Location: Chandler, Arizona USA, NATION IN DISTRESS 4KBO
Questions for those that know about trucks. NEW QUESTIONS ADDED TO INITIAL POST
I am contemplating purchasing a new 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Mega Cab with a Hemi engine. With rebates and discounts I can get it for $27,000 which I think is a pretty good deal. I do not need it to pull anything too heavy and the 4x4 is for snow use when I go to the mountains and maybe occasional good time at the sand dunes. Other than that it would be a daily driver. Is this a good truck for that kind of use and is it a good deal?
Thanks
02/27/08
Check out the pics on the 2nd page of the truck transformed into a desert dweller!
Personally I think a Ram 1500 is overkill for a daily driver. It is a fairly heavy duty truck. I personally do not like the way they ride or handle but again the purpose of a Ram is to toe and haul stuff. Sure the price is good, but there is a reason...you'll be luicky to get 15 mpg on the highway with that thing, and about 10 mpg in stop and go driving. How many people do you plan on hauling in this rig on a regular basis?
If I were in the market for a light duty truck with some good off road capabilities I would buy a Nissan Frontier Nismo Off-Road edition. They make a crew cab or an extended cab. I prefer the extended cab because I'd rather have the additional bed length. The 2007s are also heavily discounted right now. I would use a website like www.carsdirect.com to get a ball park idea of what prices are going for new....but you can buy a Frontier for several thousand under MSRP as well....probably not as steep as the discount on the Ram but you won't have to fill up the gas tank just to cross town...although the V6 in the Frontier is no fuel miser either. Long term operating costs should be lower with the Frontier and they are excellent off road rigs..especially starting with the Nismo setup (kinda like a Toyota TRD).
never had one, but from what i know of them and having owned a dodge recently resale us pure crap, might me worth your while to find a slightly used one.
I agree with Dueysan, I think that truck is a bit overkill for what your after. I would look into a midsize, specifically I would have to recomend the Tacoma. Gas mileage still wont be great, but better than the 1500 for sure. I get about 17 in town with my 99, of course its lifted with MT's. I think it got about 20-21 before all that. I would expect about the same with the new ones. As a daily driver that doesnt need to haul you will be happier with a smaller truck. It wuill be a lot more comfortable to drive around town...and to park! And if you need to haul anything, you still have the ability. You could easily pull a boat or a small moving trailer with it.
If you want a half ton truck look at the Silverado, it has DOD (displacement on demand) and gets some great mileage. A friend of mine had one but ended up getting a way bigger trailer and went to a diesel. He got 16-17 around town and over 20 on the highway with it, new interiors look great too. Im not a fan of Dodge, I have driven every domestic make of pick up for snow plowing and towing, I have to go with the Chevy or GMC's, with Ford running a very close 2nd. The dodges just had a sloppy feel to them and seemed to labor and get very crappy gas mileage towing or just driving normal, they also seem to show signs of getting loose (steering, clunking u-joints and sloppy suspension) with the more miles they get. I recently hauled my friends 32 foot boat and a ton of gear about 400 miles towing with his 05 Silverado 2500 with Duramax and Allison combo..... hands down the best towing truck I have ever driven from ride to power to mileage.
Go with Chevy or GMC
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2002 Electron Blue Z06 Mods: LG Longtubes, Donaldson Blackwing, Speed Inc. Dyno Tuning, 19" CCW 505A Wheels Best ET (Drag radial) 11.661@118.86 1.70 60' Best ET (stock tires): 11.79@117.9 1.81 60' (best trap MPH: 118.82)
Best stock ET: 12.07@114.1 1.80 60' (best trap MPH 116.28)
SOLD 1996 Grandsport Coupe #775:
12.27@115.68(Motor)....10.995@127.44MPH (Nitrous)
Go look at a new/used Chevy/GMC Duramax 2500. It will cost more than a Dodge, but they seem to hold up longer/better. But there are pleanty of Dodge folks that swear by them. I like the ones I never had to fix...thank you Chevy Duramax....
If your stuck on a full size truck, dont overlook the Tundra either. Obviously Im a Toyota fan (for their trucks anyway), but they really make a great truck. Mine has held up WAY better than my friends Chevy. Had a nother friend with a Tundra and he had a similiar experience. His held up WAY better than our friends who had full size Chevy/GMC and Dodges. And the resale on Toyotas is awsome (although thats not really something I consider...drive em till they arent worth reviving...I havnt hit that point yet)
I would steer clear of any new Dodge/Chrysler, the resale on them is terrible, if you bought it for 27k today the trade in tomorrow will be about 17K. I am an inventory manager for a new car dealership and it amazes me how little those trucks are worth in a very short time. With the hemi expect 8-12mpg also
~B~
Are you some kind of farmer or contractor? I cant for the life of me figure out why someone would want that big of a truck as a daily driver, unless you have a daily need of pulling 12,000lbs!
Are you some kind of farmer or contractor? I cant for the life of me figure out why someone would want that big of a truck as a daily driver, unless you have a daily need of pulling 12,000lbs!
Are you some kind of farmer or contractor? I cant for the life of me figure out why someone would want that big of a truck as a daily driver, unless you have a daily need of pulling 12,000lbs!
It's because our wifes and girl friends alike make fun of our pee pee's...not to mention our moms refered to us as little women when we were young. Besides, there is NOTHING more thrilling than paying for all that diesel. But all joking aside, my last duramax averaged only a short tick less in over all MPG than my GTO. It was about a $550 dollar difference a year more expensive in the diesel. I'll pay that for the big 'ol rig'ness of the diesel again. The GTO eats tires, the diesel eats diesel. It all evens out.
Location: Chandler, Arizona USA, NATION IN DISTRESS 4KBO
I have taken a look at the Silverado and the Dodge. I also took a look at the Sierra and this weekend I will look at the Titan, Tundra, and Ford.
I really do not have a need for a big truck; I just want one. Also, and most importantly, congress is doing away this year with the $25,000 deduction for 6,000(+) lbs vehicles. Which means that I'll be buying before the end of the year and it will have to be a big truck. So if any of you were thinking about obtaining a big truck, Escalade, Hummer, or a similar vehicle get on with it and enjoy a tax deduction.
Location: Chandler, Arizona USA, NATION IN DISTRESS 4KBO
Quote:
Originally Posted by ruf455
...wait a minute.
What does a $25K tax deduction do for someone when it comes tax time? How much does that return?
I have not a clue, but I am sure is not dollar for dollar. My accountant adviced me of this when he found out I was buying a truck. I'll try to find out what the exact value will be. Anyway, it is a deduction for a vehicle that I would have bought either way so whatever it works up to, it will be better than buying a vehicle without a tax break.
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Questions for those that know about trucks. NEW QUESTIONS ADDED TO INITIAL POST
