I think you guys that are so enamored about diesel gas milage need to get a reality check. I searched long and hard for information on the V10 99 250SD before I bought mine, and what I found turned me off on diesels.

I read an outstanding article in a major magazine about RV towing. The research was thorough and comprehensive. It all boiled down the this: With the high buy-in cost of a diesel, along with the frequent and expensive oil changes and maintenance, a body would have to have a big RV UNDER TOW for over 200,000 miles to come out even with a V10 engined 250SD.

Add to that the absolute necessity of having to find a diesel pump to fuel up, often in unfamiliar areas, and it may not be a good idea for those folks that aren't in love with the diesel engine.

I've had my 99 F250SD 4x4 V10 for almost 80,000 miles now and I love it to death. Sure, it costs over 60 bucks for a fill up, but if you loved your gas money that much you'd buy a little-bitty car. I've used it fairly hard, towing a bobcat on a trailer, concrete trailers, towing cars, hauling rock, landscaping blocks, dirt, sand, wood, furniture, brush, and odds & ends. During the Nebraska winters it has never failed me. 300 or so pounds of sand tubes in the back and there's nowhere reasonable that I haven't been able to go. I can't count the cars AND TRUCKs that I've pulled out of trouble. I can head out in the worst weather we have here with total confidence. It's been in the shop only once for a spark plug coil. It gets a very consistant 10mpg in the city and 12-14mpg on the hiway. Cruises at 80+ all day. And the wife doesn't mind being seen in it. She hates to drive it, but that's not all bad...

So go ahead and get one. Don't worry about mpg's unless you tow all day, every day.

 

Jim,

One of my buddies had an 02' F250SD STD.Cab 2wd with the V10 and it was a GUTLESS PIG!!! The thing was so bad that on the freeway you could punch it and watch the RPMs jump but you could barely feel the truck moving any faster. More noise than anything. It was horribly slow. I think it was the slowest vehicle I have ever driven, no joke.

 

Well, I like the Dmax but, it doesn't sound like Jim wants a diesel. I'd say get a 6.0L truck and put that turbo stuff on if you absolutely need more power. Either that or just get the 8.1L and throw a whipple on it.

A3Z28 - There isn't a problem with you giving your opinion on here but, if someone doesn't want to go that route don't get so upset.

 

i'm not upset at all, just stating that the rational he's using doesn't make any sense at all. i don't get upset. it's not my wasted money so i could really care less.

 

why dont you ask deiselgeek about cummins?

 

i have and of course he is all about that motor. they are expensive and my least favorite body style. then there is the fact that they sound like a trash truck or semi. i also talked to him about the high price of diesel fuel, he is super smart and i knew he would have some insight on that, he is telling me the high price of diesel is likly to stick around. he said something about extra taxes and maybe some emmision things. can't remember but it is likly that diesel fuel will remain more expensive than gas. in contrast the v10 is happy on the cheapest fuel that you can find.

i guess i will have to go drive one of these trucks just to see. a dmax would be my first choice but i am looking for a somewhat cheap BEATER. my current beater is just too junky and will barely tow my truck 50 miles.

i have a couple of other options for really cheap trucks. i could just get an older f250 like a 95 ford with the 5.8 or whatever it is. or something like a 95dodge 2500 with the 5.9, seems like either of those trucks can be had for under $4000 if you shop for them. i anticiapte several road trips this year, it would be nice to have something a little nicer/newer than a 95 ford or dodge.

 

i'm selling a truck that would tow your truck...it's a procharged LS1 powered 01 reg cab...

 

procharger for a tow vehicle? , talk about an irrational decision

 

i towed my race car with it from virginia to texas got 15+ mpg all the way here and unhooked it and drove it to work for the first week i lived here.

 

I can understand wanting to try something different. You damn sure know how to get the GM's movin, why not try it with a Ford. The V-10 trucks I have seen have been pretty reliable, just gutless for that much motor. Of course a couple of turbos could probably fix that part.