Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary C
The heavier duty diesels that come in the dodge/chevy/ford 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks command about a $6K premium over the base gas engines. However these are much stronger engines than what we're talking about Toyota putting in the tundra. If Toyota is going to be able to make a light duty diesel work in a 1/2 ton they're going to have to keep the cost differential between the diesel and gas engines to no more than $1000-1500. If diesel fuel stays $1 a gallon more than gas I don't think they'll sell any even if they are priced like the gas engines. If diesel fuel comes back down to parity with gas then I think they'd sell quite a few even at a $1500 premium. Any more than that then forget it.
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Great point. I've advocated a diesel Tundra forever but now, with diesel costs out of control and such a small MPG bump, hard to justify. What would also be hard to justify is Toyota charging a 5-6K premium. The big three are having to buy their diesel engines from an outside vendor whereas Toyota is going with an in house motor. Basically, Toyota wants to charge 5-6K for a diesel that is just being marketed to help them meet future CAFE mileage numbers. Thanks for nothing Toyota.