McGG

Seems that you see a lot less depreciation on the diesel GLs, which is fine. But I like to buy my cars 1-3 years old, and the diesels pretty quickly become the more expensive option despite their lower MSRP.

The difference in price between a GL450 and a 350 used, would seem to pay for a lot of gas!

Thoughts?

N_Jay

Keep shopping.

If you only want to save on fuel, you might have to buy a higher mileage diesel.

Of course there are other benefits, such as torque for towing and probably higher resale value.

Fourdiesel

True, the price differential WILL pay for a lot of gas - but if you bought it to drive you will USE a lot of gas. Its pretty easy to figure out just how many more miles you will have to drive it to make up for the different price.
Not at all sure why you state that diesels quickly become the more expensive option?? Maintainence costs are not higher given the same level of ordinary care.

McGG

I just meant that the acquisition price of a 450 is lower than a 350, all things equal.

N_Jay

Don't forget. Every MPG is another 24 miles between fill-ups.

If you do long distance driving, that is a nice extra.

sak335

As others have said, it all comes down to what you are looking for. If I was originally shopping a diesel GL and bought a gas model because it was cheaper, I'd probably think about it every time I filled up after averaging 17 mpg over a $100 tank of gas rather than averaging 24 mpg over the same $100 tank of diesel.

I bought mine to tow a 24' trailer so I didn't look at anything but 350's. I don't worry about resale values as I keep my vehicles a long time, and a diesel will outlive a gas engine every time.