Diesels will win the mileage wars and if you're towing every week, they make a lot of sense.

My friend at work had a F250 powersmoke super duty with which he never towed anything. It started running poorly and he took it to the ford dealer. He was quoted $1800 of injector work.

He's now driving a Subaru.

Any cost comparison with a Diesel must include maintenance.

Another point: Sure they have higher trade-in value, but it only matches their higher first cost. It's not like you buy a Diesel for the same money as a gas truck, then four years later it's worth lots more.

I grew up with Diesels and know what they can do, no prejudice here. But so many get wrapped up in the romance of the oil-burner and forget the old saw, "there's no such thing as a free lunch."

OH, and one more thing. It doesn't make you a member of the "big boy club" to leave your Diesel idling in the parking lot when you are in the store for groceries.

R.