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Cheapest 2014 Diesel You Can Get

8K views 28 replies 20 participants last post by  MuSh 
#1 ·
I am pretty interested in the diesel Grand Cherokee, but I am not interested in a super-luxury SUV. According to the information Milius posted earlier this year, it looked like you could get a Limited trim with the diesel for somewhere around just over $40K. Pricey, no doubt, but almost in the realm of possibility for an offroader that will be driven on gravel roads.

Unfortunately this isn't consistent with the jeep.com builder app where in order to get a diesel on any jeep, you have to add the pricey luxury package. Is this a mistake?

Why won't anyone make a decent freaking diesel SUV that is affordable?
Jeep: $45K
VW Tourag: nearly $50K
Audi: I can't even imagine
Mercedes: Jesus freaking christ $$
 
#2 ·
Yup, if I could buy "just" a Limited with a diesel, I may go with it. Because you have to add the LUX package, I will not . ( the up-charge for the diesel doesn't help ...sure would be fun though)

Happy diesel hunting.
 
#3 ·
For this initial push into North America with the MY14 CRD, there are the mentioned package requirements. Perhaps they will relax that down the road, but if you want the CRD "now", you'll have to pay the piper. Sometimes it's worth considering if you could live "with" some of those required amenities to get what you really want; sometimes it's not.
 
#5 ·
Of course I can live with the extra amenities! But, it's the CASH I can't live without.

The only affordable diesel in the US remains the Jetta TDI and it sells like hotcakes. Why can't manufacturers figure out that people who want diesels are interested in fuel economy and are sometimes cheapskates.
 
#4 ·
Totally agree... but I think based on which vehicles are getting diesels and which models in particular are getting them, that North America still see's these engines as luxury items for the yuppy crowd and not actual work horse engines for longevity and duty purposes. I hope it changes too. The other thing is that these modern diesel engines are way more technical than even the gas engines...so maybe they go in high tech vehicles?? Don't know, but hopefully they will work out these ordering kinks for those of you that would buy one.
 
#6 ·
Because they can sell all they want to the 90210 crowd. Jeep learned price creep via mandatory options from GM though I never knew GM to advertise things you could not buy. CJF has raised optionizing to a new art.

Once they have satisfied that demand, look for the diesel to become available in the Laredo "E" but not the base Laredo, you cannot even get a towing package for that one, must be for fleet sales and minimum MSRP only.

Once you can get it on an "E" figure with towing group & 4x4 the minimum MSRP will be about $39k & $35k with some negotiation unless there are other "mandatory options" such as ORA. $2k less if can buy with 4X2.

Afraid the day of being able to buy a well-equipped Laredo with towing & "E" for under $30k are over.

As to why there are four reasons:
1) Diesel must be stronger & has a high pressure fuel system
2) Turbos are not cheap
3) Gov requirements (e.g. Bluetech) must be added
4) People who want a diesel will pay more.

And for imports, the dollar has been dropping lately. Anything from Europe would have been 20-25% less seven years ago if imported then.
 
#8 ·
Is all on the assembly line so would be trivial to tell the computer to run a bare Laredo 4x2 with CRD & a 3.09 axle for silly MPG. Call it a Laredo HFE as on the Ram 1500 HFE (the 25 MPG they advertise is just with one specially equipped model).

If they were to be serious it would be lowered 4" and have a full belly pan, no roof rails, slats in the grille, & "sport" (smaller) mirrors. If going all the way, "Moon" disks on the wheels and fender skirts plus some subtle front end shaping a la Ford Taledega.

Then run from the White House to DisneyWorld on a tank.
 
#9 ·
Agree for now they are following in footsteps of luxury makers making CRD a luxury item. It does appear that Jeep is bumping it down a notch in price though by offering a cheaper CRD then competitors. At least the game has started to move in right direction.
 
#10 ·
The first year production of this motor merged to the grand Cherokee is the limiting factor as to why the top trim is allotted this as an option. Chrysler is not going to dump all their eggs into one basket in such an early stage of the game. They need to test the market's waters first. By all means cost is the the number one factor as to why. Cost is also a factor to consider since Americans traditionally are not fans of Diesel motors. Obviously that stigma is slowly changing but wait a year. There are other factors to consider too since this engine was not designed in Auburn Hills. I think what they are doing is correct for a business standpoint. If you run a Multi billion dollar company then you exactly what I am talking about....and I am not trying to belittle anyone here. The market will decide this.
 
#24 ·
Given the backlog and inability of most dealers around here to keep more than just a couple GCs on the lot, and the strong sales of the Overland and higher models, I wouldn't expect any profit making company in their right mind to try to drop prices on easily the hottest SUV--or risk stockholders screaming bloody murder.

They cost more than a good BMW coupe, yet they are not gathering dust.

... and unfortunately, except for UConnect, they are damn nice vehicles.
 
#19 ·
Don't forget, our export diesel laredo is closer in specifications to the us limited, things such as 18 inch wheels, heated front seats, voice command cd/dvd stereo, dual zone climate control with bluetooth,self levelling hid headlights, power folding mirrors, rain sensing wipers,rear view camera, and full time 4wd are all standard.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Newbie here, though I have been monitoring for the past 6 months.

Actually, it is possible to get a diesel JGC under $40K, perhaps in the area of $38K. If you go to the Jeep website and do a build, select the Limited 2WD for $35,795. In the 2WD version, you can opt for diesel without the luxury package, so add $4,500 for a total of $40,295. Add destination fee of $995 and you have $41,290. Join Tread Lightly and buy it through the Chrysler Affiliate program for 1% below invoice. I'm guessing about $38K.

Of course, who would buy a Jeep in a 2WD configuration? Not me! I think this was put out only for advertising purposes.
 
#29 ·
To throw in some info to this discussion, Jeep has claimed that they are selling the ecodiesel almost at cost. In order to get the profit they need, they are only offering with the higher trim levels because those "luxury" options are where they see the most profit margin. That explains why you must order a luxury package with the Limited.

Since they are reintroducing the diesel, they didn't want to doom it from the start by making it a stand alone $7,000 option. They are doing the exact same thing with the Ram ecodiesels. Top trim levels only.
 
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