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.
The most indestructible (other than brakes) "beater" pickup I ever owned was a used Mazda B2000… bench seats, rubber mats, "power" nothing and a power train that would not quit. It rusted away in the same pattern as it's siblings, but it never actually gave up the ghost. The plain vehicles that provided reliable, faithful basic hauling/transportation are the ones that I remember with the most fondness. I wish I could be similarly nostalgic about my Dodge Dakota, but I'm not.
Mr. niteowl77
My dad had one of those Mazda B2000 trucks, manual choke. Engine was fairly agricultural which is to say not particularly smooth or quiet but it was indestructible. Good little truck. Formerly the Ford Courier, I believe.
Mr. GG2 has a 2003 Custom Ram 2500 with the Cummins engine and 6 speed manual transmission. I hate Chrysler but that truck is really a honker. Still looks great and runs great. He uses it to haul a big trailer.
That IS a good application for the Cummins powered Ram 2500. I think that is the best diesel out there. (as they proceed to screw it up)
The 4BT I mentioned earlier is simply the 4 cylinder baby brother of the powerhouse your hubby has. It would be good in a 1500 or RAM van.
We have used our p/u’s and suv’s over the years for hauling dirt and garden supplies a few times a year, hauling building supplies, moving heavy furniture and more.
They might not get hauling duty daily but it sure is nice to have one when you need it.
Also the 4x4 is great in the winter. Not so much regular 4x4 but the awd that is in our Durango. Ours has the optional transfer case that gives it 2x4, awd, 4x4 hi, and 4x4 low for really mucky stuff. We’ve used all several times a year since we bought it.
Only problem is I have to retrain mrs p6 every year when the weather gets bad.
Oh, I’m all over 4WD, especially when modified. There’s all kinds of goodies, LSD, lockers, the hi/low/2WD/4WD/AWD transfer case.
Living in a rotten climate, up here everybody and his dog has some kind of Jeep...mostly Grand Cherokees. Subaru’s are everywhere.
Out in AZ I have been thinking about a pickup for a year. Good clearance and good to haul stuff.
Looked at the Rams. I was interested in the four corner air suspension cause the wife is short and its easier to garage. Thought about the new diesel even at the hefty five G premium, thought about the full skid plate Outdoorsman. Went by a big Dodge/Ram dealership to go through their fifty trucks and see those heavily advertised items and lo and behold, not a truck with any of those options.
I think I may wait for the new aluminum bodied Ford or get a current 2014 heavily discounted when the new one is a month away and they are trying to clear the lots. Love the Raptor but the gas mileage is sick.
I don’t get why Ford hasn’t come up with something to replace the Ranger pickup. Those were pretty good little trucks, and a lot cheaper than a Tacoma.
There is one simple reason for this.
Say what you want about Dodge reliability and quality (I have always preferred Ford trucks myself) the current Ram is the best looking pickup on the road.
I have a 2009 Ram I picked up super cheap- I bought it to haul junk to the recycler and to pick up firewood. So I only cared about price at the time. First Dodge I ever bought after swearing all my life I would never own one.
Bottom line: They still aren’t (at least as of 09) built to the quality level of the competition BUT it rides better, and looks better than any truck I ever had. But it “feels” cheap.
Love that truck!
I drive a 1990 Ford F-250 super cab 4x4 with the Navistar 7.3L non-turbo engine and an E4 OD tranny. I’ve owned the truck since new. Drivetrain has been very good but the suspension offers an extremely harsh ride. Lots of problems with the brakes and a little module on top of the engine that tells the tranny something has failed about 6 times but its a cheap, easy repair. Since it is non-turbo the towing capability sucks.
In 2004 I bought a Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins to replace the Ford but the Ford won’t die. I love that Cummins engine. The bodywork and interior on the Dodge is chintzy and the truck sits too high. Suspension is pretty nice and it has a very small turn radius. And I LOVE that Cummins engine.
I’ll have to keep them both until they die or I do because they aren’t politically correct engines and I like that.
“I don’t get why Ford hasn’t come up with something to replace the Ranger pickup.”
They did.
It’s called the “Ranger”.
They sell it everywhere. Except in the USA.
Go figure.
Maybe not in Vegas but in Reno and Elko and points between there is a blue load of them.
Oh yeah.
Pickups are still 10-15% of all new vehicles sold, and probably twice that anywhere it’s farm or ranch country.
I’m surprised there isn’t a federal excise tax on them and an annual state license surcharge based on weight to discourage their commuter use.
Chrysler’s involvement, and their perceived shoddy quality, has been the only thing keeping me from buying a Jeep.
American and Canadian safety and emissions standards as well as the long-standing 25% import tariff imposed on non-American built light trucks prevent the T6 Ranger from being imported into North America; however, the 3.2L Duratorq is being adapted for North American consumption as a Power Stroke engine in the 2015 Ford Transit.
You can call it a Chrysler or Dodge but it still smells like a Plymouth.
Learned to drive on a 56 Plymouth wagon...was brand new then. Flathead 6, 3 on the tree. Brakes went weekly. Cardboard door panels but they were two tone, black and grey.
No, it is now a Fiat.
But Ford trucks are #1!
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