MotorTrend Tests the 1500's

Tystevens wrote:

APT wrote:
I don't understand why Hybridhunter dismisses the subjective feel of driving any vehicle with peak torque in the 2000rpm range like the Ecoboosts and every turbocharged diesel. It is very pleasant to accelerate briskly when peak torque is right where then engine typically runs, 1500-2500rpm. No waiting for double, triple gear downshifts (or 5 gears in an 8-spd), just boost - now. I understand the economics of a diesel don't make sense for 95% of even half ton owners.

This is primarily why I bought an Ecoboost, and why I would consider the Ecodiesel if I were shopping today. I find turbo charged engines, gas or diesel, more pleasant to drive, and far, far more pleasant to tow with. I will happily pay a premium for that characteristic. If it happens to get better mpg while doing so, well, that's great.

Towing with my N/A 5.3 becomes so tiresome (especially after becoming accustomed to tow with a diesel and now the Ecoboost), with all the revving and downshifting and all of that. I much prefer 1800 rpm and 6th gear, even if I'm not going any faster!

And this is why I bought my Touareg TDI with a 3.0 TDI motor, 5000 lbs of SUV, and 406 ft lbs of torque, to trailer with. It does fine when trailering, and the mpg's are outstanding when the trailer is disconnected, which is most of the time.

But this RAM, to me, looks and test drives impressive. The only thing I don't like about it was I almost clipped a sign on the outside of a turn getting on the freeway on ramp, doing a test drive. The steering needs to be a lot sharper, it takes way too much input turning the steering wheel to get the front end to turn. Going from my Passat sedan back and forth to the RAM would be a bit dangerous, it needs sharper turning capability with less steering wheel input.