Small Diesel Pickup

[glenn kangiser]

Tired of the crap American auto dealers (most manufactured outside the US) are feeding us?

I have wanted a small diesel pickup for a long time.  The old VW with their failed gas engine conversion was crap also. 

Looks like India is bringing something to the US that might be worthwhile  and they have plans to assemble it here too.

They were the manufacturer of Willy's Jeeps in India after WWII and currently have a tractor line in the US.

Hey, we already have to go to India for tech support anyway.

I want diesel to standardize on diesel fuel storage.  Gas does not store well.

4 year 60000 mile warranty - A dealer in Virginia is offering unlimited warranty for life.  2 and 4 door, 2 and 4WD models  30 MPG -testing being done for official ratings

http://www.mahindrana.com/indian-cars-and-trucks.html

Pix of one similar to the one to be offered in the US.  They will also have an SUV.

[ScottA]

I had a little chevy luv diesel pickup years ago. One of the best trucks I ever owned.

[glenn kangiser]

I think GM should have kept making them - then they may not have needed a bail out- but --- American Corporations are so greedy they tend to screw everything up.

[texasgun]

I have been following this truck for the last 2 years and 2 things seem common the price keeps going up and the date they are going to release it in us gets put off. 

[glenn kangiser]

Me too as it is the only small good looking diesel prospect being offered soon.  I think the price problem may be in complying with US requirements on equipment and safety as well as the low value of the dollar.

There is supposed to be a dealer in Fresno area - (Clovis) so I'm hoping it's close.

Too bad our domestic brands refuse to give us what we want but they can't afford to build a quality vehicle here anyway.  We couldn't afford it if they did.

In a few more years we will be down to 3rd world labor prices, then we can go back to making stuff.

[Squirl]

That is great.  Thank you Glenn.  I have been looking for this for a long long long time.  The only smaller diesels for a long time was a VW car.  Now they came out with the diesel jeep, but I didn't like the liberty.  Do you know the release date?

[glenn kangiser]

Sorry I don't, Squirl.  It is supposed to be first quarter this year but I haven't found a solid date yet.

As far as quality goes, I have no fear of this company due to their record and time in business.  They can't be any worse than what we are used to, and I do not trust any American brand dealers anyway.

Browsing their site I see they have a 350 dealer network set up.  There is a map to locate them - just not specifics on who.

[Squirl]

My only concern is that it is a first year vehicle and will probably have a few kinks to work out like all first year vehicles.

[glenn kangiser]

That could be possible, but I think it has been sold in other countries and India for a while.... we get to do all of the modification for the US testing though I assume.

[Squirl]

I perused their site.  I can see what you mean texasgun.  The articles on the page date back to 2008.  The price seems like it would start at around $15,000 and go up to about $25,000, which is definately in line with other light trucks in this country.  Under their spec sheet it looks like they even offer it in 4wd.  I am less hopefull when the WSJ article calls for it in Dec. 2010 - Jan. 2011.  I will probably buy a new car before then.

[glenn kangiser]

As I suspected.... emission testing etc...

http://www.leftlanenews.com/mahindra-to-announce-u-s-launch-date-by-months-end.html

[MountainDon]

I'd like a small diesel pickup with 4wd and decent ground clearance. But I'd like all you guys to buy one so we can see how the dealer network shakes out for a year or so first.

[glenn kangiser]

You're a lot of help, Don. [ouch]

I placed a call and left a message.  Will try during the week also.  I also sent email - told them we had a bunch of interested people here.

[Fred_47460]

I remember a story from a couple years ago that said Ford was going to start offering the Ranger pickup with a small diesel in them (I think it was a Mitsubishi diesel....or some other foreign engine). Obviously this never happened. Probably environmental concerns. I think something like a Ranger, Dakota, or Colorado with a small diesel would sell well.....I'd probably trade in my Tacoma (4 door/4WD) for one!!

[glenn kangiser]

I think lots of people are ready for one.  There is a lot more energy in a gallon of diesel and since it is an oil, the engines generally last at least twice as long.

The oil companies won't sell as much fuel, but what the heck - they are raising the prices anyway.

[texasgun]

I think the big 3 (or failing 3) would have alot of sales here in Texas for a diesel in a small truck. I have dreamed about a truck abel to haul my cattle trailer at highway speeds and still get 25-30 mpg the rest of the time. I drive a Mazda b2300 4 cylinder dosent exatley pull a trailer to fast but unloaded it fits my mpg requirments(barley avg town highway 25mpg). Other countries all have small diesel powered truck engines in thier mazda/ranger body as avaible powertrains. Our epa and I suspect oil companies have halted anychance of usa inports. How about a chevy or ford 1/2 ton with a diesel? would that not be the easy thing? I just dont need a daily driver in a 1 ton that takes a football field to park. I think a f150 or gm1500 with a smaller diesel would be a great seller. I know smaller diesels are avaible look at all the 2 and 3 cylinder diesels in tractors that run forever.

[glenn kangiser]

If you want to do your own conversion there are a lot of imported diesels at the Japanese engine importers - many with transmissions but I don't really want to go that far. 

A full size Dodge 3/4 ton is about the smallest available American truck that I know of that will get over 20 MPG and is easy to work on.  I am sticking with the older ones for now.  The new ones have problems.

My mechanic and his kids have Fords with diesels and they cuss them daily when they have to fix something on them.

I don't look to the failing US auto manufacturers for much of anything and the only way to make one of their products capable of heavy work is to add aftermarket parts so they will stay together. Too much engineered failure for profit in the US lines. 

They make most of their profit on repairs of things that fail just after warranty.  It is not a coincidence.  They know what lasts, so when they find it they eliminate it.  Long lasting products are not allowed.

I was head mechanic at an Oregon Dodge dealer in 1970.

[texasgun]

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/news/gm/fullsize/newdieselsfromgm.html
If you believe some things you read maybe they are considering it? A half ton that gets 30mpg from gm. Just hope it would be avaible in the mid 20's as a base work truck. I would pay more for a gm with a proven dealer/parts network even considering thier less than stellar financial situation. Just not sure about an Indian based company with a new to this country truck and all new dealers. Also with all the delays I really question thier abilities to be here in the longrun. Wouldn't be bad if you owned a truck that cost over 25 thousand and something minor like a starter goes out and the wait was weeks/months for a part? Also not sure I could live with that ugly bed design looks just like the cargo tiedowns on my first ford courier.

[dug]

I like the tie downs, that's the handiest place to have them. Practicality overrules cosmetics.

[MushCreek]

Back in the early 80's, there were diesel Rangers- they were rare, though.

[Txcowrancher]

I dont know guys. I really like my mahindra tractor, had it five years, very few problems. compared back then to massey, deere, etc and it was a really good value. I would definately buy it again. But as I see the country falling apart I will not even think of buying a new vehicle. I have a paid off 1999 diesel 3/4 ton dodge short bed that gets about 20mpg, and although I lust after a new 1 ton diesel it wont be happening. The one thought I have on the high mileage end is I would like a used jetta diesel, probably off craigslist with cash. cash is king that why we are all building our own houses, who wants a car loan parked in the yard??
Tom

[LeoinSA]

Back in '03 a buddy that lives 90 miles WNW of SA wanted to drive down to the coast.  He stopped by my place here in SA with his diesel VW Golf.  He'd filled the tank at home and had 90 miles on it by the time he picked me up.  We drove to the coast and diddled around there for several hours and drove back here to SA to drop me off.  There was over 500 miles on the trip odometer and my buddy still had over 3/8's of a tank left on the fuel gauge.

That inspired me to start looking at VW diesels - and I bought a 1 year old Jetta wagon in August of 2004.  I've put about 66,000 miles on the rig and the only costs have been routine maintenance - but my 100,000 is coming soon and that'll end up being $1,200-ish - but good for another 100k miles.

Here's my fuel mileage - http://www.fuelly.com/driver/leoinsa/jetta .  You can see the graph of my fuel mileage on my Christmas trip to California.  Details just below the graph.

The VW dealers (2) here in SA are typical dealers - and I've zero good to say bout them.  The only time they touched the car was while it was still under warranty.  So I use this guy as my mechanic - http://www.dieseltoyz.com/Tdi.html .  Click on the other tabs to read about his work on 1/2 cuts and Toyota conversions to diesel engines.

Also note the cost - WOW!

I can't see how anyone could rationalize the cost unless y'all had a steady supply of restaurant grease that ya could transform into bio-diesel or some such.  Even then it seems to me it would take years - hell, decades to amortize the cost of a conversion.

That said, here one that I've had my eye on... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-2CT-Diesel-1994-Toyota-Turbo-Diesel-Pickup-Truck-Conversion-34-mpg_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2eabb8fe1dQQitemZ200449523229QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks .

Finally - so's nobody will accuse me of pimping - I have zero relationship with Diesel Toyz except as a satisfied customer and absolutely none with the Knoxville eBay seller - other than he has some decent looking diesel rigs from time to time.

Oh - as far as buying with cash - the only way to go IMO.

[glenn kangiser]

As for the tie downs I like them on the outside also unless the truck is strictly for hauling groceries.  All the new ones with inaccessible tie downs are a royal PITA.

I called Mahindra today.  Talked to the receptionist who turned me over to a nice guy who said they had done everything on their end and were just waiting for the EPA to give them the green light.  He said they did all of their homework and know they should pass.  Just haven't got the OK yet. 

I guess since the Government owns major portions of the domestic auto (parts importer and assemblers) makers, they are probably not in any hurry to let someone else go into competition with them.

Every Volkswagen I have had broke - only had one diesel and liked it till it blew up.  I don't think I can do a VW again.  My ex-neighbors son works for VW and he bought a brand new car from them.  It blew up in what seemed like a short time - couple years?  and repairs were going to be around 7 or $8000. Must have been past warranty as he told them to shove it.

Txcowrancher, great to hear that the tractor has been good.  Thanks.

Sassy is looking at options to replace her SUV.  It has to be 4x4 and we want diesel as gas doesn't store well.  A Dodge with a Cummins is another option.  I have a 1 ton dually 4x4.  They are hard to beat for a full sized vehicle that actually has room under the hood to work on and simple too.

[glenn kangiser]

Checked e-mail tonight and got a reply from them that the Mahindra will be available mid 2010.

[texasgun]

I am starting to think the Mahindra even with the never ending delays will still be the fist and maybe the only entry into this small diesel pickup market. After doing alot of reading on the big 3's possible future entries they may never happen and if they ever did the cost they are saying in these articles would never justify the upgrade to diesel. All you have to do is google 1/2 ton diesel and there are lots of stories(rumors,some lies). Back to the Mahindra I think the styling of the front half is great, kind of has that land rover look. The back half will take some getting use to, I know its funtional like youall said. Acording to the map we will be getting a dealer dont know who and cant find out Reguardless of my rambiling I will probably purchase one because it fits most of my requirments: local dealer, price, good repuation(atleast for thier tractors) and the most inportant for me towing/pulling capicty and close to 30mpg unloaded . Enough Mihandra just do like everyone else and make a large contribution to the demoncratic party so you get approval and I get my truck. (opps did I just say that I thought I was only thinking it.)