Forum Discussion
162 Replies
ib516 wrote:
AndrewM wrote:
The EcoDiesel was the slowest in every performance test - by a lot. With no fuel cost savings compared to the EcoBoost. Why would I want buy the EcoDiesel? What am I missing?
You're missing the fact that most folks don't buy a 1500 series truck to do weekend drag racing. The article does a good job of explaining what real people use a 1500 series truck for. That is:
- Mostly used as a car/family vehicle
- Rarely off road
- Rarely tows more than 7000#
- Rarely needs to carry more than 1000#
- Comfort, features, and mpg are tops for most shoppers
Maybe you misread the mpg numbers in the article? :h
Andrew, I encourage you to actually read the article, not just the boxed figures at the end. It addresses your point very well (as does IB).
In addition to what IB stated, the seat of the pants feel of acceleration is BETTER in the ED than the Chevy in this report. That is consistent with what I have read elsewhere.
The ED is not an idea vehicle for those that want to drag race or tow large trailers regularily. But that is a very small % of the population that needs/wants that in a truck.
If I were buying a 1500 right now (or a mid-size SUV), I would give the ED a very hard look.Fast Mopar wrote:
AndrewM wrote:
So if your main concern is fuel economy, not in a hurry, and don't tow much more than 5,000#, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the best choice.
I find the comments about being slow and not being in a hurry very interesting. I certainly understand the need for speed, but many here make it sound like the Ecodiesel does not have enough power to get out of its own way.
In 1990 the Chevy 454SS pickup was introduced as a hot half ton, and it was rated at 230 horsepower and 385 ft lb torque, both numbers lower than the Ecodiesel. Yes, I know, things have changed over the last 25 years, but the Chevy 454SS had enough power to get out of its own way.
When I drive around the city in my 201 horsepower Ford Freestar van that weighs 4200 lb, I am usually the first person away from a stop light regardless of who is next to me, and it tows 3500 lb very easily. Most half ton drivers are more concerned about texting or surfing the net while driving instead of being the first one out of the hole when the light changes to green.
There is certainly a market for an efficient light duty diesel pickup that gets great fuel mileage even when you are not intentionally trying to hypermile.
All very valid points. That's what makes this forum great. Point and counter point. And I'll be honest, I'll certainly test drive one when I'm in the market for a new truck. Don't see a big 6.2L being available from any manufacturer when I'm ready to buy again.AndrewM wrote:
So if your main concern is fuel economy, not in a hurry, and don't tow much more than 5,000#, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the best choice.
I find the comments about being slow and not being in a hurry very interesting. I certainly understand the need for speed, but many here make it sound like the Ecodiesel does not have enough power to get out of its own way.
In 1990 the Chevy 454SS pickup was introduced as a hot half ton, and it was rated at 230 horsepower and 385 ft lb torque, both numbers lower than the Ecodiesel. Yes, I know, things have changed over the last 25 years, but the Chevy 454SS had enough power to get out of its own way.
There are plenty of stock Ford 7.3 Powerstroke trucks out there towing large loads that have lower output numbers than the new Ecodiesel, and nobody complains about them.
When I drive around the city in my 201 horsepower Ford Freestar van that weighs 4200 lb, I am usually the first person away from a stop light regardless of who is next to me, and it tows 3500 lb very easily. Most half ton drivers are more concerned about texting or surfing the net while driving instead of being the first one out of the hole when the light changes to green.
There is certainly a market for an efficient light duty diesel pickup that gets great fuel mileage even when you are not intentionally trying to hypermile.- One reason the Ram Ecodiesel will be a sucess is because the majority of people look at m.p.g. and not $ per mile. I am driving a 2014 JGC with the Ecodiesel engine and everytime I fill the tank with diesel I am spending just as much or more per mile as a gas engine.
boocoodinkydow wrote:
This may not bode well here on a towing sub-forum of an rv site, but the heavy hauling heavy towing needs are a minor segment of the overall truck market. Todays face of trucking is quickly evolving and the ecodiesel is simply leading the way. The truck is quickly becoming the soccer mom's van of yesterday. Early summer, I counted 87 trucks on an 8 mile stretch of road on the way home. Not the first was towing anything & only 2 were hauling; one had a job site tool box & another had a washer dryer. With a wide variety of trim levels I found the longhorn to my liking. The ergonomic refinements of the interior rival any European luxury vehicle I've ever owned & with the air suspension the ride quality is worlds divorced from what you would expect from a truck. As far as fuel mileage, I have gotten as high as 31.1 mpg & 26+ @ 70-75 mph is the norm. I know this truck doesnt meet everyone's needs but a luxury vehicle that is capable of serving 95% of the laymens' trucking needs while achieving fuel mileage of a compact car is a dream come true for many. In the mass market, this is, and will continue to be, a huge hit.
Well stated, spoken by an actual owner.AndrewM wrote:
The EcoDiesel was the slowest in every performance test - by a lot. With no fuel cost savings compared to the EcoBoost. Why would I want buy the EcoDiesel? What am I missing?
You're missing the fact that most folks don't buy a 1500 series truck to do weekend drag racing. The article does a good job of explaining what real people use a 1500 series truck for. That is:
- Mostly used as a car/family vehicle
- Rarely off road
- Rarely tows more than 7000#
- Rarely needs to carry more than 1000#
- Comfort, features, and mpg are tops for most shoppers
Maybe you misread the mpg numbers in the article? :h- This may not bode well here on a towing sub-forum of an rv site, but the heavy hauling heavy towing needs are a minor segment of the overall truck market. Todays face of trucking is quickly evolving and the ecodiesel is simply leading the way. The truck is quickly becoming the soccer mom's van of yesterday. Early summer, I counted 87 trucks on an 8 mile stretch of road on the way home. Not the first was towing anything & only 2 were hauling; one had a job site tool box & another had a washer dryer. With a wide variety of trim levels I found the longhorn to my liking. The ergonomic refinements of the interior rival any European luxury vehicle I've ever owned & with the air suspension the ride quality is worlds divorced from what you would expect from a truck. As far as fuel mileage, I have gotten as high as 31.1 mpg & 26+ @ 70-75 mph is the norm. I know this truck doesnt meet everyone's needs but a luxury vehicle that is capable of serving 95% of the laymens' trucking needs while achieving fuel mileage of a compact car is a dream come true for many. In the mass market, this is, and will continue to be, a huge hit.
AndrewM wrote:
The EcoDiesel was the slowest in every performance test - by a lot. With no fuel cost savings compared to the EcoBoost. Why would I want buy the EcoDiesel? What am I missing?
Well it is slower yes, but it only has 2/3 the hp of the other two. That makes it the real performer, in this case close counts.ChooChooMan74 wrote:
I didn't see any Dodges in the Article, but the 1500 by Ram Trucks is still my top pick. I don't need the most powerful and fastest truck. I want something that will pull and will still get decent mileage, towing or not. I think Ram Trucks hit something using the VM A630 engine in their 1500 truck.
I'm certainly not bashing the EcoDiesel. It's interesting, and good, that all three manufacturers took three different approaches to more power, less fuel. It just seems that the Ram 1500 solution has such a narrow market. Great fuel mileage (for a truck), but slow and small payload. So if your main concern is fuel economy, not in a hurry, and don't tow much more than 5,000#, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the best choice.
In my opinion, Ford's F150 and Ecoboost is a better solution. But that's just me. And Chevy has some catching up to do to both of them.AndrewM wrote:
The EcoDiesel was the slowest in every performance test - by a lot. With no fuel cost savings compared to the EcoBoost. Why would I want buy the EcoDiesel? What am I missing?
Same reason I bought my Ram 2500. It's not a GM or Ford.
