Are Diesels Still Worth It???

[Timmay5.7]

Recently sold my stato, (very sad) and am starting to have a bit of a look around for my next car, this time a 4X4. Was thinking about a jackaroo, or navara, or hlux, something like that. Most of the time these are inside my budget, and everyone is telling me to get the turbo diesel, (more $$$) but better economy. :confused:
Given the current cost of petrol, and diesel for that matter, (diesel more than petrol).
My question is, is it still cost effective to go a diesel over a petrol, with the higher cost per Litre, more servicing cost, insurance (i think being turbo?). :confused::confused::confused:
Just after some of your opinion,, Thanks. :)

[German Statesman]

The quality of diesel fuel is still an issue, and the 3.0L turbo diesel Hilux i had didn't like dodgy diesel at all.

If you drive a diesel with the limits of its abilities, you will do fine and get good economy. If you try and drag everything off at the lights and pump out the black smoke you'll find the economy to be worse than petrol and costing you more to fill.

I had a positive experience with diesel, but I like LPG even better.

Cheers

JOHN

[Timmay5.7]

I considered LPG,, which probably would of led me back to a v8 (discovery) however my favorite holiday place where I do a lot of 4x4ing does NOT have LPG...

[F6 381]

Mate i have an 06 old style Navara 3.0L turbo diesel and with HWY and city driving i got 550k's with just under a quarter tank of diesel left before the better half filled it up again i reckon 600 out of the tank maybe a little more no worries.

And i give the Navara plenty of stick and it drives all day without a drama and loves the beach driving just let the stock tyres down to 12psi and you can go anywhere on the beach park up and fish your heart out :)

I service mine every 5000k's but you don't have to as they are due every 10,000. I bought it for 40 grand drive away and these cars hold there value better than our FPV which we got rid of 2 weeks ago.

I whacked in duel batteries and changed the shockies and changed the spring rubbers and it handles ok but the stock tyres were crap in the wet so i threw on some cooper tyres as the bridgestones wear in the middle for some reason.

There is some cabin noise but it's a diesel and the gear ratio isn't too bad just a little turbo lag down low but nothing a dump pipe,zorst and edit can't fix which is about 2 grand to do at the 4WD place down the road.

If anybody wants a brand new sports bar as we have a canopy on it it's for sale i have no idea what they are worth but it's sitting in the shed so a couple of hundred for it and it's yours.

[RED R8]

Bad news on the Stato Timmay...we sold a CRD KJ jeep to buy our Kluger we found the jeep was like owning a tractor and did not like all the clatter , we used to get about 580ks out of 65L where the Kluger gets about 460ks out of 65L but the V6 is SO much nicer to drive and has heaps more instant throttle.I would buy a deisel again IF I was four wheeling alot or towing alot but for day to day duties the V6 is better or nicer.Some things to keep in mind is the desiel cost about $4000 more than the V6 initial purchase (thats alot of fuel) the CRD had to be serviced every 10k the V6 every 12.5k and deisel is dearer at the pump.

[C4B]

My 2.5l Turbo Diesel Pathfinder (which is mechanically identical to the Navara) gets 9.3l/100 around town. I don't know the quoted figures for the petrol equivalent, but I've had a petrol Navara as a loaner when mine's been serviced and its trip computer has indicated around 15l/100km.

Based on that, if you were purchasing a Navara, you would still be better of getting the diesel....

[Steve-LS2]

If you're in the market for a 4x4 get an 80 or 100 series Landcruiser on LPG, my wife drives a 100 series, and I use it for our business after hours and it probably does about 800 kms per week and takes about 2 tanks on a bad week of LPG, about 144 ltrs.

That may sound bad but at 60 cents per litre it's onlhy about $80 a week, much better than $200 that our friends with a 100 series V8 pay for far less k's, ours is a six by the way.

[Idiocyxplained]

i still think the diesel 4x4 is worth it.... yes whilst it costs the missus around the 130 to 150 to fill her 3l deisel hilux, she gets over 900kms or nearly 3 weeks of driving out of the tank AROUND TOWN DRIVING think its 100lts tank...

im also about to fit an aftermarket turbo sys to it, should stay with the same economy or better it...... if you buy a deisel please get turbo..... hell of alot better for towing driving 4x4ing....

my thoughts on a deisel

[blackduck]

Hope I haven't duplicated the reply!!

Just picked up a current model Pajero 3.2lt Turbo d. Main reason is for towing the boat.

The SSV tows it great on the HWY, but not over the rocks and dirt getting into a lake. Pajero tows at about 14-15lts/100ks, SSV at 17lts/100ks. Price of diesel is the same as Vortex 98, so slightly cheaper in the Pajero.

Compared to the Jackeroo SE V6, the Pajero does run rings around it!! Jackeroo tows at 19-20 lts/100ks. The turbo D Jackeroo was too expensive at the time I picked the 5 years ago.

so, i have no regrets buying the Pajero, especially for towing.

[matthewfnorbert]

yep i have a pajero 3.2DiD swb auto, tow 1200kg boat and get less than 14l/100 on a trip from say sydney to gundagai to sydney via bathurst.. tow very well and could not be happier! current model quiet too

[smokiebbear]

Yes definatly. If you have ever been to Europe you'll see thats the way we are heading here in Australia. Lots of the cars run on diesel over there as the cost of fuel is almost double what it is here.

[Timmay5.7]

Hmmm, diesel sounds the go, plus according to top gear, i can just run it on left over fish-n-chip oil... smells good too! :)
Might just have to keep saving, or look interstate, just buying cars interstate scares me... Something about having to fly over in the first place, going all that way to be possibly disappointed anyway, etc etc. Bah, more thinking for me.

[zorro]

diesels are still looking good, if it is 4wd you are chasing the navara or hilux wont let you down. luxies hold value better than many cars and the diesels go on and on and on.....

dont let price wars make your choice, diesel is as high as premium is some days and LPG is on the rise (even though we make it in Aus and sell it to the world we get 40c inflation in 2yrs).

My mate has a '06 Navara TD, exhaust, tunit edit, top mount I/C, snorkel, lift kit etc and this this is a rocket, gets 600-800klms to a tank regularly. Currently he is looking at the LPG injection system for when he tows horsefloats (do a google search) which I am told also increases klms to the tank.

Got to remember with Diesels you cant drive them like a petrol motor WHICH I see way to often, hence fuel usage, shorter service intervals, breaking parts.

Good luck mate, shame about the Stato.

[Timmay5.7]

1. LPG is not an option...
2. Diesel is 10c more than premium (yesterdays price) is it still going to be better? I think so...
Oh well, I have a bit of time to decide anyway. Stupid higher w.a prices being higher :(

[Swordie]

What's you budget?

[Timmay5.7]

What's you budget?
To answer that Q... ^
Depends on the car.
But i would like to keep it under 20k, 15 if possible, I have seen a few td jackaroos and discoveries for around that range. Am I being un-realistic?

[German Statesman]

To answer that Q... ^
Depends on the car.
But i would like to keep it under 20k, 15 if possible, I have seen a few td jackaroos and discoveries for around that range. Am I being un-realistic?


A mate just picked up an '01 Disco TD with 80k on the clock for $14k - loves it.

[Timmay5.7]

A mate just picked up an '01 Disco TD with 80k on the clock for $14k - loves it.

Hmmm, not bad. However, landrover = full time 4x4 = no :burnout:
But still definetly an option. Got till April to find a good one anyway, so plenty of time for research...

[Swordie]

I would try a 4WD forum for a recommendation. The Jackaroos are meant to be ok. Toyota’s are usually king when it comes to resale value. Discos are more expensive to maintain and are harder to work on. The V8 Disco I hear works well with gas. 4WD Rodeos could be in your price range.

If you only do the odd 4WDing you could get two cars for 20K. For example get an older Patrol and use the cash left over for something that has good handling, power and economy. Patrols are meant to be quite tuff.

4WDs are not the ideal vehicles for driving around the city if you don’t need their capabilities. I’ve driven a 2.7 Diesel Hilux and found it a barge around town. Something like a Prado is far more advanced but still doesn’t have the handling of car. I have also sampled the latest v8 Discovery and found my Ecotec VY was much better to drive.

[F6 381]

4WD are great for driving around town sure there a pain to park but you don't get the knobheads pulling out in front of you or cutting you off as that great big shiney bull bar puts the suckers off big time.

And for idiots jaywalking around the place and p*ss bolting arcross the road in front of you well go ahead and you'll know what a roo thinks when he has been bounced at 60kph off the bullbar. That may sound a little stiff but i don't see why i should put myself in danger by swerving and maybe hitting another driver and maybe causing a huge accident or death to some poor bloke because some tool wants to run the gaunlet with a car.

I remember one night on Wanneroo Rd one day some of our local bush people were playing havoc with traffic as they were running out in front of the cars and people were on the brakes and swerving to miss them well f*^k that i just kept going straight and the look on his face :eyes: when he realized i wasn't going to play the game was pricelesss.

[mickeyVX350]

Buy mine!!!