I'm wanting to get a diesel truck, not sure which brand to go with. The most important truck qualities for me are MPG, 4x4 and price. I can spend upwards of $8,000 would like to spend less so I can get some accessory's. I will be using the truck for commuting to work, 22miles each way, and for road trips often pulling a small trailer with snowmobiles or dirt bikes. My room mate insists it be a 94+ Dogde, he was a diesel mechanic for many years. They seem to be like the Toyota's of the diesel truck world, go forever and hold there resale value very well.

lets hear it...

 

spend a little more and get a duramax, no doubt.

 

Duramax

J/K they are all good

They will go forever if left stock or just slightly tweaked...Cant go wrong with a good 12v even back to 89 and the old body style which is the kind i would love to buy if i could afford a second truck

 

I really like the looks of the first gens, what are the downfalls of them? no intercooler and weak trans?

 

late 92 and 93s have ICs. main benefit of a 2nd gen is the p7100 pump, however people have got some big numbers with the 1st gen VE rotary pump.

 

i would get a 2nd gen 12v if your price rainge is under 8 grand. There tough trucks in my opinion. or an 7.3 powerstroke.

 

All '92's were intercooled. '91 was the split year, where the 1st half were non intercooeld, and the '91.5's as they're called were intercooled.

The 1st Gen's will give you the best mpg, and will give you plenty of performance, especially if you work the truck. However, a 2nd gen 12 Valve will give you the ability to make well over 650rwhp, which is about the drop off point for a VE, as far as we know.

For 8K you could have a nice 2nd Gen 12 Valve, or two nice 1st gen's.

Personally, I'd stay away from Ford's as the PowerStroke is not as reliable as the Cummins, nor can you get as much power from them. I'm talking about 7.3's, as I don't think you could buy a 6.0 for 8K, and I wouldn't advise that either.

You won't find a Duramax for 8K, and they still aren't as reliable as an old 12 Valve, but they are good engines. Can't beat an inline six in my opinion.

 

ah i always get my 1st gens screwed up. IMO the 7.3 wasn't too bad, but i don't have any experience with the 6.0. my buddy had a good point though looking into a cummins. at least in MT its really hard to find a clean body 2nd gen. I mean a 2nd gen is obviously sweet but there's actually a lot of really clean 1st gens out there.

 

in the 8 grand price range you might be better swinging towards the 7.3 trucks because of the fact that the cummins hold its resale value it makes it hard to find really clean well taken care of dodges for cheap and dodges bodys aren't really know for holding up so great. any way you go all the trucks have ups and downs.

 

buy a 12v cummins say away from the fords. plus never seen a powerstroke with a million miles on it. look at it this way this way this is what i tell everyone never seen a big rig with a powerstroke or a duramax in them.