Why is there a Classic?

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jejb

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First, I'm not putting anyone's decision down here. I'm a big believer in live and let live. But I'm curious why someone would pick a brand new Classic over a brand new 5th gen. Are they cheaper? Folks like the older looks better?
 

ramffml

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Every classic Ram sells is highly profitable. They've paid off that engineering and assembly line years ago. They can sell it for cheaper, customer wins too. Since the assembly is in a differently plant than the 5th gens, they can have both running at the same time.

And yeah, some guys have a thing for that Jay Leno chin.
 
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Every classic Ram sells is highly profitable. They've paid off that engineering and assembly line years ago. They can sell it for cheaper, customer wins too. Since the assembly is in a differently plant than the 5th gens, they can have both running at the same time.

And yeah, some guys have a thing for that Jay Leno chin.
That's the only thing I don't like about my truck ... looks like Jay Leno !!! lol
 

ramffml

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I had a 2012 Jeep GC, I bought it used in 2014 and every day I had it I always wished I had held out for the "new" GC instead (mild refresh in 2014).

So when I bought my truck in 2019 I knew I'd never be happy with the classic. Funny thing is, now that I've owned the 5th gen, I know I'd be happy running a 4th gen as well. There are some nice improvements in the 5th gen (interior refinements, slightly nicer ride, little larger dimensions overall), but all that sort of wears off after a while and "old is old". At this point I could easily be in a 4th gen and be happy.
 

Fediej

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First, I'm not putting anyone's decision down here. I'm a big believer in live and let live. But I'm curious why someone would pick a brand new Classic over a brand new 5th gen. Are they cheaper? Folks like the older looks better?
You answered your own question. IMO Dodge really nailed the styling with the 4th gen. The 5G is a good looking truck but kind of blends in with everything else now. The 4G still stands out. And for many, the cross-hairs grille is almost as important as a Hemi.
 

CAGEYAR

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"Every classic Ram sells is highly profitable. They've paid off that engineering and assembly line years ago. They can sell it for cheaper, customer wins too. Since the assembly is in a differently plant than the 5th gens, they can have both running at the same time."
Exactly. As long as something continues to sell that's also has built-in profitability, they'll keep offering it.
The 5th generation's styling improved aerodynamics. Any incremental improvement in mpg helps with CAFE.
That's another reason why the single cab short beds are discontinued. The CAFE standards for fuel economy are higher for short bed single cabs than long bed single cabs. So by eliminating the short bed, Stellantis' CAFE goes up. 4th gen still looks good to me-I may swap my grill for that OEM grill with the barbed wire....
 

PolarisCobra

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I think you will find that if you do some pricing, a Classic V6 is very competitive with a Ranger, Tacoma or Colorado. You can get a full size truck with performance on par with the smaller ones, and more room. Or - step up the the HEMI, and get performance they can't match at any price.

When Ram offers a smaller truck, you may see the Classic go away. I think it is about price points.
 

jvbuttex

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when i was looking to get my Ram. I didn't look to the new Gen5. I dont like the look of the hood emblem and grill. I'm sure there are nice fancy do-dads inside. I would love that big 12" display / radio info center. No i didn't buy a "classic" either...
 

CanuckRam1313

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I purchased my Classic Express new at the end of June 19' because looking at the new 5th Gen vs. the 4th Gen all I saw in the new styling was a similar truck as its competitors in terms of styling and body lines.

Yes, the 5th Gen is still a great vehicle, and I'm diehard MOPAR all the way, and I don't mind it at all. But for me, the 4th Gen look is where it's at. The styling and body lines, and that front colour matched grille with the black honeycomb inserts look amazing (still don't know why they went to all black grilles on the 20' 4th Gen's, just doesn't seem right to me..but what do I know...).

I'd still purchase a Classic again over the 5th Gen were I to trade mine in.
 

audiophile

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You answered your own question. IMO Dodge really nailed the styling with the 4th gen. The 5G is a good looking truck but kind of blends in with everything else now. The 4G still stands out. And for many, the cross-hairs grille is almost as important as a Hemi.
What's funny about this is in other forums (that I now longer frequent) there were a bunch of people complaining about the lack of the cross on the 5th gens when the first spy photos came out. They would say that RAM messed up. The crosshairs were what "made the truck" and then you look at their profiles and they almost always had some aftermarket grill that didn't look anything like factory.
 

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Obviously if you want a regular cab truck (LB now), 4th gen it is.
 

mikeru

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At the risk of offending some of you who are life long Dodge/Ram fans, crosshair grilles are a Dodge thing, and probably should have gone away when Ram became its own brand. I've owned Rams since 2015 (converted from GM), so I'm relatively new to the brand, and am not really a fan of the cross-hair grille. In fact, I traded in the 2015 I owned for a 2017 Rebel partly because of the grille. I disagree with some who say the 5th gens look like other brands. I think they have a unique look.

I really like the look of the 4th gen Rebel, and would probably still own that truck. But I made the mistake of test driving a 5th gen and the rest is history LOL.
 

PolarisCobra

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I think you will find that they will 'decontent' the Classic a bit each year, so that if you want a higher end truck, you will go to the 5th gen, and let the Classic be a value (low price) leader.
 

Jeepwalker

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I think you will find that they will 'decontent' the Classic a bit each year, so that if you want a higher end truck, you will go to the 5th gen, and let the Classic be a value (low price) leader.

That's a good observation. I agree. They've kind of been doing that the last few years. I wouldn't be surprised if they discontinue RC trucks, then introduce 5th gen regular cab's one of these days. A lot of businesses use RC's as delivery and day-runners. I like the looks of the 5th gens. They both look good to me.

Someone at Chrysler who shepherded the idea through all the corporate waters, to produce both generations side-by-side, should get a healthy bonus for making it happen. I can guarantee that concept met a lot of headwinds. It's helping Ram gain a lot of marketshare. The only other time I've seen old and new models produced concurrently for many years was when Jeep kept producing the old-school XJ Cherokee after the ZJ Grand Cherokee was introduced in '93. They produced the XJ till 01. But the new Grand Cherokee (ZJ) was a more 'plush' and upscale vehicle, while the XJ (regular Cherokee) was more spartan and basic. So they didn't *quite* directly compete against each other like the Ram 4th and 5th gens.
 
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Nicholas Cove

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First, I'm not putting anyone's decision down here. I'm a big believer in live and let live. But I'm curious why someone would pick a brand new Classic over a brand new 5th gen. Are they cheaper? Folks like the older looks better?
Price. For me it was a difference of like 20k back in 2020. Not too mention some people like the look of the 4th gens better. The 5th gens have too much gm like styling except for maybe the rebel and trx.
 
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jejb

jejb

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Every classic Ram sells is highly profitable. They've paid off that engineering and assembly line years ago. They can sell it for cheaper, customer wins too. Since the assembly is in a differently plant than the 5th gens, they can have both running at the same time.

And yeah, some guys have a thing for that Jay Leno chin.
Oh, I get why Ram would want to keep selling them. I was just curious about this from the consumer side. Interesting feedback, thanks folks.
 

Socalramfan

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Every classic Ram sells is highly profitable. They've paid off that engineering and assembly line years ago. They can sell it for cheaper, customer wins too. Since the assembly is in a differently plant than the 5th gens, they can have both running at the same time.

And yeah, some guys have a thing for that Jay Leno chin.

im digging the Jay Leno chin….. After all, kind of looks similar to our Bulldogs too :waytogo:

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