DECISION MADE ! DIESEL WINS (Help to decide : 2008 4.8 vs. 2011 3.5d)

[alexmish]

Hi folks,

My current lease for 2008 4.8 is coming to the end in a few months, and I am undecided what to do next. I've pretty much ruled out 3.5i and 5.0i due to their cost, and at this point it is down to buying off the leased 4.8, or going for 2011 3.5d.

From the TCO (total cost of ownership) point of view, both choices are about the same, with 3.5d coming out slightly ahead due to savings on fuel and availability of $4500 credit. I would be sacrificing 0-60 on 4.8 for 2011's new iDrive, fuel efficiency and other minor goodies (multi-countour seats, iPOD/USB, better camera, google send-to-car, etc.).

To those who own 3.5d, can you please comment on:

a) Acceleration (obviously I would test drive it myself as well) - both from the standstill and highway passing
b) Issues with the diesel fluid - especially those living in North East -did you have any/many issues with fluid freezing up during winter?
c) Sound/smell - any problems with that?
d) MPG - I am a 75-80 mph driver (daily commute of 50 miles in NJ), what do you get?

Any advice, opinions, asnwers to the above are greatly appreciated !

P.S. I know what my brother genemish is going to say about diesel vs 4.8