Dealer trading my 2500 CTD even up for a 2013 1500 Hemi

[AHarris]

I hate to do it, but a local dealer offered me an even up trade for my 2010 Ram 2500 with plow for a brand new 2013 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Edition with the 5. 7 Hemi. I don't have the big camper anymore and don't plan on getting another one down the road (wife prefers motorhomes). For plowing my long driveway, I guess I'll have to either pay someone else to do it or buy a heavy duty snowblower.



My truck books out at ~28K resale. I love the truck but it seems stupid to keep driving this one and paying more for fuel and maintenance when I can get a brand new one for basically $900 and the trade.



My CTDs have been great but I worry about all the EPA crap going wrong on these when they get older and higher in miles. For what I do now the 1500 makes more sense and seems to be a much more comfortable ride and less maintenance. Plus, 100K warranty, cheaper fuel, and more creature comforts.



If all I'm doing is driving around unloaded all the time, what do I need a Cummins for?



But part of me is hesitant because the dealer seems very interested in my truck... to the point he will give me a brand new fully loaded 1500 crew cab 4 X 4 for it.



Am I crazy? Or should I jump on this?

 

[Regcabguy]

Do it! The new 1500's are nice. I only keep mine to carry my slide-in.

 

[KRStone]

Of course he is! Lol. He's not stupid!

I think that 2010 CTD will be on the road in 15 years performing as it does today. The gasser..... not likely IMO.

Doesn't the gasser have epa crap on it? What is the difference between the disesl epa crap and the dozens of sensors, vacuum lines, switches, ad nauseum for the gasser?

what is the difference in real world mpg?

 

[jgillott]

I've been really happy with our 1500 as a daily driver. Right around 15 mpg average or so.

 

[Hoefler]

My dealer has been after me for about 2 months now. He wants my 2010 4x4 dually crew cab and has offered me, over the phone, between $38,000 and $40,000 for it on trade. I am holding out for a 2014 and have planned to trade late this year or early next. We'll see how it goes then.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I hate to do it, but a local dealer offered me an even up trade for my 2010 Ram 2500 with plow for a brand new 2013 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Edition with the 5. 7 Hemi. I don't have the big camper anymore and don't plan on getting another one down the road (wife prefers motorhomes). For plowing my long driveway, I guess I'll have to either pay someone else to do it or buy a heavy duty snowblower.



My truck books out at ~28K resale. I love the truck but it seems stupid to keep driving this one and paying more for fuel and maintenance when I can get a brand new one for basically $900 and the trade.



My CTDs have been great but I worry about all the EPA crap going wrong on these when they get older and higher in miles. For what I do now the 1500 makes more sense and seems to be a much more comfortable ride and less maintenance. Plus, 100K warranty, cheaper fuel, and more creature comforts.



If all I'm doing is driving around unloaded all the time, what do I need a Cummins for?



But part of me is hesitant because the dealer seems very interested in my truck... to the point he will give me a brand new fully loaded 1500 crew cab 4 X 4 for it.



Am I crazy? Or should I jump on this?

I would bet that any deal a dealer brings to you (unsolicited) will be in his favor and not yours... ..... do some more homework... .



Sam

 

[mwilson]

I would bet that any deal a dealer brings to you (unsolicited) will be in his favor and not yours... ..... do some more homework... .



Sam

X2. They don't stay in business doing even up trades. He has a hot prospect willing to pay top dollar for your truck and he is setting good on the Hemi for whatever reason. Try him on a different 1500 truck and see what may happen.



Mike.

 

[AHarris]

It's the same deal on any 1500 SLT, Big Horn, Outdoorsman crew cab that I want to get that has an MSRP around $41K. I've been around long enough to know when a car dealer is trying to snow me--my judgement tells me this is a solid outfit I'm dealing with (so far).

Of course he's making a couple of dollars on the deal but the 1500 is all I need for daily driving. And, being a Realtor, the 6. 7 is not best rig to use for showing properties unless you like watching older people almost fall on their face getting into your BIG truck! :-lafAnd now I can start looking for an old 1st or 2nd Gen 12V CTD to start restoring. As much as I love my 6. 7s, they are not great as daily drivers... they aren't built for it and I hate all the complex crap they have put on these motors. I would really rather have a 5. 9 without all the emmissions crap.

As for EPA crap on a Hemi, it's a heck of a lot less complex on a Hemi versus a 6. 7 which just has a catalytic converter and an ECM. I know quite a few Hemis out there which are in the high 100K's with minimal problems and less maintenance. I believe any motor, whether a gas or diesel, will last as long as you take care of it. Sure the 6. 7 will still be on the road in 15 years but it will be on it's 2nd or 3rd DPF($2K), probably have new injectors ($2K+), on it's 4th or 5th set of $1,200 tires, and on it's 2nd or 3rd turbo by then.

Real world fuel economy with my 6. 7 runs around 13 in town and 17-18 on the highway. When I delivered my 33' camper to the individual who bought it in Illinois last week, I average 9mpg (the same MPG I used to get with my old 318 years ago when I pulled a 25' camper with it). Almost identical to what most people I know get with their 2009 and up Hemis. Nothing spectacular; it's a truck.

 

[mwilson]

That was the only hole that I could put in it (if the deal was for one specific truck only).



So, maybe not such a bad deal.



I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I have considered selling the MegaCab (due to the crazy values right now), keeping the '97 for towing duties and getting a 1/2 ton Crew Cab 4X4. I really have an eye on the new 1500 diesels but if I could get 20mpg out of a Hemi with an 8 speed auto that probably would work for a lot less money.



Keep us posted.



Mike.

 

[Scrappy]

As for EPA crap on a Hemi, it's a heck of a lot less complex on a Hemi versus a 6. 7 which just has a catalytic converter and an ECM. I know quite a few Hemis out there which are in the high 100K's with minimal problems and less maintenance. I believe any motor, whether a gas or diesel, will last as long as you take care of it. Sure the 6. 7 will still be on the road in 15 years but it will be on it's 2nd or 3rd DPF($2K), probably have new injectors ($2K+), on it's 4th or 5th set of $1,200 tires, and on it's 2nd or 3rd turbo by then.



.

nope, the Hemi is NOT simpler emissions wise! it has EGR, EVAP, cat, and MDS to start with. the Hemi is just as maintenance intensive as a Cummins. also everything that you mentioned that the Cummins COULD need will aslo be needed for the Hemi in addition to a whole new ENGINE!



finally the Outdoorsman is NOT fully loaded, it is middle of the road at best, what trim level is your 6. 7?

 

[JR]

THE 3. 0 EcoDiesel available in MY 2014 is reported to be only a $2850 premium over the Hemi. At 420 ft lbs torque 28 mpg highway, that would be difficult to pass on if I was in the market for a new half ton. Being it is a small diesel engine, I would venture to say it is much more adaptable to shorter trips and city driving compared to the Ram CTD.

 

[Jim W]

Al, May I suggest an alternative to you. I would keep the Ram you may get back into a trailer again and can use it for pulling the trailer. I would buy a VW TDI Passat car these have the same 2. 0L diesel engine in them as the Jetta, but this is a mid-size car. I believe they are getting close to 42 MPG on the highways and over 30 MPG in town. To me this is a better vehicle for traveling around town then a Hemi or your 6. 7L diesel.

We own a Jetta TDI, my wife's car and she routinely gets between 33-35 MPG in town. On the highway this is between 42 and 45 MPG, with only 19,000 miles on the car. The fuel mileage should improve as the mileage climbs on the OD.

Jim W.

 

[Jim W]

Al, May I suggest an alternative to you. I would keep the Ram you may get back into a trailer again and can use it for pulling the trailer. I would buy a VW TDI Passat car these have the same 2. 0L diesel engine in them as the Jetta, but this is a mid-size car. I believe they are getting close to 42 MPG on the highways and over 30 MPG in town. To me this is a better vehicle for traveling around town then a Hemi or your 6. 7L diesel.



We own a Jetta TDI, my wife's car and she routinely gets between 33-35 MPG in town. On the highway this is between 42 and 45 MPG, with only 19,000 miles on the car. The fuel mileage should improve as the mileage climbs on the OD.



Jim W.

 

[AHarris]

I would like to do that, but I can't afford to have that much money tied up in an HD truck sitting around that I really have no need for right now, while dropping another $25K on a work car for me.

As much as I LOVE this rig, it's not practical for for towing a 1500 lb fishing boat once in a while while using it every day as a real estate car, kid shuttle, or grocery getter. Money's money and I won't miss the crappy fuel mileage, oil dilution, $140 oil changes every other month, $130 fill ups with $. 30/gal more expensive fuel, or the cantankerous snow plow that I've been fighting with the last 2 winters.

I'll either get an old plow truck where the plow stays on it or a snow blower attachment for my little John Deere X300 tractor.

I am picking up the new one tomorrow morning.

In the unlikely event that I do get back into big trailers or 5th wheels again, I'll get another Cummins. When I need one.

 

[AHarris]

nope, the Hemi is NOT simpler emissions wise! it has EGR, EVAP, cat, and MDS to start with. the Hemi is just as maintenance intensive as a Cummins. also everything that you mentioned that the Cummins COULD need will aslo be needed for the Hemi in addition to a whole new ENGINE!

finally the Outdoorsman is NOT fully loaded, it is middle of the road at best, what trim level is your 6. 7?

My 6. 7 is a Lone Star Edition. It turns out that the 1500 I'm getting is a Big Horn with a 5. 7L Hemi, on demand 4WD, lots 'o bells and whistles, and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Hemi is nowhere near as complex as the 6. 7 in terms of emissions. A simple gas engine EGR, a charcoal canister, etc is nothing like the complex network of pipes, EGR coolers, filters, and myriad sensors that make up the 6. 7 system.

Eventually I will have another Cummins--because I love Cummins Power. My next one will be an earlier 5. 9 that I will fix up along with the rest of the old truck it will come in. I always wanted to try one of those old 12 valves!

I'll keep y'all posted on my first experience with the Hemi (and the crazy EIGHT speed) and my long term search for that perfect 12-valve Dodge Cummins long term restoration project.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The 2013 3500 is tremendously better than the 2012 in strength of components, brakes, towing capacity. The new DEF approach is far better, imo, and is the way of the future for diesel power. We can't expect Congress to change the laws in a sensible way, so DEF is here to stay. I was less than thrilled ever since 2004. 5 as Cummins struggled to keep the engines from getting worse from emissions mandated changes. Finally, with the 2013 I think they finally have an integrated approach that works well. Remember in 1973-4 when we all wanted to pull off the egr hose and richen th carburetor of gas powered cars? You would never consider doing that today with the power, mileage, and smoothness of todays integrated packages. I think that Cummins has gotten there with their diesels.



Tell the dealer you don't want a 1500 but you will pay the difference to trade to a 2013 3500!