Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Gas prices are more volatile, basically. They move up and down quicker than diesel prices do.
I would probably be jumping beside myself with joy if it weren't for the fact I get 44.5mpg per gallon already and only refuel once every 2.5 weeks (cost per refill: $55 Canadian).
Using so little, minor price fluctuation is not going to rock my boat too much. That is also why I stopped short from converting my Jetta to run Straight Vegetable oil.
Back on topic (hehe), when I do get a diesel minivan, I would probably convert that to run straight vegetable oil.
Just got my Shell card yesterday and used it for the first time.
It's funny, at a dollar a gallon it was not worth getting the card to save 5 cents. You could shop around and find gas for 5 cents less anyway.
But, at $3.39 per gallon (around here right now), you're getting 17 cents back. That's fairly significant. If I fill up the 21 gallon tank using 20 gallons we're talking about $3.40 per tank!
We have a Chase Subaru card that caps off at $500 per year. We actually hit that limit already, and cannot earn more credit until September.
So we will be using the gas card exclusively all summer, then for gas only after that.
Plus, the Subaru card gives us 3% on all purchases, vs. just 1% for the gas card.
Over 3 years we've earned $1500 in Subaru bucks and I've used $400. Another Forester is in our future, I think.
May be a long shot...but can we start dreaming of a stick-shift VW minivan?
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/070619-5.htm
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html
Elizabeth
But I thought I'd reply not just because of the common hope of a diesel minivan, but also because of the disappointment in ethanol...I just wanted to add that it's not just irresponsible to use food in that manner...it's irresponsible to use our water in that manner!! (Corn is one of the highest-water-use crops!! Something to think about when much of America is in a drought...)
Thanks for the encouragement in knowing there are other diesel-loving moms out there!
Short answer; not happening anytime soon, if ever.
FWIW, the only diesel minivans with a body style sold in the U.S. that sport diesel engines are the Chrysler versions, however, the Mercedes engined CRD minivans aren't available here in the U.S., and I wouldn't hold my breath until they are.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Thanks for the reply to my post regarding a diesel minivan. I guess I'm just venting, but I don't understand why manufacturers are not marketing clean diesel options in the U.S. It just seems like such a natural fit to me since the U.S. market has such a lust for large SUV-type vehicles and diesel engines produce so much more torque and better fuel economy. As an advocate of this technology, I am frustrated that it is not available to us. It looks like I'm going to be signing up for another three years with a gasser.
:confuse:
-mike
http://www.jeep.com/en/2008/grand_cherokee/capability/engines/ :shades:
Best Regards,
Shipo
Do any sticker under $30 grand, for instance?
That's where the volume is.
Best Regards,
Shipo
A well equipped Tiguan breaks $30k easily so add to that if they bring a TDI.
I don't think you can get any hybrid SUV under $30k. The cheapest is probably the Escape hybrid in the low $30ks. The HH is well into the $40k range. And these are very small SUVs. Someone wanting an SUV right now can get some killer deals on new and used SUVs. VW makes a great mini-van with diesel. I see them all the time in San Diego. They all have Mexico plates. I thought I saw one with US Government plates and did not get a second look.
Toyota for 2010: V-8 Tundra, Sequoia.
I'm sure they'll be pricey though!
Good luck!
Escape hybrid starts under $28k. Vue Hybrid starts ~$26k. (US $)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Vue actually starts in the $24s, waaaaaaaay below $30 grand.
I'm staring at an options list right now. Honestly, I don't think you can get one over $30k even if you factory order every single available option. I'm guesstimating but they top out around $28k, it seems.
Escape hybrid starts at $25,075 for FWD, plus freight. Mariner a tad more. Didn't Mazda get one? Easily under $30k even w/AWD.
The Touareg II TDI runs $68,320 plus freight for starters. That makes a Tahoe hybrid or RX400H seem downright cheap. You may be able to buy 2 hybrid Highlanders. Close.
EDIT: Yes, you can actually buy 2, if you don't need a Highlander Limited.
The Benz GL is 50 something without the diesel, so I'm sure it's more than any Tahoe/RX/HH by far.
Jeep has the only down-to-earth price. Let me see, the diesel adds 1655 to the Limited, which starts at 35,965 for 2WD, plus freight. So over $38 grand before you add options.
The Highlander hybrid starts at $33,700 and the Limited is $39,950, add freight for both. Right near the Jeep GC CRD basically, or cheaper if you don't need a Limited.
Dunno, the diesels don't stack up well in price.
* Vue & Escape much less than Grand Cherokee CRD
* HH much less than GC Ltd CRD, but HH Ltd a little more
* RX & Tahoe hybrid much less than Benz Diesel or Toureg
The Jeep beats the Highlander Limited, but let's face it, mileage won't even come close, plus diesel costs more. Operating costs will be much higher for the CRD either way.
Plus I saw gas for $3.79, while diesel was $4.59 and higher in most places. I actually saw $4.10 gas and $4.99 diesel.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
hmmmm... really?
Who owns the definitive definition to sport-utility vehicle?
I would think it is anything that is both sporty and has utility. Heck, if I read that a certain way, nothing that is termed an SUV would qualify because I don't find them at all sporty.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
btw, in the new england area the ads for Jeep/Dodge refuel-america plan are inconsistent. some say 87-octane only and/or no-diesel. it actually looks like an interesting offer, especially for anyone considering buying the diesel jeep. maybe it's the dodge diesel pickups which are not included in the plan.
I don't either. "Sport Utility Vehicle" does not imply Sporty to me. It is a vehicle used to enhance whatever Sport you may like to do. Fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, camping, etc etc. I suppose someone could argue that a BMW X5 is Sporty as it out handles most cars on the road. For me, when I think of Sporty cars I think Porsche or Ferrari. When I think of SUV it is somewhere in a range from Explorer to Suburban. For me it is a real stretch calling an RX350 an SUV. I am glad they came up with CUV. It covers a lot of wagon type vehicles that cannot perform as I would require an SUV to perform.
For most people a mini van would be better. And a diesel mini van would be great.
Yet, I don't consider any of those things "sports." :P
Which still brings me back to my point. Since rarely can people agree what an SUV actually means or does, I call lots of things SUVs. I'll give you one point to think about. If someone's idea of an SUV is that it must be good off-roading, then I contend that a Subaru Forester is a FAR better offroader than a Suburban.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I bet the Vue has more room than a Grand Cherokee. Highlander, too.
If you need to tow, the Tahoe hybrid is actually a good choice. And it's a lot roomier than the Touareg.
Besides, this is a minivan thread, how are we now getting picky about talking about truck-based SUVs only? LOL
Plus, anyone browsing this thread is presumably considering a minivan, so an AWD Vue, Escape, or Highlander would be as capable if not more so even for your criteria.
ummm... uhhhh... ahhhhh....
i got nothin'.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And how that we bring that up, why no diesel or hybrid option on a minivan?
Excellent question. Seems Toyota and Ford both said about 5 years ago they were going to hybridize across the line-up. The EU has several choices of diesel mini vans. Same issues with the diesel mini van as with all small diesels. The CARB carrot is hung out just far enough to keep the automakers from reaching it.
Toyota may eventually sell one here.
A friend of a friend had a Renault (IIRC) diesel van, diplomatic tags, and took me for a spin. I was impressed with how flexible the seating arrangement was - basically 5 seats anywhere you want to mount them. So you could have 2-2-3, or 2-3-2, or take some out and use any combination.