2019 Silverado or RAM - which should I buy?

[cltsig]

1 hour ago, GMC-AT said:

I would tell you to go read the RAM forums then decide. But I can see you have already done that - you referenced the TSB for the HK stereo.  You also know there are a slew of other issues with the 2019 RAM... and many seem widespread.   Clunking front end, noisy brakes, AC issues, HK system, 12in screen bugs, etc. 

 

Yes, the 2019 GM trucks will have bugs.. but ZERO issues reported so far are what I would consider "widespread"  just isolated build hiccups. 

 

I thought real hard about the new 2019 RAM a few months back, but just couldn't do it. In the end I ordered a 2019 Silverado.  I agree the RAM has a much better interior and features, but I think the Chevy looks better on the outside.   As I get older I lean more towards reliability and I don't think the RAM has it yet.  Plus I like more real buttons and less touch screen. 

Yeah I've been lurking on both main RAM forums (I believe) and lots of issues beyond the 12" Uconnect.  If I could get the safety features without the 12" Uconnect (and it's $4-5k package) I would consider it strongly.  The 8" Uconnect Alpine system jams pretty well and that setup has the knobs/buttons for heat, seats.  But can't get the safety.  RAM may lose just on that.  And I agree, the Chevy looks better than the RAM and the GMC in my opinion.

[Sierra Dan]

22 minutes ago, cltsig said:

By far I like the look of the Chevy better.  My wife just loves the RAM interior though and she's pushing hard for that.  

Chris,  do you live in a cold climate?

Do the temps drop to the point where you prefer to wear gloves on occasion driving? Or your wife for that matter?

If so, take your wife back to the RAM dealer, have her put winter driving gloves on then have her operate the Ram Megascreen radio/climate controls.

Then have her try to select the rotary shift knob to engage the RAMs transmission.

Now take her back to the Chevy dealer and tell her to operate the radio/climate controls on the LTZ.

Then tell her to shift the LTZ into drive.

 

After all of the above now ask her which interior she prefers.....  

[Sierra Dan]

[cltsig]

3 minutes ago, Sierra Dan said:

Chris,  do you live in a cold climate?

Do the temps drop to the point where you prefer to wear gloves on occasion driving? Or your wife for that matter?

If so, take your wife back to the RAM dealer, have her put winter driving gloves on then have her operate the Ram Megascreen radio/climate controls.

Then have her try to select the rotary shift knob to engage the RAMs transmission.

Now take her back to the Chevy dealer and tell her to operate the radio/climate controls on the LTZ.

Then tell her to shift the LTZ into drive.

 

After all of the above now ask her which interior she prefers.....  

Good points, didn't consider gloves and that touch screen.  We live outside Charlotte but have a place in the mountains, so gloves are necessary in both places in winter.  She will never drive either other than maybe driving to FL or something like that.  Daily driving of this truck is only me.

[Sierra Dan]

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2019-problem-fix-thread.123294/

[silveradonationfan15]

The Silverado in my opinion looks nicer in exterior styling. The ram looks almost like the 2018, I am after seeing a nice few and I knowed right away its a ram pickup from the rear/side view but I has to keep looking to see if its the new 2019 or not, Also the rams air suspensions are known to have issues down the road, plus coil springs just cant bare up weight. The 6.2L Silverado is just awesome  especially in sport mode, and with the GM accessories air intake and performance exhaust it adds another 15hp to 435hp.

 

The rams interior looks nicer but regard's to functionality it serves the same purpose as the Silverado's. The large touch screen is complicated to use, its a distraction when driving, and that dial shifter isn't something I likes. The rams heated/ cooled seat controls and HVAC controls are also in that large touch screen

 

If optioned correctly a fully loaded Silverado with the convenience packages, two safety packages and technology packages makes a real nice truck. Also the non trail boss trucks can get the 2" gm lift installed at factory which makes the non trailbos trucks even nice than stock.

 

I recently went thru the same thing I liked the new ram and its interior a lot and few of its options but I was always GM person and decided to try it, I sat in a ram and I just didn't like it. One thing i don't think no one else said, the location of the 4wd controls, and lighting controls,

Right now I am waiting to pull the trigger on a Silverado when I comes across a Trail boss crew cab standard box

[L86 All Terrain]

2 hours ago, rkj__ said:

I don't think I'd want the 12" screen.  Pressing a command on a touch screen requires more precision and attention than aiming for a big button or knob.  That attention should stay on the road ahead. 

Yes, I find in my new work truck, 18 2500 gasser, the touch screen buttons are much harder to access than a button, not to mention finger prints all over your screen all the time. I really dislike the idea of having an Ipad with a white backlight on in my face all the time. I do a lot of night driving and the first thing I do in any vehicle is dim the back lights to the lowest setting. The last thing I want to have in my cab is a bright light causing distraction and reflections. 

[f8l vnm]

go with what looks best to you inside and out , then also factor in the price 

Dont be brand loyal . All trucks are pretty much all the same now . 

[cltsig]

2 hours ago, Sierra Dan said:

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2019-problem-fix-thread.123294/

Brutal.

[Dnt]

There are some deals on slightly used trucks out there heck I have one myself. 2018 GMC Denali Ultimate Black beauty 6000 miles barely broken in. I bought it brand new a few months back with 12 miles on odometer. $52,800.00 tons of extras 6.2/sunroof/sliding rear window/heated and cooled seats/driver alert/LED headlights with auto dim/TriMode steps/GM Borla exhaust/FoldaCover bed cover/BakBox tool box/bed mat/Huper Optic ceramic window tint/Cold Air inductions Intake/Husky Exact Contour floor liners/Husky Underseat storage . MSRP over 64k Plus all the extras.  First free dealer oil change was done at 2k miles, still has one free oil change. Garage kept.. PM me if in the Nashville area and you want it.  No accidents and it has been babied its entire life. Average of over 21 mpg over 6000 miles driven.  I cannot drive it to work due to the the entrance road and our parking lot is just not suitable for a vehicle like this. I cannot stand for it to be exposed. I will buy myself a new truck when I retire in 3 years. Just driving an older beater Tahoe for now.    

[cltsig]

Just read the "Disappointed in 2019" thread.  Didn't realize the new Silverados do not have rain sensing wipers either.  My previous Yukon had those.  What a miss by GM.  Little ommissions like that drive people away or pi$$ them off after purchase when they realize it.

[tybuch2003]

This is my first post, but I was in the same predicament. I was between a 2019 Limited Ram 1500, or a 19 GMC Sierra Denali/Silverado LTZ, or High Country. I had a 2014 Silverado 1500 LTZ Double Cab that I had purchased new and had just under 50K on it that I was looking to trade-in. I do a ton of research before I buy. I really do like the interior of the new Ram when you get into the higher trims. The 12 inch radio center display is very nice. I'm a tech guy, so I'm always intrigued with the newest gadgets and accessories. I hate to say it, but that really was the biggest selling point to the truck for me. The more research I did showed that people were actually have issues with the display. They are buggy and sometimes response time is slow and laggy. I did see this firsthand. Yes, the display is much nicer on the Ram, but I think the GM trucks are much more responsive to perform actions and commands. If you are coming from a previous gen GM truck they are much nicer. So, I'm going function over form here. I think that is what GM strived for on this gen truck as well. Now for the looks depending on which trim you get on the Silverado I think it makes the truck look totally different. I reserved judgement on the body until I saw one in-person. I heard both sides of people's thoughts before seeing one in-person, very polarizing. Not all trims are released even yet. My local GM dealership got a Silverado High Country, a RST, and GMC Sierra Denali in all at the same time. They had them on display by each other, so I was really able to look at the differences, and yes there are differences between the models. I did really like the tailgate on the GMC. It is slick and did not feel like a gimmick at all. The tailgate on the GMC was only power down. The High Country has both power up/down on the tailgate. The Chevrolet is the only truck that offers this. It only comes standard on the High Country, but is a available option on the LTZ trim. The Ram again does not offer this. After seeing them in-person this is really where I eliminated the Ram. I like the looks of the Silverado and Sierra. I think they have a very modern look. The Ram is more rounded in the front and has more of a traditional tailgate look in the rear. I do like the front of the Ram, but again from the side angles and the rear it looks boring to me. I think the High Country has a pretty menacing yet sleek look in the front-end, especially in black. I also prefer the side profile of the Chevrolet to the GMC truck as well. Interior-wise the Chevrolet and the GMC in those two trims are pretty identical. There are differences, but they are very minor. I am of course talking about a High Country to a Denali. I myself like the umber with black interior compared to just the plain old black. I think it breaks up the cabin very nice on the Silverado, and it allows it to separate from the Denali. I must say in the Denali I did prefer the brushed aluminum for the accents over the gold trim of the High Country, but I understand why they did it to match the exterior grill/interior. Now, to get why I chose the Silverado High Country over the GMC Denali. It actually came due to price, and believe it or not the looks. Yes, I know both trucks are over 60K. I actually believe you get a better value with the Silverado compared to the GMC. I couldn't see myself spending a extra 3 to 5K just for the tailgate feature. I was able to the get the Safety II package, Technology Package, moonroof, and power running boards for a few thousand less then purchasing a similar equipped Denali. This is due to the base price of the trucks and how they do the options. To get all these features on the GMC I had to purchase the Ultimate Package. Both the High Country and the Sierra Denali with Z71 drove very similar. I think the overall ride of the Silverado with base 20" wheels rode better then the Denali with the 22" wheels. Here in PA we have rough roads. Now, I think if the Sierra would have had the 20" wheels it would have been identical. That Ultimate Package comes standard with 22" wheels. You can get 22" wheels as part of a Deluxe Package for the Silverado. The Silverado lets you do more a la carte with options then Denali. So, in a nutshell I guess price and my preference on looks came down to why I purchased the High Country Silverado over the GMC Denali and Ram 1500 Limited. This is very subjective question, but that is how I see it, and I know someone will see things differently then me.

[Colossus]

good write up. 

[CASEY7777]

Awesome perspective tybuch2003!

[Sierra Dan]

Great honest review of the 3 trucks

I have said it and keep saying it.

The 2019 RAM is lipstick on a PIG.

Function over Form is better in the long run.