Wanting to get back into a truck!

[jhoff8487]

Well, I've had the Mustang for a little over a year and am starting to look around a bit. I miss sitting up high and the capabilities that a truck gives me. The Mustang is a blast, great for downtown driving, and more power than I can ever truly use in my daily commuting but I can't shake the desire to jump back into a pickup. Another driving factor is that Ford did a piss poor job on the transmissions in the 2011 and 2012 Mustangs. I'm worried about long term longevity. It grinds/crunches into 2nd gear (and occasionally 3rd) when below 40 degrees - Ford says it's normal after six trips to the dealer but I'm not buying it.

I've been looking at Ram 1500s mostly. GM doesn't have much of anything exciting going right now and I'm not thrilled with the updates coming next year either. Ford just isn't my cup of tea despite my best efforts. I like the Ecoboost but can't justify the rest. Any opinions or maybe areas I'm overlooking? I test drove a 2012 Ram Big Horn with the 5.7l and really enjoyed how it rode and the power. I can score about the same deal on a 2013 so I'll probably go that route. It seems that at this time, dealers aren't getting the 5.7l with the 8 speed despite what online cut sheets say. Anyone have any experience with the hemi and the 8 speed? The 2013s I can find around here all have the 5+1 (6 technically) speed tranny. Anyone know much about that? I think it was only used for 2012 and some of the 2013s.

I'm going crew cab this time around as within the next 3-4 years I'll be married and kids will be in consideration then. I'm wanting something that will last me and hold it's value pretty well after 7-8 years. No one knows this stuff better than you guys. Any help and insight you can lend me would be great. Let me have it!

 

[Zembonez]

I'd wait a couple of months and at least drive the new GM.

 

[ksblacksilvy]

I'm not a big Dodge fan, but from what I've seen if you can live with a car but you want a truck, they're the way to go. RAM, Dodge, whatever. I'm tired of the name change BS.

 

[Zembonez]

I'm not a huge Ram fan either but those 5.7s are nice running trucks. My buddy already has almost 160K on his Ram 4x4 and it has been a really solid truck.

 

[NMRam]

I'm not a big Dodge fan, but from what I've seen if you can live with a car but you want a truck, they're the way to go. RAM, Dodge, whatever. I'm tired of the name change BS.

After having my 2010 Ram, I would highly recommend it. For those who think it isn't capable, they obviously haven't driven one. I used mine pretty hard, and it never left me wanting more.

The Hemi is a great motor, plenty of power and fair fuel economy, and the 5/6 speed tranny is decent. If you can hold off a month or so, I would hold out for the 8 speed, the gearing on it looks awesome. They are starting to hit lots now, but should be much more common in a short while. The incentives are also great on them, you can usually pick one up for ~$8k +/- off sticker. Resale isn't real high on them, but it is not going to be great on any fullsize truck.

Here's mine with my 4 wheeler and camper on:

And offroading a little:

 

[Bowtie2Sierra]

You mentioned that you want something that will hold its value (I imagine you are going to take it in the rear selling the Mustang after a year). RAMs have the worst resale value of the Big 3 in every part of the country I've lived. Your part of the country may be different. Granted, they have been gaining slightly in recent years.

I do shop RAM each time before I buy. I want to like them but they just aren't my cup of tea.

 

[Bowtie2Sierra]

The incentives are also great on them, you can usually pick one up for ~$8k +/- off sticker. Resale isn't real high on them, but it is not going to be great on any fullsize truck.

I disagree 100% with this. Based on my experience, certain brands of full size trucks have some of the highest resale value of any vehicle.

 

[NMRam]

The incentives are also great on them, you can usually pick one up for ~$8k +/- off sticker. Resale isn't real high on them, but it is not going to be great on any fullsize truck.

I disagree 100% with this. Based on my experience, certain brands of full size trucks have some of the highest resale value of any vehicle.

I could disagree as well. Very few domestic vehicles have good resale values, unless you are buying top end models. If you buy an average, middle of the road package, they are all going to fall off pretty quick value-wise.

My Ram was a fairly base model that I bought in Nov. 2010 as a "leftover" after the 2011's were coming out. With incentives (about $7k at the time), I paid about $27k for it. I traded it in about 20 months later with 39k miles on it and got $22k for it. That is not too bad considering the miles I put on it. I have talked to folks with newer GM's or Fords who have gotten slightly higher trade in values ($23-25k), but they also didn't get near as much off the sticker price up front. It's all in how you look at it, I guess.

 

[mr_bots]

I like the 2013 Rams but I'd wait another year. The upgraded radios are having teething issues and by then the Hemi 8 speeds will be more common. Also, you'll take less of a hit on the Mustang. The 2014 Grand Cherokees seem a little more common so if you can find one of them with the Hemi it'll give you an idea as to how that combo droves. I'd avoid the 5+1 tranny, not bad but not good either and it really kills the Hemi performance.

 

[OldCracker29]

I can't help you because...I'm diehard
Good luck with whatever you decide.