So, does anyone have a diesel 1500 yet or have one on order?

[EcoDiesel]

They have to hammer out 8k trucks...........how many trucks can a factory push out per day? Guess it'll take a few weeks huh?

Peak capacity is upwards of 1000 per day although a fraction of those are diesels. The point is Ram said that sold customer orders would take priority but that does not seem to be the case. We would like to know what is going on and get an estimated build date, that's all.

 

[DonFitzwater]

"The point is Ram said that sold customer orders would take priority but that does not seem to be the case"- Do you have some information that Chrysler is shipping stock order trucks to dealers first over customer orders?

 

[Regcabguy]

The new Petersen's 4wd averaged mid-teens to mid twenties in their test. Overall,pretty favorable review.

 

[SHobbs]

My question to Ram is this, IF customer orders were to take priority then why are there ecodiesels being shipped while those of us that ordered on the very FIRST day Feb. 7th are still waiting on production. It seems to me that trucks were produced ahead of those that ordered one. You would think that orders on Feb. 7th would have been produced then Feb. 8th and so on until they were all produced. I know things like this do take time and I do understand the amount of orders they received but, my question remains. I should also include that only around four or five hundred of the eigth thousand ordered were customer special orders the rest were dealers according to everything I have read, if that is true then Ram screwed the pooch.

 

[sag2]

I just checked with a buddy at a very large dealer. They have 9 orders in the system, all are in "D or D1" and only one is not a sold order and it is still in "D" status. None have shipped yet. So this is only one example, but I have to think it is typical.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Talked with my fleet guy on Friday. He stated basically its going to take them ''a while'' to catch up. Demand totally exceeded RAM/FIAT expectations and factory capabilites....basically was told if I needed a diesel truck this summer to stick with a 2500/3500. He was not expecting any ''stock'' Ecodiesels for a long time.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Our local dealer has 9 on order also, none of which are sold according to the sales manager. He estimates they will go quick, I'd wager he is correct.

 

[SHobbs]

I got tired of getting any updates. My order keeps getting passed up daily and left in D1 status. I have found out that orders ( customers not dealers ) placed a day or even two days after mine have already been built, a few have even been shipped. I have no idea why mine keeps getting passed by even though they tell me all materials have been received and it's ready to be built.

 

[sag2]

What dealer did you order from, a little guy or mega dealer? Did you order something strange, or something that is on restriction? The dealer can look at what is on restriction for any make/model.

 

[SHobbs]

sag2,

My dealer is a larger one. Ram is all over the place on the orders and there is no way to understand what they are doing, trying to get any information is futile at best. I haven't heard of any restrictions on my order but, then again they don't tell me much all I know is that all materials have been received to build my order. I have been given two shipping dates, one by the dealer and one by customer service and neither have been accurate. How they can give ship dates when the truck isn't built is beyond me. I have found out that Canadians were able to order before those of us in the U.S. Some of those folks have been waiting up to 12 weeks for their trucks while people that ordered after I did in February will be getting their trucks in a week or so from now. I didn't order anything crazy or items that are new to this year, one person that ordered after me in February has more options than I do and will get his truck sometime next week while mine isn't even built yet.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I gotta say Hobbs, I'd probably be boo hooing a little bit too if I had one on order and no idea when it was going to ship. It will be worth the wait though! I'm really looking forward to hearing your first impressions on it.

 

[RAJohnson]

Test drove a new 1500 last weekend. Decked out Longhorn Laramie 4X4. Dealer in Kellogg Idaho had ONE only for test drives, and could not sell it. Made a day trip and went over to touch and feel! But they are taking orders. Drove pretty nice, but was left with a little reluctance on a few things. Was not quite sold on the shift KNOB (just different than what I am use to). Good drivability but a little lagging in acceleration. Did love the dash and cabin features and the air ride suspension thou. All in all it went pretty well, but then I drove the Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Diesel. Loved it!!!! Great acceleration, handling, ride, every thing was very nice, only it does not have a bed!! Been dealing with the dealer this last week trying to build one with every thing I would want. I am looking at the Outdoorsman because I am not a fan of chrome! But you can only get the 26 gallon tank in them and I really want the 32 gallon tank. Dealer is trying to get me in to a Limited with most of the features I want. Decisions decisions!!!

 

[SHobbs]

The 32 gallon tank is a no go due to having a 9 gallon DEF tank

 

[sag2]

Well I got a chance to spend a little time with a new 1500 diesel 4x4. I have to say I was very impressed. I didn't have a lot of time so I just focused on getting a good feel of the fuel economy and overall performance. I already know the rest of the truck is outstanding from time spent in Hemi version. The engine is very smooth and quiet. Little to no exhaust smell, the wife will love that. Transmission was very smooth, power comes on strong and flattens out as it makes the shift. Unfortunately I had to drive it a significant time in rush hour traffic, but it gave me more of a real world picture of what this package will do. The truck had air suspension so at highway speeds it is going to be better on fuel because it drops the height. See the two photos, the one with 47 miles is included in the 63 mile trip. The first part of the 63 mile trip was in very heavy traffic. The 47 mile trip was more clear highway once things thinned out at 69 MPH cruise control. It (47 mile) did have several miles (about 8) of in town driving. All highway was done at 69 set speed, cruise control all the time it was safe to do so. I have to say this is one impressive truck. I didn't get a photo, but the instant MPG at 69 was hovering at 29-31 on average on level road. Wind was light. On a straight highway run I have to believe you will beat the EPA numbers by driving the speed limit.
I couldn't get the average mpg to reset (see lower left of EVIC) so I do not know how many miles that represents. I have to assume this truck has been put through the paces pretty good before I got a chance to drive it.

 

[SHobbs]

Finally got an update this morning, the truck should be completed today. No idea on how long shipping takes, maybe the end of the month or first week of April.

 

[Regcabguy]

Finally got an update this morning, the truck should be completed today. No idea on how long shipping takes, maybe the end of the month or first week of April.

My '07 made it to Dave Smith in a couple of weeks after completion. That's Saltillo to Idaho. 29 days start to finish back then. The important part is quality control.

 

[sag2]

You will find it was well worth the wait.

 

[SHobbs]

sag2,

I am sure it will be, I have been watching and waiting for the opportunity to place an order for a while. Looks like the canyon brown interior in your pictures, that is what I ordered for mine.

 

[RangerGress]

I ordered one on 3Mar. Big Horn, dark red, bucket seats, 2WD, LSD diff, stereo stuff, backup and tow stuff. I kind of preferred the look of the less chome of the Outdoorsman, but the only 20" wheel option for it was black and I didn't want that. The Laramie seemed like $5k more just to get "leather trim" seats. In a perfect world once the Big Horn arrives I'll be able to swap out the chrome wheels for something less shiny, but I figure that the dealer's more interested in selling wheels then swapping them. Bought from Gerry Wood Chrysler Ram in NC. I expect the status of the truck to remain in "Production Scheduled" for another couple weeks.

 

[Dl5treez]

I have no vehicle payments and not sure if I want one, but this little truck is really, really tempting.