I don't want to sound negative because honestly for a toy if you had wads of cash to blow a 6bt cruiser would be awesome to have and let sit in your garage put on headphones and drive around once and a while. But a daily driver it would be a lot of engine for a little vehicle.
If you want something that is going to save you gas I hate to say it but as sick as a 2500 4x4 cummins is really doesn't fit the bill. For a big truck they do get good mileage but unless your doing 55-60 on the highway unloaded in a 2wd single cab long bed on flat ground with a tail wind your not going to see 20+ mpg. Heres what i've seen in the 3 big diesel trucks in 4x4. Ford average 13-14 50 50. best 15-16 unloaded highway, duramax 12-13 mixed 50 50 straight highway no load 17. Cummins 13.5 50/50 17 highway.
The other thing is as "bulletproof" as these trucks are that's a relative term. There bulletproof if 3-4k for repairs is no big deal. Maintenance costs on them are much higher. Transmissions on the newer ones are 5 grand. The nv4500 is obviously pretty beefy but you still have a clutch. To do the injecton pump and injectors its about as much as a cruiser.
I considered doing a diesel before I did the v8. As cool and efficient diesel is the cost just never was worth it for me. The v8 gets me 16-17 on the highway with 35s but I don't daily drive the 60 anymore anyway so its not a huge concern either way. If a 4bt only gets 22-24 the 6bt is defiantly going to get less than 20. Its kind of a slippery slope. A 60 with a 6bt you probably couldn't stand to daily drive anyway. Its so much engine for such a little platform it would probably shake you to death.
If it were me I would pick one toy. The 4x4 truck or the cruiser and buy a civic or a jetta tdi If you want to save gas. The tdi will get you 40-50 on the highway 40 in town and you won't loose hardly any money on depreciation if you buy a few years old.
To put the gas in perspective my wife and I both drive about 300miles a week. I drive a 06 2500hd gas and she drives a civic. I spend about 250-275 a month where she spends 90-100 a month for the same driving. My friend has the identical truck as mine only diesel and he gets 14-15 doing similar driving as I get 13-13.5 It still costs less for me due to drive due to the price of diesel and the added maintenance costs. I also paid half as much for my truck so I didn't have to have payments. Don't get me wrong if I needed to tow more than 10,500lbs I 'd have the diesel but I don't yet so It didn't work for me.
If you want something that is going to save you gas I hate to say it but as sick as a 2500 4x4 cummins is really doesn't fit the bill. For a big truck they do get good mileage but unless your doing 55-60 on the highway unloaded in a 2wd single cab long bed on flat ground with a tail wind your not going to see 20+ mpg. Heres what i've seen in the 3 big diesel trucks in 4x4. Ford average 13-14 50 50. best 15-16 unloaded highway, duramax 12-13 mixed 50 50 straight highway no load 17. Cummins 13.5 50/50 17 highway.
The other thing is as "bulletproof" as these trucks are that's a relative term. There bulletproof if 3-4k for repairs is no big deal. Maintenance costs on them are much higher. Transmissions on the newer ones are 5 grand. The nv4500 is obviously pretty beefy but you still have a clutch. To do the injecton pump and injectors its about as much as a cruiser.
I considered doing a diesel before I did the v8. As cool and efficient diesel is the cost just never was worth it for me. The v8 gets me 16-17 on the highway with 35s but I don't daily drive the 60 anymore anyway so its not a huge concern either way. If a 4bt only gets 22-24 the 6bt is defiantly going to get less than 20. Its kind of a slippery slope. A 60 with a 6bt you probably couldn't stand to daily drive anyway. Its so much engine for such a little platform it would probably shake you to death.
If it were me I would pick one toy. The 4x4 truck or the cruiser and buy a civic or a jetta tdi If you want to save gas. The tdi will get you 40-50 on the highway 40 in town and you won't loose hardly any money on depreciation if you buy a few years old.
To put the gas in perspective my wife and I both drive about 300miles a week. I drive a 06 2500hd gas and she drives a civic. I spend about 250-275 a month where she spends 90-100 a month for the same driving. My friend has the identical truck as mine only diesel and he gets 14-15 doing similar driving as I get 13-13.5 It still costs less for me due to drive due to the price of diesel and the added maintenance costs. I also paid half as much for my truck so I didn't have to have payments. Don't get me wrong if I needed to tow more than 10,500lbs I 'd have the diesel but I don't yet so It didn't work for me.
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