Ram 1500 to get a diesel

[Tucker]

I think the Ram 1500 will def sell. Probably more than the projected 10,000 unit projection. For people that put alot of miles on a truck the extra fuel mileage will pay off maybe, if the price gap closes up. Around here the difference is +/- 65 cents and that is as close that it has been in a long time. Where I work they have quit buying 3/4 ton pickups with diesel engines. Boss says the diesel pickups just don't pencil out anymore as for as overall cost. And he keeps a sharp pencil.This a fleet of 50 trucks with 20 being 3/4 tons.

[5.3L59]

The price here in south jersey is +/- $.10 diesel to premium, but when you tow, a gas engine will suck down fuel like no ones business. The diesel will see minimal difference, if you avg. 15 you would see 12 maybe 10 towing.

 

 

This is exactly right. Gasoline is FAR more temperamental to driving style/driving conditions. That is why a diesel is far more likely to hit the fuel economy numbers with a larger group of owners than a gasoline engine. That is where Ford's 3.5TT fails, only due to it being gasoline. Same with towing. A big load dramatically lowers the 3.5TT as evidenced by pickuptrucks.com 8 MPG average for the 3.5TT while towing.

 

Here is another interesting bit of info from a person who traded their F-150 3.5TT for a 6.7L diesel. He gained 6 MPG while towing with his 407 cubic inch V8 versus his 213 cubic inch V6:

 

Just figured I would give you guys a heads up on the MPG of the Ecoboost vs the 6.7. I just traded in my F-150 ecoboost for my 6.7. I bought the F-150 back in July because at the time there were not too many rebates or incentives going on with the Super Dutys so I tried the F-150 instead. I own a small tree service and the 150 was a little light for some of the things we tow. Anyways, I compared the MPG with the same trailer set up between the two trucks. Right now I am averaging 6 mpg more with the 6.7. Average mileage with the ecoboost was about 12 mpg and a solid 18 with the diesel. Plenty of power with the ecoboost (nice truck) but the mileage dropped HUGE when towing. Ecoboost easily seen 25 mpg on the highway (easy on the pedal). However when towing our fishing boat the mileage dropped to around 12 to 14. Anyways, just figured I would share that info with you all and I could not be happier with my truck.

 

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/general-6-7-discussion/279568-6-7-vs-ecoboost-towing-mpg.html

 

 

The diesel is a far better option for over all fuel economy. This will print money for Dodge.

['01LS1]

He better drive a lot of miles for the $10,000 price difference.

 

Granted he got alot more truck & probably fits his needs better.

 

I have not read the Ram release yet, so may have missed it.

But the diesel option is probably going to be pushing the $5,000 range.

With the EPA mandates, you cannot put a diesel in anything for cheap.

They have added at least $15,000 in costs to class 8 trucks with every new

whim they can dream up in terms of emission levels coming out of the exhaust.

 

 

Check that, found a price leak link for the Jeep. It is $4500...

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/01/2014-jeep-grand-cherokee-pricing-leaked-diesel-costs-4500-premium.html

['01LS1]

Also Ford, GM & Toyota do not have plans to release a half ton diesel according to this.

 

Ford’s U.S. truck communications manager Mike Levine told AutoGuide.com that Ford has no plans for a diesel F-150, and that Ford’s EcoBoost engines will remain competitive in the segment.

Toyota’s chief truck engineer Mike Sweers said something similar; that the Japanese brand’s V8 engines are tried, tested and true, and diesel is not on the docket.

When asked about diesel engines for the Silverado, Chevrolet truck communications manager Tom Wilkinson responded: “[Chevrolet] looked at diesels for [light-duty] pickups but [we] don’t have plans for one at this point.” Essentially, he said, it “comes down to cost of ownership, with the slightly higher fuel economy offset by the higher cost of the truck and relatively high cost of diesel fuel.”

 

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/02/ford-chevy-and-toyota-no-plans-for-diesel-half-tons.html

[5.3L59]

He better drive a lot of miles for the $10,000 price difference.

 

Granted he got alot more truck & probably fits his needs better.

 

 

Plus, it's probably a write off for him.

[kstruckcountry]

Maybe when they release the 2014's, they'll be like, "oh, and we have a 4.5L Dmax available" and people with lots of $$, aka anyone buying a 2014 will say, "wow I need one, they're sexxxxy." But most likely, not.

[amxguy1970]

When asked about diesel engines for the Silverado, Chevrolet truck communications manager Tom Wilkinson responded: “[Chevrolet] looked at diesels for [light-duty] pickups but [we] don’t have plans for one at this point.” Essentially, he said, it “comes down to cost of ownership, with the slightly higher fuel economy offset by the higher cost of the truck and relatively high cost of diesel fuel.”

 

http://www.autoguide...-half-tons.html

 

 

This right here... I am glad they brought this out, it will be interesting to see how it sells. With that said I will say the same thing I said on another forum about this. There is a reason GM and FORD aren't coming out with this, they have the ability to wait and see. They are much larger and sell many more trucks than Dodge so they can wait, Dodge has to take the bigger risks with styling, technology and innovative features if they want to try and take a bigger bite out of the the other two's sales. GM and FORD are in the positon to wait, if it succeeds then they might lose a few hundred sales but they can bring out that feature and gain those back. Dodge on the other hand if something fails like the grill shutters, air suspension or the diesel isn't selling like they should they will have to have abig recall and tarnish their image or take a loss on sales not keeping up which in the long run hurts future sales and loses alot of money.

 

From my point I see why GM and Ford are waiting, diesel is 60 cents more a gallon than regular here, add in the added up front costs of like I saw earlier around $4500, plus higher maintenance costs like expensive oil changes, DEF and other items for up keep in turn with better mpg but nothing insane (I am just talking about regular driving with towing maybe 500-1000 miles a year) than the costs just don't cover what the average person would cover in recouped costs.

 

I think they will sell the 10k a year if not more, but I would be interested to see just how this pans out before the other two decide to join the game.

 

One more thing talking about performance, I read an article a while ago about a test of the grand cherokee over seas with the new engine that is coming here. It actually out accelerated that Hemi by a few tenths, could tow more and averaged 6-8 better mpgs too. Impressive, but I just don't see it as a better alternative than a gas. Even the person earlier stating he tows a 7500 lb trailer regular, a 2500 isn't much if at all bigger than a 1500, I would stick with a 3/4 ton in that aspect if you tow that much, if not a 6.2 imo would be more beneficial as the diesel would save enough money for 1k towing miles a year...

 

Tyler

 

PS, just saw the cost is $4500 over the V6, I just priced the Hemi option and the diesel will be 3k more expensive than the Hemi. What do yall think about that? 3k for diesel or save that and get the Hemi?

 

Also $64,000 for the SRT Cherokee, holy mother of god who would pay that for that truck? I dig it and am impresed but that needs to be priced about 10k less...

[5.3L59]

Also $64,000 for the SRT Cherokee, holy mother of god who would pay that for that truck? I dig it and am impresed but that needs to be priced about 10k less...

 

 

*raises hand*

 

But $44k for the new 300C SRT8 'core' version is a screaming deal...and $38K for the Challenger SRT8! I love Chrysler right now.

[dave_benn]

I bet if gm put a baby d-max in the 1500's they would figure a way to put AFM in it, just to make a great idea bad. Look what there doing to the 6.2L, there so stupid.

[yukon25008.1]

_{I never really understood the reasoning behind a diesel in a half ton, the trucks only capable of handling so much..If you need the pwr and tq of a diesel just get a 3/4 or 1 ton that is designed to do what you want and need it to,}

[KMGZ400]

_{I never really understood the reasoning behind a diesel in a half ton, the trucks only capable of handling so much..If you need the pwr and tq of a diesel just get a 3/4 or 1 ton that is designed to do what you want and need it to,}

 

 

i would have to agree with you on this one..i personally dont see that big of a market for a 1/2 diesel in my area. people who get diesels around me get diesels to pull 7000lbs+ loads and haul heavy loads.. a diesel half-ton just seems useless. not to mention the cost of diesel is only going to go up and a gas half ton is already expensive to fill up. i think the only way a diesel half ton will do well is if it actually gets significantly better fuel economy.

 

i personally dont think it will do well, but hey, i could be completley wrong.

[dirtfan21]

That's the thing, if a baby dmax goes in a half ton it has to be done with the thought of better mpgs. If they can do what the TDI Jetta does and pull off wicked mpg numbers then it will sell. GM may of scrapped the 4.5 dmax because they realized it would fall on it's face. I know GM is usually a few years behind others when releasing new technology or models but at least they are refined when they hit the roads.

 

Don't get me started on cramming AFM down everyone's throats...

[bogeypro]

why is diesel more expensive that gas now? As a kid, i remember diesel being cheaper than gas - that was before it was popular to drive a diesel truck.

[kstruckcountry]

People who use diesel in their pickups are a tiny contributor to diesel fuel use. Most diesel fuel goes into big rigs and equipment.

[00Silverado4x4]

why is diesel more expensive that gas now? As a kid, i remember diesel being cheaper than gas - that was before it was popular to drive a diesel truck.

One theory I've heard is because of the low-supher initiative some odd number of years ago. True? I couldn't tell you that.