New to Ram... thoughts..

[indept]

The V6 is fine for most people who 90% of the time have an empty bed and don't tow heavy.. I could be satisfied with the v6 with what I do..i went with the v8 in regards to resale value and it was $1000 cheaper to buy.. my one regret is not getting the 8 speed. My buddy has a V6, he is happy with it and the mileage is considerably less.

In regards to octane.. 87 is ok. I have an app on my phone to track mileage. I do get better mileage with 91 non-ethanol, but the cost per mile is not cheaper, no matter what grade I run I'm still paying about 22 cents per kilometer.

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I thought all 2017 V8's had the 8 spd? Mine does

 

[gofishn]

I went from a Dodge 2500 V-10 to this 1500 V-8 and could not be happier.
Have never owned a v-6 in anything other than minivans or cars and seriously doubt if I would ever buy a truck with a V-6.

 

[NapaRam]

The V6 is fine for most people who 90% of the time have an empty bed and don't tow heavy.


Yep that is me even though imy s 2WD 15 Express has the towing package and the chrome 20x9 wheels I will probably never tow anything but I love having the hitch since I use for to attach a hitch step. For MPG does matter and I get 19 or 20 around town and 23 to 25 yes 25 highway. I have the 26 gal (more like 24) so I can go around 550 miles on a tank so around 18 cents a mile which is just fine by me.

I plan to get a Pedal Commander for it at some point which I have read from guys here on the forum can make your V6 "feel" like a V8. There is plenty of horsepower in the V6 especailly given the lower weight vs the V8 to give you all the acceleration you need but it's turn off by the factory in a V8 they kind hide the power as easily.

I actually did need a truck (my first one) since I'm a Home Depot DIY kind of guy and it's already paid for itself but I didn't need 4WD or V8. For me the Express had everything I actually needed and the things it didn't have that I wanted I can add and am having a ball doing that! If you want a V8 just because you're an engine kind of guy then by all means get one but a V6 with a PC would probably give you all the want you would need.

 

[gypsy400]

I thought all 2017 V8's had the 8 spd? Mine does

It was a $1000 option ( canadian) when I ordered my truck. The engine choices are $0, but when you order a v6 the price is $1000 more because the 8sp is mandatory.

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[22hemi13]

I had a loaner with a v6 8spd and was pretty impressed. Both with mileage and power. If you’re one of those people who want a truck but really use it as a “car” it’ll more than be sufficient. So nice in fact that we have tossed the idea around of getting me one to commute to farm when I don’t need to haul a trailer or anything.

 

[Gero]

I run 87 on my hemi since the day I bought it. 89 is quite a bit more here.

 

[Marine Les]

Drive the v6 and the v8 and hammer the peddle, this will answer the power ? I did this and bought the v6 and love this motor. I pulled a tandem at #2500 had plenty of power and got 19 mpg to boot driving easy. My mpg display is at 28 currently and should calculate at 26+ mpg. My low mpg not pulling so far is 24 calculated. If you need more power go with the Hemi as it is a real grunt but get the bigger gas tank.

 

[boblonben]

I never thought I would buy a Ram 1500 Bighorn Hemi 5.7L. I love it. i know how these forums work, where when someone asks a very specific question it can be almost impossible to answer because there are SO many variables out there. There simply is no 'right' answer.

With this, I'm looking for reassurance / thoughts that i made the right purchase. I don't haul much, am pretty much a 'drive to work kind of person', and love having a truck simply because i love trucks.

So... the Hemi 5.7. Fuel consumption... MPG... V6 is more 'economical', 'better on gas', you know the routine.

Using several online calculators I've come up with an average price of paying an extra $700 a year in gas for 15,000 miles with the v8 versus had i bought the v6. i don't know how accurate these numbers are to be honest and they could be completely skewed.

its inevitable the v8 WILL use more gas than the v6. I'm not expecting gold from mud.

But looking for ideas from all of you pros out there... especially people who own a Hemi 5.7L, yet don't REALLLLLy need one.... are you breaking the bank with fill ups? do you wish you bought the v6?

its not that i can't afford the gas, its just the thought of filling up so often and for so much that I'm thinking, "Ok.. ill just drive slower and more efficiently to get better MPG's."

the common denominator online from other forums is, "You'll love the v8 when you really need the power."

Well... i don't think ill ever NEED v8 on the highway going to work. again, i love my purchase and the truck. its incredible. just looking for thoughts out there from Ram people who have lived with them much longer than me.

Thanks!

Well being a person with two 5.7L Hemi and two Pentastar V6 I can pretty much pass on pretty good feelings towards both. Have a V6 RAM and a V8 RAM, 2017 both. Have a V6 Durango GT and a Journey GT V6. If you do no towing or very light. The V6 is perfectly ok in both SUV and RAM, in the Journey the V6 works well even up to 3500 pound tows. Now I have a small boat and either engine works great. But I also have a couple of classic cars I some times trailer. The V8 is the only way to go. The V6 can tow them but with little reserve. One car is a 66 Satellite and the other a 67 Barracuda, so they weigh in the 3250 - 3925 pounds range. The gas miles (I keep careful records) is 21.2 on the V6 ones - with the Journey getting closer to 22.8; The V8s - one a 2016 regular cab R/T, and one a 2017 Orange (color makes it run better!) Crew Cab 4X4. On both I get a combined 20.4, with pure highway being 21.2 with the reg cab and surprising 22.1 with the Crew cab 2WD mode. Around town they do 18.7 reg cab and 18.1 Crew cab. Three have 20' wheels (275/60R20BFG Rugged terrain on the RAMs, the Durango has 265/55R20 Bridgestone) with the Journey having 19's with Kuhmo's. . Anyway, like them all and get better than reasonable miles with all four. Have friends with new Explorer and two new F-150's, both turbo motored and I do better gas mileage than any of them. Towing and performance about the same between them. Anyway interesting and good question you had. Thanks

 

[slacadjuster]

I hear the Ram has the ability to turn off 2 cylinders dependent on speed/RPM (of course, everyone on line has their own opinion as to WHEN it activates.

i have yet to see it work. has anyone actually seen on the display 2 cylinders turning off?

On my truck, no, I can't actually "see" the 2 cylinders being shut off, (for obvious reasons, can't see inside the motor), but on the screen in the dash on my truck, the words "ECO MODE" pops up when the truck is running in Eco mode.

 

[misfit77]

There is a time and a place for 6 cylinder, eg Jeep XJ.....the Ram is not one of them.
I am happy as a pig in **** when I see 23MPG on my Hemi.
I am even happier when I step on the gas and out run Hondas and sedans.

 

[indept]

On my truck, no, I can't actually "see" the 2 cylinders being shut off, (for obvious reasons, can't see inside the motor), but on the screen in the dash on my truck, the words "ECO MODE" pops up when the truck is running in Eco mode.

Its either 4 or 8 nothing in between as far as I've read

 

[FriedDumpling]

I have owned both and surprised I didn’t see more of a difference in mpg between the 6 and 8. I average 18.5 in my 1500 8 cyl with a mix of local and highway.

Also the 8 will hold value better and is more desirable.


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[af2018]

There is a time and a place for 6 cylinder, eg Jeep XJ.....the Ram is not one of them.
I am happy as a pig in **** when I see 23MPG on my Hemi.
I am even happier when I step on the gas and out run Hondas and sedans.

its a powerful beast. i barely pressed on the gas and ZOOOoooom

 

[jasonw]

On my truck, no, I can't actually "see" the 2 cylinders being shut off, (for obvious reasons, can't see inside the motor), but on the screen in the dash on my truck, the words "ECO MODE" pops up when the truck is running in Eco mode.

Unfortuantely, eco mode doesn't mean you're in 4 cylinder mode. All the eco mode means is that you are running very near to the best MPG as possible in your current situation. However, I have been told that for the 4 cylinders to shut off (MDS to activate), eco mode must be active.

I've driven 6 and 8, now that I'm helping my father-in-law with test drives (he is looking for a V6 Ram). The 6 would work for me just fine, for what I do, but I love the V8 too much. To each their own.

 

[Sportznut]

There may not be a real $$ savings. Depends on...

1. Total miles driven
2. Type of miles (Hwy vs. City)
3. Resale value 6 vs 8.
4. Any repair/maint cost difference between 6 & 8.
5. Can the 6 tow everything you want?

I did the math for my situation..not enough savings to buy the 6 for me.

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[Ramit355]

Right now I own two 6.4L Hemi’s (Ram & Charger) and the smiles per gallon is way worth it. If you can afford it then you can’t go wrong with a V8. Especially a Hemi. Recently the wife and I were driving in a four cyl sedan and even she says to me “wow this thing just doesn’t go anywhere”. Spoiled by a 392 Charger. Even the big Ram pulls like a pissed off son of a *****.

All the smack talked about Mopars being too heavy… well look how fast they are even with all the weight. Imagine a 3000 pound car with a 392 Hemi in it. Pretty much stock Scat Packs can run low 11's.

Having said that, there are some good V6’s out there today and the Pentastar is one of the best. It will do you plenty fine in and around town but when you want to stretch it’s legs it will run out of steam well before a V8. Passing on the highway is effortless with a Hemi.

My wife drives the Scat pack and loves! I like to kick it in the a$$ too now and then. The 392 runs like hell! lol. The 5.7 Truck with e-torque and 392 rear gear is awesome compared to 2014 5.7 with 392 gear I traded for the 19.

 

[Sportznut]

The rental car place gave me one of these on a business trip a couple months ago. What a blast! 485HP

My wife drives the Scat pack and loves! I like to kick it in the a$$ too now and then. The 392 runs like hell! lol. The 5.7 Truck with e-torque and 392 rear gear is awesome compared to 2014 5.7 with 392 gear I traded for the 19.

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[Ramit355]

The rental car place gave me one of these on a business trip a couple months ago. What a blast! 485HP
Here is My Scat Pack Charger!!



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[Sportznut]

Haha. Fun car! Had to work to keep it under 90

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[dav8388]

The only V8 I have ever owned is my 87 Camaro with the 305. Everything else has been a V6 or I4. Most powerful one was the Camaro with is the 175 hp and 250ftlbs. My daily driver befor the Ram was a Saturn SL2. So when I test drove my 3.6 I was pleasantly surprised by the power it had. Only towing I might do is a small trailer with scrap metal, so it serves my needs perfectly. I'm sure the Hemi would be more fun, but I can't complain with 23 MPG