Ram 1500 Hemi or Ecodiesel?
We’re in the market for a Ram 1500. A friend owns a Hemi and loves it. He recommends against the diesel, citing lots of problems, lack of towing capacity and poor fuel mileage. I’ve read about so...
Forum Discussion
VernDiesel wrote:
Not everybody is a hot rodder like you Shiner. If it’s easily fast enough for DW she might care more about the fuel economy. Extra horsepower only means something if she feels the need. Both have plenty of pulling power for his trailer in fact the Pentastar would with the 3.55. Have her drive all three see what she likes the most.
Apparently most are like me since the more powerful/less fuel efficient engine option outsells the base or less powerful/more fuel efficient option by a considerable margin in just about every half ton truck brand. Doing the math, the average US driver who drives 15k miles or less a year will not save that much a year for it to be worth going from a fun to drive and more capably 395hp truck to a less fun to drive and less capable 240 hp truck.
Someone would probably save more money bringing a $3.50 sac lunch one or a few days a week (versus $10 going out to eat) than you would with an Ecodiesel over a Hemi. I would rather take the 395 hp and find other ways to save money if that was a concern.
I am not saying this because I prefer gassers over diesels either. Both my truck and car are diesels. Heck, even with me driving 21k a year (just for work), my diesel car that gets 43 mpg combined only saves me about $700 a year in fuel versus the gas version of my car that averages 26 mpg combined with current prices. It would be less than $490 if I only drove 15k a year.
This is why I said the OP should do the math and see if loosing 155 hp is worth the small amount of money saved.
