Recent Comments:
VW finishes development of BlueTDI; 60 mpg Jetta coming to U.S. this summer {Autoblog Green}
Apr 25th 2008 8:32AM Ken,
No doubt operating costs are cheaper, but your numbers are a bit optimistic. As well, include purchase price and the interest cost on that price increase as well.
So, $4000 turns into about $5000 over a standard 60 month loan. That $1000 you saved on your 30mpg sedan comes out in loan payments.
And, the second issue is that similar gas powered sedans (not the Jetta which uses a fuel inefficient 5 cylinder) are getting 35mpg hwy and not 30mpg.
Thirdly, diesel is running about 20% more not, 15% more. So if you're using $3.50 as base gas cost, you should use $4.20 as diesel cost.
Taking all those things into account;
10gals x $4.20 diesel = $42
60miles x 10gals = 600 miles
Cost per mile = $0.07
Cost to drive 20k miles = $1400.00
+ $1000 in extra payments interest = $2400.00
10gals x $3.50 gas = $35
35miles x 10gals = 350 miles
Cost per mile = $0.10
Cost to drive 20k miles = $2000.00
So, when you do a fair comparison its not quite that obvious a choice.
And, if you drive 10k miles a year like me, instead of 20k a year, the price ∆ grows to $700 a year more to drive the diesel.
UPDATE: BMW North America notified of eBay winner's plight {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2008 6:50PM Interesting turn of events. It seems if Ken had a case, Ken's lawyer wouldn't be petitioning BMW NA for help. Wouldn't it be simpler to just file and get on with it?
Hmmm.
Rendered Speculation: Ford Fiesta RS {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2008 3:54PM Considering the EcoBoost 1.4L makes about 200hp, and Ford plans on putting the Powershift trannies in a bunch of stuff, the odds are pretty good that a Verve/Fiesta with the 1.4L EcoBoost and Powershift will be the range topper.
As long as they are smart enough to make the nav system available in the Fiesta, it should be a pretty sweet ride for the money.
Not over yet: eBay buyer still trying to get M3 from BMW dealer {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2008 1:21PM Hooray for mob justice. Nice to see the blog-o-sphere has the same moral fiber as a pack of wild dogs.
And, no, I'm not affiliated in any way with the people involved on either side. I merely find the mob mentality on display, and the pride people take in it including all the ugly prejudices and lack of desire to even know the whole story, very disturbing.
