Calgary Jeep Association
General Forums => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: rcktgirl on April 18, 2011, 09:14:40 AM
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hello everyone
I'm planning on buying a new Jeep Grand Cherokee near the end of this year or the new year of 2012. I just read online that Jeep will be making the Grand Cherokee diesel in 2013. So here is my question....is diesel really that much better? My stepdad has a VW golf (diesel) and he absolutely loves it because it goes 1000km's on one tank of gas. So aside to having better fuel milege, what other benefits does a diesel have? Is it worth waiting another year?
Thanks!
Stella
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Some other common traits of diesel engines is they offer a lot of torque, which is great for towing, off-roading, hauling groceries etc. The pulling power of diesel's is fantastic :)
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find a dealer that has the new GC with the hemi and drive it. then check out their used lot for an older GC with the 3.0L diesel. drive them and compare. ive driven plenty of both. for al around use id go with the hemi, but the diesel is a close second. the maintenance on the diesel will always be more money. dont even bother with the 3.6L v6. i had a good long drive in one last week and i was disapointed. although it was in a journey.
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Also, if it's something you want to get into. You can brew your own biodiesel in your garage.
Companies out of the States sell the kits, and supposedly get your fuel cost down to US$1/Gallon. As opposed to the $US4-5 it is now.
Winter time requires a fuel additive to keep the diesel from gelling. And plug it in colder than -10.
Plus your performance mods are more plentiful and more noticeable. Intake, exhaust, injectors, tuner, water/meth injection, bigger turbos, more fuel, yadda, yadda.
From what I recall, the 3.0L Common Rail does have an intake and exhaust kit available, and I think someone makes a tuner for it too. You'll never get to 500+ horse like the pickup trucks can get, but every little bit counts, and the bonus, at highway speeds is when its most efficient.
Now only if it came with a stick, like it does in Europe... :'(
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Advantages of diesel?
Better fuel effeciency
More reliabile....well it depends
Longer engine life
Better for towing
(highway driving Effeciency wise)
More space between required services
Higher resale value compared to other models
....anymore?
Disadvantages?
More expensive maintenance
(Diesel is just as expensive as gasoline to buy at the pump)
you might not like the characteristics of the engine
....anybody got more
I'd only wait for the diesel if you really have your sights set on it, if you were not even considering it before, you probably won't miss having it.
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one of my biggest pet peeves with a diesel...... finding a gas station that sells diesel, it does appear it has gotten better over the past couple of years though.
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thank you for all the replies. My stepdad has a VW Golf diesel and he raves about it but it's a tiny little car. I have never really considered a diesel before so I guess I won't really know the difference. I did however drive a friends diesel truck up to Edmonton towing a trailer and 3 bikes. It sucked the gas right up so I'm not sure if it was just his truck or if it really is like that.
I don't drive my vehicle often as I take public transit to work M-F. I only drive my vehicle to my night job and over the winter as I ride my motorcycle all summer. So in the grand scheme of things, fuel efficiency isn't really my highest concern. Just wanted to know if it's worth the wait or if I should just pick up the new vehicle at the beginning of 2012
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I want a diesel wrangler so bad it hurts. But that is a dream that just won't happen. They offered the diesel in the GC before and dropped it, I wonder if this time they'll keep it around for a few more years.
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get one with a hemi then. much better for the shortish commutes. the diesel won't like the winters as much either.
drool
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I want a diesel wrangler so bad it hurts. But that is a dream that just won't happen.
I feel your pain!!!
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Diesels like to be worked. Idling and short commutes are really bad for them so if you do a lot of this don't get a diesel.
Check the specs on it, I didn't think that the fuel economy specs for the diesel Grand Cherokee and and Liberty were all that great.
Also there is currently a shortage on diesel so the current pump price is about $1.30/L. That kinda takes the savings away.
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I looked at both when I bought my grand. The diesel is great if you do lots of driving, which you don't. The hemi is not that bad on fuel if you dont drive it like you stole it. The 2012 also has a six speed auto which it didn't have in 2011. Go with the hemi if you want power and the Pentastar if you want slightly better economy with golf cart like performance. I'm sure the wrangler is great with the 3.6 but the grand is a dog. Just my two cents
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diesel pros's:
better fuel economy
ton's of low end torque
motors last for ever if properly maintained
high resale - just looks at what the 3L diesel GC's are worth compare to a hemi GC
cons:
higher maintenance costs - holds roughly twice as much oil and has a water separator / fuel filter
if you have problems with injectors, they are expensive (3K for a CR Cummins)
the emission systems on the new diesel are retardly complex, expensive, and hurt fuel economy
Diesel fuel prices will drop back down soon when the hydrogen (?) shortages stop
I have never had a problem finding diesel, even superstore has diesel in most places
If I was you, grab a hemi or even a SRT8 GC :o
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Any necroposters realize the original poster last logged on here back in May? ;)