Well ive wanted a CTD for as long as I can remember..really ever since the new (now way old) body style came out in 94. Now over a year ago I had the chance to buy mine off my dad as he wanted to trade it in for a newer model. Did I need it? No. But like a guy, I got it anyways. Well, several factors (mainly fuel prices) have come into play. I love the truck, its an utter blast! But dropping a benjamin every time I fuel up is really starting to hurt. Someone made the comment the other day that now diesel is $4/gal it will really start to seperate the people who HAVE a diesel and those who NEED one. And I really dont need one.

So here are a few delimas. Im almost 100% that my dad would take the truck back in a heartbeat. He honestly hates his 06, and after I dropped the chip in and put on the exhaust he's wanted to take it for a drive every time ive been home. If not, it would sell easy for alot more than I paid for it. However, im not sure how much better off id be financially if I were to even spring for a newer used vehicle that was better on gas. Right now Im paying $170/mo for payments and like $110 for insurance. So, roughly 300/mo not including fuel. Thats not too bad. I do have a motorcycle that i do 80% of my daily commuting on. However I cant take that on trips or dates and such. And I just hate having to pay so much to put fuel in it.

thoughts?

 

I say give it up. Buy another when fuel comes back down someday (fingers crossed!)

 

I've been going through this dilemma for a while now.

My conclusion, unless you are going to trade for something that will get 20+mpg in town I don't think it would be worth it. From my experiences you can never trade for gas mileage. Right now its kind of close if you really were going for a Honda Civic, but most other vehicles are going to have about the same amount in fuel costs. I compared an V10 Excursion a week ago

Type this up in Excel and start plugging in numbers and see instant results!

ok, lets say your traveling 5000 miles. The Excursion gets average 10mpg and the Dodge gets 16mpg. With, say gas at $3.50 and diesel at $4.00 per gallon.

Your cost with the Diesel = $1250 and the Gas = $1750

Ok, its cheaper with the diesel. Now if the gas was getting 12 mpg average your cost would be equal and so on and so forth. I also have a 1994 Grand Cherokee that takes the cheap stuff. It takes large sums of money to fill up as well.

Sit down and do some real comparing and start crunching some numbers. It may at first seem easy to say, well its 70 cents cheaper so it must be cheaper!

Consider depreciation, maintenance, etc. I considered a new Hemi 2500. I'd lose more in the next year due to depreciation than my 2006.

Well, this is just my thoughts and opinions. Do what you want.

Have a good one.

I've got to get some more coffee....you want to talk expensive!

 

I think if I were to go with anything else it would either be a used small truck like a Fronty or a Taco.

I know id have a real hard time beating the payments im making right now. And who am I kidding, neither one of those vehicles would be near as much fun as a CTD.

 

I looked real close at a double cab Tacoma. I really like the older body style better. Good luck finding a nice one though.

I just can't justify what they want for one of those things. I paid only a few grand more for what I have now, granted its not new. Also, I probably would have gotten the long box version which is about as long as a quad cab short box Dodge. The Taco isn't really going to get much better mileage unless you get a 4-banger, which you can't get in the d-cab (I know, under powered).

Hey, do what you want of course. I did really like the Taco though; however, what knucklehead is making all the automakers put headrest the size of stop signs in vehicles now? I understand it helps the crash test rating stuff, but you can't see out the back window of anything anymore!! (rant off)

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Have a good one.

 

with the low payments you have now and also with the bike to do your commuting, i think you are better off keeping your truck. jmho

 

If it came down to getting rid of the truck or stop dating, I would definitely give up the truck! lol.