Ordering new truck... need some help

[rancherlee]

My new 5.0l F-150 with 3.55's has really surprised me with its towing ability. Gets 12 pulling the toon @ 65 and 12-13 pulling my 7000# skidsteer/trailer combo. Only 1mpg less then my good old 7.3 powerstroke got pulling the same loads (and does the jobs easier). Easily gets 20-22mpg empty @ 70mph to boot, not bad for a 4x4 V8 that doesn't have "ECO" in the name.

[Mrtoler]

I'm a 100% dodge guy myself, and since this has been a ford lovers thread so far this probably isn't worth me typing but I will anyways. Next year dodge is introducing their new 1/2ton diesel truck. It's going to have something like 240hp and 420 lbs of torque. It's also going to get upwards of 30mpg so I'm most likely going to add a couple of these to my fleet when they arrive!

[rob28]

I'm a 100% dodge guy myself, and since this has been a ford lovers thread so far this probably isn't worth me typing but I will anyways. Next year dodge is introducing their new 1/2ton diesel truck. It's going to have something like 240hp and 420 lbs of torque. It's also going to get upwards of 30mpg so I'm most likely going to add a couple of these to my fleet when they arrive!

I'll be keeping a close eye on how the new Ram diesel does in the real world. If it does get 30mpg, that will probably be a game changer and the others will have to follow suit. On the downside, it has 125hp less than the Ford Ecoboost (but the same torque). Things are going to get interesting when it comes to comparison time. It all depends on how they're going to market the new diesel.

[Bamaman]

Check Edmunds.com to see if you can "build" the new Ram diesel. Or, maybe Ram's website has one of the programs.

When I was "building" a diesel Grand Cherokee, they didn't let me spec. out a basic SUV. They required a bunch of bells and whistles for the same diesel as the Ram--and $44.5K was the dealer's cost.

Don't be surprised if the Ram diesel is not available without buying a very high line truck. And I don't suspect it'll be very inexpensive with all the add on's. The engine's going to be about as powerful as the original 99.5 to 2003 7.3 PowerStroke diesels, so it won't be any slouch in the hard work department.

They jury's out on any Ram 1/2 ton power programming. The programmers have mostly been staying away from the later model Ford diesels as their ECU's can tell if anyone's made programming changes for more horsepower, etc. The manufacturers are automatically dropping anyone's warranty that's had ECU reprogramming.

[Nautical]

I seriously doubt it will get anywhere near 30 mpg. I don't hate Dodges. If they were still good I'd probably have one. A good friend of mine is a die hard Dodge guy but won't have any part of the new ones. He had a new 2012 and sold it quick. He was getting horrible mileage (11-13 empty and nothing was wrong with it) and that was the main reason. He went back to his 05 and he's looking for another one.

I'm sure the smaller Dodge pickup won't get 30 because even midsized diesel cars and SUVs don't get that (like the Mercedes E and M class). Maybe with the older fuel and less emission controls on the vehicles but not today.

[blackberg]

it wont get 30s, it is supposed to get high 20s in regular driving. More torque than the gas models, about the same as HP as the Hemi. Overall better MPG, supposed to be best in class...other 1500 series full size trucks.

One thing that the dodge has aside from the diesel than no one else has is the 8 speed transmission. That is another factor in the increased MPG.

It is the same motor as the Grand Cherokee.

-bb

[Bamaman]

Blackberg: I expect Chrysler will have a hay-day in the advertising department with the new diesel about mpg. When you're the only one with a light duty diesel on the market, it's automatic to brag.

I have a 6 speed automatic in my wife's car, and it's in 3rd by the time you cross a 4 lane highway from a dead start. The whole idea is to up the EPA mpg figures by running in a higher gear all the time. But when you get in second and need full throttle, the car will not kick back to 1st gear and is downright dangerous. I have to drop the gears into 1st manually. And then, 8 speed trannys will hunt gears all the time. When it comes to the 8 speed transmission, I'd rather have a 5 speed automatic.

But let's face it, the 8 speed tranny returns good fuel mileage. And if you ordered the 8 speed AND the air ride suspension, you'd think you're riding in a Lexus LS460 it's ride so well and be so quiet inside.

[Mrtoler]

From what I've heard and read on the 1500 diesel is its going to be available in all trim levels and the cost will be $2,500 over the hemi so that's not bad at all considering it's like a $5,000 upgrade in the 2500 and 3500. It also said that the diesel in the jeep gets 25mpg and the one in the 1500 will surpass that and be around 30!

I currently have a 1500 hemi and it's a good truck but it sucks when it's time to pull my toon and IMO so does my parents f-150's both the 5.4 and the 5.0! We also have a 03 ram 3500 cummins and it pulls it nice but nowhere near as good as our 2012 ram 3500 with the 6.7 diesel, that thing is just a hoss!

I think ford power strokes lost me when they got the 6.0 and I was all down hil from there, we have a 03 power stroke with the 7.3 and it's nice but nothing compared to our new dodge diesel...JUST MY OPINION

Reason why we have so many trucks is because of the family business

[rbiederwolf]

Just pulled the trigger on a new F250 Platinum. More truck than I really needed, but......just couldn't help myself

Ford is offering some big incentives rebates on the 2013. Made buying a new one kind of make sense, versus a slightly used one. Should be here next week.

[lakerunner]

Sweet

What color?

[Bamaman]

Just pulled the trigger on a new F250 Platinum. More truck than I really needed, but......just couldn't help myself

Ford is offering some big incentives rebates on the 2013. Made buying a new one kind of make sense, versus a slightly used one. Should be here next week.

The big deal with diesels is their long, long lifespan. And people that have diesels are often high mileage drivers, or they keep their trucks for the long run. And if you put a good used diesel on the used car market, buyers will knock your door down.

I bought my 2003 diesel PowerStroke crew cab when I was 53 years old. I would like to think this is the last pickup truck I'll ever buy @ 110K miles. The truck still looks much like the current models as they seldom change styling. I still have more life in my engine than a new gas engined 1/2 ton, and the suspension and brakes are really tough.

Diesels are simply great long term values in transportation.

[Jack65K]

Just pulled the trigger on a new F250 Platinum. More truck than I really needed, but......just couldn't help myself

Ford is offering some big incentives rebates on the 2013. Made buying a new one kind of make sense, versus a slightly used one. Should be here next week.

Here's my new puller - also an F250 Platinum PSD and Ford does have some good incentives now.
Jack

[sunnyside]

Wow, she sure is a beauty. Towing should be a breeze. Gives me the itch to go looking for new tow vehicle. Good luck with it.

[bradm]

Great looking truck. You guys buying new trucks are giving me an itch.......

[Mrtoler]

Good looking truck no doubt..bud!!