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Mahindra diesel pick-up - worth the wait?
Vehicle: 4-door pick-up that seats 5, all wheel drive, 8.3in ground clearance, ABS, Electronic stability control, dual airbags.
Engine, transmision and tow specs: A high-torque, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that’s expected to be rated at least 30 mpg on the highway (unloaded) and be able to haul up to 2,700 pounds and tow up to 5,000 pounds. AND if it can be had for low-$20,000s?
I have a Ford F150 that gets 17 MPG, and need a family car for economical daily and road trips. This would solves my dilemma of needing two vehicles. What's your opinion - worth the wait till Jan 2010?
Engine, transmision and tow specs: A high-torque, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that’s expected to be rated at least 30 mpg on the highway (unloaded) and be able to haul up to 2,700 pounds and tow up to 5,000 pounds. AND if it can be had for low-$20,000s?
I have a Ford F150 that gets 17 MPG, and need a family car for economical daily and road trips. This would solves my dilemma of needing two vehicles. What's your opinion - worth the wait till Jan 2010?
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My hopes are that there will be a dealer somewhere near me (New England) and that the truck will be a normally aspirated Diesel (I have little faith in turbos). I understand that the hybrid version is on the way, but is going to be offered in two stages: a micro hybrid (just turns the engine off when idling) and then, s-o-m-e-d-a-y, a true hybrid. The micro hybrid is going to give no more than a 10% boost in efficiency (IMHO), and the true hybrid (betcha) will be delayed until Captain Kirk is an old man.
People in other countries who have used Mahindra vehicles say that they're "built heavy duty in all the right places" (I've heard that exact phrase a few times, now).
Ford has some kind of 4 liter Diesel for the F150, but I keep hearing horror stories about it. So... if the "Curry Wagon" is made available soon enough, I'll take the risk and buy one.
Sure is ugly, though.
A naturally aspirated diesel is an anchor with wheels. Couldn't keep up with typical US suburban traffic. I highly doubt they'd sell one without a turbo in the US.
Turbo's on a diesel are almost a necessity. Some of the most reliable engines in the world are turbodiesels.
Ford doesn't actually have a 4-L diesel in any of its vehicles (certainly not in the US).
The vehicles you've probably been hearing about are the current Powerstrokes. Ever since 2003, International and Navistar have built exploding engines for Ford's Superduty range.
Ford wants out of their contract with International/Navistar so they can supply their own diesels that don't explode.
If it is truly well built inside and out, I hope to test-drive as well.
What mystifies me, is this:
200 HP
440 ft/lbs torque
B50 life 408000 miles
oil change interval 7500
coolant change interval 300000
2007 EPA compliant in current configuration
V6 small footprint configuration
Why can't this go in a half ton pickup?
The bottom line was that instead of going everywhere and nowhere fast it is much more reasonable to experience going every where deliberately. I currently drive a turbocharged diesel SUV and long for the zen like driving experience of naturally aspirated diesel automobile.
The truck solves many of my needs all-at-once also, so I'm willing to take the $20k chance if my test-drive and dealership experience go well. i've seen the truck dressed up a bit, and I can certainly get used to the look.
Perhaps its not 'necessary' for all Americans to gun it at stoplights, but Americans typically do. I don't condone it, its just an observation.
Nobody is going to pay Frontier/Tacoma money for a truck that has no power. Not in this country. We have lead feet.
I have owned both a 1989 Ford F250 6.9 Liter N/A diesel and a 1990 7.3L turbo-diesel F250. Same truck, upgraded motor.
You may not think it's a big deal, but I feel the difference is night/day.
Anyway:
its not like it matters what either of us think about them, since I did check out Mahindra's engines and the one we'll be getting is a turbodiesel.
So enjoy the boost
Logical. I don't think they could meet emissions criteria on a modern diesel without turbocharging.
Also, I hear that California and New England emissions regulations may be difficult for any new Diesels. I have spoken to EPA folk and, without mentioning any actual results, they warn me that new Diesels for the "left" and "ice" coasts are experiencing some pretty rough regulatory hurdles.
Sigh...