Only the hipsters and the luddites seek those out. They're too overprices for something you'll intentionally drive into a tree at some point. Most 4x4 enthusiasts are using pre-OBD2 and 1st gen OBD2 vehicles since they're cheap and plentiful.
24mpg at what speed in what conditions? Low speed in the plains states, the kind of speed that nobody actually drives at, I can believe that. We all know how aerodynamics work (I'm betting you drive a 2nd gen)...
We both know a stock 12v is grossly under-powered by early-mid 2000s standards.
And if you've got a close to stock (nobody gets 24mpg with 35s and a lift) 12v powered vehicle that isn't a completely clapped out POS or very, very rusty you're probably not wheeling it much if at all...
Driving the speed limit, on the highway. If you ever hear the turbo, back out of it. IP timing was tweaked just a bit, but other than that it is a bone stock 1996 Dodge 3500. And, yeah, it's a clapped out just rolled 300,000 mile truck.
I'm not into 4x4s at all but I like pure mechanical diesels for their simplicity and overall robustness (and distinctive sound, especially the 2-stroke variety) - no electrics or electronics at all, so completely immune to EMP, and doesn't generate any electrical noise on its own either. On the other hand, the emissions aren't great but I suppose they could be tuned to minimise that; it's just that most diesel enthusiasts are tuning for power (and smoke) instead.
