'15 Dodge Ram to '15 Silverado comparison

GRN69CHV · July 16, 2016

My SIlverado is in the shop, finally getting a door skin and bed side replacement from the deer that decided to bash in the driver side from the rear door all the way back to the tailight this past January. Rental is a '15 Dodge Ram 4x4 crew cab. Didn't really need a truck but they oiffered it at same rate as a standard car, so figured why not. Won't get into detail to detail, the Dodge is a a Spartan SLT w/ 3.7L V6 4x4, mine is a LT 5.3L 4x4. Dodge has 5000 miles, mine has 31000 miles on it. Just some quick notes.

1. Acceleration, the little V6 seems to have a lot of pep. Maybe the 3.08 gears in mine really are killing performance more than I thought.

2. Doors on the Dodge seem to be very light, mechanism barely holds the door open on flat ground, had it parked on an uneven parking lot (driver side high), door would barely stay open.

3. Interior of the SLT has a lot of rubber including the steering wheel, would think a truck in the $40K price point (sticker) would at least get a leather steering wheel.

4. Quiet : hands down to GM

5. Ride : Dodge has coil springs in the rear, I think the rear end is a little smoother ride, bumps on the front end , toss-up.

6. Seats : mine has buckets with console (buckets are supposed to be same as used on the bench), Dodge has a bench. Mine has power seats with adjustable lumbar support, Dodge has mechanical 2 way with adjustable tilt, I think the Dodge has a more comfortable seat, little bit larger seating area. Maybe it's just the lack of the console, would probably need to do comp back to back to be fair.

7. Windows/motors, Dodge seems to be of lesser quality.

8. Factory audio (both base systems), Stock system in the Dodge has it hands down on stock GM system. I give a lot of the credit to the front sound stage in the Dodge do to use of a 3.5" dash speaker.

kp52 · July 16, 2016

The cheaper Rams are crappy inside, lots of plastic.

I had a few '09+ Ram Laramies and they were good trucks, just the hemi and 3.92 gears were a gas sucking abyss. They also have a pretty cool exhaust note for a pickup, but it gets a little tiring on long drives.

I had a express loaner for a week recently (42K msrp) and it the most horrible seats on earth, all they had were front and back movement and recline. The seat bottom was flat and i thought I was going to slide out of the seat every time I came to a stop. Plus the hard plastic arm rests on the door, rubber steering wheel etc. For a long time you could buy the Laramies new for 10-12K off the 50K msrp and they were a decent buy. They dont seem to be discounting them that much these days, but GM is - and thats why I had a '15 Silverado and now a '16 Sierra.

L86 All Terrain · July 16, 2016

Sounds like your comparing a base Ram to a LT Sivlerado. Ram has come along way in the past 10 years and to honest, I would probably almost buy one now over a Ford. Until Ford learns how to build a good motor again. TT V6 lol, kick rocks.

GRN69CHV · July 16, 2016

Dodge is a SLT, so yes it's a base model, that's why I didn't get into a lot of detail on interior finish & materials. Was more interested in feel of coil springs on four corners vs leafs in rear, would have to give the edge to Dodge as a daily driver. 5.3L in my Chevy definitley has more power overall at WOT, just really surprised at how easily the little V6 revs which I have to eqaute to better gearing. Build quality, seems my Chevy has heavier/better quality door & window mechanisms.

ShamrockShooter · July 16, 2016

I too had a 15 ram rental but it was a hemi. Ride quality was better than 16 Lt silverado, and the acceleration and exhaust note would almost make me buy one. Then I see all the rams driving around that are 3 years old and have rusting wheel wells already and remind myself why I bought the chevy

olrlee · July 16, 2016

I have a 2016 Hemi as a rental right now while my hail damage is fixed on my 14 Silverado. Its a big horn edition. For a truck that cost as much as a higher end LT model it is lacking a lot of features of the Chevy. The interior is cloth and hideous. Everything is way louder with that plasticy cheap sound. The sound system I can't comment on because I change those almost immediately in any car. Ride quality I think is rougher. Of course looks wise the Ram just doesn't look much different as it did 10 to 12 years ago. So Silverado gets that one easy. I will say that Hemi tho. Man its got some serious acceleration and sounds good with just stock pipes.

'01LS1 · July 17, 2016

Something I always seem to see in magazine reviews is how fast a Ram product seemed vs a GM truck. But once the time slips are side by side, the numbers tell a different story. Not saying the 5.3 GM variant is quicker than a Hemi, just that it was closer than anticipated in tests. If I remember correctly the 6.2L did win in a motor trend test among others a couple years ago. But do not remember the rest of the specs of the trucks w/o searching.

I do not go to the Dodge forums much anymore. But are they selling much of the air bag variant for the coil springs? Remember that was a big deal when they released it, but have not heard much about it since.

BigBadSierra · July 17, 2016

My problem is with the hole company since FIAT got involved.

They have heavily cheapened the product to increase profits.

Plus i know a few people just at WAR with them over warranty work right now.

But I now nothing as its not hurting their sales.

SouthPawCO · July 18, 2016

I drove a friends '15 Ram 1500 SLT I believe (completed loaded, heated seats, steering wheel, etc) and was not impressed. The doors felt like the same ones on my old '95 beater Civic the way they shut. The truck only had 7K miles on it and there were a lot of squeaks and rattles. The hemi did put down quite a bit of power and it accelerated nicely. To me, the dash lay out was like a space ship. So many buttons and a lot going on. I did like the push to start and wish GM would get on that. It did seem to have more interior room both front and rear. It did ride smoother than my truck though.

Graphic · July 18, 2016

My SIlverado is in the shop, finally getting a door skin and bed side replacement from the deer that decided to bash in the driver side from the rear door all the way back to the tailight this past January. Rental is a '15 Dodge Ram 4x4 crew cab. Didn't really need a truck but they oiffered it at same rate as a standard car, so figured why not. Won't get into detail to detail, the Dodge is a a Spartan SLT w/ 3.7L V6 4x4, mine is a LT 5.3L 4x4. Dodge has 5000 miles, mine has 31000 miles on it. Just some quick notes.

1. Acceleration, the little V6 seems to have a lot of pep. Maybe the 3.08 gears in mine really are killing performance more than I thought.

2. Doors on the Dodge seem to be very light, mechanism barely holds the door open on flat ground, had it parked on an uneven parking lot (driver side high), door would barely stay open.

3. Interior of the SLT has a lot of rubber including the steering wheel, would think a truck in the $40K price point (sticker) would at least get a leather steering wheel.

4. Quiet : hands down to GM

5. Ride : Dodge has coil springs in the rear, I think the rear end is a little smoother ride, bumps on the front end , toss-up.

6. Seats : mine has buckets with console (buckets are supposed to be same as used on the bench), Dodge has a bench. Mine has power seats with adjustable lumbar support, Dodge has mechanical 2 way with adjustable tilt, I think the Dodge has a more comfortable seat, little bit larger seating area. Maybe it's just the lack of the console, would probably need to do comp back to back to be fair.

7. Windows/motors, Dodge seems to be of lesser quality.

8. Factory audio (both base systems), Stock system in the Dodge has it hands down on stock GM system. I give a lot of the credit to the front sound stage in the Dodge do to use of a 3.5" dash speaker.

1. The HEMI has my 14 silverado beat. Easy. I really like the throttle response, as in no 2 second delay vs. my Silverado.

2. Doors feel a little lighter than the Silverado. Haven't had the door not staying open issue you describe.

3. Like stated as others, you're comparing two vastley different trim levels.

4. Totally agree with you here. GM is super quiet.

5. I thought my Silverado rode better. Might be because it was so much quieter it seemed that way?

6. I think the Ram has the better seats too. The Silverado was an LTZ and had leather, but it seemed as if I was sitting on a flat bench with a pad.

7. Windows/motors... Eh, I hit the button it goes up or down like it should. Historically, Chrysler has had issues with those though and the HVAC damper actuators. Time will tell.

8. Yeah, Ram has the market in the audio. GM can take that Bose marker off. It's doing Bose some disservice with that.

My wife really likes the look of the new front end on the Silverados. Hell, to be honest I like it too. She's about due for new vehicle. We looked at them this past weekend after hours without salesman around. She also looked at Rams, F150's and Toyotas. Told her this time it is all up to her. I always took her to GM lots, but I have no loyalty anymore to any one brand.

kp52 · July 18, 2016

I never noticed 'cheap doors' on any of my three '09+ Rams, I have no idea where that is coming from. I had Laramies but the loaner express I had certainly had 'cheap' door panels but the door sheetmetal seemed just fine to me.

If you want to see cheap doors I had a $50K loaded 2013 FX4 F150 that when I drove over bumps you could see (and feel if you were leaning on the door armrest) the doors move. Plus the common complaint if you closed the doors hard you could see the sheetmetal quiver on all the doors if the windows are up - very cheap looking.

Daryl LBZ · July 18, 2016

I never noticed 'cheap doors' on any of my three '09+ Rams, I have no idea where that is coming from. I had Laramies but the loaner express I had certainly had 'cheap' door panels but the door sheetmetal seemed just fine to me.

If you want to see cheap doors I had a $50K loaded 2013 FX4 F150 that when I drove over bumps you could see (and feel if you were leaning on the door armrest) the doors move. Plus the common complaint if you closed the doors hard you could see the sheetmetal quiver on all the doors if the windows are up - very cheap looking.

Yep, a former coworker has a 2014 F-150 and when he shuts the drivers side door you can see the sheet metal pop out on the passenger side door.

Missing_link · July 19, 2016

I had a 2014 RAM sport that I traded on a '16 Sierra to get the max tow and 6.2

From the RAM I miss the transmission, push to start, key fob, rambox and the NAV unit. The NAV That is in the GM vehicles is horrible when comes to saving favorites or recalling stored addresses. The RAM also had auto wipers and auto dimming headlights which GM doesn't offer. When hitching up a trailer the RAM rear view camera had a better overhead view of the ball and coupler

The Sierra does pull my 9000 pound travel trailer with ease

Linc

BigBadSierra · July 19, 2016

Well they are under investigation now over falsifying sales figures ... So this may answer what I said that I didn't know what I was talking about because they had the sales...

http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/18/news/companies/fiat-chrysler-sales-probe/index.html

Just from having relatives that work there and what I've seen I had issues with them.

But then again all manufactures seem to be playing games anymore.