Posted on 03/22/2014 8:24:03 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
DETROIT -- The side-view mirror of a Chevrolet Silverado contains this warning: "Objects may be closer than they appear."
The warning could be talking about the Ram.
The Silverado, the longtime No. 2 in pickup sales, still has a substantial lead on No. 3 Ram. But the Ram is gaining.
In the last seven months, after the redesigned Silverado arrived last summer, Ram sales were at 208,414, while the Silverado was at 261,258 -- still a sizable gap of 52,844 units.
But consider: In the same period a year earlier, the gap between the two was 97,199 units.
In the U.S. pickup market, dominated by loyal shoppers who rarely switch brands, it would be shocking if the Ram passed the Silverado. But the fact that the Ram is gaining ground is noteworthy.
"Never before has [General Motors] lost share after launching a new pickup truck platform," Barclay's analyst Brian Johnson noted last month.
From Jan. 1, 2013, through Feb. 26, the Silverado and GMC Sierra have lost 3.29 percentage points of market share in the large pickup market. In that time Ford has picked up 1.86 percentage points and Ram 1.8 percentage points of market share, Johnson wrote in late February. Johnson's market share calculation includes only the Detroit 3.
And the Ram seems to have momentum. In February, Ram started offering a diesel in the light-duty pickup, and dealer orders for the diesel have been strong.
It's the only diesel available in U.S. light-duty pickups and is rated at 28 mpg on the highway. The highest-rated Silverado light-duty is rated at 24 mpg on the highway.
GM spokesman Jim Cain said sales of well equipped high-end Silverados are fine. But there is some potential weakness in lower-end trims and V-6 models, he said.
That's why Chevrolet launched what he called an "unprecedented promotional assault," declaring a Truck Month promotion in March and increasing incentives and marketing.
The Silverado, with more than $7,500 in discounts and incentives, depending on the model, will be featured on advertising during the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Ram also is conducting a Truck Month campaign in March for its pickup.
As fine of a truck as their full-size Tundra is, Toyota has been resting on their laurels. It’s starting to look a little long in the tooth. So’s the Tacoma, but it’s not as if there’s much real competition remaining in the midsize truck arena.
Well, one fact stands out, 2.5 to 3k is pure retirement overhead not value. Probably 12 - 15k per 40k truck is skimmed off the top. How else could they have a 7.5k rebate?
Ford has them all beat on looks. Not even close.
Pickups used to be useful, now they are pretty. They used to be heavy and solid, with low beds you could reach, and bench seats that fit four. Now they have so much lift they’re practically useless, they have buckets seats, and the gay boys who drive them are more concerned about scratches than working.
If I needed a pickup now, I’d buy a 1970s ford and fix it up.
Around Thanksgiving I was faced with a situation, my wifes SUV lost a head gasket, I had to do it myself but my job kinda was in the way, I am a master mechanic BTW, its a 2005 and the AWD was sporadic as well, so its winter in Alaska, I needed a reliable SUV for her, so I bought a 2012 Equinox 2.4 AWD. Now I actually like the vehicle, sure it cannot tow much more than its own shadow but the AWD works great and it rides pretty darn good.
I was even considering buying another but with the V6 just for me. I am not a Ford person, I admit they make a good product, I even at one time was a Ford line technician.
And I also worked as a GM technician.
And I have worked on a ton of Dodge trucks. They could be the leader if they could make a few changes like the transmission and what the view as the “right” way electricty runs, I swear they mated with Lucas decades ago.
Evil Lucas Smoke/Dodge siblings from hell.
They're good for hauling cargo that no one will steal, or that it doesn't matter if it gets soaking wet.
That’s exactly what I’m considering since my truck is now a 3’rd car. I wouldn’t want that for an everyday driver. Maybe add up to 10k and drive it selectively and have a modern day city car for daily transportation chores.
The mid-90’s Powerstrokes are nice, classic looking, functional trucks. Would love to have one, make it two tone. Miss that on a truck, they’ve gotten too automotive in their styling for it to look right anymore I guess. Make mine that seafoam metallic color with silver or white on the sides and tailgate, lol.
They need to bring in the 4BT for the Ram 1500s. That way, you could really get some good mileage and have a smart little truck.
Needs a strong 5 speed.
I was certainly not commenting on mechanical soundness. Back in the 60’s a 3/4ton Dodge truck would put Ford and Chevy to shame as far as frame and drivetrain strength. Today the only person who could get me in a Chrysler product would be a kidnapper with a gun to my head.
Agree that Dodge running gear...suspension and transmission...are bad. The 318 engine though is pretty darn good. Take care of it and it is dependable...hot rod it and you’ve got decent HP and torque, but the reliability drops.
Either way it’s a gas hog.
We have a 98 Durango with 140k and love it! Transmission at the expected 100k ALTHOUGH that was pobably my fault. Started it a couple of times and let it idle in park then got busy at work. Both times it sat for maybe half an hour. Stupid me.
Do most of my on work. Replaced the hub bearings, steering gear and most of the front end parts wth Moog over the past two years. We’ll get at least 200k.
That said when it comes time for a new truck it’s Ford or Toyo.
As far as cars we have a 1991 Saturn SL with 40k original miles but if we have to replace it we like the Ford CMax or maybe a Fusion.
I don't know what they're thinking.
The other day, I saw a brand-new F150, 4X4, crew-cab...some sort of pink-champagne color. The top of the hulky slab-sided box was above eye-level.
I was thinking, "This thing is just rated at a 1/2 ton? It must use up all its suspension capacity just hauling itself around."
Nevada is one of the few states where pickups (or SUVs) are NOT the best-selling vehicles.
Hard to find a normal full-size truck anymore, you practically have to talk to the fleet manager to find one, they’re all so tarted up. They’re SUV’s with a bed now, for the most part.
I’ve owned all three brands over the years, and based on experience, using these trucks as workhorses, i’ve found that:
The clutches and u-joints don’t hold up in chevy trucks,
The bodies on dodges rot away too fast in the upper midwest, along with manual tranny problems (GM and Dodge use the same MFR transmissions),
Fords have the worst brakes of any brand i’ve ever owned, and the modular engines aren’t worth the scrap metal they’re made from, and they get horrible mileage.
As for toyota and nissan, i never really considered them, mainly because they only make light duty pickups.
I’ve killed more pickups than most people have ever owned, and the current crop of trucks are all flash, and no substance, and way over priced for their intended purpose.
Government Motors vs Government Motors. I don’t know who to vote for. Toyota?
I don’t see a lot of new vehicles up here. But a 1/2 ton RWD pickup is a rare sight. Plenty of conventional and extended cab 4x4s, both 1/2 and 3/4 ton.
I still fail to see the application though...other than “it’s cool”. Maybe they haul a lot of firewood. The best use, of course, is as a plow-truck.
Then when getting parts, there seems to be no two alike. Even when you do get them fixed....it's still a Ford. Seems they found the problem, and circled it.
I’ve killed more pickups than most people have ever owned
Maybe you can tell me....what are they for?
Looks like a lot of people are thinking like I’m thinking, a well-kept mid-90’s Ford F-Series Powerstroke with less than 200k on it is still commanding in the teens and not very many available for sale. Go above 200k mi and you find a lot more of them. That’s probably the last of the genuine pickups before they started getting more like cars inside and out, a ‘96. Pretty penny for a perfect one with very low miles, almost $20k for a white one on Autotrader with 58k miles. I guess that still looks like a bargain compared to, what, pushing $50k new?
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