Thread: The Cheapest Cars in America to Fill Up

Originally Posted by Andalublue

Possibly difference in fuel prices? Here in Spain diesel is considerably cheaper than 95-octane petrol, around ¢14/litre ($0.80/gallon) cheaper. As far as the MPG figures are concerned, I think it may have something to do with better development of diesel engines by European car manufacturers. I suspect US motor companies don't invest in R&D on diesels because they have a bad press in the US. Here virtually all marques and models of cars, SUVs and pick-ups offer diesel versions. In the latter two categories diesels are much the more popular. Honestly, I don't know anyone with a gas-fueled pick-up. It just seems a strange thing to want, a bit like asking for a diesel-driven Ferrari.

In the late 70s and early 90s US automakers produced diesel engines for cars based off gas engines if recall correctly. The were horrible and the high compression of diesel engines made those engines rather unreliable. The fact thagt fuel efficiency has not been much of a factor in the US for extended periods of time is another. Today a good diesel engine is far more expensive to build, then a gas engine.

As for pick ups

it is a little different. A large number of pick ups are not used for any heavy duty use, many are used for everyday transportation and as the diesels in pickups are designed for heavy duty use they have a high premium to the cost of the vehicle. As for smaller diesels being used, that has not been done in the US, as having a bigger engine provides or provided bragging rights

Originally Posted by Lord Tammerlain

In the late 70s and early 90s US automakers produced diesel engines for cars based off gas engines if recall correctly. The were horrible and the high compression of diesel engines made those engines rather unreliable. The fact thagt fuel efficiency has not been much of a factor in the US for extended periods of time is another. Today a good diesel engine is far more expensive to build, then a gas engine.

As for pick ups

it is a little different. A large number of pick ups are not used for any heavy duty use, many are used for everyday transportation and as the diesels in pickups are designed for heavy duty use they have a high premium to the cost of the vehicle. As for smaller diesels being used, that has not been done in the US, as having a bigger engine provides or provided bragging rights

Interesting post. That about wraps up my question. Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by Andalublue

Interesting post. That about wraps up my question. Thanks for that.

I forgot to mention one thing


Untill the 90s, large US cars and trucks would often share the same basic engine design. Today it is not as common for the cars with for GM only the Camaro and Corvette having the same design as GMs light duty trucks, the Mustang for Ford. Chrysler has more cars offered with a large V8 then the other US domestic car makers (5.7 L Hemi). This cuts down on the costs, and has made the pick up on of the most profitable vehicles to make in the US

Originally Posted by EagleAye

But my point is, people point out the battery cost in an EV as an expense while ignoring the fact that IC engines also have maintenance expenses.

And you've been doing it the other way. Making outlandish claims about how economical an electric vehicle is, while ignoring the tremendous impact that the cost of replacing the battery will have.

For the cost of replacing the battery in an electric vehicle, you can replace the engine and transmission in many internal-combustion-engined vehicles.

Originally Posted by Bob Blaylock

And you've been doing it the other way. Making outlandish claims about how economical an electric vehicle is, while ignoring the tremendous impact that the cost of replacing the battery will have.

For the cost of replacing the battery in an electric vehicle, you can replace the engine and transmission in many internal-combustion-engined vehicles.

6 grand to change the batteries in an older prius...you absolutey can rebuild an engine and tranny for the price of batteries....
Having said that there are companies working feverishly to produce batteries that are much cheaper for electric autos...

I personally will never own an electric car....I dont do enough driving anymore to justify it or to recoop any of the costs

Originally Posted by Lord Tammerlain

having a bigger engine provides or provided bragging rights

...and there you have it...in the U.S. people's egos are generally tied up in their vehicle choice. Never mind the waste of money and resources...gotta have that 4x4 with a lift kit crew cab long bed with 8.0L V-12 diesel engine. As my grocery getter. With mud tires, but the truck always seems to be perfectly clean...

Originally Posted by lpast

6 grand to change the batteries in an older prius...you absolutey can rebuild an engine and tranny for the price of batteries....
Having said that there are companies working feverishly to produce batteries that are much cheaper for electric autos...

I personally will never own an electric car....I dont do enough driving anymore to justify it or to recoop any of the costs

I wouldn't rule out an electric car in my future. As things stand now, there's simply no way that one would make sense for me, or for any of the vast majority of other regular consumers.

But really, the only thing holding them back is the batteries, which are too expensive, too short-lived, have insufficient capacity, and take too long to recharge.

There are tremendous potential advantages that an electric car could have over an otherwise comparable internal-combustion-engined car, but at this point, and for any time in the easily foreseeable future, the limitations of battery technology are just too great, and they simply dwarf all the other advantages that an electric car could have. If we manage to make a few important breakthroughs in battery technology, then a point could easily be reached where internal-combustion-engined vehicles would rapidly become obsolete.

Originally Posted by ChuckBerry

...and there you have it...in the U.S. people's egos are generally tied up in their vehicle choice. Never mind the waste of money and resources...gotta have that 4x4 with a lift kit crew cab long bed with 8.0L V-12 diesel engine. As my grocery getter. With mud tires, but the truck always seems to be perfectly clean...

What manufacturer makes a vehicle with a “8.0L V-12 diesel engine”?

Originally Posted by ChuckBerry

...and there you have it...in the U.S. people's egos are generally tied up in their vehicle choice. Never mind the waste of money and resources...gotta have that 4x4 with a lift kit crew cab long bed with 8.0L V-12 diesel engine. As my grocery getter. With mud tires, but the truck always seems to be perfectly clean...

Mine is certainly no grocerygetter. I have a car for my daily driving, but when we go to the field I have to drive my truck. I have to drive trails that HMMWV can get stuck in to haul out equipment and set up lanes. Several 2+ feet deep fording sites, steep hills, rutts. I might be one of the few but in my case having a big powerful truck with allot of ground clearance is actually practical. The 10mpg and $1000 for a set of tires is enough to prevent me from using it as a daily drive and for road trips.

Originally Posted by sawyerloggingon

If I were to replace my diesel pu I would opt for gas this time. Diesel used to be cheaper than regular gas, now it is more expensive than premium and the purchase price of a gas rig is way cheaper. Also new diesel motors in USA suck, the regulations they have had to meet along with the quest to make them accelerate like a gas motor has ruined them, nothing but problems from everyone I know that has one.

The nice thing about diesels in my experience was that you were pretty much going to get the same gas mileage goign up hill, downhill, with a full bed or pulling a house.