Currently am thinking of a new truck, and wondered if anyone out there has the new International Prostar with the new Detroit engine in it? Not only is it a good looking aerodynamic truck, but apparently the new Detroit is the best on fuel to date.

Comments?

 

Detroit engine or did u mean MB ... i had a isx cummins and loved its economy ...power and reliability....and yes pro star is a good pick these days with all the new upgrades these days...best of luck

 

I think most of the new Internationals come with either a Cummins or Navistar engine. At least that is what I have found when looking at them. I am not sure who is ahead in the mpg game. Cummins says they are the best, Detroit or Mercedes Benz says that they are the best. I have spoken with people from Navistar (International) and they tell me that they are getting better fuel mileage than anyone else. I think it depends more on the gearing and driver than the engine. I doubt there is more than 1/2 mpg between any of the major engine manufacturers.

 

I dont think you can get a detroit in a International.
I think detroits are only in western star, sterling and freightliner.

 

Is the day coming soon when all you will be able to get on a class 8 truck is an auto transmission, to meet these ridicuously unachieveable emission standards? Are they going to eliminate the driver input as to gear selection, the way they have for most light diesel trucks?

 

I have always gotten better fuel mileage with a straight shift than automatic. It is my understanding that the primary reason for the shift toward automatics is lack of ability of many of the newer drivers to shift gears. Trucking is attracting more and more females to the profession. Some carriers with whom I have spoken have told me that attracting more women is one reason for them going more toward automatics. More women prefer the automatics than straight shift transmissions according to a couple of these people that I spoke.

 

Yup.

Detroit is now owned by the Freightliner/Western Star/Sterling bunch, and is only available in those brands.

 

I don't really think the lack of manual transmission skills is gender specific.

Rather, I think it is a result of the predominance of automatic transmissions in 4 wheelers.

Today there are an awful lot of 4 wheeler drivers out there who cannot operate a car with a manual transmission.

Thus, more of a percentage of the truck driving school students haven't a clue going in.

It's not like it was when I was a kid and everybody knew how to drive a manual.

Did I mention that I have an extreme dislike for automatic transmissions?

 

That is the other side of the coin, Splitshifter. There are many people driving today who have never driven a stick shift. I recently had a driver who wanted me to buy him a automatic on his first run out. The cost of repairing an auto compared to manual is quite significant. That is one reason why I have not yet made the plunge into buying automatics. Plus I think that the straight shift transmissions are more reliable. I understand that the technology has been on the market for several years, but I am still uncertain of the actual maintenance costs of automatics compared to manual transmissions. Most drivers whom I interview still prefer straight shift transmissions.

 

gladman I can help you tremendously with the specs. Don't buy whatever the salesman puts in front of you, or whatever is on the lot. It may cost you thousands and thousands a year in extra fuel cost.