Getting a new truck, compare RAM EcoDiesel vs F150 Platnum??

Two things probably contribute to low
average mpg. City driving, and heavy towing. But yes, salesmen always get crappy mpg.

 

13-17MPG is on a truck that gets backed out of a parking spot on the dealers lot, idles for 15-20min while they tell the customer all about it, then the customer goes out and sees how it runs, and the salesman may take it to lunch or home for the night and run the crap out of it.

If you are talking over a long period like 600 miles, maybe the person let the truck idle a lot. Idling kills MPGs.

I know a guy that 2016 F-150 3.5 ecoboost and he is getting 20-21mpg. I know people at have 2014 and older ecoboost and they 19mpg. I'm sure out on the highway on a trip they would do better.[/QUOTE]
,,,,,,,, and we all know that anyone that test drives a truck they are serious about buying gets out of sight of the dealership and puts on their John Force hat at every red light!!!!

 

Who care's about the dealership? I've left 2 black burnout marks with a salesman sitting right next to me! It normally get's them pretty flustered and it's fun to watch them reach for the "Oh $hit handle"!! If I find the salesman annoying I'll do the brake test without warning, 60mph and then slam on the brakes!!

 

I haven't had a salesman go on a test drive with me in years, they just give me the keys and away we go.

 

The averages I was looking at and quoting were on 20,000 miles. Not "dealer" mileage. And while driving the f150 for test drives on the hwy, they are not going above 17 or 18 period, that's cruising at 55 in no traffic... There is no arguing this point, I saw it with my own eyes. But honestly, that is not stopping me from going with the ford, but it is a big difference.

 

Those numbers are very low. Both of the 3.5 ecoboost slightly lifted crew cab 4x4 f150s were at least 21 real mpg freeway, half loaded beds, fill up to fill up non truck computer generated numbers. That was 75 mph too. Those were steel f150s too.

 

My 02 will settle in at 21 mpg with the cruise set at 62. 8000 lbs

overall hand calculates 16.7 mpg

 

Oh, and as far as high maintenance costs? all I do is change the oil and filters, have to do that on every vehicle. Yes it costs more but i also go double the miles between changes.
Please enlighten me.
And i don't want to hear if it breaks, yadayada, all vehicles will break and they all are expensive to fix.
There are a lot more pieces to fail on a modern car than a diesel truck.

 

How many is "double" for you? I go 10k miles between oil changes on my gas cars/trucks. I don't think repair costs are much different either way, modern diesels have a TON of emissions crap that can go wrong, and gas engines have a ton of other stuff.

The big cost of a diesel the upfront cost for the engine. You'll pay a premium for a new diesel, and you'll pay more for a used diesel, over a gas engine. It takes a lot of fuel savings to make up a $3000-7000 difference in upfront cost.

This article estimates that the Ram Ecodiesel doesn't make financial sense until the odometer hits over 854,000 miles (not a typo)!!!

How long until your diesel starts saving you money?

Here's another that states that the F350 is the only truck that makes sense financially, and that's only after owning it for 5 years.

Do Diesel Cars And Trucks Save You Money? Not Always

For daily driving, I don't see the benefit for diesel. As a business vehicle or a heavy tow vehicle it's probably worth the premium, but for a normal guy that just wants a truck I don't think it makes financial sense. Not that trucks are supposed to make financial sense, most of use could easily get by with a Honda Ridgeline, but our ego's won't let us admit that.

 

All valid points but I only said maintenance cost. Right now I change the oil once a year, about 1000 miles, 3000 miles in the last 3 years, does not get used much anymore. Actually this truck is an 02 with 113,000 on it, has not seen much use. Being a Cummins it is barely broken in. As you stated, and I agree, most people do not need any truck it is a status / ego thing. I know I do not anymore but I am not parting with it either.

imagine if we all only bought what we NEED as opposed to what we WANT. I need a 50 mpg car to drive back and forth to work but I am going to buy a full-size truck that gets 15 mpg.

 

Got to love the video...

 

Well, the Longhorn I was looking at also sold. So we now have 10 pages, all to compare 2 trucks I was looking at, which are both sold!

Job well done!!

Anywho, I think I decided on a Ram 1500 LIMITED model. It has all the bells and whistles the Longhorn has, just a bit classier looking instead of a rancher Arizona look. But it's the Rambox and the 27mpg diesel that is calling me. Love both. Now I just need to find one in the Northeast somewhere, Black with very low mileage.

So whats the best "internet truck shopping" site?

 

Good choice, hope you find your truck soon!

 

Or just drive it home.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ram-1500-La...53d3873c:g:0KkAAOSwbsBXo4QY&item=302054082364

 

Wow...only 45k!! Wish I had some cash, she is PURTY!

 

Almost. But no Ramboxes, no running boards, no "Limited OR Longhorn" model. Keep looking though...!!

 

How much you looking to spend?! Those boxes in the bed seem tough to find with everything else ...... Leavin on a jet plane.........

Check out this 2016 RAM 1500 on Autotrader

 

Geez Gasifier, you find some beauties!!

 

I'm enjoying living vicariously through Machria and buying a new truck!