Playing around with all options considering I'm thinking of trading my trouble free 2014 F150 3.7 Supercrew for something else. Ranger is still leading the pack so obviously I'm not in a hurry. Just have a case of new truckitis. So I thought about maybe a light diesel might be a dandy. I've had the F250 diesels before so it's not like I wouldn't know about the expense of a diesel. So I stopped by a Ram dealer on the way home today. Surprise, surprise, no 2019 Ram 3.0 diesels and while they still show them on the Ram website, they're not even orderable. The sales manager said they put a stop sell on all 2019 Ecodiesels and it's likely the engine will be dropped from their line. If I wanted one, it would have to be a 2018 year model which they still have 8 on the lot. The only half ton light diesels are the Nissan XD and the F150. But I will say this, I looked at a Ram Bighorn, Hemi, 8 speed auto, loaded, leather, all the goodies from heated seats, navigation, trailer towing, 20" chrome wheels, camera, everything. The "dealer" discounted price.....$34,755.00. For an equivalent F150 I'd be looking at over $50,000. discounted. It was almost hard to walk out of the dealership and not drive out in a Ram. But apparently they are going to drop the 3.0 EcoDiesel due to major engine failures and unreal claims of fuel mileage. It's unfortunate though that I know so much about the Ram line to stay away from it. Maintenance is a night mare by comparison to a Ford, that is, if you do it right. Not real sure about the 8 speed auto. The previous transmission was a known fail at about 80,000 miles. MY only thoughts were that Ford is sure asking for a lot of premium over the likes of a Ram. No wonder I see just about as many Rams now as F150's. Frankly though, I like the new Ram looks a lot over the new F150 which I don't like at all.

 

 

According to this article 3.0 diesel production is resuming and it was the emissions being questioned causing the stop of production. The 8 speed transmission is a German design that is used in the Rolls Royce, BMW, and lots of others. I suspect it is okay.

You shoulda bought the heck out of that RAM for that price. They aren't discounted like that around here.

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2017/0...roduction.html

 

With all of the dealer discounts, Ram discounts, Chrysler Financial discounts, you can get around $15,000 knocked off of the MSRP. They have discounts for most any reason, first time Ram buyer, military or prior military service, student of any age, Lone Star discounts, the list is pretty long. Seems we have several dealers here that have all of these discounts available. Some start off with $12,500. off and then add additional discounts. Kinda crazy really. But the small town dealers apparently are not on the same program as they are advertising discounts of less than 2 grand. Hey, it's Fiat. They've never made sense anyway.

 

When I was looking last year, the local dealer said they had a low credit score discount? What? Seems backwards.

 

I like the idea for small diesel engines. Just the expense is questionable.

For the Super Duty lines, it makes perfect sense.

 

Yeah, they are rated something like 420 ft lbs torque. That shoud be enough to tow most things a 1500 should be expected to tow. Makuloco bought one and he's pleased so far from what I have seen on his video. Seems to me though they only offer it in the high dollar trucks.

 

^ That is the other problem. They ought to offer it in the XL work truck models. I think they would sell more.

 

Ranger seems like a potent combo if you don't "need" a full size

I dig the way the new RAM looks. and that's coming from a die hard Ford guy!

 

 

I like the Ram's look from the front and side. From the rear, looks like a 20 year old Dodge. Can't believe they didn't do a redesign on the bed since they were hammering out new sheet metal anyway. Not having driven a new Ram, they claim it's funeral quiet inside and rides like a luxury car. But you have to wonder if the claimed fuel mileage is close. Everybody I know that has had a Ram complained about lousy gas mileage with the Hemi. They all claimed it ran strong, just not long on a tank of gas. One major plus though, no stupid start/stop BS.

 

 

The first thing my sister does after starting her Grand Cherokee is hit the button to disable the start-stop.

 

I was noticing today the price of diesel fuel. 87 octane gasoline was $2.059 and diesel was $2.959. No saving money on fuel with a diesel. So, there is no reason to buy one.

 

Especially not a small one.

Like I said earlier, if it's got more torque and power than the gas variant, then it's a winner -- if you need it.