Hello Ram 1500 Diesel!
Have been driving/testing these for a while now, but couldn't say anything, until today! And yes it'll have plenty of towing capacity... Chrysler wrote: Ram to Build Industry's Only Light-duty...
Forum Discussion
Vulcaneer wrote:2112 wrote:
A Ram 1500 diesel will sell out faster than they can make them, regardless of numbers. The southern good ol' boys will lap these things up like sweet tea.
Good for you Dodge, it's about time!
EXCELLENT point. Regardless of the performance numbers, there are a bunch of people that will buy them just for the image of having a Ram diesel. And not just southern good ol' boys either. There is a whole generation of kids and younger guys that will buy them and lift, chip, and stack them. That could be the largest market segment, when you stop and think about it.
There are certain number of guys that will be all over this and will own one at any price. I see Farmers being a big market for this combo. However, for the pick up to be viable it will need to be appealing to a lot of truck buyers. There needs to be a gap between this truck and the 2500-3500 trucks both in price, mpg for the truck to be successful long term. If they dont create enough separation between the 1500 and 2500HD and larger, I dont see it having a lot of long term viability. The first couple years will look good, and once everyone that wanted one regardless of practicality owns one, the take rate will fall off the chart.
I also dont see this truck being that popular among the "rolling coal" crowd. Certainly Edge, Bully Dog and others will be in the market to find some gains left on the table by the OEM. However the CDI (Chicks Dig It) factor in a half ton diesel will be low. Being a half ton it will be limited by the running gear (and the engine) as to the gains available. Being an overseas engine that will sell in limited numbers compared to the larger engines in the HD segment, will keep the costs associated with boosting it higher. I could be wrong, we have a number of diesel tune shops here, and I dont see this 1500 getting a lot attention from this market. There will be a few of course but you will never see it be that big of a market. I think most will be seeking additional mpg gains as the first priority.
I am happy to see an OEM have the balls to try this market. There has been talk for years about a modern half ton diesel, now we will see what happens.
