Ram1500 EcoDiesel V6 revealed!

[ssls6]

I agree with last two items. The 1st item is the controversial one for the reasons stated.

Item 1 will take a bunch of sales to prove out. I watched a youtube video where the guy doing the review was getting 31 mpg on his commute. Here is a copy of the video

2014 RAM 1500 Eco Diesel Review and Road Test - YouTube

I watched all 20 minutes and I gotta say I'm impressed. The time on the video where he talks about mileage is ~13 mins in.

 

[jejeosborne]

Item 1 will take a bunch of sales to prove out. I watched a youtube video where the guy doing the review was getting 31 mpg on his commute. Here is a copy of the video

2014 RAM 1500 Eco Diesel Review and Road Test - YouTube

I watched all 20 minutes and I gotta say I'm impressed. The time on the video where he talks about mileage is ~13 mins in.

24.5 MPG is what I think he was averaging which is good but doubt it will justify this over the Hemi. I wonder what the door payload sticker for that truck is. I'm betting 1000 lbs or less. I think these trucks will be popular for a fleet vehicles and people who do light towing on long trips.

 

[Ford850]

I don't know how you guys can dislike:

1) 25 mpg, 15 mpg towing, 9000lb rating
2) air suspension that self levels, raises 2 inches when off-road, lowers an inch on freeway
3) 8 speeds

I'm a ford guy but those are impressive stats. I think dodge has a real winner unless they screw it up somehow.

The problem with the tow rating is that there is not enough payload rating to support it. If you want to tow a heavy trailer with a light tongue weight, and no passengers, and an empty bed, then this is the truck for you. If Ram improved their payload ratings they would have a great truck. Even their added airbags add no additional payload capabilities. That is what upsets buyers. It would be like offering HID headlights, but limiting their output to be no improvement over OEM halogens.

 

[jejeosborne]

The problem with the tow rating is that there is not enough payload rating to support it. If you want to tow a heavy trailer with a light tongue weight, and no passengers, and an empty bed, then this is the truck for you. If Ram improved their payload ratings they would have a great truck. Even their added airbags add no additional payload capabilities. That is what upsets buyers. It would be like offering HID headlights, but limiting their output to be no improvement over OEM halogens.

My thoughts exactly. In fact, the airbag suspension hurts the payload capacity. My guess would be at least 100 lbs.

 

[ssls6]

$2800 more than a hemi and probably 10mpg advantage. I think the payback was estimated at 3 years by Dodge but when you factor in the resale (which most people don't do but should) I think you can make a strong case for it.

Like I said earlier, I think Dodge will have a real winner on their hands. Nothing from Ford or Chevy is close to 24.5 mpg combined in the real world. That is just a fantastic number.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I don't know how you guys can dislike:

1) 25 mpg, 15 mpg towing, 9000lb rating
2) air suspension that self levels, raises 2 inches when off-road, lowers an inch on freeway
3) 8 speeds

I'm a ford guy but those are impressive stats. I think dodge has a real winner unless they screw it up somehow.

I agree but how often does the average guy tow? Gas and diesel are about $.60 different and the gas Ram, 5.7 Hemi, and Eco Boost get 22mpg. That makes them cheaper to run.

Dodge 1/2 tons have always been the worst on rear suspension. With the low payload you can't haul have that 9000# with 3 people in the cab.

While no truck is perfect the Dodges have major short comings.

Chris

 

[ssls6]

I agree but how often does the average guy tow? Gas and diesel are about $.60 different and the gas Ram, 5.7 Hemi, and Eco Boost get 22mpg. That makes them cheaper to run.

Dodge 1/2 tons have always been the worst on rear suspension. With the low payload you can't haul have that 9000# with 3 people in the cab.

While no truck is perfect the Dodges have major short comings.

Chris

I agree with most of what you're saying but in terms of "cheaper to run", it's hard to beat a combined 24.5 mpg over 600 miles. I found another review where the guy did a combined 600 miles in the ecoboost. His mileage was 19.1 (which is also good).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpcZANvLAxY

24.5/19.1 = 1.28 or 28% better. Diesel is a 15% cost adder at least where I live in Texas so 28% more miles per gallon beats the 15% more cost per gallon. The difference will be even greater when towing or just around town. Now when selling a diesel you get almost all the extra engine money back (and I've owned several diesels from 7.3 to 6.0). I think the ram will be cheaper to run.

So before I throw cold water on the new dodge (like I said I'm a ford guy), I think I'm gonna wait and see. So far it looks pretty impressive.

 

[fordmantpw]

I agree with last two items. The 1st item is the controversial one for the reasons stated.

Agreed!

And I will believe the 15 mpg while towing when I see it. The 3.0L is rather small, so I don't think you will see 15 mpg towing unless you are towing 2k lbs in an open trailer.

The problem with #1 is the payload. You just can't tow 9k lbs properly AND stay under the payload if you aren't by yourself with an empty bed. That has been discussed ad nauseum here.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree with most of what you're saying but in terms of "cheaper to run", it's hard to beat a combined 24.5 mpg over 600 miles. I found another review where the guy did a combined 600 miles in the ecoboost. His mileage was 19.1 (which is also good).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpcZANvLAxY

24.5/19.1 = 1.28 or 28% better. Diesel is a 15% cost adder at least where I live in Texas so 28% more miles per gallon beats the 15% more cost per gallon. The difference will be even greater when towing or just around town. Now when selling a diesel you get almost all the extra engine money back (and I've owned several diesels from 7.3 to 6.0). I think the ram will be cheaper to run.

So before I throw cold water on the new dodge (like I said I'm a ford guy), I think I'm gonna wait and see. So far it looks pretty impressive.

I agree it's impressive but it's not up to the task for 90% of us here with its low GVWR. Now, the grocery getter set will find it handy.

By the way I should have included the GM 5.3L trucks. They get 22 mpg in the latest trim.

Mt father has a 2011 4x4 Super Crew Eco Boost with 3.73 gears. It's averaged 18.3 mpg since day one. I have seen 24 mpg at 60 mph a dozen or more times. Towing a tandem axle box trailer it got about 13 mpg on a 250 mile trip. All this on 87 octane.

Chris

 

[fordmantpw]

I agree with most of what you're saying but in terms of "cheaper to run", it's hard to beat a combined 24.5 mpg over 600 miles. I found another review where the guy did a combined 600 miles in the ecoboost. His mileage was 19.1 (which is also good).

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Review / Test Drive = MPGomatic - YouTube

24.5/19.1 = 1.28 or 28% better. Diesel is a 15% cost adder at least where I live in Texas so 28% more miles per gallon beats the 15% more cost per gallon. The difference will be even greater when towing or just around town. Now when selling a diesel you get almost all the extra engine money back (and I've owned several diesels from 7.3 to 6.0). I think the ram will be cheaper to run.

So before I throw cold water on the new dodge (like I said I'm a ford guy), I think I'm gonna wait and see. So far it looks pretty impressive.

Around here, diesel costs 28% more than gas (3.69 vs 2.89), so it's a wash in fuel costs alone. Now, factor in extra maintenance and the up front costs, you just can't justify it unless you tow A LOT! And if you tow enough weight often enough, you probably aren't driving a half ton truck.

I used to be a huge proponent of diesels in half-tons, but then the cost of diesel skyrocketed. And Ford came out with the EcoBoost.

Oh, and I drive a diesel, BTW.