justcuz
Junior Member
I'll start by stating that I'm a very active member of another sports-related forum and I typically can't stand the camparo opinion polls, but here I am. Asking for a comparison and some thoughts.
I'm an x-Chevy owner---put 175k on a Silverado before it turned to dust. Got rid of er two years ago and are re-entering the truck world. I've been intrigued by the RAM's perceived value - more for your money, but frankly struggling because our price point opens up some options (used).
First of all, US:
-SNOWY as crap climate. 250" a year on average. Moderate but consistently cold 20-degree average temps November through March. Rare but annual cold snap below zero.
-This will be a daily driver. My commute is a whopping 2 miles. HOWEVER, it's remote/isolated here so if/when we go somewhere, we're putting 500 miles on. I'd say on average that's once a month.
-We are active. Huge into mountain biking with four of us and a muddy dog. Snow skiing of all kinds. Camping. Fishing. Windsurfing. etc. Constant gear-hauling (which is why we're going back to a truck).
-We tow a 5k boat 10 times a year.
-We tow a 5k camper 10 times a year. Some of these long hauls around Lake Superior.
-But let us be honest, in the grand scheme of trucking, we're easy. I'm in it for the bed space not the towing.
-Full size is it because of the back seat (two kids). Tacomas, for example, are just too small in the back for us.
-Plan to drive it till it rusts out (likely 15 years or so).
By my exhaustive assessment, here's what our money buys us:
1) A LOADED/Limited 2016. EcoDiesel. Gen. 3 (BRAND NEW) engine because it was a lemon. I, frankly, am both incredibly intrigued and scared at the same time. We get a loaded truck with a new engine at a lower price. But the Diesel is lust, perhaps not practical for us? And...Lemon on the title (engine/EGR stuff).
2) A moderately boringly optioned 2019, new cab style. Penstar V6. Very close to us. Heated seats and that's about it.
3) A slightly more optioned up 2019, new cab style. V8 Hemi (no hybrid stuff). Similarly boring options as #2 BUT sweet moonroof. Not sure I need the Hemi.
The practical side of me says #2. #3 has the v8 which we DON'T need, but honestly the sun roof had me at hello. And what's a couple hundo in gas a year to get a sweet moonroof.
#1 is lust and diesel intrigue. Thing is loaded with heated/cooled everything, air leveling, etc. When we go for the weekend, we're driving 300-600 miles and that's interesting to me. I'd welcome But a lemon (I don't even know if I can insure it???).
I'd appreciate any thoughts/input from RAM owners. We've looked at em' all (chevy, etc.) again and again....but keep coming back to the RAM being the nicest option for the buck.
Sorry for the book, thanks for the feedback and opinions that I'll take with a grain of salt ;-)
I'm an x-Chevy owner---put 175k on a Silverado before it turned to dust. Got rid of er two years ago and are re-entering the truck world. I've been intrigued by the RAM's perceived value - more for your money, but frankly struggling because our price point opens up some options (used).
First of all, US:
-SNOWY as crap climate. 250" a year on average. Moderate but consistently cold 20-degree average temps November through March. Rare but annual cold snap below zero.
-This will be a daily driver. My commute is a whopping 2 miles. HOWEVER, it's remote/isolated here so if/when we go somewhere, we're putting 500 miles on. I'd say on average that's once a month.
-We are active. Huge into mountain biking with four of us and a muddy dog. Snow skiing of all kinds. Camping. Fishing. Windsurfing. etc. Constant gear-hauling (which is why we're going back to a truck).
-We tow a 5k boat 10 times a year.
-We tow a 5k camper 10 times a year. Some of these long hauls around Lake Superior.
-But let us be honest, in the grand scheme of trucking, we're easy. I'm in it for the bed space not the towing.
-Full size is it because of the back seat (two kids). Tacomas, for example, are just too small in the back for us.
-Plan to drive it till it rusts out (likely 15 years or so).
By my exhaustive assessment, here's what our money buys us:
1) A LOADED/Limited 2016. EcoDiesel. Gen. 3 (BRAND NEW) engine because it was a lemon. I, frankly, am both incredibly intrigued and scared at the same time. We get a loaded truck with a new engine at a lower price. But the Diesel is lust, perhaps not practical for us? And...Lemon on the title (engine/EGR stuff).
2) A moderately boringly optioned 2019, new cab style. Penstar V6. Very close to us. Heated seats and that's about it.
3) A slightly more optioned up 2019, new cab style. V8 Hemi (no hybrid stuff). Similarly boring options as #2 BUT sweet moonroof. Not sure I need the Hemi.
The practical side of me says #2. #3 has the v8 which we DON'T need, but honestly the sun roof had me at hello. And what's a couple hundo in gas a year to get a sweet moonroof.
#1 is lust and diesel intrigue. Thing is loaded with heated/cooled everything, air leveling, etc. When we go for the weekend, we're driving 300-600 miles and that's interesting to me. I'd welcome But a lemon (I don't even know if I can insure it???).
I'd appreciate any thoughts/input from RAM owners. We've looked at em' all (chevy, etc.) again and again....but keep coming back to the RAM being the nicest option for the buck.
Sorry for the book, thanks for the feedback and opinions that I'll take with a grain of salt ;-)
