Researching and sniffing around the 4th Gens

[mwilson]

I have been nibbled on by the 4th Gen bug so have started researching them in great detail (driving my local dealer nuts)... .



So I am comparing the Laramie Luxo Boats to the ST with upgrades.



Example of ST with popular equipment here.....

2012 Dodge Ram 2500 ST 4WD in Phoenix Arizona - Stock#2D0052 - Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Scottsdale Az



Looking for opinions from folks that have gone either route and wish that they had done something different or are perfectly happy with their choice.

Figured this might be fun to kick around.



Mike.

 

[Slow Six]

I opted for the Longhorn with all the options and Max Tow. No regrets. We enjoy the comfort, quiet, ride etc. I never did much research as I knew what I needed. I have always said I want a Dodge diesel loaded and any color is fine as long as it is white. I do look for pricing.

 

[Okie-Go]

I special ordered mine. Worth the seven week wait. Power is unreal, very quiet and absoluteley fun to drive,10,330 miles in 5 weeks.

 

[Bater]

Although I started out looking for a Spartan interior like my '91, I ended up ordering a Laramie package for my '08. The truck is super comfy, which is good, as I will probably keep it to 200k. (I am at 83k now. )



So far I have been pretty impressed with the resilience of the seats and carpet. It's pretty common for me to be totally filthy when I climb into the truck, and yet the other day when I ran some leather conditioner over the front seats, I only noticed a couple small areas that still looked a little dingy when done.



I run heavy duty rubber floor mats that catch most of the gravel and mud from my workboots. The dirt that "misses", vacuums up off the carpet easily, and grungy areas (usually coffee stains) clean up with a damp rag. I even had a new gallon of Rotella topple and leak into the passenger side carpet, and some persistence and Dawn cleaned that up just fine.



Andy

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

I have ordered three Rams equipped exactly as I wanted them. Each has been an SLT with upgrade seats, and all the comfort items except moon roof and navigation.

My cab and chassis even has all the same goodies including blue tooth. I have never had a moments regret with any of my choices.

I am conservative and cheap by instinct and truthfully don't care for fake leather except that I will readily agree that Laramie trucks are prettier than mine. Leather is hotter and sticky in summer and cold in winter. Never could figure out why I would want or need that or want to pay a premium price for pretty.

Trade-in value or eye candy don't matter much to me because I always put high miles on them.

 

[Bater]

. Leather is hotter and sticky in summer and cold in winter.

I think heated seats will be a requirement for Mike.



(I did some work in central Maine, cold! I was grateful that the hotels had outlets designated for block heaters. )

 

[jhenderson]

The only advantage to leather is it will outlast cloth 3to1.

 

[mwilson]

I think heated seats will be a requirement for Mike.



(I did some work in central Maine, cold! I was grateful that the hotels had outlets designated for block heaters. )

They do feel some kinda' nice at 0 or below... Oo.



I was really turned on by the Laramie until I found out that the RH power seat does not go up and down. What were they thinking???

It is super important to me that the wife can get comfortable on a long trip. We had high hopes that the Laramie model would solve the seat issue but not to be. Better than the '06 SLT but still not we had hoped for.

So given that I am looking at the ST specced with what I really need for equipment.



Dodge should expand the options a little as far as seating.

For example one of my guys just leased a new Patriot and that has cloth seats with heat.

Why can't Ram offer the same???



Also GM offers power seats with cloth or leather which makes far more sense to me so that you can get what is important to you without a bunch of other options bundled with it.



I have discovered that the additional fuel filter upgrade is a factory option, I did not know that it could be added so that is on my wish list for sure.



Gonna' take plenty of time and really think this over, if I decide to purchase I may wait for the 2013 models to come out and hunt up a 2012 holdover.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Although I started out looking for a Spartan interior like my '91, I ended up ordering a Laramie package for my '08. The truck is super comfy, which is good, as I will probably keep it to 200k. (I am at 83k now. )



So far I have been pretty impressed with the resilience of the seats and carpet. It's pretty common for me to be totally filthy when I climb into the truck, and yet the other day when I ran some leather conditioner over the front seats, I only noticed a couple small areas that still looked a little dingy when done.



I run heavy duty rubber floor mats that catch most of the gravel and mud from my workboots. The dirt that "misses", vacuums up off the carpet easily, and grungy areas (usually coffee stains) clean up with a damp rag. I even had a new gallon of Rotella topple and leak into the passenger side carpet, and some persistence and Dawn cleaned that up just fine.



Andy

Andy,

Do you have the light or the dark leather???

Sandy thinks that the lighter color would be easier to keep clean, says the dark leather would show the dust and such.



Mike.

 

[SHobbs]

Besides the usual fluid and filter changes what other routine stuff is need on a 4th gen. I find myself on the fence deciding whether to trade or not these days.

 

[Bater]

Do you have the light or the dark leather???

I believe my interior is what Dodge calls "Light Pebble Beige", (I would have said it was "gray", but the color chips on the Dodge website for "Dark Slate Gray" are much darker. )



Indeed, dust doesn't seem to show up too badly on it, which is good, as my truck stays clean for just about a day after washing and vacuuming.



Andy

 

[Jeff Knight]

Mike,



Did something happen in Vegas we should know about?? You come back from there and now your looking at new trucks!!! Your wallet didn't get heavier did it?? :-laf



Jeff

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



Did something happen in Vegas we should know about?? You come back from there and now your looking at new trucks!!! Your wallet didn't get heavier did it?? :-laf



Jeff

No extra cash from Vegas, and I also seem to have missed out on the Mega Mega Bucks drawing over the weekend... ... .



To be truthful with you all I have been pushing the wife to come out west in the winter ever since I drove out to Phoenix and back several years back.

I fell in love with Arizona and Nevada at first sight.



The Vegas trip was as much about her reaction to the west as it was for my Freightliner meeting, was really glad that she came along.

I rented a car in Vegas and took her to Mesa and the Grand Canyon before the meetings began.



What she found the most fascinating were the cactus, go figure... ... .





To make a long winded story short the value is way up on the '06, and if I could find a '12 truck that had a seat to fit her butt I might upgrade.

As it stands now I would have to fly her out after I arrived with the truck and camper as there is no way she could sit in that '06 for 3,000 miles.



If I can't get it to make sense then I will upgrade the seating in the '06 like I had planned to do last year and run with that.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



Did something happen in Vegas we should know about?? You come back from there and now your looking at new trucks!!! Your wallet didn't get heavier did it?? :-laf



Jeff

When the girl in the parrot costume pinched my *** it was a life changing experience... ... . Oo.



Mike.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I know what you mean about out west. My stepson lives in Grand Junction CO for now. We've gone to visit him then head out from there. We were at the north rim of the GC plus we stopped at Bryce Canyon then headed over to Zion National Park. On another trip we did Yellowstone and Rocky National Park. There is a lot to see out there if only we had more time.



My stepson now works in AK so he will be moving to Anchorage sometime this year. He works for BP in Prudhoe Bay. Good luck in your search.



Jeff

 

[rashwor]

Sniffing new trucks is my cocaine... and I cannot afford the habit right now. :-laf



Be careful Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Sniffing new trucks is my cocaine... and I cannot afford the habit right now. :-laf



Be careful Mike.

Whiffin' that Laramie leather does give me a wicked head rush... ..... :-laf



Mike.

 

[TimButterfield]

Example of ST with popular equipment here.....

2012 Dodge Ram 2500 ST 4WD in Phoenix Arizona - Stock#2D0052 - Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Scottsdale Az

Good timing on this thread and thanks for that link. I'm looking for a LB version of that one. I'm in the Chicago 'burbs, but don't mind travelling for a decent price if justified. Before I do, though, should this kind of pricing be expected from other dealers?



Thanks.



Tim

 

[mwilson]

Good timing on this thread and thanks for that link. I'm looking for a LB version of that one. I'm in the Chicago 'burbs, but don't mind travelling for a decent price if justified. Before I do, though, should this kind of pricing be expected from other dealers?



Thanks.



Tim

They can do it if they want to. I have also noticed that the offers vary from state to state.

For example in Maine they only offer 36 months financing at 0%.

In North Carolina they are offering 60 months financing at 0% so it pays to increase your search area if you don't mind a little travel.



There is a dealer called Steve White Motors in Hickory, NC. that states they sell for invoice plus half of holdback which is not bad.

They will also fly you in.....



Send them an e-mail and get a quote.



They have several 2500 Crew 4X4 long body ST units with Cummins power, a few 6-speeds and several autos. Alos have base ST and ST with upgrades.



Link to page here... I set it so that it will go right to the 2500's on hand.



New 2011 & 2012 Chrysler 300, Town & Country; Dodge Charger, Challenger, RAM 1500; Jeep Wrangler & Grand Cherokee



Mike.

 

[Jim W]

Mike,

I have seen these types of offers that provide lower prices and or lower financing rates but sometimes this applies to a certain geographic area. This is usually stated in the fine print especially if the person is financing through Allied credit the new lending agency for Chrysler LLC. Now if the person is paying cash than anything goes the dealer will sell to anyone.

I had this problem when I bought my 08 Dodge in Crystal Lake IL. just 50 miles from my home. When we sat down to write up the sales contract he stated that I could not get the incentives for financing through Chrysler at the time because I lived outside of the special sales area for the dealership. I did not care because I was paying cash for the truck anyway.

Jim W.