Is diesel still worth it?

[BiggSherm1988]

So, I know that the majority of the people in this forum are in the US so the input might be a little biased, but I find myself not being able to locate good solid information on the issue I'm faced with.

I am looking to replace my 08 in a few years and all the trucks in Germany are diesel, there is no way around it until Ford releases a ranger with a hybrid or an electric option. My question is, with the 2035 combustion phase out would it be worth the money to buy a diesel? I'm wanted to avoid buying a diesel and then 5 to 10 years later diesel fuel/road tax is so high that I can't even drive my truck. I'm not an economist so I cannot tell what will happen in 5 to 10 years with diesel prices or taxes. On one hand it's over 10 years from now so id most likely get 8 years out of whatever I end up buying but on the other hand once that stupid phase out hits, I'd hate to have this vehicle that I can't even sell. I'm most likely over thinking this. I did look at the new 3.0L ecoboost Ranger Raptor and it is a bitchin ride.

 

[sgtsandman]

You’ll need to do some research on this as to whether you can even bring the truck back into the states. Vehicles in the rest of the world are built to meet different emissions regulations than what is in place in the states. So, you might have to sell the truck before returning home anyway.

As far as vehicles going to electric by 2035. That is for new vehicles. There will still be petroleum fueled vehicles running around by then and after. Whether one can afford to fuel them or if gas or diesel will be available at that time might be a different story.

It is entirely possible that the market might not be able to support such a massive shift either. It’s just too hard to predict what will be for sure that far in advance.

Anyway, I would look at what the rules are for bringing a European vehicle into the states and if you can get one that meets US standards in Europe. And if you can get a compatible fuel for a US compliant vehicle in Europe.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Even in germany its not like come 2035 every diesel is going to magically disappear.

If the ban even comes to fruition. Id buy it and drive it. If nothing else as a big FU to the govt.

 

[BiggSherm1988]

You’ll need to do some research on this as to whether you can even bring the truck back into the states. Vehicles in the rest of the world are built to meet different emissions regulations than what is in place in the states. So, you might have to sell the truck before returning home anyway.

As far as vehicles going to electric by 2035. That is for new vehicles. There will still be petroleum fueled vehicles running around by then and after. Whether one can afford to fuel them or if gas or diesel will be available at that time might be a different story.

It is entirely possible that the market might not be able to support such a massive shift either. It’s just too hard to predict what will be for sure that far in advance.

Anyway, I would look at what the rules are for bringing a European vehicle into the states and if you can get one that meets US standards in Europe. And if you can get a compatible fuel for a US compliant vehicle in Europe.

As for bringing a vehicle anywhere I wouldn't have such issues as I have zero intentions on leaving Germany. I have some little ones cementing my roots in this country and I do love it here.

My inquiry into the issue is mainly insight on if the powers that be will make it harder to own and drive a diesel once the ban begins. I've asked some diesel owners here and it usually turns into them denying the ban and arguing that diesels were basically hand crafted and engineered by God to be liberation from petrol.

 

[BiggSherm1988]

Even in germany its not like come 2035 every diesel is going to magically disappear.

If the ban even comes to fruition. Id buy it and drive it. If nothing else as a big FU to the govt.

The ban is just for new vehicles so I image they wouldn't just disappear......I hope

I'm just trying to avoid getting stuck with a vehicle that the government makes impossible to own but impossible to get rid of.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The ban is just for new vehicles so I image they wouldn't just disappear......I hope

I'm just trying to avoid getting stuck with a vehicle that the government makes impossible to own but impossible to get rid of.

Thats the chance we all are taking these days. I wouldnt worry to much. Theres going to be fuel and IC cars around long after that ranger is worn out

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Check your options now. Diesels have been blamed for air pollution in European cities including in Germany, so some manufacturers are backing away from diesel engines in cars and light trucks. Sales have dropped a lot because of the bad publicity. Mazda dropped diesels from its line in several European countries, for example.

So I suspect now you should be able to find a gasoline (petrol) light truck there. VW and some other manufacturers sell small pickups in Europe that aren't brought here.

 

[sgtsandman]

As for bringing a vehicle anywhere I wouldn't have such issues as I have zero intentions on leaving Germany. I have some little ones cementing my roots in this country and I do love it here.

My inquiry into the issue is mainly insight on if the powers that be will make it harder to own and drive a diesel once the ban begins. I've asked some diesel owners here and it usually turns into them denying the ban and arguing that diesels were basically hand crafted and engineered by God to be liberation from petrol.

Like Rusty said, it’s a gamble many of us are going to take. The government may very well make owning any internal combustion powered vehicle so prohibitively expensive that people will just get rid of them one way or another or they may just let nature take it’s course as rust and diminishing parts availability takes them out. Or they might discover that a “one shoe fits all applications” was a poorly thought out plan and just keep producing both. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Chapap]

I foresee this thread plunging into chaos

Looks like the average cost (USD/US Gal) for the past couple months was $7.21 for 98oct gas and $8.00 for diesel. That's an 11% premium for diesel. Last month in FL it was a 32% premium. I really don't see the 2035 thing being at all realistic unless there is a MASSIVE boom in EV infrastructure. The country would implode. I'd think you're even safer with diesel than us since it appears to be relied upon so heavily. And if your fears end up coming true, you'd be right there with the vast majority of your neighbors... but I'd be more worried about the previously mentioned implosion.

 

[oldgeek]

I foresee this thread plunging into chaos

Yeah, the next thing you know is it turns into the pineapple on pizza debate.

It is going to be interesting to watch what happens as bureaucrats are trying to do engineering on a wide scale instead of finding out from engineers if what they are implementing is possible. It seems that if it can be said, it can be done.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yeah, the next thing you know is it turns into the pineapple on pizza debate.

It is going to be interesting to watch what happens as bureaucrats are trying to do engineering on a wide scale instead of finding out from engineers if what they are implementing is possible. It seems that if it can be said, it can be done.

Now take in mind, this is from the military perspective and experience over three decades. The civilian world may be different but I doubt it.

The government has been notorious for implementing a plan or program ginned up by a time line, by people with a lot of book knowledge but little operational experience, and/or because it is something they want for one reason or another. And the field gets to deal with the misery of a poorly developed product and leaves us and the people picked or directed to manage it. Often, the legacy program’s contract or whatever has ended. So there is no back up to fall back on. This is happening more and more frequently and more often over the past few years.

In the end, it gets made to work one way or another because we don’t have a choice.

So, hopefully, this doesn't happen with the EV push but I’m old enough to have owned and worked on some of the early vehicles that had emissions systems put on them. And I’m old enough to remember the frustration those older than me had dealing with those early systems.

I hope none of this happens this time but I hope you’ll forgive my jaundiced view on how I think it’s going to happen.

Back to the OP. Work with what you have available now and what is most common and works best for where you are. 2035 will work itself out in some form or fashion when it gets here. That’s still 12-13 years away. A lot can happen between then and now.

 

[wildbill23c]

Where I live diesel is $1.50 a gallon higher than regular gas...absolutely not worth it....add in the cost of DEF, the additional cost of routine maintenance and other repairs, and its far from worth buying a diesel anymore unfortunately.

If you are driving with a fully loaded truck/trailer every day, maybe its worth the headaches of diesel and additional cost, but for weekend warrior type people that pull their trailer to a camp spot a couple times a year, and they drive it back and forth to work, and as their family hauler, its far from worth the additional cost....Looks like when you click that diesel button on the build page on Ford for example its almost an $11k immediate jump in cost, that's a lot of regular gas and maintenance on a gas powered vehicle.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Even in germany its not like come 2035 every diesel is going to magically disappear.

If the ban even comes to fruition. Id buy it and drive it. If nothing else as a big FU to the govt.

And just for that, the government will outright ban ICE vehicles in 2036, as a royal FU right back atcha.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Yeah, the next thing you know is it turns into the pineapple on pizza debate.

Pineapple absolutely, positively, most assuredly DOES belong on pizza. Yummy!

 

[rusty ol ranger]

And just for that, the government will outright ban ICE vehicles in 2036, as a royal FU right back atcha.

Ill convert to propane and run a grill cylinder i dont care. Be a cold day in hell before i drive a vaccum cleaner