Tag Archives | Diesel Trucks

?Gas Prices Driving You Up the Wall? Fix it and Enjoy 5 Benefits

Gas prices are indeed driving many of us up and even over the wall. The common lament is that gas prices are “”killing us.”” Like all situations before us, we can worry, fret and fume all we want over spiraling gas prices but be rest assured that nothing will change unless we decide to act. In terms of beating gas prices, the best option, as validated by thousands of users all over the world is to install a gas saving water car device in our cars. The solution is so simple that it can be easily overlooked. Would you believe that all takes to deal with gas prices is a water car device costing less than USD 100 with some being being offered at less than USD 50?

What does a water car device do? It helps to convert your car or truck or vehicle to a water burning vehicle. Not exactly into a water hybrid vehicle but very close to it. The water car device is a Do-It-Yourself and amazingly affordable device based on a simple technology. It makes use of water as a supplement to gasoline or diesel fuel. The result? Thousands of people all over the world have reported mileage increases from 29% to as much as an incredible 256%. They have taken control of gas prices. Yes, too good to be true. The facts are there for verification. In addition to better mileage, the accompanying benefits of using a water car device is better performance, less pollution through reduced emissions and generally cleaner as well as quieter engines.

Yes, the water car device offers an immediate solution to our gas price woes. It is here and it is providing immense relief to many of us all over the world in coping with the stress and anxiety over rising gas prices. Best of all, the water car devices come with 100% cash back guarantees. This makes it even harder to believe. To believe, you need to look at all the information available, evaluate the results and be willing to try the water car device. Water car devices and the solution it provides for beating gas prices is certainly not a hoax. The only problem is that it is too good to be true.

Some of the actual benefits experienced by users all over the world include:

1. Better mileage. 50% increase on a heavy 350 V8 van, 56% on a Ford truck, 107% on a Toyota Corolla, 285% on a Chevy 4WD pickup, 77% on a Volkswagen diesel and $200-$400 savings every week on a big rig diesel truck.

2. Clean up emissions that damage your health and the health of your family, loved ones and the general community. The technology burns the””Brown’s Gas”” that is produced and turns it right back into water No harmful chemicals are emitted from this system. As the engine takes less gasoline and burns it more completely and efficiently, the overall effect is a dramatic reduction in harmful emissions. User’s report that they can actually smell the difference.

3. Greatly enhanced engine power and performance through the removal of carbon deposits and prevention of further carbon build up. Cooler engines due to reduced engine temperature. The bonus? Drive down global warming.

4. Better driving with a calmer, quieter and much smoother engine as well as better gearshifts that are available in only the most expensive cars. The water car device can do this due to the effect water has on the combustion cycle inside your engine.

5. Reduced wear and tear especially on pistons, valves, rings and bearings. Overall, this leads to longer engine life expectancy.

The technology has been applied. The water car device is real and it works. It takes the sting out of steep gas prices. We can all heave a sigh of relief. At last, there is something that we can actually do to cope with current gas prices. The water car device offers us a simple and practical solution especially for those on limited budgets. Quit worrying about gas prices. Resolve to act and experience the new found freedom from crazy gas prices.

?Used Diesel Truck

Consumers with their sights set on a “”new”” used truck have a number of choices to contend with beyond the preference between Chevy, Dodge and Ford. One of those choices is gas versus diesel. Diesel engines have a number of benefits over traditional gas engines, but they also have a number of drawbacks too. The consumer who has never owned a diesel may be unaware of all of these factors. Here’s a look at those pros and cons, which should help the consumer decide if a used diesel truck is right for them.

Cost of A Used Diesel Truck vs. Fuel Economy

The higher cost of diesel fuel in comparison to gas is a deterrent for many considering a used diesel truck. However, buyers should be aware that diesel has a higher energy density than gasoline. In order words, it takes more gas than diesel to achieve the same power output. Therefore, diesel is substantially more cost-effective than gas over the life of the truck in most circumstances. Gas trucks are more efficient if always driven very short distances.

Quiet vs. Noise

Some use aftermarket parts to increase the noise output of their trucks. For these types, the noise output of a diesel will be an unimportant consideration. Others live in quiet neighborhoods and have small children. If this sounds like you, then you might not want to wake the neighbors at 6 A.M. to the thunderous sounds of a diesel engine starting.

Used Diesel Truck Power vs. Torque

Essentially, gas trucks produce more horsepower while diesel trucks generate more torque. If you’re going to be driving your truck around town, then the gas truck will more effective. However, if you’re pulling heavy loads especially up steep grades, then you likely can’t do better than a used diesel truck. Decide how you’ll use the truck most, and then favor that aspect.

Cold Weather

Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs like gas engines do, which means that they can be difficult to start on cold mornings. This isn’t just a concern for those living in the North. Early southern mornings are cold enough to give a diesel engine fits. Therefore, this is an important consideration if you leave the house early in the mornings. It’s just one more hassle that you’ll have to deal with at a time when no one wants to be hassled.

Well there you have them, the primary considerations that should take place before the purchase of a used diesel truck. If you’re mechanically inclined and can get past these drawbacks, a used diesel truck will serve you well for a long time to come.

?Fuel Management When You Least Expect It

My guess is most of you have a fuel management program. It’s either real or it’s in your head but you believe you have a fuel program that is money saving when it comes to buying fleet fuel. You might really have that type of program, most of our research shows that most companies don’t have a comprehensive program when it comes to their fuel management needs.

One thing that I know we can agree on is trying to predict diesel fuel prices, weather and the unpredictable acts of god. We have talked about diesel fuel prices in the past and you bet it will come back up again in this column but today it’s weather and acts of god. I’m not talking about sunny weather or snowy, cold winter weather though you want to make sure you have a good fuel additive program. I am talking about the weather you didn’t see coming, even some that you might see coming and the crazy things that happen every day in this world that could affect your fuel management solutions.

Hurricanes, mud slides, heavy tropical storms, tornadoes, power grind disruptions, floods, frozen rivers, broken pipeline, you get the picture. These things happen and they happen more often than any of us want them to happen. The key for your company to be successful when most of things do happen is to have an emergency fuel management backup plan in place. Listen if you lived in Nashville, TN last month and the river over flooded like it did and your trucks were in 5 feet worth of water, there isn’t a lot you can do, as far as your fleet fuel goes. That was a very out of the box situation and sometimes no matter how hard you plan there just isn’t anything you can do.

Here is a short list of emergency fuel management tips:

� If you have bulk fuel tanks. Work a contract out with one fuel vendor and establish a relationship with them. This is critical when emergency happen. If you are trying to beat the fuel market each day and bottom lowest diesel fuel prices win, you will lose when an emergency happens. The fuel vendors will be as loyal to you as you are to them.

� Keep your bulk fuel tanks as full as possible. This way you have a couple of day’s worth of supply.

� Make sure you have a backup generator for your pumps or you won’t be pumping diesel fuel out of your bulk fuel tanks if the power is out.

� Have your generators in all parts of your building kept full. The diesel fuel used in a generator should be well treated with fuel additive and should also be run through several cycles per year. Don’t let it be during the emergency when the first time using your generator since the last emergency. Diesel fuel can go bad if it sits around too long.

� If you don’t have mobile fleet fueling at your location, establish a relationship with a mobile fueling vendor. This can help with your generator fueling, mobile fueling directly into your fleet of trucks as well as possibly bringing you in a short load of diesel fuel into your bulk tank if you have one.

� Fleet fuel cards. You might already have them because you buy most of your fleet fuel over the road but if you have bulk tanks or mobile fueling, having fleet fuel cards in a draw that work can really help you out in a pinch. You are not going to be able to order fleet fuel cards during an emergency and expect to get them anytime soon. It takes time to process them and who is going to deliver them to you FedEx, UPS, USPS or others they are all battling the same issues you are during this period of time.

As a fuel manager, you need to make sure your fuel management systems are in place before the problem happens. There is also no reason why during a crisis you should sign off on all your fleet fueling bills like all diesel fuel prices are acceptable. Yes, to deliver during a crisis does take more time and effort and there is a price to pay for that but a fuel analysis after the fact won’t do your company much good.

Get your emergency fuel management pricing deals in place ahead of time, like everything else.

Good luck.

?A Diesel Truck As a Family Vehicle?

One of my friends for three years has searched for the right diesel truck. He intends this to be the primary family vehicle for a family of five with three drivers. This seems at first to be an unreasonable decision but maybe not. Here are three reasons that make a diesel pickup work for some folks.

Lasts Nearly Forever

Well, not really forever but certain diesel pickup engines are legendary for lasting for many hundreds of miles. Often those are miles piled up while pulling trailers too. Cost to drive vehicles that last a long time often justifies spending more money on the vehicle initial purchase. If the power plant will last for upwards of three thousand miles, cost to own the truck can be quite reasonable.

Fuel Efficient Even When Loaded

Some diesel pickup engines don’t really get great fuel mileage. But then some do offer mileage in the high teens. The real plus to the diesels is the loaded mileage possible. When towing or hauling is part of the reason you use a pickup, diesels often excel. That’s because loaded and unloaded fuel economy are close to the same sometimes. That often beats a gas powered truck by a considerable margin.

Several Fuel Sources

My friend with the desire for the pickup has run a diesel car on vegetable oil for years. See, there’s method to his madness. If you can develop a system to manufacture your own bio diesel or run a diesel engine on used fats, you have a powerful option for self-sufficiency. Think of the possibilities if you can cheaply manufacture fuel at home and run it in your own vehicle. There are other ways to make diesel fuel other than using used vegetable oils too.

Some truck owners have developed systems to produce diesel fuel from soybeans and that opens all kinds of possibilities to bypass the oil companies with your own fuel systems.

Put a four door diesel pickup in your driveway and you open up many options. Especially if your business or hobby includes towing a trailer, a pickup like this makes good sense. Develop your own sources of fuel and the economics of diesel trucks looks brighter and better.

Though big heavy pickups can be somewhat unwieldy to drive around, it’s hard to top a pickup for all around usefulness. With the right engine choice and the right maintenance people available to keep it going, diesels open up some really attractive possibilities.

?Fuel Efficiency in the 2010 Ford F350

When people think of big trucks, they often think of poor fuel efficiency. Of course, when people think of powerful pickup trucks, the Ford F-series often comes to mind, which has not been such a great association in the current social and political climate. Ford is looking to change this from a negative to a positive with a number of tricks that boos the fuel efficiency in the 2010 Ford F350, the king of Ford’s consumer pickups. Of course, the king does have a new name: The Super Duty.

The 2010 Super Duty comes with three engine choices: a 5.3L V8, a 6.8L V10, and a 6.4L dual-turbo Power Stroke Diesel. The Power Stroke diesel not only packs a tremendous amount of power, 650 lb-ft of torque at only 2000 rpm, but it also offers Ford’s latest generation clean diesel combustion system. Optimized for low-range work and towing, the Power Stroke has plenty of power, but with that power comes relatively poor fuel economy. After all, the new Super Duty can weigh over two tons by itself, and add in a towing capacity of more than two and a half tons, and the bottom line is that the Super Duty is not a dainty supermodel.

Helping tilt the physics back towards something more green are a few factors. The gas-burning motors feature aluminum heads to save weight, and 5-speed automatics with 6-speed manual transmissions are all available to help keep all of the Super Duty engines where they need to be in the rpm range. Being ‘in the zone’ makes towing and hauling easier on the vehicle, which in turn burns less fuel.

?Turbo Diesel Pick Up Trucks and Fuel Dilution Issues

In the past most fuel dilution issues of crankcase oil in turbo charged diesel engines meant there was a mechanical problem of some kind. For 2007 and newer Ford 6.4L, Dodge 6.7L and Gm/GMC 6.6L turbo diesel engines, the emission control systems sometimes are the culprit, as these have been installed to meet more stringent environmental protection agency requirements pertaining to soot.

Not everyone will experience dilution problems, as it will depend largely on how you operate your vehicle. Post 2007 turbo diesels are equipped with a Diesel particulate filter as mandated by the environmental protection agency. These filters reduce the soot emitted by as much as 85%. After so long, these filters have to go through a cleaning process called regeneration. Regeneration can occur during operation when exhaust gas temperatures reach 1,100 degrees. This happens regularly when the engines are worked as intended, such as towing and hauling and is called passive regeneration. It is when these engines are operated around town with no load is when temperatures are to low to passively burn off the soot.

When temperatures do not reach 1,100 degrees, an active regeneration must take place. Two systems are used. In-stream injection and In-cylinder post injection. What happens is raw diesel fuel is introduced into the diesel particulate filter increasing the internal temperature to burn off the soot that has accumulated.

With In-stream injection, the fuel is introduced through a separate injector either behind the turbo charger or in the exhaust stream just prior to the particulate filter. This type of active regeneration is largely used on medium to heavy-duty diesel engines. In-stream does not contribute to fuel dilution.

In cylinder post injection has been adopted by the manufacturers of lighter turbo diesel trucks, mainly because of the lower cost. With this system, the diesel fuel is injected directly into the cylinders with the present injectors but on the exhaust stoke as well as the compression stroke, sending the unburned fuel through the exhaust ports to the particulate filter and be burned that way. This system works well at delivering the fuel to the particulate filter but has the drawback of promoting fuel dilution of the crankcase oil.

As the fuel is injected on the exhaust stroke, fuel is able to pass by piston rings and wash down the cylinder walls as well, entering the crankcase and diluting the oil. Diesel fuel is a solvent and can reduce oil viscosity and film strength of the oil. An increase in oxidation can also occur.

At this point, there is no correlation between fuel dilution and abnormal engine wear. This is a rather new issue and still being studied. Condemnation limits have been set at 5%. Oil analysis samples have shown 7 to 10% dilution rates.

If you have one of these turbo diesels and work it hard, active regeneration will be at a minimum, as will the chance of higher limits of fuel dilution. It will be beneficial for you to have your oil analyzed periodically to see what the saturation level may be in your oil. It would also be a good idea to use premium oil that can better withstand the effects of fuel dilution.

In closing, for the 2011 Ford and General Motors are changing to a system called selective catalytic reduction, eliminating In-cylinder post injection. The Dodge Cummins turbo charged pickups will continue to use In-cylinder Injection for the upcoming year.

?Fuel Economy Winners For Model Year 2011

Over the coming weeks, the fuel economy numbers will be updated to reflect the release of the remaining 2011 model year vehicles.�

I say “”updated”” because the 2011 models have been released throughout 2010, with the last of them expected to roll out in December. Automakers can call whatever comes out in a calendar year the following year’s model year, even if the car goes on sale on January 1.

The top fuel efficient cars will once again be hybrid models with the Toyota Prius retaining its position for a few more months. Come December, the pure electric Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt will debut, with the former expected to dethrone the Prius. Figure that the Leaf’s equivalent fuel economy numbers will be in excess of 100 mpg when the calculation methods have been finalized. The Volt may also edge out the Prius although it is an electric car with a supplemental gas engine.

Other winners are likely to be as follows:

Ford Fiesta — Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine already provides best in class (subcompact) fuel economy, 40 mpg on the highway or 33 mpg combined.

Chevy Cruze — Its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is lighter and more powerful than the Fiesta and it, too, should deliver 40 mpg on the highway, clearly the leading vehicle in the compact class.

Hyundai Sonata — Relying exclusively on four cylinder engines hasn’t hurt the Hyundai Sonata which gets a class-leading (midsize) highway fuel economy rating of 35 mpg on the highway. Expect the Ford Fusion Hybrid to retain its best in class honors of 41 mpg city, 36 mph highway until the Sonata Hybrid debuts later this year. That car may get 40 mpg on the highway!

Toyota Avalon — For 2011, the Avalon gets 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway edging out the Chevrolet Impala which gets 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway. Breaking the 30 mpg threshold may be a year of so away unless Ford figures out a way of sticking in a 2.0-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine under the hood of its Ford Taurus.

Mazda 5 — By offering one of the smallest minivans, Mazda has enjoyed an edge no one else can touch. Powered by a 2.3-liter four cylinder engine the Mazda 5 gets 28 mpg on the highway, 22 around town.

Ford Ranger — A 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine will likely allow the Ranger to retain best in class fuel economy for small pickup trucks — 27 mpg on the highway. Not far behind is the full-size Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, getting 23 mpg on the highway.

Among sport utility vehicles, there is a three way tie thanks to the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute sharing the same hybrid system. Getting 34 mpg city, 31 highway isn’t likely to be challenged although gas powered Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain get 32 mpg on the highway, 22 around on town.

As far as diesel powered vehicles go, Volkswagen continues to lead all comers. Its diesel Golf and Jetta models get 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway by far the best in class fuel economy for any diesel models.

?A Car Buying Story – Part Three – Models and Makes

Generally, I wasn’t too happy with the variety of models in Canada. When it comes to family cars, the choices are quite simple – you go for a mini van or, as of lately, for an SUV. No big deal. But I thought that mini van is a waste of money if you have only two kids and don’t run a repair business. SUV has a fun, all-terrain drift to it, but it too is a waste if you don’t use it. What I was looking for is a smaller multi-purpose, single-volume vehicle, and there aren’t many of them here. Domestic makes are better in that respect than imports. I almost got to think that the selection is such that it forces you to either buy a big car or two cars.

I’m mostly saying this because I’ve seen plenty of such versatile models in Europe. For example, you can find a new Civic in 5 door trim — diesel!

Or a highly unusual, but apparently very versatile and practical Fiat Doblo (a wide spacious crossover) that looks somewhat like Honda Element, only it’s a bit smaller and proportionally wider.

Wagons and generally single volume vehicles are very popular in Europe. Half of Fiat’s fleet are such cars. And of course, the diesel option — everybody has it. I was really sorry I did not find a suitable one here.

Anyhow, that is what it is. This is my overview of different models I’ve looked at:

Honda Accord

I drove Accord ’89 for years, and I can testify to its quality. The engine was just great, even with 230,000 km on it. Every year when I need to perform Air-Care, all I’m thinking is: “”Is it going to be slightly better or slightly worse than last year?”” In the first couple of years I used to drive a bit before the air-care to warm up the engine, but later abandoned that practice — it was simply unnecessary. Anyhow, Accord was my first thought, and always a backup plan: “”if I don’t find anything I like, I’ll just buy Accord””.

And the latest Accord (model 2003) was in all aspects a very good choice. Good space, good quality, safety, fuel economy, pretty much everything. It wasn’t that sleek and pretty as I would hope, but that’s really not big a deal. Also, it did not have the perfect safety scores (in couple of tests it had 4 out of 5) — and I was kind of expecting perfection from my favourite make. In the end, the current model was just about to be replaced, the 2008 is completely redesigned, and I was expecting major improvements with the new model. So the current model seemed somewhat an outdated choice.

Honda Civic

Haven’t really thought of Civic before — to me it was a city car for singles or a first family car that you replace quickly. However, the new Civic (model from 2006) made a strong impression on me.

Pros: A lot of new features, some quite advanced. Top safety: impact-absorbing body, all 6 airbags, ABS, sensors, and all of that in the base version. Excellent fuel economy — just slightly worse than Corolla (which is top in that respect). Although a smaller car, it grew over time. The passenger space is very good even for a taller person. I even tried moving the driver seat all the way back and then sitting behind it, and it was ok. It’s quite wide inside — it’s no minivan, so don’t expect wonders, but perfectly acceptable.

Also, the options are created reasonably, so all I had to add was AC — it had everything else. The design is sleek, the interior very pleasant, and very enjoyable for a driver. Driving a Civic (manual transmission) is just a beautiful experience.

Cons: The only flaw I found was small trunk space. Trunk is smaller than most of the cars I’ve looked at. Corolla has 40L bigger trunk which is not negligible especially in smaller cars. The shape of the trunk is good which means you can put in different robust pieces, but the total volume is simply small.

Honda CR-V

A completely new model (2007), bigger than before, and very nicely designed. I generally did not shoot for SUVs, but if I decided to get one, CRV would have been a serious candidate. The only flaw for me was that it doesn’t come with manual transmission.

Honda Hybrid

I have also considered hybrid cars, but gave up generally for one reason: the batteries occupy a good part of the trunk space, and that was already an issue with non-hybrid models. And with the price, I decided to pass on those nice modern things this time.

Toyota Corolla

Towards Corolla, I had similar feeling as to the pre-2006 Civic — seems as a city, young/small family car, only even more than Civic. For my current situation, I was seriously considering it. What I didn’t like was the way it was sold: the base model did not have ABS, only front airbags, and generally some other nice safety features were missing. Now the options are managed in such a way that if you add those things, you also get plenty of those that you don’t need (e.g. sunroof), and it’s not that affordable anymore.

On the other hand it had a lot to offer: good space for a smaller car, the best fuel economy, proven quality.

But I gave up on it mainly because of the lack of safety features.

Toyota Matrix

Similar to Corolla, with very similar and annoying option structure. I mean, it goes up to $28,000 if I add features I want (ABS, Airbags, AC, …). That is because you also get leather seats, sunroof, and some other options.

Now Matrix was conceptually exactly what I wanted — a single-volume, not too big, but practical, multipurpose car. But it has been built on Corolla chassis, and to me it had a certain “”incomplete”” feeling to it. And almost some cheapness as well.

Toyota Camry

I did not like it very much. I mean, it seems to be a great car — it’s big, spacious, amazingly soft and comfortable. It’s a bit heavy which you can feel on acceleration, but again, it’s a bigger car, so it’s no surprise. Generally, Camry is starting to look and feel as a regular 6 cylinder large American car, which is perhaps exactly what they are trying to do. I did not like that much — I like cars such as Accord better; it’s sleeker, more dynamic, a bit harder on the road, more sporty.

Anyhow, except for the fact that I did not need a big limousine-like car, I have nothing really against it.

Nissan

Nissan is an excellent car that simply did not flare any particular interest with me. This is of course just a personal taste. Altima is in particular very nice, well made and affordable car. Sentra is less so — I found it below similar sized cars. Maxima is a great full sized car — but similar to Toyota Camry it was a bit larger sedan that I’d go for.

Hyundai

Now this is a puzzle. Sonata has a beautiful and very elegant style. It looks fairly high-end by appearance. And it has excellent features and plenty of them. For example, a latest trend — Shiftronic transmission or CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) that pairs the best attributes of manual and automatic mechanisms. I’ve heard that the fuel economy with CVT is almost as good as in the manual one; actually Volvo claims that in one of their models, on a highway, CVT performs even better than manual. But to me, driving a car with CVT was not that impressive experience.

Hyundai obviously has a lot of latest features for a highly affordable price. And although it does look good, you can still tell that it’s an affordable car. When Hyundai entered the American market it was known as the worst car — people say it would last you for about a year. But in the past 5 years they have made such a good progress, that in some independent ratings (Such as Consumer Report’s) they rate better in some aspects than Honda or Toyota.

All in all, I did not spend much time on it, although I’ve considered both Sonata and their SUV Tucson as an option.

Mazda

I was looking mainly at Mazda 3 Sport. By the way, the name is completely misleading — for a long time I did not even consider it because I simply thought it’s a sport edition not suitable for a family. But when I did looked at it, I was surprised to learn that it actually isn’t — the term “”sport”” apparently came up only because “”hatchback”” was too “”boring””. Silly — I don’t think they really thought this one through well.

Anyhow, I learned it has almost all I needed, and on test drive it felt really good. The dealer told me they sell mostly manual versions because it’s a performance car. I doubt this is really true, but it is true that the car is pretty sporty — very responsive, fairly strong, and in general a pleasure to drive. Nevertheless, it has good space inside, and generally is suitable for a family.

But the trunk was small, i.e. narrow. The width of the trunk is virtually the same as the width of the trunk door. This I simply don’t understand — seems as if they purposely did not use all the available space.

In addition, its crash ratings (from the tests) were not the best. And as a smaller flaw the seat covers felt a bit unpleasant.

But it is generally a very good car and I was considering it very seriously

Mazda 5 also caught my attention because it was a bigger family car, yet not a mini van. I was comparing it to Matrix. However, it looked to me that the goal with an unusual “”crossover”” design was not really achieved (or completed), at least to my personal taste. The third row is too small for anyone except kids to use for any longer drive. With the third row up, the trunk is too small. Although not a mini van it is still fairly heavy and “”lazy”” on the road.

It’s generally a very interesting vehicle, worth looking at.

Subaru

Ah, Subaru…

Subaru was the most pleasant discovery for me. I didn’t know much at all about this make, only a few vague facts. But after I learned a bit about it I figured that this make is simply excellent. And they have recently been gaining more and more popularity. Then I went to US for a weekend and saw that there are as many Subarus (mostly Outbacks) on the road there as there are Honda Civics in Canada. Every other person owns it!

So I explored the models a bit and figured that Forester and Outback are most appealing. Forester as a smaller and cheaper option and Outback as a bigger and more expensive. Impreza was too small and a bit too much sporty — it’s a performance car used for racing. Legacy, built on the same chassis as Outback and very similar as well was ok, but Outback simply looks better.

I took Forester on a test drive — although it has older look, and is boxier, jeep-like, I liked it somewhat better than Outback. Actually this comparison is a bit like comparing apples and oranges — both look very nice and are conceptually different in exterior design. Perhaps I liked Forester a bit better exactly because it looks like a small SUV. It drives just beautifully. It’s not really an SUV, because it’s smaller and lower than, say CR-V, but it does feel like one because you sit higher above the road than, say, in a sedan. This gives you an excellent visibility of the road in front of you. The space was good, but not too good — in particular the shoulder and hip room is comparable to even Corolla and Civic. So two car seats and an adult can fit in the back, but it wouldn’t be too comfortable on a longer, hour%u2019s long trip. Other dimensions including the trunk size are just fine.

An interesting little side feature of the Boxer engine (horizontally opposed pistons): When you turn the ignition on, Forester “”shakes”” just a wee bit, just as if you were sitting in a truck. This is not too noticeable, but it gives you a bit of a nice feeling of strength.

Security with Subaru vehicles is the one of the strongest points. Their cars have straight 5 on all tests (front impact, side impact and rear impact). This is not accidental — they have systematically developed this quality. They’ve been known in the past to put a lot of effort in security, so much that even they admitted they did it on account of the style. Thus, even the Forester that does not have the curtain airbags at all, protects rear passenger better than some vehicles that have the curtain airbags. However, I found that lack of those airbags was too serious flaw for me — as I mentioned, my first priority was safety and I did not want to compromise in that respect even a bit. Outback on the other hand has all 6 airbags, but it’s also considerably more expensive.

Another security feature resulting from the engine design, i.e. the Boxer style, is that it has very low center of gravity, lower than ordinary engines. For this reason, the risk of rollover with Forester is comparable to a sedan, rather than any SUV.

Subaru vehicles are not true gas-savers. Specifications claim they spend 10.7L/100km. I drove Outback for 24 hours, and it spent 12L/100km. This is understandable; you’ll never get the fuel economy from the spec, especially with brand new car. However, compared to Corolla’s 7.1 or Civic 7.8, it is almost 50% more.

I didn’t choose Subaru for a couple of reasons, although I was so close to buying one. Forester does not have curtain airbags, and new Forester model is planned for 2009. Outback is not cheap — with taxes and PDI and the rest of the fees it comes up to $38,000. Buying Outback in US would cost me somewhat above $30,000. Forester would be somewhat below $30,000. So, I’d have to pay good money, and wouldn’t be happy with either lack of airbags or not the best fuel economy. But I think my next car might easily be a Subaru.

Volvo

No need to say it’s a great make, and one of my personal favourites. However, affordable or close to affordable Volvo’s (such as S40, V50) are small, and larger ones (S70, XC70) are expensive. If it wasn’t for the price I think I wouldn’t even analyze it — I’d just go and buy it.

Volkswagen

I know VW was always a good car — when I was a kid half of my hometown was driving VW. I know features of Golf models from Golf I to Golf IV. And I drove it a bit too. But my main interest in VW was that I was looking for a diesel car. I was disappointed to find that VW dealers in Canada do not sell plenty of diesel models. There is TDI (here and now it means Jetta TDI) — that’s it.

Then I also discovered that City Golf and City Jetta are amazingly affordable — they are cheaper than Civic and Corolla. And they are good cars! I almost decided to go for one of them!!

But Golf is small for a Canadian family, in particular, the trunk is too narrow — I can’t even put the kid’s stroller in straight, but have to incline it a bit. I started wondering how did the half of my hometown raise kids with a Golf? (And the other half of the town drove smaller cars.) But those were different times…

City Jetta is better in that respect, but not too much. It is an old Jetta model, first designed several years ago. It’s still the same with all the small improvements made over the years, but nothing major.

Major redesign of Jetta went into the Jetta model (without “”City””) that is some 8 grand more expensive and looks more like a Passsat (actually so much so that on the road I have trouble telling Jetta from Passat). Jetta is an excellent car, has excellent security features, lots of space (very, very comfortable inside). And there is diesel (TDI) option.

Generally, an excellent option — only a summary of all features and price decided against it, and not by far at all.

?FSBO: For Sale By Owners Chapter IV [part 1]

Like a monarch, Red Haring reigned in the deep leather seat of his KenWorth cab–with its king-size sleeper. The 400 horsepower Caterpillar diesel engine droned apathetically as Red downshifted for the parking lot to his favorite Boise, Idaho roadside diner. He’d picked up a large 26,000 pound household move in Olympia, Washington, which he’d delivered to Baker City, Oregon.

Red’s company had a contract with BIG Van Lines to move households. Red Haring Trucking, Inc., he used his tractor to pull their trailers. He wore their crisp blue uniform jacket, blue pinstriped shirt, a BIG tie–scenic pictures and moving vans–when moving people’s family cargo.

Red’s traveling companion was a dog named Mercy. She had befriended him at a roadside rest area, four years previously. Apparently abandoned, Mercy seemed to be waiting for him. When Red hopped out of his cab to use the restroom, the dog had come over, sat down in front of him, looked him straight in the eyes, and barked twice. At 3:00 AM, there were no other vehicles in the rest area. That, too, was strange on an Interstate, no other trucks with drivers sleeping or cars that she could have jumped out of. Red had patted her on the head, more interested in why he had stopped than in a dog.

As he continued, the dog walked two steps behind him until they were about thirty feet from the concrete building with its doors to Men’s and Ladies’ rooms blocked open. Mercy raced ahead, went into the Men’s room, came back out, sat down by the door and waited for Red.

Again, as he approached, she looked him in the eyes and barked twice as if to say it was safe. She continued sitting there until he came out, barked once, rose to her feet and followed Red back to his van.Taking advantage of the stop to check the padlock, the mud flaps and the tires, Red was ready to mount the cab when the dog began barking franticly.

“”I’m not taking you with me, dog!”” Red told her.

The yellow, longhaired who-knows-what-dog seemed to understand what he said. She stopped barking, ran over between the tractor and trailer, sat down and resumed barking.

“”What is it, a squirrel or something I need to see?””

Two barks.

“”Okay, I’ll take a look.””

Red walked back to discover a large nut had fallen off his coupler to the trailer when he’d come to a stop. The dog had noticed it. Red knew that a potential disaster had been averted. Had his trailer come lose, on the Interstate, he couldn’t have done anything. This dog had saved him, and who knows how many other motorists. Red selected a wrench from behind a seat, replaced the nut and prepared to leave the rest stop.

“”Thanks, dog!”” I’ve really got to go, now.””

The dog whined. Red bent down. She was using those big brown eyes of hers to her best advantage.

“”You got a collar on? Dog tag? Maybe, we can find out who you belong to!””

There was no tag, only an inch-wide turquoise nylon collar on which someone had taken time to hand embroidery a word in red, MERCY.

“”Mercy! Is that your name?””

Two barks.

“”You look like you might be hungry, Mercy! You hungry?””

Two more barks.

“”Let me see if I’ve some hamburgers in the cab. Are World Burgers all right with you?””

Mercy sat up before he even opened the door. Red located a bag with three World-Burgers.

“”They’re kind of cold, Mercy. You don’t mind, do you?””

Mercy dropped down and whined, again.

“”What? You want me to put them into the microwave for thirty seconds before you get one?””

“”Woof! Woof!””

“”Okay Mercy. One hot World-Burger coming right up. But, I get two of them. Understand?””

Immediately, Mercy’s right paw shot forward. “”Woof! Woof!”” She agreed.

Red never planned getting a dog. A few long-haulers keep animals for company because it’s illegal to transport human passengers. Section 392.60 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations clearly reads: Unauthorized persons not to be transported. Dogs, cats, even parrots or boa constrictors are not forbidden. For Red Haring, the childhood memory of a car running over his dog had never been healed. He’d sworn never to become attached to another animal.

“”You must belong to a trucker, Mercy. Okay! Hop in! You can ride with me a little ways. We’ll get on the CB and find out where your owner is.””

Red tried to find Mercy’s owner. Three different truckers remembered a driver that used to travel with a yellow dog. Had a turquoise collar. He’d died on the highway, they’d heard. The year before! No mention of what became of his dog. The word would get passed along by CB radio for several days. Meanwhile, Red agreed he’d take good care of the animal. Within a week, Mercy would be inspecting Red’s truck and supervising his road-hire employees. Red was glad that Mercy had persuaded him to break his never-get-attached-to-another-animal vow. On his long hauls, Mercy was a must.

The small 5,500-pound load he’d taken on in Baker City, Red had unloaded alone in Boise. It had been mostly boxes, some small end tables, lamps, two bed frames, no mattresses or couches requiring two movers.

The man he’d hired in Baker City to help unload the truck was a good worker. Mercy had approved him. Wearing the clean BIG shirt Red provided, he’d looked presentable. Red used him to load the small move to Boise, before returning the worker to the truck stop where they’d met.

Red had offered him $15.00 an hour cash for five hours work. It had only taken 4 hours but Red had paid him $75.00 anyway. The worker signed a receipt for Red’s contract labor (independent contractor) that would be used for calculating expenses and taxes, collecting a phone number from the laborer so he could call ahead next haul to Baker City. Good, careful, workers are a moving van driver’s dream.

Red now had two Boise households loaded in the fifty-three foot long by eight and a half foot wide trailer ready for his transport to the Seattle area. The Larry and Moe team he’d hired at Boise BIG, the national affiliate, had insisted on taking rest breaks every forty-five minutes. He’d had to tell the Moe to wait until his break to smoke. At the second house, the lethargic loaders had taken a walk. Red had a good idea what they had been smoking.

Now, before they headed back to Washington State, Red and Mercy needed something to eat.

Idaho night was approaching as Red Haring located a safe place to park his consignment. He swung easily from the cab to the nearly full parking lot of the Chicken Out Restaurant and Lounge. Mercy yawned in the passenger seat sensing that chicken and dumplings were on their way. Dogs are not supposed to eat chicken bones, but neither she nor Red seemed to know that. Except when here in Idaho, Mercy preferred World Burgers. Sometimes, she sat cocking her head, holding her nose just so, barking twice to alert her master that a Burger World was nearby.

After a quick check of the trailer padlock, Red straightened his Big company tie before going in to claim the best chicken and dumplings in the Northwest United States.

All the tables and booths were occupied. He could see several hungry natives waiting. Red spotted an empty stool at the counter. It would do fine. Faster anyway.

The flawlessly toothy waitress greeted him with a jam-packed smile.

“”It’s been a while, Red. Are you staying over?””

“”If I’d known you’d invite me, I’d have planned better!””

“”I’ll forgive you this time. My new boyfriend wouldn’t understand anyway.””

“”Ah, he’s territorial! I can’t really blame him, Ruby.””

“”When did you get in?””

“”This morning, why?””

“”Curious. You write my song yet?””

“”Not yet. But, I will.””

“”You owe me one, Red.””

“”Do you know what I would like to do with you, Ruby?””

“”Yeah, take delivery of chicken and dumplings and drive off into the night.””

Red Haring flashed her some teeth of his own. Ruby slammed down a cup of black coffee before she disappeared into the kitchen to pick up an order. The guy on Red’s right in a suit shook his head and said “”Ouch.””

Maybe, it was his strong jaw line, or his cleft chin, or both. Women found Red tempting. He was a physical specimen, six three with rock-solid muscle of a kind not developed in a gymnasium. No combination of bench presses, tread mills, or twenty-five rep weight series could have sculptured Red’s lean body as had his twelve years in the moving business. Totally functional.

The man on the next stool was observant. He spoke to Red, again.

“”X-wife?””

“”An old friend.””

“”Doesn’t seem very happy,”” the salesman observed.

“”I hope she is. She’s a nice lady. Deserves a heaping mound of happy.””

“”A happy alamode!””

“”I wish I could order her one,”” Red admitted .””

“”Me, too. I’ll bet she could make me happy! She looks like she likes your flavor better. Where you from?””

“”Seattle area. You?””

“”Chicago. Sell medical equipment.””

“”You married?””

“”Not if a woman asks,”” the salesman said slyly. My wife thinks I work late. Spend lots of nights in places like this. I can usually find a warm lonely to share a bed with me when I’m away on business.””

“”If I was married, I’d try to work closer to home. You might want to consider it,”” said Red confrontationally. “”I think that women have enough problems without getting messed around with by married men. Ruby sure as hell don’t need messed with.””

“”Well, I think I’ll examine the bar then. Have some new lines I have to try out.””

Ruby had overheard the exchange. She was more composed when she returned with a huge plate of chicken & dumplings.

“”Thank you, Red. I get so tired of guys like that. You look good tonight, Red.””

“”You always look good, Ruby.””

“”Are you heading back tonight?

“”I’ve got to deliver two households tomorrow. One in Seattle. One in Tacoma.””

“”I don’t get off until two in the morning, anyway. How about next time you’re in town? You’ve got my number.””

“”I’d like that, Ruby.”” Savoring the poultry, Red enjoyed watching Ruby. As he finished his last bite, she returned.

“”You want some coffee to take along with you?””

“”That would be great, Ruby. Large, Styrofoam.””

“”You won’t throw it out the window and kill my birds, will you?””

“”I don’t believe in throwing things out the window.””

“”You’d better not, Red,”” Ruby warned. She sat down a large steaming stay awake, picked up the twenty, and showed him her teeth. “”Oh, here you are, a ‘To-Go’ for Mercy. Drive careful, darlin.””

Chicken and dumplings to-go order in hand, Red returned to his truck, opened the driver’s door and tossed the container over to the passenger floor mat where it was well received by his patient pooch who opened the lid herself.

Styrofoam cup in one hand, chrome bar in the other, Red swung effortlessly up into his commanding cab. Securing the shoulder restraint, he skillfully maneuvered the truck-trailer rig between the utility pole and cars that only appeared to have boxed him in.

Soon, he was headed west on Interstate 84. As if it knew its way home, the 400-horse Cat diesel roared approvingly as it glided past other, less committed vehicles. The tractor had 90 gallons of diesel left in its 170-gallon tank, Red and Mercy had full stomachs. All three were content.

Red thought about Ruby and their conversation in the diner. He’d met her on another move. His truck had blown its transmission. It had taken seven days to locate the right parts necessary to complete repairs. The mechanic had said he’d have him back on the road in three. It was on the third night, after the guy told him it would be a few more days, Red had walked to the diner the mechanic said had great chicken and dumplings.

Discouraged, low on cash, he’d drank coffee at that same counter. Ruby had come on at 6:00 PM to find him not sure of what he’d do.

“”Cheer up, Red,”” she encouraged. “”You don’t mind that I call you Red?””

“”That’s my name. You can call me anytime.””

“”Can’t be that bad, Red! What’s hurting you tonight, Darlin?””

“”It isn’t your smile,”” he’d answered.

“”You got a good smile yourself, Red. You want the special?””

“”If you’re it!”” He volunteered half-hopingly.

“”Chicken and dumplings, for now, Darlin. I don’t even get off until 2:00 AM.””

“”The special is what I want, for now.””

For the next eight hours, Red had sipped countless coffees while Ruby had served the variety of patrons. While she waited on them, he waited on her. She brought him refills with just enough encouragement. Finally, the payoff.

“”Here’s some fresh strawberry pie. It’s on me.””

“”With whip cream, too?””

“”You’ll see. You might like it.””

I really did, Red remembered. Then, as now, it had been a cold, November night. When her shift was over, Ruby had invited him to share her warm waterbed. Red wished he had more time tonight.

Tires against the highway, wind, and the pulse of a healthy engine combine to create a unique music that a trucker could feel. Each song exclusive, tailored to the man who holds the big wheel. Red switched off the CB radio to hear it more clearly. His now hungry hand moved as expected, to locate the yellow pad. Inspired by the highway harmony, Red shifted into high gear and right brain. He would make good his pledge to a willing waitress. She’d not be disappointed next time he delivered to Boise. As the words came to him, he composed her promised song.

Diner Doll

She’s a lady of the light,

She serves coffee in the night

To the many men who spend their nights alone…

So, she warms them with her smile

For, she knows that in a while,

They must face the cold that haunts an empty home…

She’s the lady of the late,

When a man can’t find a date,

He wanders in, and now and then, gets rude…

But, she takes it in her stride

As she helps him find his pride,

She restores him with her super attitude…

She’s a lady all the time,

When a mans had too much wine,

When he plans to put his hands where he should not;

She can quickly move away

Then, if he still wants to play

She can, even quicker, put him in his spot…

She’s a lady every way,

Even knows just what to say

To every guy who has to try his line…

Yet, on the nights she’s off,

She can be so very soft;

When, best of all, this “”Diner Doll”” is mine…

The exit to a Pendleton, Oregon truck stop ahead, Red downshifted to left brain and fourth gear. In 222 miles, 3 hours 54 minutes of hard labor, he had given birth to a new song. He had to spank the baby. 12-string in his hand, he leaped down from his leather throne.

No one but Mercy was there to hear the review of ‘Diner Doll’ when Red put the cords to the beat he’d heard on the highway. His yellow pad bore evidence of the many word combinations, phrases that didn’t fit. By the seventh page, he had the final draft. He hardly glanced at the pad as his nimble fingers set up the correct strings to complement his moving voice.

“”Not too many cowboys lean against a truck to play guitars here at midnight,”” the cash attendant commented.

“”Most cowboys are truckers, but not all truckers are cowboys,”” Red replied.

Mercy barked twice.

By fifteen after midnight, fresh coffee in hand, Red was back on the road. He switched on the CB in hopes that a caravan would be coming up behind him. He was in luck.

“”Breaker, breaker. This is the Red Haring swimming west on 84–out of Pendleton–a little fish can get lonely out here. Over!””

“”Swim easy there, big Red. Lot of nets out, tonight. We’ve got a school of eleven, swimming your way. Over!””

“”Roger… I’ll just tread water until you show up. The Red Herring – over and out!””

Caravanning has been the driver’s defense since before there was radar. With higher cab elevation, good eyesight, and constant use of the CB radios, no smoky bear patrolman could set up a speed trap undetected.

Red cruised along at the speed limit until eleven assorted trucks caught up to him. He settled in and switched off the CB. It might take only moments for Red to begin to discern the loyal harmony.

It didn’t happen right away. He’d have nearly three hundred miles to make another musical baby.

He thought about the medical salesman he’d talked to at the Chicken Out diner. On the road, at these hours, there aren’t usually many people, other than truckers, who share the camaraderie.

Red’s mind slipped into his trucker’s world. Thoughts, conversations with other drivers, problems and pet peeves common to those who move American goods via the nation’s highways:

We pay thousands of dollars in road use taxes, spend millions of dollars for gas and diesel, and endure the scorn of most motorists who wish we’d stay off the road.

When we quit rolling, he mused, this country stops. Supermarket shelves soon empty, as do all of the other stores. Those motorists, who curse us on the highways, can’t even buy gas for their cars.

News crews are quick to cover the trucks that leave the roadways, spill loads, or catch on fire. Why don’t they ever report that the trucker involved had averted a disaster by choosing self-destruction rather than to crush the car that was responsible? Newspapers always put out a headline like:3 Dead in Car when hit by truck head on.

What they don’t say until way down in the story, if at all, is that the so called truck was really a Ford F150 pickup driven by a teenager who was high on drugs. The people read the truck headline, but not the story. Press people aren’t on hand to film the rescues when, hundreds of times each year, a real trucker sees an accident in progress on the opposite side of the turnpike, pulls over, dodges cars, drags the mother and children from a flaming car, and then leaves the scene to continue his time sensitive delivery. At least, the firefighters and police are finally getting some of the respect, appreciation they deserve. Someone should present our stories in a different forum.

Red was snapped out of his hypnotic trucker’s world by a flash of bright headlights in his mirrors. Lights blinked bright, then dimmed. An automobile driver had signaled that he was about to pass the truck on this beautiful stretch of wide open road. Flashing his trailer lights, as the signal to come ahead, Red watched in his door mirror as a burgundy Cadillac pulled alongside before moving on by.

The driver was wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and a broad striped tie with its knot loosened half way down his chest. Truckers see a lot more than most people think. Another salesman, change of clothes on the hangers in his rear seat, probably had to make an early appointment in some town up ahead. He was using the wee hours for his commute.

If the caravan had overtaken him, the Caddy might have ‘hitchhiked’, settled in between a couple of us feeling safe. Salesmen aren’t limited by the no more than ten hours following eight consecutive hours off duty Rule– or only logging fifteen hours in any twenty-four hour period– like we truckers are. Red felt his brain shift. The Cat Diesel started throbbing music again. So did Red. The seven-line chorus came first:

Truck Drivers and Salesmen

[Chorus]

Truck drivers and salesmen are men of the road;

One ‘Loads his holler’,

While one ‘Hauls his load’…

Before you fall for one

It’s best that you knew:

Truck drivers and salesmen

Are just ‘Passing through’…

Verse 1:

It’s true that they do seem different, sometimes,

The way they may dress,

And, oh yes, different ‘Lines’…

But, they share the ‘Feel’ of the ‘Flight of the free’,

And, theirs is the ‘World’

That awaits them to ‘See’…

[Chorus]

Verse 2:

Sometimes, they get lonely;

Sometimes, they get down…

They know that they’ve only

A short time in town…

Then, when they meet ‘Someone’,

As, sometimes, they do:

Truck drivers and salesmen

Are just ‘Passing through’…

[Chorus]

Verse 3:

Yes, they must atone for the life that they’ve led,

They could have stayed home

With a ‘Sweet wife’, instead…

But, they’ve chosen ‘The road’,

Chose to ‘Follow a star’:

I suppose, that’s what makes them

The men that they are…

[Chorus]

In his own altered state, Red Haring had become part of a caravan, traveled past The Dalles, through Portland, turned onto Interstate 5, missed two of his favorite truck stops, and was approaching Centralia, Washington before he realized that his lyrics were complete. I’ll try it out at Trolley’s.

The watch on his wrist said it was just after four in the morning. Making the left brain shift, Red recognized he’d had a great time. Even better than sex, he told himself. Lasted longer, too. I wonder if the ‘Lady McBest’ Realtor is back; if she liked the roses I sent her? The poem I knocked out for her wasn’t much. I know I’ll have to do better.

[Much of Chapter IV was cut to meet posting guidelines. Read complete Chapter in published “”FSBO.”” ]

?Toyota Hiace, a Brief History – Ideal Engines

The Toyota Hiace was first introduced in 1967 and over the years has been available in many different forms. The different configurations available throughout its life include a minivan, a minibus, normal van, pick up truck, taxi and also an ambulance.

The first generation of the Hiace was called the H10 which was available from 1967-1977. In the first generation it was offered as a delivery van and a cab over pick up. This first generation is very rare on the roads today as most of them have been exported to Africa where they see commercial use as public transport vehicles.

The second generation of the Hiace was known as the H20, H30, or H40 and available from 1977-1982. This revised edition had a more streamlined body style and single headlights instead of the previous dual setup. And so this was the first time a 2.2 litre diesel engine was offered in them. Also for this series it was available as a double cap pick up, a high roof commuter vehicle or an extended super long wheelbase van.

The third generation of the Hiace was known as the H50, H60, H70, H80 and H90 and was produced from 1982-1989. The new and improved cab design was similar to that of the larger Toyoace light truck although it had different front styling queues. The model number was in direct relation to the wheelbase dimensions. H50 was the short wheelbase, H60 was long wheelbase and the H70 was considered the super long wheelbase. The pick up versions carried the H80 and H90 series tags.

The fourth generation Hiace was known as the H100 and was available from 1989-2004. These lines of vehicles were available in both short and long wheelbase variants. A range of engines came available in the fourth generation that ranged from 2.0 litre petrol all the way to a 3 litre diesel offering. The fourth generation was predominantly rear wheel drive but there was an option for part time or full time all wheel drive available as well for this run.

The fifth generation of the Hiace is known as the H200 and was produced from 2004-present. All models across Toyota Hiace line use a four cylinder DOHC engine. Although different displacements and fuel types are available the engine overall design is the same throughout the range.

These vehicles have proven to be quite desirable, making it onto Japans list of most commonly stolen vehicles, this is due in part to the fact that they lack a theft immobilizer making it easier to steal than more expensive SUV type vehicles where the immobilizers are standard. They are hard working dependable vehicles with long life spans as long as they are regularly serviced.

?Forget V8s In Pick-Ups, Small High Power Diesels Are The Way To Go

The Pick-up Truck market in the US is very lucrative and that does not harbor Innovation. With hauling capacity being the biggest selling point, Truck makers tout Ultra-large V8 engines putting out huge horsepower and torque figures. with fuel economy being a big issue today, many of the truck makers are looking to complex technologies to solve this issue. What many of them fail to realize is that smaller diesel engines can provide as much torque or more than the Big V8s and still consume less fuel.

I am fully aware the diesel engines in development by Ford and GM and its true that Chrysler is using the Mercedes 3L CDi engines in the grand Cherokee, but these are still too big and the Mercedes engine is quite expensive. Even Toyota with all their eco clout just followed Detroit when they engineered their new Tundra. To get an idea of what I’m trying to say is to look at those hatchbacks used for hauling in Europe. They rely on small diesel engines with serious torque that their petrol rivals cannot muster. Now look at the stream of progress in the diesel field from the amazing engines from Fiat and Peugeot to the high tech wonders of BMW especially their new twin turbo versions. The 3.0L 6 cylinder version produces 272hp and a mind boggling 413lbft of torque and the new 2.0L 4 cylinder version produces 204hp and 295lbft of torque. all while having a fuel economy of 35mpg and 41mpg respectively. That is some serious performance both on the torque and fuel economy fronts.

Now Imagine a Pick-up Truck with an engine in between those two a 2.5l 5 cylinder engine with 235hp and 350lbft of torque and a fuel economy of 30mpg taking the heavier weight of the Pick-up into consideration. This is very feasible and should be looked at by the Big Truck Makers. They can standardize their engines offering different states of turbo boost while using the same engine. This would save manufacturing costs and be a lot cheaper than chasing hybrids. Why Toyota did not push to take on the Pick-up Truck Market touting fuel economy is a mystery, but any Truck maker than wants to send the rest out of business should really consider small capacity diesels even if their initial price would be more expensive than the big V8s they currently use.

?2011 Top Truck Models

2011 is a good year to purchase a new truck not only because the feng shui says so but because truck manufacturers are competing to bring powerful, versatile trucks into the market. Big companies that have long been providing trucks to us like Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge and even Toyota and Honda are banging their heads to design, build and manufacture strong, powerful trucks to launch this 2011. These companies are either making new models of trucks or upgrading and modifying their old trucks to make it more competitive in the vehicle market. Here’s my 2011 top truck models, which I am sure you would all agree:

1. 2011 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra HD- with their high-standard when it comes to performance this type of truck is for the heroes-at-heart, You can never go wrong if you choose this impressive truck. With two engines to choose from a gas 6.0-liter Vortec V-8 or a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel V-8. Other changes include a notorious 20-inch wheels as well as styling a new front bumper and grille which makes it appear more powerful and manly. A louvered hood has also been added to the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. And for those people who are environmentally conscious you can be sure that the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado complies with the new federal law regulations which has a 90% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. Other must-love features include: mobile WiFi, Bluetooth, navigation, and XM Satellite Radio with NavTraffic.

2. 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 – the one thing that makes this truck set apart from the 2010 model is its 411- horsepower V-8. This is absolutely a “”raptor””. If you constantly travel out of town or go on an off-road adventure then this is the one thing that you need. With an engine type of 90-deg V-8, iron block/alum heads, 6-speed automatic Transmission type, Max payload capacity 930lb you bet every penny you throw in this truck is worth it!

3. 2011 Toyota Tundra -an evident innovation for 2011 Toyota Tundra that made it a big hit is the ability to prevent unintended acceleration called a brake-override system. Aside from the changes of its grille and tail lamp the Tundra has one of the best safety equipments that makes riding safer with its knee airbags that protects the driver and the front passenger. Other important features of the Tundra 2011 include the following:

– Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, – USB linking – Navigation system

?Ford’s Super Duty Is Tough And Offers An Engaging Drive

Ford is the second largest automakers in the U.S and one of the nation’s oldest running nameplates with a large selection of vehicle in its lineup including the famed Super Duty truck. It is one of the best-selling trucks in the United States and it’s easy to see why; not only is it super tough, durable and capable but it also offers a comfortable and engaging drive. The Super Duty competes in the competitive truck segment with other with vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram. Despite its massive size the Super Duty handles extremely well and offers a refined and comfortable ride.

One of the truck’s best features is its extreme durability; the 6.7 L Power Stroke diesel engine is super tough and can be expected to hit the quarter of a million mile mark. It also meets all of the latest federal emissions standards. The Super Duty is available in the following trims; F-250, F-350 and the F-450. Opt for the F-250 or F-350 and you get to choose from 3 different engines; an eight cylinder, ten cylinder or a Powerstroke with a diesel engine. The V8 engine has a total output of 300hp while the ten cylinder puts out an intense 362 hp and 457 lb feet of torque.

The best thing about this truck is that you can customize it to your heart’s content; you can select from various trims, cabin configurations and even opt for a cool Work Solutions workspace. The truck is available with various different configurations and interior set ups; Crew, Super or Regular Cab. The Regular Cab can seat 3 individuals across a bench. The Super Cab is able to seat 5-6 adults while the Crew seats up to six persons. Seating is quite comfortable with plenty of space in the back for all passengers. One of the Ford’s most notable features is its superior Sync system which allows you place hands free calls, receive turn by turn directions, switch up your music via simple voice commands, receive traffic alerts and even receive audible text messages. This system can even connect you to 911 if the airbags are deployed during an accident. There’s even an option to integrate a Work Solutions package which will allow you to access the world wide web and office applications via the LCD screen.

Safety has been thoroughly addressed by Ford in order to ensure the safety of all occupants. Features include front and side air bags and an anti-lock braking system. The advanced traction control system limits wheel spin by minimizing engine throttle while the Advance Trac with Roll Stability control works to keep the vehicle stable through applying pressure to the brakes as necessary. Seatbelt pretensioners are in place which tighten up during impending collision.

If you’re looking for a tough truck that can tow a ton but also offer a refined and smooth ride then the Super Duty might be the perfect match for you. The Super Duty can function as a daily commuter car but it has the power to perform tough towing jobs; it’s a work horse through and through. If you decide to use it for commercial purposes, you can even opt for the Work Solutions package and attend to work related issues right from the driver’s seat. The Super Duty is competitively priced at $26k which makes it affordable regardless of whether you choose to purchase it for work or pleasure.

?Top Four Diesel Trucks For Sale

Are you searching for diesel trucks for your business perhaps, or maybe for outdoor activities such as camping? No matter what the use for the trucks really is, numerous different diesel trucks for sale are there for you. Depending upon your budget, you need to decide if you want new or used trucks. These trucks are feasible and ideal for off the road driving. More horsepower and low fuel costs are also one of the reasons why people prefer these trucks for their businesses. Four major companies offer such trucks for sale that are much popular amongst customers.

Dodge

Dodge was introduced and founded as the Dodge Brothers Company in 1900 and was later sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1928.The company produced all sorts of cars including diesel trucks. Most of the trucks available in this brand have automatic transmission and are slightly expensive. A used 19998 Dodge Ram model can easily be available for around $12000 while a 2006 Dodge Dually Diesel can be purchased for around $33000.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet also known as a Chevy was founded in 1911 by the General Motors. The company specializes in many different vehicles such as SUV’s, sedans and diesel trucks. Depending upon the year of the model and the condition of the trucks for sale, there are numerous different prices. A used 2006 Chevrolet LT3 Silverado can be purchased for $33900 while a 1998 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado can be purchased for as little as $7250.

Ford

The Ford Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 by Henry Ford. Even though the company is best known for its car mustang, the trucks are not far behind. There are multiple diesel trucks for sale at reasonable prices such as the Ford F-450 2008 model which is available for $37495 and the 2001 Crew Cab Ford F-350 HD which is available for $14,500.

GMC

General Motor Company was established in 1909 and since then has seen much success. There are numerous vehicles available including diesel trucks. The 1995 2 door GMC Yukon and the 2009 GMC 3500 are available for $400 and $35000 respectively. The GMC 3500 is much appreciated for businesses, as it is feasible with a lot of back end storage space.

Summing Up

There are numerous diesel trucks for sale easily available online and you can find the right one for yourself by browsing through different categories based on price and type.

?Ford, GM, and Chrysler; Still the Big Three?

Back in the early nineties the light duty work truck market experienced something it hadn’t seen before: Asian competition; sort of.While Japanese manufacturers had done a number on the big three in the small truck market as they had done in various automobile segments, the full size truck market was still red, white, blue, and green$$. Then came the Toyota T-100. While the initial entry into the full size market from Japan didn’t have much of an impact on the North American work truck market, it should have been a wake-up call.

Though the T-100 missed the work truck mark in many ways: low gvw, sheet metal like tin foil, puny power trains, low tow rating, and styling best described as a Camry with an 8′ bed, it did accomplish one thing. It gave Toyota a platform to experiment, gather feedback and learn. It wasn’t exactly heavy duty. But by the T-100’s third year of production it claimed the title of Best Full Size Pickup in JD Powers initial quality survey and had begun to erode notions that only American manufacturers could build full size trucks.

Since then the T-100 has become the Tundra, and has racked up just about every quality award and press accolade known to man. It’s also grown up. Regular Cabs have grown to double cabs larger than the domestics, and horsepower and displacement have grown from the initial 3.0 v6 to todays vvt-i V8 pushing nearly 300 hp. But a more important event occurred when the T-100 became the Tundra. It went from a Japanese truck built in Japan by Japanese workers to an American Truck built for the American market by American’s. Why is that important? In the world of full size trucks, it’s everything. When it comes to high revving sports cars, compact economy cars, or even lawnmowers, we’re happy to defer to any European or Asian company with a better idea. But, when it comes to trucks, Americans are finicky.

We know what we want and don’t want. I’m an American truck owner and I can’t describe it but I get it. We all get it. So regardless of whether or not it makes financial sense for Japanese car companies to build trucks here in the US (it does), it makes perfect sense from a design and marketing standpoint. The best and fastest way to deliver what a market wants and needs is to be immersed in the culture. That shift from the T-100 being built in Tokyo by Toyotas Hino division, to the Tundra being built in Indiana by American’s forever blurred the distinction between foreign and domestic trucks. Foreign vs. Domestic simply doesn’t have the same meaning in the 21st century as it did in the decades following WW2.

The impact of this event hasn’t fully developed yet but it will in the coming years. Full size trucks were the last unmolested market the big three had. Now, not only is there foreign competition, it’s not even really foreign. When Toyota opens their new truck plant in San Antonio in late 2006, they will employ over 2000 workers and have on-site suppliers employing another 2100 people. All of them Texans. It’s hard toimagine an American truck more American than one built by Texans.

Now, with the introduction of the Canton Mississippi built Nissan Titan, the writing is on the wall. Through October of this year, Nissan has sold nearly 74,000 Titans. Add that to the more than 100,000 Tundras pumped into the market, and we’re talking serious numbers. That’s annually more than a quarter million sales that would have gone to Ford, GM or Chrysler a mere 13 years ago. But the figures are more ominous to the big 3 than that. The Titan and Tundra only compete in the 1/2 ton market. Toyota and Nissan don’t produce a model to compete with the Chevy HD’s, Ford Super Duty’s, or Heavy Dodge Rams and Power Wagons; YET.

Can’t imagine Nissan and Toyota building serious work trucks? Remember, Toyota already owns Hino and Nissan and UD are one in the same. Hino and UD own a significant piece of the class 3 to 6 medium duty truck market in the states. Those are the segments just above the Super Duties, Power Wagons, and HD’s.

They may not be called Nissan and Toyota, but that’s not important. What is important, is that they have the dealer network, distribution chain, corporate infrastructure, and 20 plus years of selling quality trucks to commercial buyers in the U.S. All that’s left is to close the loop in the noose around the big threes collective neck.

To work truck buyers, three factors are critical. Initial cost, cost of operation, and reliability. Nissan and Toyota are masters at entering market segments and in a short time having products of higher quality, better efficiency, and in many cases lower prices than their competitors. Forcing the big three to play catch up at their own game. Cadillac and Lincoln still haven’t caught back up to Lexus. If GM, Ford and Chrysler don’t get it together in a hurry, Nissan and Toyota will start building 3/4 and one ton trucks, and the game will be over before they knew it started.So how ready are the big three for serious foreign competition?

This year If Toyota was inclined, they could have offered a no bed Tundra with a dual wheel rear axle under it, dropped in one of Hinos diesel engines and sold more cab and chassis than Dodge. How? Dodge hasn’t offered a true cab and chassis since the Ram’s redesign in 2003, literally giving the market to Ford and GM for over three years. That kind of slow adaptation will spell disaster against companies like Toyota and Nissan. Not to mention Honda and Mitsubishi who may also become players.Based on show vehicles recently unveiled, like the Toyota FTX (which has a built in collapsible job box and ramps that slide out of the bed), Nissan and Toyota are going to go bigger and heavier. While Ford is wasting time slapping Super Duty pickup beds on International chassis, Toyota and Nissan are refining their product and winning the hearts and minds of American truck buyers.

Will history repeat itself? It already is. Oh, and by the way, the Chinese are coming.