In reply to frenchyd :
There is a lot of truth here. When I bought my new Mazda3, I went into a dealership, did the test drive, and worked up some numbers. They later got back to me with a price that was somehow almost $1000 higher.
I immediately started spitting out emails to every other Mazda dealer in a 100 mile radius. Ended up getting the car for less than the original price at the first dealer.
In reply to morello159 :
I've been shopping trucks lately and looked at F150s. Here's a detail I picked up that the sales guy stumbled on....the truck is rated to tow significantly more than the rating of the hitch that comes on it...7800 vs 5000 lb.
In reply to SVreX :
Wait a minute, he didn't look like this did he?
If so, you may be able to up your budget a bit 
The new Rams are really nice, had one as a rental a couple yeas ago and was pretty impressed. No idea how they're holding up long term, though. SWMBO's dad has one, that replaced an Ecoboost F150, and it's been fine so far, but I'm not sure it's even a year old yet. Her uncle also had a 3500 with the Cummins a few years back that he traded in on a GM diesel due to numerous issues with the emissions stuff.
I had a Ford recently as a rental and liked that as well. The 3.5 Ecoboost has some serous balls.
The Tundra is getting pretty long in the tooth at this point, but they definitely seem to hold up long term and the resale value is pretty insane on them. My dad had a '14 that he traded in on a '17 a couple years ago for something like $3k less than he paid for it at 3 years old with 30k miles and needing new tires. I'd avoid the Crew Max, or whatever the largest cab configuration is called, unless you regularly need to haul 3-4 NBA players - they're comically large and the more normal sized crew cab option has a much more useful ratio of bed space to interior room.
Tundra is off the list. So is Nissan, vans, old beaters, or other outside the box options.
Duallies and long bed crew cabs are off the list because they are bigger than I like driving daily
Gotta stick with a good Ol’ Merican pick-em-up truck that looks reasonably decent and can tow.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse :
Thank you.
From it looks like, you can get a pretty good deal on a Ram Classic Pickup new. Do you need 4wd?
In reply to dxman92 :
No, I don’t.
(On some models I need it to get the towing capacity I want)
It looks like the Ram Classic can be had for a good deal with 4 doors/4wd:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/760306505/overview/
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/753572673/overview/
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/748354272/overview/
Took a '19 ram big horn hemi for a spin couple weeks ago,didn't like it too much.
Odd jittery ride,high dash and even higher hood bulge made for a gun torrent kinda view.
On the hwy it felt like it was working much harder then expected to maintain even 65mph,definite engine vibration in 4cyl mode.
Cheap though
One thing about the Ram. The version that has the locking storage in the tops of the bed sides looks like it would be a big plus for you. Not quite a utility bed, but should provide storage for a good amount of tools.
kevlarcorolla said:Took a '19 ram big horn hemi for a spin couple weeks ago,didn't like it too much.
Odd jittery ride,high dash and even higher hood bulge made for a gun torrent kinda view.
On the hwy it felt like it was working much harder then expected to maintain even 65mph,definite engine vibration in 4cyl mode.
Cheap though
Interesting...
whats 4cyl mode?
I’m driving a ‘18 quad cab Big Horn with the 5.7L Hemi. (Rental truck). Didn’t notice most of that.
When I got in the truck the seat was set pretty high. After a long drive I was looking for a change in seating position and lowered it. I did notice the gun turret feel at that point (maybe your seat was too low?)
Cruised well at 80. The hemi was responsive off the line. But it’s definitely designed to focus on the features, not the work. The interface with the dash screen was terrific, but I’m still not sure about the capacities of the 1/2 ton truck.
4 cyl mode is Ram's version of Chevy's AFM.
When I was shopping for trucks, most of the Ram's were advertised as having recent lifter and spring replacements. It was apparently a common issue.
I bought a 07 Silverado 1500. 6.0, 4x4, short bed, crew cab. It eats the miles with no issue. Towing capacity is 10500 pounds.
I buy mostly depreciated truck and drive them into the ground. The Chevy I just bought has 170k on it. It was about $13k. I'll run it another 100k + and replace it with something else. Seldom do I have repair issues. The last truck went 100k with only a idler pulley and regular maintenance.
Driving 1000 miles a week, the warranty on a new truck will be gone in a hurry. Long before the payment book is.
Okay, I'm skipping the last couple pages because I have to get back to work, but...
- first off, glad you're ok and damn, what a shame to see a good 7.3 go down that way.
- probably any modern 1/2 ton when optioned the right way will make you happy. Working at the dealer means discounts on new, but it also means first dibs and good prices on lightly used. I'd look there.
-as confirmation bias, I just bought a '13 EcoBoost CCSB 4x4 with almost all the bells and whistles. under 60k miles, taken immaculate care of, and 5 years saved me almost $25k off the original sticker.
-Why Ecoboost? I started out looking at 5.0 V8s, but then I drove this one. Midrange power and torque remind me specifically of the 7.3 diesel I had. More refined, smoother, but the way it starts out a little slow and then suddenly it's like you hit the warp button - but it happens low in the RPM range (comparatively.) If you like the feel of the old 7.3, I strongly suggest you drive a 3.5 EB. They share some character. The V8 is a better sportscar motor.
- 10k is the absolute top of the towing spec in 2011-2014 F150s. Mine has the standard payload package, the 3.55 rear gear and is rated for 9700. To break 10 you need to specifically find a max payload/max tow truck. That gets heavier springs and 3.73 rear end.
-Before putting knobby tires on it I was averaging almost 16mpg around town and saw over 18 on the highway on 87 octane. Not as good as the new trucks but a damn sight better than the Jeep I was driving.
- Reliability - well, I'm not overly concerned. the V8s have their share of issues too, and the EB is just that much better of a motor performance wise that I'm willing to chance it. Although I've read the horror stories, I've also read just as many accounts of high mileage turbo trucks as well. I think proper care is the main longevity factor. After all...how many TT trucks are in the field now? If it were a major problem, it would already be a MAJOR problem
- I test drove several '15+ trucks and I don't like the way the steering feels. The 11-14 trucks just drive right to me. Again, I highly recommend you tet drive one for comparison.
- Good Lord these trucks are comfortable for spending a lot of time in.
Terrific feedback, guys. Thank you.
Keep it up.
SVreX said:In reply to morello159 :
Thank you. Good summary (and my opinions too).
$30K new is not out of the question. That sounds like quite a deal... Mind if I ask where you bought it?
I bought mine from Akins Ford in GA.
You can use the Ford configurator to "locate" a truck with the options you want; their website will also show the incentives that are available for your area. What I did was basically set a 200 mile radius from my house, request out-the-door quotes via email to weed out all the stupid dealer fees and discounts you won't qualify for, and Akins Ford won. The STX package is hard to beat in value for the money, and you could probably get one out the door with the 2.7 and towing package for $30k if you play your cards right. I wanted the slightly nicer interior of the XLT, and there were more rebates on that trim at the time.
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:In reply to morello159 :
I've been shopping trucks lately and looked at F150s. Here's a detail I picked up that the sales guy stumbled on....the truck is rated to tow significantly more than the rating of the hitch that comes on it...7800 vs 5000 lb.
This isn't the case. There are actually 3 tow packages; Max Tow (53A), Class IV Trailer Hitch (53B) and Trailer Towing (53C). Max Tow is only available on specifically configured 3.5L models, and Trailer Hitch is only a Class IV receiver (good for 14k lbs). However, these trucks are only rated for 5000lbs. The Trailer Towing group includes the Class IV receiver, extra cooling capacity and a larger front sway bar. This is the package you want, and was very difficult to find on a 2.7L equipped truck. Here is how my truck came equipped:
With incentives and a mailer from Ford for $3k "bonus cash" I walked out the door with a 6-year 100k mile powertrain warranty and a spray-in liner for $33,500. Sales guy wasn't happy, but after 2 months of research and emailing various dealers, I sure was :)
In reply to morello159 :
That’s pretty much how mine is set up with two changes.
The 5.0 V8 and a automatic trailer back up system. ( I guess for those who don’t know how to back up trailers, it works sort of like the auto parking thing except it reads off the trailer to keep the trailer straight( unless you want to turn then you use the little knob on the dash)
Sorry Ford, never used it!
In reply to frenchyd :
The 53C trailer tow package (which comes with the bigger radiator and sway bar) also includes that "pro backup assist." I've never used it on my truck either.
In reply to SVreX :
'19 is all new dodge a roo so I can't really compare to the "classic Ram" rental your driving......'19 has won a bunch of awards in the truck world so far.
Drove a new titan a couple days after the ram.....the ram isn't in the same league as that truck despite popular opinion.
The 5.6 in the titan feels and sounds like a hot rod,no fuel management trickery means its middle of the road in the segment for mpg.
Also means less crap to fail though like the dodge,and I think the chevs have issues with their setup as well although the all new '19's might be bulletproof now who knows.
I will drive my 1st gen titan awhile longer and see what toyota does with the upcoming tundra and the hybrid f150 kinda intrigues me as well.
I generally tow around 5k max so that makes it a bit easier for me to find an option that works.
Drove my first Ecoboost tonight- in a Platinum.
What a nice place to be!
There are a lot of bargains out there on 6.0L diesels. Many are bulletproofed, But I’m still leery.
SVreX said:There are a lot of bargains out there on 6.0L diesels. Many are bulletproofed, But I’m still leery.
Rather buy stock and have it bullet proofed.
SVreX said:Drove my first Ecoboost tonight- in a Platinum.
What a nice place to be!
I know right. I would love to eventually replace my 7.3 excursion with a 3.5 f150 or a 6.7 f250 that's 6 years old or newer. Hopefully for under 35k
yupididit said:SVreX said:There are a lot of bargains out there on 6.0L diesels. Many are bulletproofed, But I’m still leery.
Rather buy stock and have it bullet proofed.
Word. Me too.
You'll need to log in to post.
