Dodge Vs Gm

Col_Sanders · March 10, 2011

I traded my 2007 extended cab GMC in on a 2010 Ram 1500 a couple weeks ago and figured I'd do an unbiased comparison between the two for anyone looking into getting a new truck. I am not brand loyal in any way. I looked at all of the half ton trucks available before making my decision.

My Sierra was a Z71 SLE with the 5.3 and the Ram I chose is a Quad Cab Sport (bucket seats) 4x4 with 5.7 Hemi. While an SLT with the 6.2 would be a more comparable truck to the Sport, I didnt have one and there were none available here for me to test. I also do not like the dashboard configuration on them. To me, its too grocery getting soccer mom feeling and I want to feel like I am in a truck.

Looks comes down to personal preference. I think these two are the best looking trucks out there and I would have to say the GMC probably looks a little classier while the Dodge looks more aggressive/sporty.

Interior wise the Ram is head and shoulders above the GMC. The seats are far more comfortable with more lumbar support but they are smaller than the GM seats. Mine does have bucket seats so the bench would be roomier. The Ram has a very large center console with quite a bit of storage but it isnt divided in any way. It has a similar glovebox setup to the GMC. I like the gauge setup on both trucks, but found that the fuel gauge on the GM was hard to see in certain lighting unless I turned the fog lights on so the gauges would light up. The gauges on the Dodge are well set up and easily readable at all times. The EVIC on the Dodge is a multi line readout that shows similar info to the DIC on the GMC, but it is faster to navigate and has a little more info. Dodge also has a little bit of "accent lighting" pointing at the console which is very nice at night. I do miss having 3 cup holders and having them easier to access. The cup holders on the Dodge are by the passenger. The rear seats seem about equal size, but the ability to open the rear doors without opening the front doors is great! Also the Ram has under seat storage in the rear and a panel that folds out so that the floor is flat.

The Hemi obviously has FAR more power than the 5.3. While the 5.3 was adequate, the 5.7 is FUN! They dont nanny the power like GM does. When you want it, its there. It also has a nice mellow rumble in the cab. I do have the Sport and it supposedly comes with a different exhaust so I am not sure how the other versions sound. Both trucks have a very smooth ride for a truck but the Ram is a little smoother and handles a little better due to the coil springs.

It sits a good bit higher than the GMC (especially the rear) and does not squat as much when loaded. With 2 ATVs on a 16' trailer and supplies in the bed, the GMC would squat significantly more than the Ram. I believe I lost 2" of bed and a little bit of payload when I switched but thats why I have a trailer. The Dodge has disk brakes all the way around, making stopping much easier. Hauling 2 ATVs on my trailer would significantly slow the stopping on the GMC, while it was just noticeable on the Ram. A brake controller would really help either truck.

I am still not sure what my fuel economy will be on the Ram but it seems on par with my GMC. I have not driven a full tank on the Ram without towing something so I dont have a yet. Both tanks so far have been just under 16mpg but a good bit of towing and city driving was involved. My normal trips to work appear to be around 17-18mpg though. The MDS on the Ram seems a little more aggressive than AFM on the GMs. Routine maintenance on the Ram will no doubt be more expensive. It uses 7 quarts of oil and the 16 spark plugs are supposed to be changed every 32k miles.

Overall while I think the GMC is a good truck, and I liked mine, I LOVE my new Dodge. Chrysler really has stepped up with this generation of truck, especially on the interior.

old-chevy-dude · March 10, 2011

being a Dodge (former) tech for 20+ years as much as you might like that Hemi within 50K miles you will start having some major issues with the electrical system and if you hot rod the truck in any way, or are prone to a lot of WOT runs or burn outs, you will detonate that motor as the 5.7L Hemi's have a major lean issue in Cylinder #1 because of a $hitty fuel rail design..

Chrysler has always had great looking vehicles with decent interiors and off the hook looks, but the overall quality is crap.

and I am not talking as a GM fan boy, but as someone who was in the trenches working on these things for 20+ years, and I still am very active in the Mopar world and work on them a lot outside the realm of a dealership. I worked as a Chrysler Tech for 20 plus years and only owned 1 Chrysler product in that time frame (but several Ford and GMs) and the one I owned was a down right lemon and a rolling pile of horse's ass, $27,000 in warranty work in 6 years and 125K miles, including a motor and transmission replacement, complete wiring harness replacement, and replacement of 7 of the 14 computer modules due to ongoing electrical issues.

good luck man, I hope you fair better that most.

also FYI, Dodge dealerships are grade F in customer service and satisfaction, even as a Chrysler Employee I was treated like $hit going to any dealership outside the ones I worked at.

Col_Sanders · March 10, 2011

I know several people with 09+ Rams and they all love them. None have reported any issues. My local Dodge dealer is also a Chevy dealer and I ride ATVs with several of the techs. I should be OK with service. I also dont hot rod it and I keep up with my maintenance.

My GMC had been in the shop several times (transmission leaks and water pump) and when I traded it in the "Service 4x4 Soon" was flashing and it wouldnt shift out of Auto. It had just over 54k miles on it.

old-chevy-dude · March 10, 2011

I know several people with 09+ Rams and they all love them. None have reported any issues. My local Dodge dealer is also a Chevy dealer and I ride ATVs with several of the techs. I should be OK with service. I also dont hot rod it and I keep up with my maintenance.

My GMC had been in the shop several times (transmission leaks and water pump) and when I traded it in the "Service 4x4 Soon" was flashing and it wouldnt shift out of Auto. It had just over 54k miles on it.

no worries, just relaying my experiences, I do honestly wish you good luck with it, I do really like the looks of the new Ram's but after my issues with my Chrysler and my experiences with them from a tech stand point, I just can't bring myself to ever own another, where the 4 GM trucks I have had have all gone over 200K without any major issues.

Major_Kong · March 10, 2011

I'm glad that you like your new truck and hope that it serves you well. The Ram is a decent looking truck and they have some nice, innovative storage features.

I've never owned a Chrysler product and probably never will due to the quality issues that have plagued Chrysler ever since I can remember getting into cars. I have read and heard of too many issues with their vehicles. In fact I believe that Chrysler was rated the worst in quality in the latest JD Power report.

I'm not trying to knock you OP, it's just that I don't trust Chrysler's products. I hope that you have better luck with your rig than most others have.

Col_Sanders · March 10, 2011

Well, I am impressed with the initial quality more than I was with the GMC. Even if in a couple years I am unhappy with it I will probably be ok on the deal if I trade it in. I got a good enough deal on it.

Actually the only thing I have a gripe about is the layout on the touch screen radio.

old-chevy-dude · March 10, 2011

Well, I am impressed with the initial quality more than I was with the GMC. Even if in a couple years I am unhappy with it I will probably be ok on the deal if I trade it in. I got a good enough deal on it.

Actually the only thing I have a gripe about is the layout on the touch screen radio.

there are a few forums for the mygig system, a lot of the layout is user customizable.

Col_Sanders · March 10, 2011

Oh really...I havent found much on the Dodge forums but I figured there had to be something out there. They sure dont give you many options from the factory.

old-chevy-dude · March 10, 2011

here:

http://mofv.com/mygig/

http://www.chrysler.com/en/owners/mygig/

the mygig is an awesome OEM system, if I could make it work in my GM I would.

jtramsey · March 10, 2011

I have never owned a Dodge Truck But several cars.I was told similar things that I would have tranmission and elecrical Issues but After 8 years Our Intrepid trans did go out but 8 years and never went to the shop for anything.Put brakes on it at 144,000.Just bought a small Dodge Avenger and I hope it does as well.Good Luck with the Truck.

Superperv23 · March 10, 2011

Half of my fam has always had Jeeps and other than the cherokees they have all had problem, especially the newer grand cherokees. The dealers are all crap around here too, ridiculous service, one service advisor once told my grand mother if she drove her 4yr old 2000 grand cherokee home that day she risked having it exploded and she should go talk to the sales guys about a new one right away, border line insane.

All I am going to say about the new trucks is that for the price of my SLE All terrain CC 5.3 if I had of spent that on a Dodge I would have had a ram sport with 20in wheels, leather seats, 5.7 hemi, moonroof, navigation back up cam 8 speakers and sub. So all for the same price they are skimping somewhere or GM's profit per unit is through the roof compared to chrysler.

az'03Silverado · March 10, 2011

Anything will last as long as you take care of it (and it sounds like you do). Good maintenance is key to anything. Congratulations on the new truck!

truckofwinandawesome · March 10, 2011

being a Dodge (former) tech for 20+ years as much as you might like that Hemi within 50K miles you will start having some major issues with the electrical system and if you hot rod the truck in any way, or are prone to a lot of WOT runs or burn outs, you will detonate that motor as the 5.7L Hemi's have a major lean issue in Cylinder #1 because of a $hitty fuel rail design..

Chrysler has always had great looking vehicles with decent interiors and off the hook looks, but the overall quality is crap.

and I am not talking as a GM fan boy, but as someone who was in the trenches working on these things for 20+ years, and I still am very active in the Mopar world and work on them a lot outside the realm of a dealership. I worked as a Chrysler Tech for 20 plus years and only owned 1 Chrysler product in that time frame (but several Ford and GMs) and the one I owned was a down right lemon and a rolling pile of horse's ass, $27,000 in warranty work in 6 years and 125K miles, including a motor and transmission replacement, complete wiring harness replacement, and replacement of 7 of the 14 computer modules due to ongoing electrical issues.

good luck man, I hope you fair better that most.

also FYI, Dodge dealerships are grade F in customer service and satisfaction, even as a Chrysler Employee I was treated like $hit going to any dealership outside the ones I worked at.

I'll have to agree with you on this one, I went to my Local DCJ Dealer to have some Recall Work done on the Plymouth, and before I dropped off the keys, I FLAT OUT TOLD THEM that the Igntion Interlock was Inoperative, and according to the Recall (I had read up on the Recall before I took it in), if the Ignition Interlock was Inoperative, the Shifter Assembly MUST be Replaced! and what did they Do? they installed the Load Limiting Pushrod, Which DID NOT Fix the Problem! I Told them that the Interlock was still Inoperative and they told me I would have to spend money to have it fixed. I did more research and it turned out they LIED TO MY FACE!! then about a year and a half later, this dealer goes belly up and now I have to Drive 40+ miles to the nearest dealer. and remember the May 2010 Floods in Tennessee? I was Hoping and PRAYING Nothing Broke on the Plymouth, because i was Cut off from EVERY Chrysler Dealer for a 40+ Mile Radius! the roads were either under water, or buried under mud slides!

old-chevy-dude · March 10, 2011

Anything will last as long as you take care of it (and it sounds like you do). Good maintenance is key to anything. Congratulations on the new truck!

that's only true if the quality is there to begin with, if a vehicle is manufactured with defects in the design, workmanship, or parts then no matter how well you care for it, it can still give you problems.

I care for all my vehicles, I have a 1968 Ford T-Bird with a 429 that has been rebuilt once in 340,000 miles, a 1985 Ford Crown Victoria LTD (my late fathers) that is in pristine condition with 85K original miles, hell I've replaced the tires on it from cracking from lack of use, but the thing fires right up EVERY time I do use it.

my Chrysler was a DD, and it was well maintained and used a a show car for 4 years, I have 14 awards for it, but that doesn't negate the fact that it had 2 major design defects that kept it in the dealership hands for weeks at a time, and resulted in replacement of almost every major mechanical and electrical part on the car..