trapperkeeper said:
$2.06/gal RUL vs. $2.69/gal D2 LSD is a 29% cost adder for the diesel. Add another $.10/gal to run standyne or PS for better lubricity and anti-gel, etc and that makes it $2.09 RUL vs. $2.79 D2 LSD which is an overall 33.5% premium to run diesel. In the Golf gasser vs. Gold TDI discussion, lets say that the gasser = 32MPG overall and the TDI = 45mpg overall (pretty much what I have averaged over 13K miles taking summer and winter driving into account).
You don't have to add any additives anymore than you have to add any to RUG! So that alone drops the cost back down by $.10/gal.
So the TDI advantage in MPG is 40%. The net is that the higher cost of diesel in VT costs me 33.5% MORE to run the TDI for a savings of 40% so operating costs (maint aside) are in favor of the TDI by a measley 6.5%. But the TDI also costs $1200 MORE than the gasser Golf. So over the course of say, 4 years, there is no benefit from an economy perspective to running the TDI.
Not good mathematical logic at all because the variables of the price gap have just become as large as $.53/gal. The gap wasn't that big before now and was basically nothing a few months back. Don't factor in a $.53 gap for 4 yrs when it has never existed, it may only be that big for a week or two. Over the course of the next four years, there may certainly be times when D2 costs less than RUG which would totally wipe out any need for this discussion. There are times when D2 is cheaper, and over a four year period...it is highly unlikely for the gap to remain so large in favor of gas.
And the real kicker is owning a Prius and getting the same MPG as the TDI, but paying the low cost for RUL really makes the Prius MPG around 60mpg if you normalize for the high cost of diesel with the TDI. So I just don't see how diesel is going to get anymore market share. Yes, I could have bought a Prius and am glad I didn't sicne I personally didn't like it, but I was unprepared to get totally screwed with the price of diesel being and remaining so high.
Again, jumping to futuristic conclusions is just a waste. You are making blanket statements about things that haven't yet happened as if D2 will always stay 53 cents higher. The Pius only gets good MPG in the inner city (and it won't be 60 MPG!). Are you never going to drive on the highway? What about the extremely high cost of the battery replacement later on?!
And I really don't see anyone saying anything about it, and nobody is doing anything about it. Great for hybrid sales since if a new person walks into a showroom and is looking for an efficient car, way more hybrid choices that don't use expensive fuel. The current diesel prices make Premium running cars look attractive!
Granted, it doesn't look as attractive for diesels with D2 being higher priced right now, but most people know the fuel market changes often and that the price of RUG can skyrocket in a NY minute, it could certainly go much higher than D2 with a few global changes. The advantages of a diesel in the long run are still intact. Besides, every time you run that SUV you are chopping big amounts of it's life-span down, with a TDI...they keep going and going and....you get the picture. If I were ever going to consider buying a hybrid, it wouldn't be with the guinea pigs of today...it will be a diesel hybrid that actually gives great MPG!
And as far as running my truck, yes it will cost more even and $2/gal gas, but it's more a protest. It pains me to fill up with diesel + the additive at a 70cents/gal premium for no good reason. So, I'll fill up with cheap gas and drive my SUV while I wait (and hope) for diesel to come down...
Personally, I'm glad that RUG is down because I have needed to drive my Caravan lately and it has cost me less to do so than a few months ago. But every chance I can...I drive my TDI because it's cheaper, it will last way longer, it's much more fun to drive, and the less miles I put on the Caravan, the better. If you think your anger is being felt in any way by the D2 people, it's not. I understand your feelings, but it's still just a swing in price that happens on both sides of the road (D2 vs. RUG) at different times. People are learning the value of diesels now and it won't be much affected by a fuel price difference unless the gap is real big for real long. Temporary swings should be expected in such a vulnerable market like fuels. Enjoy the SUV if it makes you feel better, that's your freedom, but it ain't helping the situation change at all. You're wasting instead of conserving. A $.53 gap at these prices still puts the TDI easily ahead of an SUV. In my area, there is a $.30 gap between D2 and RUG so driving the Caravan doesn't make any sense unless it's needed for more passengers (which happens). A 53 cent gap still would be cheaper because of the low MPG in the Caravan.
Cheers