Looks like the GM dealers just need to put a popcorn machine in their showrooms to reel you guys in... (thread "watched" )
My sister wants one in the worst way but they are expensive little buggers. From the numbers I've seen they are pretty impressive and would give half ton gas trucks a run for their money. I haven't seen any out and about to talk to the owners and get their opinion though.
I've seen a few in the wild, but haven't talked to any owners yet to get real world mpg numbers. Most diesel drivers tend to inflate their mpg's by giving the best case numbers. Many never tow or even put on highway miles! And I can't believe how many trucks are just daily drivers and have never had anything in the bed!!! The diesel truck market is so out of control on prices that it's making it harder and harder to justify buying a truck at all. And , sadly, people are still buying them. Diesels are, without a doubt, the new hot rod. And they're quite, comfy and pretty. But very high priced. The resale value is very good also. I'd love to drive a Colorado/Duramax to see what they're like. I feel certain they will perform well. But if your going to haul with the bed, don't expect it to be a big load if you get the 5'2" box. Towing is is good at 7600 #. The advertised mpg at 19/26 is good. Comparing the Ram EcoDiesel to the Colorado/Duramax is a bit of a stretch, but I think as far as diesels go, the Duramax is a good engine. Isuzu made/designed some good diesels in the 3/4 ton segment. The Fiat/VM/Duramax I4 should be good also. The VM Motori in the Ram has some big shoes to fill. IMHO Ram should not have switched to the Fiat engine after Cummins put them back on the map in the HD segment, but I can see why they did it since they own VM. Is it a good motor? Probably. As good as a Cummins? We'll see. Ford is still talking half ton diesels also. But, so far, we're still waiting.
I agree with ya TD. Just remember this is a pocket sized truck too. I could almost haul it around in the bed of my ram 2500 diesel.
^^^ No problem, a co- worker just bought one and he likes it. I can't spend that kind of cheddar on a small truck and it takes DEF.
Yes the def is a pain. Mine will soon be free of it though. A co-worker said that a company has one of the diesel Colorados and tuned it with all the factory emissions and got another 75lbs and x amount of HP.
The new Colorado is the s10 in most of the world already. Brazil for example has almost all diesel s10 and has for years. Its new to us but not to the rest of the world. The new us engine has to meet the EPA standards in our country but the basic design is well proven. The DEF system used on large engines has been designed into the us version and most don't use a muffler do to its advanced exhaust design to meet or very strict diesel emissions laws.
Same with the VM Motori in the Ram/Jeep. The v6 diesel was developed 7 years ago for Cadilac in Europe. The hardest part of adapting this motor for use in 5 countries is making the different emission packages work for all five sets of standards.
I have nothing to contribute but am interested to hear about the little diesels that are coming out now. The benefits would have to be substantial for me to deal with the cost and the emissions def crap.
Give them time. Toyota will have to have a diesel in their line up to compete with the big 3 and Nissan
Ford isn't just talking half ton diesel, they already announced the 3.0 diesel that already is in range rovers and other currently available vehicles. 2018 models have been announced. With the EPA'S onslaught on non HD truck diesels, I'd be leery of any diesel not in a 3/4+ truck. You'll get to like it, then the EPA will slap it down. You can't buy a new 2017 ecodiesel due to this issue.