan 17, 2013 (11:27 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 10:53 am)
gas was a very small part of the equation
  
That's what I've been saying. I feel validated now.
 
So why is the price difference between gas and diesel important to you????
 
I like diesel for the torque out on the highway, long range between fill-ups and being free from the idiotic designer gas that we are forced to use in CA. Gas that cuts my mileage by 2-3 MPG compared to gas bought in AZ, CO & NM. All items that are NOT brought into the TCO equation.

#7682 of 9316 Re: Who really considers TCO when buying??? [gagrice] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (11:31 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 17, 2013 11:27 am)
Prices are important to everyone. Except maybe the ultra rich.
 
I've kept my cars an average of 7 years or so, so it would be nice to break-even within that time period.
 
I'm not saying is HAS to (break even). I'd still probably pick the one I enjoyed driving the most. You only live once.
 
Range is nice, you and I are definitely on the same page on that one.
 
Selfishly, if VA passes that bill, I can cross the border (2 exits away, and I'm there all the time) and get dirt cheap fuel. It's already cheaper than MD or DC, imagine if they eliminate that tax.
 
Diesel is also cheaper in VA vs. MD or DC.

#7683 of 9316 Re: Who really considers TCO when buying??? [gagrice] by ruking1

Jan 17, 2013 (11:45 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 17, 2013 11:27 am)
While I know you are not addressing me, being in Tahoe (special purpose i.e., operation 7,300 ft app road altitude, right now) is a GREAT case in point. Turbo diesel applications are absolutely exhilarating when accelerating UP grade and altitude vs a normally aspirated gasser engines.
 
In the TLC for the same trip dynamics I would have to fill twice as a minimum. I would be less than prudient if I didn't start with a full tank.
 
The diesel, as I said before, I started the trip with 5/8s of a tank and I can literally go home with NO filling.
 
I see that TCO is a straw man even to the person that makes a huge deal of it (not necessarily true on paper AND the real world, as it turns out following thru with the TMV. )

#7684 of 9316 Re: VA politics [ateixeira] by gagrice

Jan 17, 2013 (11:53 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 11:03 am)
Alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles would have to pay a $100 annual fee.
 
Seems reasonable to me. CA and OR are toying with tax by the mile at 2.2 cents. That would be $330 per year on 15k miles. If the Prius gets 45 MPG tax at 67.1 cents per gallon tax the yearly cost would be $223. So that is about what is being proposed for VA Prius owners etc. Mileage tax for me would be a blessing. I would save about $350 per year over the gas tax I pay.
 
You do have cheap gas tax in VA...
 
http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-overview/industry-economics/~/media/Files- /Statistics/Gasoline-Tax-Map.ashx

#7685 of 9316 Re: VA politics [gagrice] by ateixeira

Jan 17, 2013 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 17, 2013 11:53 am)
Interesting chart.
 
I had no idea WV had such high taxes. Of course I'm rarely out there. Funny thing is you can still get gas cheaper than you can around the DC beltway, probably a demand issue.
 
Looks like MD tax is 3.6 cents higher than VA but the actual different in gas costs is 5 times as much.
 
And DC is worse than MD!
 
If VA repeals the gas tax I'll fill up there. Yet another reason to desire long range per tankful.

#7686 of 9316 Re: VA politics [ateixeira] by gagrice

Jan 17, 2013 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2013 12:03 pm)
Yet another reason to desire long range per tankful.
 
The difference in price of gas around here is wild. Over a dollar from highest to lowest today. All within a 20 mile radius. So for me having to fill at 300 miles or less on my PU truck means a trip to Costco 13 miles each way or pay up to 50 cents per gallon more 2 miles from home. Of course the local station owners know that it is 26 miles round trip and raise their prices accordingly. Today it is only 30 cents difference. So a 15 gallon fill is only $4.50 more at my local Shell. It takes approximately 1.6 gallons to drive to Costco. Which would cost me about $5.55 in gas. Now if I only filled half as often it would pay to drive to the cheaper stations down the hill. With diesel it is only 12 cents difference today. So not even worth the trip to town. Another reason to own a diesel. I spoke to a lady filling her GL diesel at the Shell station. She did not seem to mind filling it. She loves the vehicle.

#7687 of 9316 Re: EPA list of new diesel models slated for USA [gagrice] by houdini1

Jan 17, 2013 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 16, 2013 5:14 pm)
It is disappointing not to see a small diesel P.U. on the list. I wonder who will be the first to take the plunge, and also why it is taking so long.

Messages Page 769 of 932

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