Aisin Haters

[SnoKing]

Here is a review of the 2016 RAM with a reviewer that just does not understand why a lot of us opt for the Aisin transmission!!! Maybe with 4:10 gears the higher 1st gear in the 68RFE is not a concern, along with the lower HP and torque ratings. What they did get right is that RAM/Cummins do not win drag races against the V8's!

"I’m always quick to recommend the diesel to anyone who plans on doing any serious towing, as the dynamics of the engine will help keep you and your load safe and secure. This hasn’t changed. But bumping up to the six-speed Aisin is a move that’s hard to see the value in.

Unless you plan on loading your truck right to the limit, which is something we wouldn’t recommend doing on a regular basis, the 22,000-lb tow rating of the lesser six-speed automatic transmission will probably be enough for just about every customer. Unless you truly need that added capability, it’s just not worth the money."

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ram-manufacturers/2016-ram-3500-hd-review

SNOKING

 

[Ram4Sam]

Here is a review of the 2016 RAM with a reviewer that just does not understand why a lot of us opt for the Aisin transmission!!! Maybe with 4:10 gears the higher 1st gear in the 68RFE is not a concern, along with the lower HP and torque ratings. What they did get right is that RAM/Cummins do not win drag races against the V8's!

"I’m always quick to recommend the diesel to anyone who plans on doing any serious towing, as the dynamics of the engine will help keep you and your load safe and secure. This hasn’t changed. But bumping up to the six-speed Aisin is a move that’s hard to see the value in.

Unless you plan on loading your truck right to the limit, which is something we wouldn’t recommend doing on a regular basis, the 22,000-lb tow rating of the lesser six-speed automatic transmission will probably be enough for just about every customer. Unless you truly need that added capability, it’s just not worth the money."

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/ram-manufacturers/2016-ram-3500-hd-review

SNOKING

This is nothing more than the drivel from a magazine writer, who, after spending twenty minutes in a vehicle, thinks he is an expert on the vehicle.......

To use his words, it is "hard to see the value" in what he has written.

Sam

 

[TFucili]

Typical magazine drivel. The author probably never towed anything bigger than a Radio Flyer behind his bicycle.

 

[JSoloman]

What do we know about this Stephen Elmer? I have a hard time reading anything without knowing who the "expert" is. Years of tried and true behind the wheel driving/towing wins me over time and again. Yes, it is drivel to me too. Another article to get my BP up. Of course it will continue to push the discussion on what transmission is the right fit for the truck we want...

 

[kthaxton]

Then we have the folks who think nothing is worth having, if it doesn't have an Aisin.

 

[JSoloman]

...and then there is that...I drank the kool-aid after much reading of opinions from those I consider "experts" on this site. They helped in my decision with the NV5600 back in 2000 and now with the '14. Love my truck and appreciate all the pros and cons coming from everyone on this site.

Then we have the folks who think nothing is worth having, if it doesn't have an Aisin.

 

[SnoKing]

Then we have the folks who think nothing is worth having, if it doesn't have an Aisin.

Take two similar trucks, one with a 68RFE and one with an Aisin. Drive them both 100K in 5 years and see what you can sell them for on the used market. I think the Aisin transmission truck will more than recovery the original extra difference between the 600 68RFE cost and the 2xxx Aisin cost. I say 2xxx, as that cost has varied quite a bit. If it is 2595, then the cost of the Aisin is only 1995 more than the standard auto. Or we could view it similar to a pickup box delete. Transmission is 2595 or 1995 less without the Aisin.

Does she look Aisin?

#ad

 

[kthaxton]

So its an investment too!

I just look at it this way, the 68RFE is great at what it is rated for......and so is the Aisin. I just wish the 68 produced as much torque as the Aisin. I think it is the fluid.

 

[Wertles]

He used the word "gas pedal." I quit reading after that.

 

[NIsaacs]

Then we have the folks who think nothing is worth having, if it doesn't have an Aisin.

And if it is a G-56

Nick

 

[SnoKing]

And if it is a G-56

Nick

74F350 4x2w/90ctd, 5spd Clark w/3spd Spicer-aux
01quad cab 4x4, 6spdw
91.5 D250, 5sp

#ad


Looking at your sig line, you are a pretty shifty guy! SNOKING

 

[LHarper]

Only part of the article I agreed with was the Limited's interior. Could not disagree more with his Aisin statement. $2550 for the Aisin is well worth it to me. I have never owned a truck that shifts and pulls as well as my 2016, 3500 Limited. Enjoying this truck more then any I have owned.

 

[MJWenrich]

I would enjoy mine if it did not have the dead pedal issue. It has been in the mid twenties here at night, cold, (at least for Ca.) and the automatic activation of heated steering wheel and seats is great. Drove my '04.5 yesterday and really missed that. Had to put gloves on my old hands.

The dead pedal takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the ride though the after market throttle sensitivity booster helped some. And eight recalls to date have not been fun either. All but one are now done but I have to go back again for the latest welding boondoggle. It's a 55-60 mile drive oneway to a dealer worth their salt and a day wasted sitting in the dealership. Several times now. Guess that was overlooked on the overall pleasure assessment. Just sayin'.

 

[gsbrockman]

No doubt the 68RFE is a much maligned transmission. My 2007.5 RAM 3500 MegaCab Laramie 4x4 w/68RFE gave me 114k miles of perfect service. I'm at 125k on my '14 RAM 3500 w/AS69RC. It hasn't skipped a beat. For me......the Aisin is worth every additional consumer dollar that I spent on it. :-laf

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you click on his name in the review, here is what you get:
Stephen grew up shadowing his award-winning auto journalist father who provided him with a bevy of mechanical wonders to play with as a child, sparking his interest in cars. He also taught Stephen the professional need-to-knows of the auto and powersports world, attending his first press launch at age eight. Today he is an avid Snowmobiler, ATVer, RVer and D/Z licensed truck driver. When not as his AutoGuide Desk, Steve can be found grooving with his bass guitar or beating on his drum kit.

 

[SnoKing]

I would enjoy mine if it did not have the dead pedal issue. It has been in the mid twenties here at night, cold, (at least for Ca.) and the automatic activation of heated steering wheel and seats is great. Drove my '04.5 yesterday and really missed that. Had to put gloves on my old hands.

The dead pedal takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the ride though the after market throttle sensitivity booster helped some. And eight recalls to date have not been fun either. All but one are now done but I have to go back again for the latest welding boondoggle. It's a 55-60 mile drive oneway to a dealer worth their salt and a day wasted sitting in the dealership. Several times now. Guess that was overlooked on the overall pleasure assessment. Just sayin'.

Have you reported your dead pedal issue to www.safercar.gov ? I have been carefully looking for this issue on our new 2015 that we have had for a little over 2 months and 4000 miles, and have not detected it.

SNOKING

 

[NDanecker]

This is nothing more than the drivel from a magazine writer, who, after spending twenty minutes in a vehicle, thinks he is an expert on the vehicle.......

To use his words, it is "hard to see the value" in what he has written.

Sam

Agreed 100%!

 

[kthaxton]

I would enjoy mine if it did not have the dead pedal issue. It has been in the mid twenties here at night, cold, (at least for Ca.) and the automatic activation of heated steering wheel and seats is great. Drove my '04.5 yesterday and really missed that. Had to put gloves on my old hands.

The dead pedal takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the ride though the after market throttle sensitivity booster helped some. And eight recalls to date have not been fun either. All but one are now done but I have to go back again for the latest welding boondoggle. It's a 55-60 mile drive oneway to a dealer worth their salt and a day wasted sitting in the dealership. Several times now. Guess that was overlooked on the overall pleasure assessment. Just sayin'.

Yet another attribute erroneously credited (except this time, dis-credited) to the Aisin. It is a PCM thing, not trans specific thing as 68RFE equipped trucks have it too.

 

[Newsa]

Opinions are a dime a dozen. Everyone has one. Just because its in a magazine doesn't give it any credence. In fact he contradicts himself by saying he "Doesn't recommend loading a truck to max capacity". And then later says people don't need the extra capacity. If you don't load it to max capacity, by default. ... you have extra capacity.

Aisin owners love their Aisin. And the seat of rhe pants power feel it gives..... I can respect that people should spend what they want to spend to get what they want. I have said i wouldn't spend extra money on the Aisin, but i don't expect everyone to agree with me.

 

[MJWenrich]

Well Mr. kthaxton, it seems that the dead pedal problem occurs most often with the Aison. So you may attribute it to the PCM, which may be true, but I believe it is directly related to power control of the 385 HP engines. With the Aison. So you might believe I am jumping to conclusions but RAM either does not care to solve this for the many of us having the problem or it's more than just changing a module. If YOU had to put up with a 4-5 second hesitation I am pretty sure you would be looking at every aspect of the power train.

And yes I made the government report. With no solution forthcoming and to potentially save my life, I added a throttle sensitivity booster. But it does not solve the problem at the upper end where kickdown and powering up both take 3-4 seconds.