Ram 1500 Hemi vs Ecodiesel
I can see how the Hemi has faster 0-60 times than the Ecodiesel because it has higher hp, but I would expect its towing performance to be better. But the test numbers, comments, tow rating, and seat ...
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rjstractor wrote:This is it in a nutshell.hemismith wrote:
I can see how the Hemi has faster 0-60 times than the Ecodiesel because it has higher hp, but I would expect its towing performance to be better. But the test numbers, comments, tow rating, and seat of the pants feel make me question whether it really has 420 ft-lbs of torque. Do those towing tests keep it in gear all the way to redline? I'd like to see real-world tests run at no more than 4000 rpms or so.
I think something worth mentioning is the advantages of the diesel in the Ram 1500 vs the 2500 and 3500 trucks. In the 1500, the main advantage of the diesel is fuel economy, especially since the Ecodiesel upcharge is relatively small in comparison to the HD trucks. The Ecodiesel also provides decent towing performance, although the Hemi will likely perform better in all conditions with the possible exception of very high elevation.
In 2500 and 3500 trucks, the diesel gets better mpg, but since the upcharge is significant, the fuel economy is not the main attraction. The big draw for the HD diesel is vastly improved towing performance with heavy trailers, especially at high elevations.
I would like to add that my hemi powered 1500 with 3.92 gears has WAY more power than I've ever needed when towing my 6000+ lb trailer through out the cascade mountain range. I know the elevations aren't that high, but they're high enough. I've had no problem passing 5 vehicles at a time while climbing, accelerating the whole way. I'm a Ecodesiel fan, but I know it won't do that.
