Looking for my first Ram

[Burla]

6sp vs 8sp will make a big difference on top of the gearing.

yup, 6 speed you need 3.92's imo, 8 speed you can get away with 3.21's. And you have to ask yourself, do I want a transmission that you can't even see if the level is full and is near impossible to service and mechanically heats the fluid, and operates at least 30f higher temps? 6 speeds aren't so bad.

 

[Larry D]

Ticks, no tranny dipstick, locked PCM, cams and lifters.....but hey its got a HEMI! Ya gotta love em!

 

[Coramie]

...but hey its got a HEMI! Ya gotta love em!

Every day of the week and twice on Sunday!

 

[BruceMorgan]

Join a credit union and do your financing through them - usually a lower rate and better customer service.
I would DEFINITELY ONLY get the 8 speed transmission.
Some credit unions also sell extended warranties.
Some 13-15's have experienced camshaft/lifter failures, that and exhaust manifold bolts are the two most common expensive failures probably - that I can think of off hand.

Private original owners are probably a better bet for price/value.

Good luck.

I second this. Don't be afraid of arranging your own financing through your bank or by joining a credit union or some such. They make it really easy and approachable. You can get pre-approved for a certain amount of money / type of vehicle, and then nail down the details when you actually find the right vehicle. DO NOT go through dealer financing. They make it easy, but they also get huge kickbacks from financing companies to bump your interest rate higher than it needs to be. They will also scam you eight ways from Sunday; there are many threads on this.

With financing in hand, you can buy much more confidently. No worries about "will I get approved", no run-around with interest rates, down payment, etc.

Private owners will give you a better price / values, but people can be dumb and annoying to deal with. People who think their vehicle is worth more than it is, or misrepresent it ("excellent condition" except for the rip in the back seat, the dent on the fender, and the burned out backup light). I drove many miles to see a truck that was listed as an "auto" and it was a "manual". The seller said "oops, sorry, yeah I suppose it is, does that matter?" Yeah, buddy it does! "Never been in an accident". Yeah, the front left fender is misaligned a bit, the paint doesn't quite match, and the tire is a different brand than the other 3 tires. Guy said "huh. I never noticed any of that". I have lots of stories; I've bought and sold quite a few vehicles over the years.

Personally, I don't buy vehicles that have more than 12K miles per year, and ideally half that. It's really easy to find low mileage trucks owned by people like me that don't use them as a daily driver or family hauler. A few clicks away on AutoTrader.com

 

[Random_Walk]

Join a credit union and do your financing through them - usually a lower rate and better customer service.
I would DEFINITELY ONLY get the 8 speed transmission.
Some credit unions also sell extended warranties.
Some 13-15's have experienced camshaft/lifter failures, that and exhaust manifold bolts are the two most common expensive failures probably - that I can think of off hand.

Private original owners are probably a better bet for price/value.

Good luck.

I can confirm the Credit Union angle, and would recommend it over anything you'll find at the dealer. With my CU, I got the absolute best rate for the time (4% w/ a good-to-excellent FICO score) on a 4-year used-car loan, they provided an extended warranty nose-to-tail for a nominal price (incl. free towing, reimbursed hotel stays, reimbursed loaner, etc) for the life of the note.

Getting pre-approved by the CU also gives you the leverage (and not them), means less waiting at the dealership, and gives you the power to walk away from a deal going south at any time.

 

[joshual1177]

I second this. Don't be afraid of arranging your own financing through your bank or by joining a credit union or some such. They make it really easy and approachable. You can get pre-approved for a certain amount of money / type of vehicle, and then nail down the details when you actually find the right vehicle. DO NOT go through dealer financing. They make it easy, but they also get huge kickbacks from financing companies to bump your interest rate higher than it needs to be. They will also scam you eight ways from Sunday; there are many threads on this.

With financing in hand, you can buy much more confidently. No worries about "will I get approved", no run-around with interest rates, down payment, etc.

Private owners will give you a better price / values, but people can be dumb and annoying to deal with. People who think their vehicle is worth more than it is, or misrepresent it ("excellent condition" except for the rip in the back seat, the dent on the fender, and the burned out backup light). I drove many miles to see a truck that was listed as an "auto" and it was a "manual". The seller said "oops, sorry, yeah I suppose it is, does that matter?" Yeah, buddy it does! "Never been in an accident". Yeah, the front left fender is misaligned a bit, the paint doesn't quite match, and the tire is a different brand than the other 3 tires. Guy said "huh. I never noticed any of that". I have lots of stories; I've bought and sold quite a few vehicles over the years.

Personally, I don't buy vehicles that have more than 12K miles per year, and ideally half that. It's really easy to find low mileage trucks owned by people like me that don't use them as a daily driver or family hauler. A few clicks away on AutoTrader.com

I will definitely give it a shot. I am part of a credit union through my work. Right now in my area, there aren't that many deals on Rams at dealerships. All high mileage and out of my price range. My only issue is not being able to get the trade in value for my '02 Explorer that is falling apart. I wouldn't want to give it away. I may look into junking it to see what I could get for it. Tranny is going, rust is eating it. Multiple electrical issues.

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[BruceMorgan]

I will definitely give it a shot. I am part of a credit union through my work. Right now in my area, there aren't that many deals on Rams at dealerships. All high mileage and out of my price range. My only issue is not being able to get the trade in value for my '02 Explorer that is falling apart. I wouldn't want to give it away. I may look into junking it to see what I could get for it. Tranny is going, rust is eating it. Multiple electrical issues.

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Consider flying and buying. A couple hundred in gas and motel can save thousands. We bought my college age daughter a VW Beetle locally because they were much cheaper than Denver / Boulder area. Her and my wife drove it back to Boulder but net savings was $3500 for a four year old 20k miles car.

AutoTrader.com is your friend. I just set a zip code for some big city and say “within 100 miles” and search. For whatever reason prices do vary a lot. Suburbs like where I live have lots of middle and upper middle class guys with weekend trucks that they treat like a mistress.

 

[bernym21]

I'm looking for my first Ram to buy. I'll be ready to buy in about another month. Currently looking at '13-'15 1500's. There are things that I won't sacrifice on. I have some basic wants and needs. Has to be V8, black, red or blue, a decent radio, 4wd. Fog lights are on my list. Seats must be in good condition. Dual exhaust preferably, either a spray in bed liner or cover. Other than that, I just want to get as much truck as I can afford. I see no reason not to get as many options as possible. I absolutely don't need heated or cooled seats or a heated steering wheel though. Leather seats would be nice.

There is a 2013 fully loaded Big Horn that basically looks like a sport without the leather for $18900 with less than 100k miles. Seems a bit high. I have seen trucks for less, they're further away, and are being sold at used car lots. This one is being sold at a Dodge dealership 10 minutes from my house and we bought our van from them.

Which brings up a good question. Is it better to buy from a Dodge dealership than a smaller used car lot because it's more likely to be more thoroughly inspected?

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[bernym21]

I recently purchased a 2016 1500 Larimie limited. I have had ford and chev 4x4 trucks in the past. This is the first time owning a Ram 4x4 truck and I have been blown away. The pure smoothness of this truck is amazing! The ride with the -4- corner air system is pure enjoyment. The sound of the engine and exhaust system is so cool. The Hemi engine is so responsive. I know I won't be going back to any other truck after driving this beast !

 

[Old Tractor Man]

When I bought my Ram I spent hours on the computer looking at prices and vehicles. Bought my first used RAM at a dealership, hidden problems day 1. 2nd RAM, used car lot in business 20+ years - no problems. Hate to say it, but a used vehicle is a roll of the dice.

 

[Dgriffi2]

I agree with everything here!

A couple things to take into consideration with a higher mile vehicle's.

1. Most dodge dealer is unlikely to keep high mile vehicle on their lot. Most will take trade ins with miles and sent them to auction (around here anyway).

2. Small car lots are just selling the vehicle and most won't offer any kind of guarantee. They may sell you a third party warranty but read the fine print (not always what they're cracked up to be).

3. Consider buying private if you can find what your looking for. May be able to haggle a better price or have some extras thrown in. Owner will have knowledge of what kind of maintenance have been done (should provide receipts) and possible will safety.

4. If there is a dealer/salesman you can trust they may be able to find a truck for you with your given must haves and price range. Probably a small deposit will be required to show your serious.

Buying a higher mile truck isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some of the common issues/wear items should have been addressed already. Research and ask a lot of questions. And condition is key with any used vehicle. Pride of ownership goes along way.

I sold my 08 Ram with just under 100k. Truck was a 9/10 and sold within a week of being for sale and I got top dollar for it. One guy needed a work truck and said it was to nice lol.

Be patient, do your homework, ask questions and things will work out.

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