Is the Ram 1500 finally catching up with the competition?
This pickuptrucks.com article shows a Megacab mule. The thing that caught my eye was the 6 lug wheels. Maybe they're finally trying to compete in the payload category.
Forum Discussion
FishOnOne wrote:
The ZF 9 speed was launched with a lot problems and perhaps should have been delayed. I wouldn't form an opinion on the Ford and GM 9 and 10 speeds based on your Chrysler/ZF 9 speed experience.
ZF has issued an recall for 505,000 nine speeds due to them dropping unexpectedly into neutral. The issue was/is a bad crimp on a wiring harness attached to the sensor cluster.
They also have had two or three flashes for shift adjustment do to customers complaining of their cars hunting for gears. GM and Ford are going to have the same issues as they transition those ten speeds into their product lines. Heck the nine speed won't hit and hold the upper gear until 72 mph what do you think the chances that a ten speed would be any better?
Don
From Alpar.com LINK
The nine-speeds had numerous teething problems (that were not unique to Chrysler). The company noted that the 2016 model year had many improvements; the company did not reveal what they were, but it seems to be a combination of hardware and software. There were numerous software updates, the final major ones likely being issued in April and May 2016, covering low speed drivability and upshift and downshift quality. These updates are said to greatly improve transmission performance, and seem to resolve most outstanding software issues.
Some reported rough shifting after work was done on their car, which may indicate a missed step in the repair: skipping the “PROXI alignment,” which updates information in all the car’s systems. Even a TCM update may require PROXI alignment. A technician wrote, “PROXI alignment is required when a module is replaced, or, in this case, the transmission bangs into gear something fierce. It does make a big difference.” One telltale (though it may not always appear) is a blinking odometer.
An FCA spokesman wrote, “It's called out in the service instructions. Skipping the procedure is not an option. We encourage customers to contact the company directly if they have concerns, at 1-877-IAM-JEEP (426-5337); 1-888-CIAO-FIAT (242-6342); or 1-800-CHRYSLER (247-9753).”Santa Fe wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
I'm not a chrysler fan by no means so it was a minivan rental and just assumed it town and country, but it was the 8 speed with the 3.6L. It had that silly rotary dial right on the dash instead of a shifter.
If you were driving a Chrysler minivan with a rotary dial shifter, you were driving the new 2017 Pacifica. Those models do NOT utilize the 8 speed Torqueflite gearbox; instead, it uses a 9 speed ZF unit. This is the same unit used in a variety of other FCA products, from the Pacifica, to the Chrysler 200 to the Jeep Cherokee and Renegade. My mom has a 2016 Cherokee (3.2L V6 with the 9 speed auto). It's a great combo, plenty of power from the Pentastar engine, but I do feel that transmission is slightly less sorted than the 8 speed in my truck. Less sorted, but still fairly smooth for what it is and by no means uncomfortable or confused.
Adding those extra gears into modern transmissions is the way that all manufacturers are going, so it's something that we'll all have to adjust to.
I give the little Cherokee credit; 271 HP V6, 4x4, and it gets the same if not better mileage than her old 4 cylinder RAV4 did. That says alot for a slightly larger vehicle with almost 100 extra horses. Those extra gears and the stop/start system make a difference, whether the average customer is willing to accept it.
The ZF 9 speed was launched with a lot problems and perhaps should have been delayed. I wouldn't form an opinion on the Ford and GM 9 and 10 speeds based on your Chrysler/ZF 9 speed experience.Mike Up wrote:
I'm not a chrysler fan by no means so it was a minivan rental and just assumed it town and country, but it was the 8 speed with the 3.6L. It had that silly rotary dial right on the dash instead of a shifter.
If you were driving a Chrysler minivan with a rotary dial shifter, you were driving the new 2017 Pacifica. Those models do NOT utilize the 8 speed Torqueflite gearbox; instead, it uses a 9 speed ZF unit. This is the same unit used in a variety of other FCA products, from the Pacifica, to the Chrysler 200 to the Jeep Cherokee and Renegade. My mom has a 2016 Cherokee (3.2L V6 with the 9 speed auto). It's a great combo, plenty of power from the Pentastar engine, but I do feel that transmission is slightly less sorted than the 8 speed in my truck. Less sorted, but still fairly smooth for what it is and by no means uncomfortable or confused.
Adding those extra gears into modern transmissions is the way that all manufacturers are going, so it's something that we'll all have to adjust to.
I give the little Cherokee credit; 271 HP V6, 4x4, and it gets the same if not better mileage than her old 4 cylinder RAV4 did. That says alot for a slightly larger vehicle with almost 100 extra horses. Those extra gears and the stop/start system make a difference, whether the average customer is willing to accept it.Mike Up wrote:
I'm not a chrysler fan by no means so it was a minivan rental and just assumed it town and country, but it was the 8 speed with the 3.6L. It had that silly rotary dial right on the dash instead of a shifter.
Just like Ford and GM now do for their new 8,9 and 10 speeds. Looks like you will be buying used from now on then?- I know.. But some peopled hated it when they replaced the wooden spoke wheel.
- I'm not a chrysler fan by no means so it was a minivan rental and just assumed it town and country, but it was the 8 speed with the 3.6L. It had that silly rotary dial right on the dash instead of a shifter.
Santa Fe wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
hvac wrote:
Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.
Yeh, it makes a good crossover. Ford and chevy want to keep leaf springs for their better handling while towing or carrying a load, and provide engines that have good torque while having enough horsepower to get out of their own way.
6 speed trans were the best of all worlds, torque and fuel economy and only slightly busy. 8 - 10 speeds are very busy to gain fuel economy and I prefer a less busy transmission.
Chevy and Dodge have shown their 8 speed transmission provide slower or equal times than their 6 speed transmissions but that only makes sense with more shifts.
Fords new 10 speed and Ecoboost are quicker than the previous but the new Ecoboost added 50 lbs torque and higher horsepower to offset the shifting loss.
I'd rather have 6 speed. Performance, fuel efficiency, and tolerable shifting busyness.
Have you driven a RAM with the 8 speed?
Yes. And will never go back to a gasser and spring suspension. The 8 speed ZF is a world class tranny. Study up and you will learn it's multiple a applications in million dollar vehicles.- Mikeup just some facts here, the Ram is running a eight speed but the Dodge Caravan is still running the six speed and Pacifica is running the nine speed. The Town & Country is no longer being built.
Ford and GM got in bed together to jointly build their nine and ten speed transmissions. I think GM is building the nine and Ford is building the ten speed. GM also builds a eight speed at the Toledo Powertrain plant.
Don Mike Up wrote:
Santa Fe wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
hvac wrote:
Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.
Yeh, it makes a good crossover. Ford and chevy want to keep leaf springs for their better handling while towing or carrying a load, and provide engines that have good torque while having enough horsepower to get out of their own way.
6 speed trans were the best of all worlds, torque and fuel economy and only slightly busy. 8 - 10 speeds are very busy to gain fuel economy and I prefer a less busy transmission.
Chevy and Dodge have shown their 8 speed transmission provide slower or equal times than their 6 speed transmissions but that only makes sense with more shifts.
Fords new 10 speed and Ecoboost are quicker than the previous but the new Ecoboost added 50 lbs torque and higher horsepower to offset the shifting loss.
I'd rather have 6 speed. Performance, fuel efficiency, and tolerable shifting busyness.
Have you driven a RAM with the 8 speed?
Yes, and a Town and Country Minivan with the 3.6L.
Last generation Town and Country/Grand Caravan minivans did in fact have a 6 speed auto, not an 8 speed.
Personally, I prefer the way my 8 speed Torqueflite rows through the gears. The shifts are sharp and crisp; it never hunts for gears and is the opposite of "busy". It's refined and smooth. Towing with it is a breeze.
Before test driving, I had the same thought as you...that the truck would never know what gear to be in because 8 was too many. 5 minutes behind the wheel changed my opinion.Santa Fe wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
hvac wrote:
Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.
Yeh, it makes a good crossover. Ford and chevy want to keep leaf springs for their better handling while towing or carrying a load, and provide engines that have good torque while having enough horsepower to get out of their own way.
6 speed trans were the best of all worlds, torque and fuel economy and only slightly busy. 8 - 10 speeds are very busy to gain fuel economy and I prefer a less busy transmission.
Chevy and Dodge have shown their 8 speed transmission provide slower or equal times than their 6 speed transmissions but that only makes sense with more shifts.
Fords new 10 speed and Ecoboost are quicker than the previous but the new Ecoboost added 50 lbs torque and higher horsepower to offset the shifting loss.
I'd rather have 6 speed. Performance, fuel efficiency, and tolerable shifting busyness.
Have you driven a RAM with the 8 speed?
Yes, and a Town and Country Minivan with the 3.6L.
