On Mon, Mar 13, 2006 at 10:51:00PM -0800, David Brodbeck wrote: > With diesel now costing around 30% more than regular unleaded, I doubt > my next car will be a diesel. It doesn't make economic sense anymore. > It's not hard to find midsize gasoline cars that get 22 mpg or better.
If you are looking for something completely toasterlike, a coworker bought a new camry with a four cylinder. Window sticker claims 34 mpg, if you believe it. Somewhat impressive for the size of the car, since generally that type of highway mileage in that size of car is reserved for diesels or hybrids (which his camry is neither). Gasoline engines are requiring less and less maintenance as the technology progresses. More impressive is that my 94 crown victoria got 22 mpg off 87 octane before it started using oil. At 220k (and about half of that put on by a sheriff's office), I cut it a lot of slack. Still gets 20 mpg on the road. The new ones supposedly get 24-25 mpg without much effort. This is not to say that similar increases in technologies haven't been made in diesel cars as well. From just a mileage and cost of maintenance after the initial outlay of cash perspective, a 25 year old diesel is a hard sell against a new gasser unless you abhor driving pedestrian vehicles and prefer working on your own car rather than drinking cappuchinos in the dealer lobby. K
