tow trucks...

[Classic Finn]

A Ford Ranger XL Pickup Basic starts at 28.600 Euro here and thats a stripped down version ..to 35.000 Euro.. Made in Korea or someplace..

New powerful 2.5 litre and 105Kw (143 hp) Duratorq TdCi - diesel motor.

Classic Finn

[Unkl Ron]

I recently saw some Jeep Grand Cherokee's at the dealership when I was having my Wrangler serviced.... They are a 3.0 liter I think... sticker price was around 45k!!

I'd bet that's because it's got the Mercedes engine. Ought to be a really nice ride - SFC Hall could get one of em, when he gets back, then torch the back end off and turn it into a pickup... That would be a hoot!!!

BTW - Alaska Jack - You still take your Wrangler to a Jeep Dealer?? I can't seem to find any that know how to do anything right - the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time - must be a local issue.

[Jimbo]

Well, I just went over 100K in my Ranger, but given that my 87 Escort went over 300K I'm not looking to replace the engine any time soon. Howver, when I do, I wonder if there's a diesel that will fit...

Joseph

I drive an 89 Ranger to and from work with 189K miles on the original engine and tranny. It's loose as a goose but I figure I could probably squeeze another 100k out if the body holds up. I'm a big fan of the old Rangers. I can't imagine how long a diesel Ranger would last but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

[AlaskaJack]

BTW - Alaska Jack - You still take your Wrangler to a Jeep Dealer?? I can't seem to find any that know how to do anything right - the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time - must be a local issue.

I only take it in for regular service (oil change) as I bought the "lifetime service" thingy when I bought it in '05.... actually not a bad deal as it's pretty much paid for itself already.

Funny thing last time in there: They performed a "safety inspection" free of charge, then when they delivered it back to me they had forgot to latch the hood!! .... that made me go check to see if they'd tightened the oil drain plug, etc..... As for them doing "anything right" .... I think that may be more than just a local issue!

[asianflava]

These cars started out as production 170hp versions - this is not silhouette racing like Nascar, but real stock steel body cars, though admittedly stripped down to bare metal and rebuilt with 'little' things like sequential gearboxes.

What makes it worse is that NASCAR is going to (or already is) a standardized silhouette. The only things tham make them different are the engines and the decals for the grille and headlights. All it is now is big league spec racing.

Touring Car has so much more strategy, not only during the race but for the season. There was a short lived North American Touring Car Championship here but it only lasted a few years. A cool thing is that one of the drivers who won the gahmpionship came from my hometown. I knew him from our SCCA meetings.

[rbonner]

My work car is a 91 jetta echo diesel. 250k on it and still running strong. Wife had a new tdi beetle and loved it. Wish my ford one ton dually had a diesel, but my v10 pulls fine. You can still get some toyota diesel , isuzu pup diesels, and chevy s10 and ford ranger diesels on Ebay fairly cheap.

[caseydog]

I thought of you guys when watching the qualifying for the World Touring Car Championships from Monza, Italy - the top three cars on the pole were diesels!



The FIA (world motorsports body) has done a good job of providing a balance between petrol/gas and diesel engined cars. Both are 2 litre, but of course the diesels get to have a turbo. The race versions are putting out about 280hp with a weight penalty over the gas-engined cars of about 70lb. The sound of the race diesels is rather lovely - very deep but with all the hard edge taken off by the turbo - something like a very big compressed air motor.

These cars started out as production 170hp versions - this is not silhouette racing like Nascar, but real stock steel body cars, though admittedly stripped down to bare metal and rebuilt with 'little' things like sequential gearboxes. The talk is that BMW may switch from gas to diesel next year to stay competitive.

Andrew

I've stood right next to the Audi R-10s as they started up in the pits at an ALMS race. Amazing. Almost silent.

Gives new meaning to "Silent but Deadly," as they blow past on the track.

CD

[caseydog]

I recently saw some Jeep Grand Cherokee's at the dealership when I was having my Wrangler serviced.... They are a 3.0 liter I think... sticker price was around 45k!!

I'd bet that's because it's got the Mercedes engine. Ought to be a really nice ride -

I used one of those to tow my TD to the Arkansas TD Gathering a couple months ago. It had a sticker of $42,000, but it had everything I could imagine a person could want.

It was a nice ride, and did great in the hills. The fuel economy was good for an SUV, but still not great.

CD

[jagular7]

I've got a diesel CJ10A from the military. It was used to pull airplanes around (up to 20 tons).



It's now looking like this


I had plans for a project to take the form like this

But life scenarios came into play and I've listed it for sale. I've had consistent problems getting a clear KS title due to the VIN. KS considered it to be off-highway due to original mfr's intent to pull airplanes. I've now have a MO title. I've done a little driveline change, I've replaced the stock tcase (which was fixed in low gear with no high gear) with another for highway capable speeds. I'm still using and working on it, but its still up for sale. And I'm about to take the next step with another $1000, I'll convert it to a 4wd vehicle sitting on 39" military tires.

[H@nk]

Things like pickups, minivans and 4x4s (oops, 'SUVs') just won't sell well here with gas engines - a few will, but their resale value is poor as subsequent owners can't afford to pour money away on gas.

Pickups were almost unknown here 5 years ago, but in Britain the crew cab versions still get classed as commercial vehicles for tax so they are very popular with self-employed guys who can use them for work and still carry the family. So for example, the Nissan Frontier is sold here (as a Navara) and only comes as a 2.5 litre diesel, 28mpg (US gals) combined urban/highway.

But we also get things like diesel Chrysler 300Cs and the Voyager just wouldn't sell well without a diesel.

The diesel is taking over with even diesel-resistant markets like Britain buying more diesel than gas cars now. One demonstration of this is that Alfa Romeo sell a diesel Spyder(!):



Doesn't look like a truck, does it?

Andrew

Here in Europe we even have a Volkswagen Golf cabrio and slao some frenche cabrios. There is only one trademark that hasn't any diesel engine in the program and that is Subaru. All other brands have diesels.
Henk

[mb82]

I don't know if you all heard but Mahindra is talking seriously about coming to the US small truck market with a diesel. Talk is for second half of 2009 they will be here with 230some dealers. These are the same people who build the tractors and the oldschool Jeeps overseas. I don't have much more info then that but I think it was in Businessweek they talked about it. Something like that I would be interested in.

[Bill Fernandez]

Mind is payed for 1997 [url][/url]