I was forced to drive a Dodge...

Kevingorr · November 2, 2016

My GMC Sierra is in the shop for a week or so getting hail damage repair work. The insurance folks had a rental lined up and it was the Dodge ram 1500, stock for the most part.

Have to say I was pretty impressed.

It has the eco mode, but you don't feel it like you do with the GMC shifting to and from V4-V8, it has a much smoother and barely noticeable gear change. It rides smooth and good. Decent on gas, I am filling up tomorrow and will do a calculation.

I've always been a chevy guy I but have to say this truck is a lot nicer than I expected a dodge to be lol

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · November 2, 2016

I've never felt my '14 switch between V4 and V8. Before the exhaust the only way I knew was by looking at the DIC screen.

Driver72 · November 2, 2016

I had a 2013 and a 2014 Ram Laramie 1500 and they are in fact quite nice.

I liked mine a lot. I only sold it to get the Hellcat. But I missed having a truck (Ram's were my first trucks ever, as I've always been a performance car guy, but have to admit, trucks are convenient and offer lots of usability).

The honest to God reason I just bought a 2017 GMC over another Ram Laramie was three fold:

1. I wanted the big 6.2 V8 (like I said, I'm a performance guy. LOL)

2. Since I already had two Ram trucks and the 2017 Ram trucks have not changed one bit from my 2013 and my 2014, I didn't want to feel like I was getting a new truck that felt old to me already.

3. I like the looks of the 2016+ GMC Sierra equally as well or maybe a touch more than the Ram.

Had Ram changed their trucks for 2017 I'd be in another Ram sorry to say, especially if they found a way to drop 200-300 lbs off the overweight Ram (which is 5900 lbs for the Laramie, 350 more than the Sierra), and add another 10 hp to the Hemi.

They drive super smooth with the coil suspension, have very nice interiors, the Hemi sounds better stock than the 6.2 does (Ram has true dual exhaust with a nice rumble and the engine itself has more of a rumble than the 6.2.

I'm looking into a CAI and possibly an axle back or catback exhaust on the Sierra just to give the Sierra a bit of a low end rumble, you know the sound a big V8 should.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · November 2, 2016

The bad thing about Ram and Ford, mainly Ram, is that the design hasn't changed much in the past decade or more. I don't typically like when a manufacturer changes a body style after only 2-3 years, but it should be some design difference after at least 5 or so.

bdbake01 · November 2, 2016

You neglected the "everything starts to literally fall off at 50k" issue that's standard issue w/ Chrysler.

Driver72 · November 2, 2016

The bad thing about Ram and Ford, mainly Ram, is that the design hasn't changed much in the past decade or more. I don't typically like when a manufacturer changes a body style after only 2-3 years, but it should be some design difference after at least 5 or so.

This is my point about not getting a 2017. They did a pretty significant redesign in 2013, and 4 model years later it's the same. And since I had a 2013 and a 2014 already, I didn't want the same truck for 2017, even though I liked it.

The truck bones itself dates back to 2009 I believe.

But it's a cost thing for Chrysler and also a bit of a not changing a good thing.

The Ram chassis and truck is pretty darn good, but it's major drawback is it's weight.

It's a few hundred pounds heavier than the GM and like 500-600 more than the Ford.

I know it's a marketing thing now, but it bugs me a bit when manufacturers change the product TOO fast.

Chevy came out with the new truck for 2014 and then for 2016 remodeled. I'd of been a bit ticked had I just bought a 2015 thinking it wouldn't change for another two years.

I think a 3-4 year run then a mid life refresh for 3-4 years, then a redesign is best.

That's easier for the big companies like Ford and GM to change their cars more often, as they have the money to do so.

Ram is owned by a much smaller company, primarily Chrysler, which is now owned by another small company, Fiat.

But I remember the days when you could buy a newish vehicle and it wouldn't change much for 5-6 years other than minor updates and may not get a major overhaul for 7-8 years.

Technology is changing that. It changes for fast now, new improvements are every year now.

And what I call the iPhone marketing, (suckering people in to get the newest thing every year) is moving to autos.

You spend $50-60k on a new vehicle and a year or so later it's changed so much you feel you have the "old" model and need to get the newest thing.

Driver72 · November 2, 2016

You neglected the "everything starts to literally fall off at 50k" issue that's standard issue w/ Chrysler.

I don't know about that. I've had several Chrysler vehicles and know people who have them too with over 100k miles without major issues, just the normal wear and tear.

When you look at reliability of most of American cars, people could say the same for them all.

Honestly, if long term reliability is paramount to you, for most people they know buying American brand is a gamble.

Though all the American brands have improved as of late, a very small percentage of people will truly believe that an American brand auto or truck will have the reliability of the foreign brands, especially Honda and Toyota.

Buy what you like, keep it 2-3 years then get something new, so I never have to worry about it.

Had I been the type to want a truck that I could buy and drive for 150k mile over the next 10 years, I'd of gotten a new Titan or even a Tundra....even though the Tundra is older than the Ram with only a minor redesign like two years ago.

sdeeter19555 · November 2, 2016

I was in a 2017 Dodge 1500 rental last two weeks...power is nice, the economy mode is barely perceptible, 4wd worked very good, rear LSD is tight, transmission shifted good, ride was good, and the power of the 5.7l was good. Overall I got about 21mpg on a cross country trip. I had it in deep enough to drag the front cross members and rear diff a couple times...

Other than the dial gear selector that I almost turned for the fan control and the push button 4wd selector; it seemed like a solid truck. I did get a shudder a couple times shifting from reverse into drive...transmission? Rear LSD? Did it a couple times, but didn't seem to affect anything.

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Annhl8rX · November 2, 2016

Three of my last five trucks have been Rams...a 2003, a 2005, and a 2010. I most recently drove a Jeep. When I decided I wanted a truck again I quickly ruled out the Ram for the same reason listed above...the 2017 was essentially the same as my 2010. I initially wanted a Ford, but didn't care for the option packages (had to pay for a bunch of stuff I didn't care about to get the features I wanted). I ended up with a 2016 Z71, and am quite pleased with my decision.

Ray1982 · November 2, 2016

both look rough but I'll stick with the Chevy

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BigBadSierra · November 2, 2016

I haven't not been happy with the the things I seeing and reading since FCA took over..

One reason I steered away from and ECODiesel back in 2014.

The engine also has a nasty flat spot in the power band @2000 RPM that happens between shifts when the turbo spools up and down between gears.

Swimmer8366 · November 2, 2016

I work at a Dodge dealer and am still happier with my gm products. Gm has there problems yes but we all know them. Dodge is a whole different World I've never liked Dodge and to be honest prob never will yes Dodge has a sexy Cummins. Nice interiors they ride smooth but there suspension systems blow. They fall apart after x amount of miles. Most every one of my friends that like there Dodge trucks end up getting rid of them and getting a new one because there falling apart. There Parts are expensive I just put a marker light bulb socket in a Jeep ttoday that was priced obviously from the dealer but at $67 I have 270k on my Silverado and plan on putting another 270k or more on her. I put high pressure transmission lines for my 4l80e for three of them for $73 from dealership. Why must Dodge be so expensive for Parts. Chrysler and I have never been a thing I only work for them because they need fixed regularly. In my opinion junk. But mere all in titled to our opinion.

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bdbake01 · November 2, 2016

I work at a Dodge dealer and am still happier with my gm products. Gm has there problems yes but we all know them. Dodge is a whole different World I've never liked Dodge and to be honest prob never will yes Dodge has a sexy Cummins. Nice interiors they ride smooth but there suspension systems blow. They fall apart after x amount of miles. Most every one of my friends that like there Dodge trucks end up getting rid of them and getting a new one because there falling apart. There Parts are expensive I just put a marker light bulb socket in a Jeep ttoday that was priced obviously from the dealer but at $67 I have 270k on my Silverado and plan on putting another 270k or more on her. I put high pressure transmission lines for my 4l80e for three of them for $73 from dealership. Why must Dodge be so expensive for Parts. Chrysler and I have never been a thing I only work for them because they need fixed regularly. In my opinion junk. But mere all in titled to our opinion.

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Yep. This.

But if someone gave me a Hellcat, I'd beat on it like a red headed stepchild (till it fell apart).

Swimmer8366 · November 2, 2016

Yep. This.

But if someone gave me a Hellcat, I'd beat on it like a red headed stepchild (till it fell apart).

I'd ablow the head gaskets out on it and blow the transmission up in a month I'd beat on it so hard. I would abuse it like a bad prom date.

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Driver72 · November 2, 2016

I'd ablow the head gaskets out on it and blow the transmission up in a month I'd beat on it so hard. I would abuse it like a bad prom date.

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Yep. This.

But if someone gave me a Hellcat, I'd beat on it like a red headed stepchild (till it fell apart).

I'd ablow the head gaskets out on it and blow the transmission up in a month I'd beat on it so hard. I would abuse it like a bad prom date.

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I have a Hellcat. They have been tested and proven to be some of the most durable cars to abuse. It's one weak link is the drive shaft IF you put DR's or Slicks on. With that much power and getting too much grip they can snap. I put a DSS aluminum one on mine.

But as many have attested too, they take a licking and keep on ticking. One magazine did like 84 back to back to back drag strip runs on them and the times were so consistent that they said you could "set a nuclear clock to this car."

Anyway, I don't keep cars for more than 3 years so I'm not worried about issues with 10 year old cars that have 100-150k miles on them.

I leave those worries to those who buy used cars or those who do keep cars forever. I like new and warranties.