Who traded in for a Ram and what are your honest thoughts?

[hairybumcrack]

Thinking about trading in my 2014 GMC Sierra All Terrain on a 2017 Ram 1500 Rebel. Dodge is discounting these things and offering 0% financing on top of this so it is very tempting to get a new truck for a $7K difference.

 

I've owned a 3500 with a Cummins in the past and was not very pleased with the blowback as well as the box blistering within 7 years. My buddies at work had numerous electronic issues with their 2014 Rams and the 2017 hasn't evolved much IMO since then. I do like the look of the Rebel and after having 3 recalls and 2 other warranty issues within 49K kms of driving, I'm on the fence even though I think the Ram will let me down in the future.

 

Who's made the change to a Ram and what are your honest thoughts. Are you happy with the decision or did you wish you kept your GM truck?

 

Things I don't like about my truck now;

- front end creaks so bad on turns

- threads on stitching on front seats is showing and only a matter of time before it separates

- radio intermittently locks up and will not allow you to change it from either the steering wheel controls or from the touch screen (dealer says it is fine)

- the beautiful vibration at 70mph (112 kmph)

- shitty transmission with hard shifts, constant clunking, searching, and feeling of no power when first pulling out of the driveway

- worst traction control feature I've ever had in a vehicle

- climate control that you are either on fire or feels like AC is on during cooler months......it thinks it is a home furnace and a constant temperature is not achievable

 

I love the heated steering wheel, seats, sound system, and the look of the truck.

 

Honest replies are welcome. I don't offroad anymore and this is a kid mover these days. Primarily used for towing boats and I love the offroad looks of the All Terrain as well as the Ram Rebel.

[vonshep]

I was a hard core mopar guy this is the first non mopar car in over 20 years I traded in my Ram for the GM I probably would of went mopar again except just about everyone I know who has the new 8 spd dial shifter has had trouble my one buddy had to lemon law his and the other guy has had his in a couple of times for trans issues and for some reason they keep breaking exhaust manifold bolts. The grass isn't always greener personally I have had no major issues with the GM hope this helps

[fedmogul89]

I traded from a fully loaded Big Horn to a Silverado, then Sierra. My Ram was a 2015. Honestly there is no comparison to them. The Ran had some extra storage space. If you have the package with the tow mirrors, and a bulb goes out? Chrysler wont warrant it. It's 1200 dollars with labor. The 5.7 Hemi was nice, and the 8 speed transmission was nice. I miss the heated steering wheel and seats. But the real nitty gritty? Owning a Ram was like going and getting a large pizza on your way home then stopping and getting a 6 pack of ice house. When you get home, you eat every slice then pound a 6 pack down. You get nice and stuffed and get a nice buzz. But it's sloppy and you feel like crap the next day. The Silverado/Sierra is like going to a steak house and getting the best steak they have, and sipping a nice bourbon. You have to pay a little more, but you'll enjoy it a lot better.

[fedmogul89]

Then after you go to pay, your wife who makes a lot more than you pays for everything. Then you get home and have plenty of lovin' all night long. THAT is an accurate comparison between a Ram and a Silverado/Sierra.

[Test Alpha]

Traded our 2014 GMC 1500 CC 5.3 for a Ram 2500 CC 6.4 Hemi this past summer. No issues with the GMC just needed more stability for towing our 30' Travel Trailer. GM wouldn't work with me on price, Ram gave me a great deal on the truck and on the trade in.

 

Of course the 2500 rides a little rougher than a 1500 but the rear coil suspension helps quite a bit. Have over 2,000 miles towing our travel trailer with the Ram, no issues with the truck whatsoever.

 

BTW My DD is my Chevy RCLB 5.3

 

 

Things I like about the Ram after 6 months and 10,000 miles;

 

Throttle response

U Connect radio

Headlights

Back up camera, better resolution

Rear vents

Seats more comfortable

Storage boxes under rear floor

 

I'm in no way complaining about the GMC we traded in for the Ram, it was a great truck but we needed more for towing.

 

Hope this helps!

[Silverado Steve]

Nice analogy..lol. They still make Ice House?

 

 

I traded from a fully loaded Big Horn to a Silverado, then Sierra. My Ram was a 2015. Honestly there is no comparison to them. The Ran had some extra storage space. If you have the package with the tow mirrors, and a bulb goes out? Chrysler wont warrant it. It's 1200 dollars with labor. The 5.7 Hemi was nice, and the 8 speed transmission was nice. I miss the heated steering wheel and seats. But the real nitty gritty? Owning a Ram was like going and getting a large pizza on your way home then stopping and getting a 6 pack of ice house. When you get home, you eat every slice then pound a 6 pack down. You get nice and stuffed and get a nice buzz. But it's sloppy and you feel like crap the next day. The Silverado/Sierra is like going to a steak house and getting the best steak they have, and sipping a nice bourbon. You have to pay a little more, but you'll enjoy it a lot better.

[2018GMC]

Traded our 2014 GMC 1500 CC 5.3 for a Ram 2500 CC 6.4 Hemi this past summer. No issues with the GMC just needed more stability for towing our 30' Travel Trailer. GM wouldn't work with me on price, Ram gave me a great deal on the truck and on the trade in.

Of course the 2500 rides a little rougher than a 1500 but the rear coil suspension helps quite a bit. Have over 2,000 miles towing our travel trailer with the Ram, no issues with the truck whatsoever.

BTW My DD is my Chevy RCLB 5.3

Things I like about the Ram after 6 months and 10,000 miles;

Throttle response

U Connect radio

Headlights

Back up camera, better resolution

Rear vents

Seats more comfortable

Storage boxes under rear floor

I'm in no way complaining about the GMC we traded in for the Ram, it was a great truck but we needed more for towing.

Hope this helps!

How is the 6.4 hemI mpg empty vs towing?

 

Not to hijack thread but any pics of your ram 2500?

[hairybumcrack]

Thanks for the replies. I research vehicle reliability and other items prior to making any commitments as I've regretted impulse purchases when I was younger.

 

TIP - don't go vehicle shopping on a whim when you are hungover

 

I've had two Dodge's in the past. A Dakota that had no issues for 5 years before I traded it in for an Avalanche (POS) and the 3500 Ram with the 5.7 Cummins which I referred to previously (complete front end at 40K miles, blowback at 70K miles, rear box water ingression leading to rusting which is a known problem even though this truck was rust treated).

 

From what I've read, the Dodge hemi gets better gas mileage than the 5.3 which is suprising. Their 8 speed is better than my 6 speed, GMC is better looking and has more features, Dodge has more storage, etc. What is tempting is the $7K difference on price as the Dodge has a list of $63K (CDN so $28K USD) and they have discounts to bring this to $46K with a $40K trade in for my truck.

 

Tempting......still undecided but I have until today to make a decision.

[KARNUT]

My brother in law drives a lot and gets paid milage at his job. In the last 5 years he has had 4 trucks. We go out to eat with our better halfs every week and take turns driving. His first of the 4 was a Ford I never rode in that one he had it two weeks prior to that he was a Ford man, all he said was he hated it. Next was a Tundra he liked it so much he bought one for his wife. A year later mice started eating the wires under the intake, the dealer said it was a common problem something about soybean coated wires. Seven hundred dollars two times to fix, traded for a Ram. In the mix was my 14 GMC. My take the Ram seems a little more sporty and you can here a nice rumble from the exhaust and the V4 too, I didn't point that out to him. My 14 seemed to ride a little better and was more silent. It really boils down to personal choice and pre conceived opinions. Because of all the newness of the brands with exception of Toyota I would have said Toyota would last the longest with less problems, till that wire- mouse problems came up. No gear shift in the Ram takes time to get use too.

[Donstar]

Thanks for the replies. I research vehicle reliability and other items prior to making any commitments as I've regretted impulse purchases when I was younger.

 

TIP - don't go vehicle shopping on a whim when you are hungover

 

I've had two Dodge's in the past. A Dakota that had no issues for 5 years before I traded it in for an Avalanche (POS) and the 3500 Ram with the 5.7 Cummins which I referred to previously (complete front end at 40K miles, blowback at 70K miles, rear box water ingression leading to rusting which is a known problem even though this truck was rust treated).

 

From what I've read, the Dodge hemi gets better gas mileage than the 5.3 which is suprising. Their 8 speed is better than my 6 speed, GMC is better looking and has more features, Dodge has more storage, etc. What is tempting is the $7K difference on price as the Dodge has a list of $63K (CDN so $28K USD) and they have discounts to bring this to $46K with a $40K trade in for my truck.

 

Tempting......still undecided but I have until today to make a decision.

$6K difference for a new '17 comparable truck is pretty tempting! If you are in need of a new truck, and like the RAM, then this sounds like a great deal. I personally would not be happy with a RAM unless it was much more affordable than the other brands. I would take these figures to my GM dealer and see if they can match or come close. (then Ford, Toyota, Nissan...)

[Dnt]

I traded from a fully loaded Big Horn to a Silverado, then Sierra. My Ram was a 2015. Honestly there is no comparison to them. The Ran had some extra storage space. If you have the package with the tow mirrors, and a bulb goes out? Chrysler wont warrant it. It's 1200 dollars with labor. The 5.7 Hemi was nice, and the 8 speed transmission was nice. I miss the heated steering wheel and seats. But the real nitty gritty? Owning a Ram was like going and getting a large pizza on your way home then stopping and getting a 6 pack of ice house. When you get home, you eat every slice then pound a 6 pack down. You get nice and stuffed and get a nice buzz. But it's sloppy and you feel like crap the next day. The Silverado/Sierra is like going to a steak house and getting the best steak they have, and sipping a nice bourbon. You have to pay a little more, but you'll enjoy it a lot better.

All you need is a container of Grey Poupon http://time.com/2904140/grey-poupon-commercial/

[hairybumcrack]

GM dealers won't touch this discount. I get full GM discount plus some extras because I know people who run a dealership. Dodge is offering discounts and one specific dealer who is high volume (because they have minimal overhead due to the shack they use as a showroom) is offering additional $7900 discounts on top of the $9000 Ram discount.

[Donstar]

GM dealers won't touch this discount. I get full GM discount plus some extras because I know people who run a dealership. Dodge is offering discounts and one specific dealer who is high volume (because they have minimal overhead due to the shack they use as a showroom) is offering additional $7900 discounts on top of the $9000 Ram discount.

This sounds like a pretty good dealer discount! I would still sit down with my GM dealer and see how close they can come. Sometimes, depending on many variables, a seller will choose a small profit over no sale.

[hairybumcrack]

Couldn't do it - the Ram certainly drives different than the Sierra. As much as I dislike certain things about my truck, the Ram just couldn't win me over. Maybe it is time to start customizing my Sierra this summer.

[Test Alpha]

How is the 6.4 hemI mpg empty vs towing?

Not to hijack thread but any pics of your ram 2500?

Empty I average just over 16 mpg, towing our travel trailer gets 8-9 mpg.