You must have gotten a wonder truck because I still only get 9.5 to 10mpg 4.7 v-8 quadcab 1800mls on it and I baby it.If I could get 14 like you i'd be in heaven.I only had 8.7 first tank.And when I fill my tank now my computer gives me 212 till tank is empty on a 26 gallon tank
I filled up today and decided to see how good my MPG's can be with 1300 miles. Last tank was 14.3. I drove to work and back on the interstate with some stop and go in both my home town and the city I work in. About a 20 minute drive each way. I averaged 25 MPG while traveling 65 cruise contolled MPH on the interstate. The small amount of stop and go killed it in town. After all was said and done I ended the workday with 17.6 MPG. I never really pushed it hard, just took it easy. Hard for me to do. I don't think it will develop into a habit.
I then ran an errand in town (6 miles, lots of lights) then I went to the gym (6 miles ....same) Now I am down to 16.2 MPG.
The stop and go is a real killer.
By the way, it was 72 degrees here tonight just after the sun went down. All four windows down. That engine sounds great while it's drinkin my gas!
My low gas alert came on this morning. I checked the computer which indicated I had only 26 more miles before I was to start walking. I filled up immediately. It only took 20 gallons. If I had 6 extra gallons and I had been averaging 14MPG, I should have been able to travel 3X what was indicated. I guess those computers cannot be trusted for the minute details. I'm sure the folks at Daimler are just trying to keep me out of trouble.
I received some info in the mail from DC today. There is a really cool 3 piece hard cover for the bed available from Mopar. How much? Anyone have it yet? Any recommendations? I also need a set of nerfs so the wife and kids do not need to take a running start to enter, or break a bone getting out.
After I filled the tank last week my computer said I was getting 17.4 MPG with my commute 30 miles one way. But that was after 90 miles or so then this weekend I put a 100 miles of stop-n-go city driving and my average went down to 14.3 MPG. After my 60 mile commute today I got the average back up to 15 MPG. If I did 80-100 percent city driving the fuel economy would likely be 11 MPG based on my experience. Also I check the actual numbers after filling up and the computer is roughly 2/10 off or below the actual numbers. I have a log book that contains all my fill-up information so I will continue to post every couple weeks or so.
Obx1, What gears do you have? Is your truck a 4x4? Have you been checking your actual mileage against the computer? Are you doing mostly city driving?
Could you have your mileage computer set to metric instead of english? My 4x4 gets better mileage than that dragging a 5000# boat. I think 8 km/lt would about equal high teens in mpg (that's if my 3:30 A.M. fuzzy math is correct).
...OBX1 is getting 18.8 mpg with mixed driving, and doing lots better than just about anybody else. (He actually said around 9.5 in his post, so if he's configured for km/l, then his mileage would be 22+, which is even more remote)
My suggestion would be to just set the computer and forget it for a couple of thousand miles or so. Resetting it all the time is unrealistic anyway, since you need to make your measurements over a relatively long time and/or distance. Example: reset your computer just as you start up a good hill. The mileage will it computes will be awful. Reset it again just as you start back down the hill. The mileage it computes will be stupendous. In the end, it will average out. The longer you let it go between resets, the more accurately it will reflect your true mileage, based on your normal driving style and traffic conditions.
An exception to that might be if you are leaving on a long trip, with lots of highway miles. Reset it then and you can get a realistic estimate of your high-speed "traveling" mileage, instead of your daily in-town & commute mileage.
My computer measures "metric" economy in liters/100km. As in how many liters of fuel it takes to drive 100 km. As your fuel economy goes up, the number would go down. Is this the normal way to express fuel economy for you guys that travel km's and use fuel by the liter?
it must be the computer and its not on metric. you say you get 327miles until tank is empty then it has to be mixing my fuel to rich or something because im only getting 217 or 220
I have had my '02 for about 6 months now and have just over 4000 miles on it. My last fill up averaged less than 14 mpg with approx. 90% hwy and the rest in town. My usual fill up averages between 9.5 - 10 mpg. I, too, have the 4.7l auto, quad cab but with 20" wheels and a 3:90 axle ratio. I think obx1 and I have a problem. My calculations are done manually, not using the computer. My experience with these computers has proven that they cannot be trusted when it comes to mpg.
SLT 4.7, auto, 4x4, quad cab... I ordered the 3.92 gears and the 275/70/17 tires which are a little bit taller than the 265's, this helps offset the gears a little bit but also keeps my truck from constantly shifting out of overdrive. This truck is loaded with options, the weight according to the CAT scale is 5450 lbs. These are DOT legal scales and guaranteed to be accurate. This is a very heavy truck. What do you guys really expect as far as gas mileage is concerned? My mileage is as follows. Cruise at 75 mph--15.1 mpg, cruise at 70---16.1, cruise at 65--18.1. cruise at 60--19.5. I check these figures over and over, these are the averages. My commute to work is just 3.5 miles. Just going to work and nothing else my mileage is 9 mpg on average. I live in the Allegheny mountains, so the mileage to and from work is about what I expected, being that the truck is cold and it's all mountains. On the road this truck is very efficient in my opinion, and people just can't stop the compliments. When I stop and get gas it's all I can do to get out of the station and stop answering everyone's questions. This truck is bad to the bone. When I put one 4 wheeler (ATV) in the truck and pull 2 more on a trailer my gross weight is at 7950 lbs, with the overdrive locked out I average 7.2 mpg (remember where I live). This truck will be with me for a long time. Gas Mileage? Get Real, these are not 4 banger 4 door sedans. Anyone else agree with me?
5.9L RAM with towing package, sport appearance group. Got the truck for 2% below invoice, plus $2K cash back after I put 1K down. The first time I felt like I got a decent deal on a truck. Had a suburban and comparing the driving between the 2 is night and day, the RAM handles as good as a car. After reading the posts I am second guessing my decision on the 5.9L. I have a 3500lb boat and thought I would be better off with the 5.9L, but am sacrificing some fuel economy. The suburban got about 12mpg in the city (most of my driving is stop and go to and from work)and I am assuming I am going to get a little worse mileage with the RAM. Anyone else out there got a 5.9L and can give me some advise on how the fuel economy is looking?
I've got the 5.9 QC and have been feeling the same way. I'm only up to about 350 miles but am seeing about 13 mpg. Hopefully the mileage will increase with age, the KN filter I plan to buy, and the synthetic oil I will put in at 5,000 miles. I only drive it to work. I have about 3 miles stop and go and then 15 miles on the highway. I feel like I blink and the ride is over. It sure is a pleasure driving this thing around. I was in a '90 ford ranger so this is my first 'real' truck and I think I made a wise choice.
I am thinking of buying a new Ram1500 4.7L, but I'm not sure which axle ratio to order. I'm concerned about the fuel milage, I do some light towing (about 2000lbs.). I will be getting the automatic, so should I stick to the 3:55 or go to the 3:92? If a get a larger camper down the road I'm probably going to regret having the 3:55. What if I got the 3:92 and ordered taller tires, would that in effect change my axle ratio to a lower number (3:73) perhaps? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
I have the 4.7 & 3:55...............I tow a 4,000 lb trailer so I wouldn't worry about 2,000 lbs. Remember that when you tow, a lot of time will be spent OUT of overdrive so with a 3:92 at highway speeds, you'll be reving higher in 4th. Just a thought. Besides, you can always go to a 3:92 later if you have to, but doubt you'll need it. (My 4.7 will get up and go.) Fuel mileage with the 3:55 is acceptable. I'm between 14 and 16mpg around town. Best I do is between 55 and 60mph where the truck will get 18-20 average!
2002 sport EXT club cab 4x4 (loaded) every option going for the sport except leather 4.7 liter 5M with 3.92 anti spin about 17-18 at 55 16-17 mpg at 65-70 15.4 - 16 at 75-80 using cruise control.. Put the hammer down & watch fuel flow... Truck hauls [non-permissible content removed]. Does not seem to matter if you have 2,000 lbs behind it. 1st truck in 40 yrs I have a hard time finding a [non-permissible content removed] about... OH ya I forgot no ash tray....
Hi all...Just test drove a base st and was very impressed. With 2 in college I need to keep the price down. Is the 4.7 worth the extra $550. The demo had the V6 and while it was nothing to write home about, it wasn't all that bad. On a 2 wheel drive model what can I expect to get for gas mileage from each engine? Thanks for your time...Brian
Just took a trip out of town, mostly interstate. I got 15.3 MPG. That is not as good as it was right out of the box. So much for break in. It was very windy the entire way. The new bed cover did not make any difference in mileage. Saw a post indicating that if I increased the air pressure to the max mileage will improve. I am afraid to go higher as this thing is already a "point and shoot" i.e. the steering is very tight and precise. Higher pressure will enhance. I need a little wiggle room in the steering so that I don't put it in the ditch when I change the radio station.
I've got almost 2000 miles on mine now (QC, 4x4, 5.9L, 3.55 axle ratio), and am getting about 17 on the freeway if it is fairly level with the cruise set at 60 mph. Bump it up to 70 mph, and it drops to 15. Throw in a few hills and it drops to 14. Add a head wind and it drops to 12. Around town (lots of hills here) I am getting about 10.5.
Granted I'm living in SoCal, so there is traffic, but I've only been able to get a best of 15.4 (1 tank average), averaging mid-14's over the first 2,000 miles/7tanks (>90% highway). Expected more from the 2WD/4.7/3.55/265(set right at 35psi) combo. The only non-commute trip so far was 300 miles towing a 3500 lb trailer, got 13.8mpg with OD OFF. (these are calculated miles, although they vary only slightly from the trip computer) Can anybody verify the claims of 20+ on the highway that I've heard about? What combo and conditions (speeds, etc...)?
Dodge that's a big reason I shied away. I was getting 16.5-17 around town and 21-23 on the highway with my 4.8 GM. My 5.3 is not quite that good on highway but close in town. That's 70-75 mph cruise to work and mostly crawling home. Hope yours gets better.
20 mpg you will use 750 gallons of fuel, at $1.35 a gallon you will spend $1012.50 dollars a year.
16 mpg you will use 937.5 gallons of fuel, at $1.35 a gallon you will spend $1265.63 dollars a year.
The difference of 4 miles per gallon equates to $253.13 / year, or 0.69 cents a day. This is pocket change when you consider the price of a new truck. C'mon lets not micro manage this milage thing.
closer to $2.00, even at 1.35, it adds up. If people are not concerned about $300 per year/$1500 over the life of a 5 yr loan on a new car, why are so many biting on the $1,500 rebate? Believe me, I work for an automaker and we kill over 0.1mpg. 4mpg is a huge deal, not only for its effect on CAFE, but also for the effect on shoppers doing comparisons on sites like this. If brnzbk's logic were true, why would anyone be buying small fuel efficient import cars at all. In any case, my question is about the posts of people getting in excess of 20mpg. I don't find this to be reasonable, unless they are talking about the instantaneouos F/E on the trip computer, or they are running downhill both ways every day.
Where do you live? I live in St. Louis and you can buy gas all over town for $1.35 gal, even on Memorial Day weekend it only jumped to $1.43 a gallon. My point is if you are buying a full size V8 truck gas milage obviously is not your main point of interest. People start comparing 17 vs.18 and 13 vs. 14 and it really is not much of an issue. Now for those claiming 22mpg with a full size V8 truck that would be significant. I have several friends with the Chevy 5.3 and they do get a little better milage than the Dodges, I don't know what the Ford's are getting. Don't choose a truck because one gets 18 mpg on the highway and the other gets 17, that is a non issue and that is my point.
I'd appreciate it if you'd read a lot more carefully than you write. The fuel mileage reports were based on figures given to me by other people I have met on the street, at work, in parking lots, etc. With the exception of two, I had not previously known them. In post #71, in fact, I wrote, "Here's what some owners of 2002 RAM 1500s are telling me.......Can't testify to accuracy or anything else. These are parking lot reports and, except for the 4wd owner, are not people I know or know well."
You most certainly are free to say that you don't believe some of these reports. There's no problem in that. However, your morally superior response implies I'm not mentally cogitative, and I take serious offense to that. Perhaps you are use to talking down to people when you hear things you don't want to believe, but in most civilized areas of the country it's considered rude and juvenile.
02 QC 2wd 4.7L auto 3.55 LSD, P265/70R17 Goodyear 7500 Miles Average is 15.7 mpg City. Going to Dover this weekend will let you know highway when we return
"The difference of 4 miles per gallon equates to $253.13 / year, or 0.69 cents a day. This is pocket change when you consider the price of a new truck."
brnzbk makes a good point. For those that can afford a $25-$30,000 vehicle, $250 a year is not a big delta over something else, especially if the extra fuel cost buys something that have the features you like, that you enjoy, and does the job.
Let's not kid ourselves here. I know plenty of people that would be buying a Chevy or Ford or Toyota anyway, regardless if the situation were reversed. Then there would just be other reasons not to buy the Dodge.
And while I'm a little fired up at the moment, let's talk truth. There are few things that receive more passive lying than the fuel mileage one gets on their vehicle. I'm not implying this is the plague of the century nor is it always dishonestly intended, but I know plenty of guys (yes, mostly guys) who have said they get such-and-such for mileage based on their memory of some past best outing, but who are in reality getting less then they think in real driving.
Case in point. My hunting partner last year was very insistent that his 2001 Chevy "quad" with the 5.3 engine got 17 mpg. But, during the trip to camp, around town for a week, and back, the average for the week was 12.8. And that included 240 miles of interstate driving. How do I know? We split the gas.
When to Dover this weekend a 228 Mile round trip reset all the milage componets and got 19.2 on the way there, and 17.2 on the way home (AC on ) for a total of 18.2 mpg.
When it comes to fuel mileage the tendency is "round up". When it comes to problems with your new vehicle the tendency is to "round down". So much for the accuracy of surveys.
Yes. Let's go one step further. There are two cars that have one of the most abysmal quality and reliability histories as statistically compiled by Consumers' Report (CR). They are the Chevrolet Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro. Yet, the very same CR surveys will show high consumer satisfaction with these cars. Higher, in fact, than many models that have far less reliability issues.
So obviously, it cannot always be assumed that assembly quality and reliability are correlated to consumer satisfaction. Likewise, you and I both know people who own "X" make of vehicle that, despite past history of mechanical troubles, will always buy that make and will always say everything else is junk.
My point here is product bias, which unfortunately, cannot be discounted. When I see "USA #1" or "Fordtuff" or "RAM 02" on a license plate, I sense I'm likely not to get a critical report from the driver. I prefer reports from more emotionally disconnected people. I think these are generally going to be more realistic.
I just turned 3000k miles and thought I would report my milage thus far. I'm getting 14.2 - 14.5 in a 65/35 city/highway situation. I have gotten as high as 15.3mpg and as low as 13.8mpg. I haven't taken a highway only trip, so I really can't report on that, but I expect to be in the 17-18 range. I have a '02 QC RAM 4X4, 4.7l, auto,3:55, camper shell, with Wrangler P265/70/17 GS/A. I've been reading the milage reports and suggestions for improving economy, and I believe the most important factor in fuel economy are the drivers habits. My wife wouldn't get 13mpg if she drove my RAM for a full tank. Just my 2 cents.
Just returned from a 2000 mile road trip with the Ram (02 QC 4WD 5.9L), and averaged 13.9 mpg for the whole trip. This was mostly freeway driving, running at about 82 mph. Most of the driving was in states where the speed limit is 75. We were carrying 4 adults, and about 600 lbs of gear. I was pretty happy with this considering the weight and speed...
Forgot to mention that much of that 2000 miles was at high altitude, and lots of mountain passes. That Ram really drinks the gas when climbing a long pass!
I've run my '02 quad cab short bed down to where it took 24.5 gallons to fill it back up. Anyone run it down any lower? How much useable fuel do you think I had left? I'm assuming that these trucks have a fuel pump in the tank and running them out is a no no. The mileage computer said that I was out of fuel 15 or 20 miles before I stopped to fill up (lots of closed gas stations on a Sunday afternoon in S. TX). On an older truck, I'd probably just run it out to see for myself, but I've heard these newer pumps don't take kindly to fuel starvation.
IMO - you must take both MPG & engine power into account.
All the manufactures could build a truck that gets 20 MPG - but most of us want more than 150 HP. Just like they could all build a 450 HP engine - but who would accept 3 MPG out of their daily driver?
The problem with the 4.7 (5.9 also) is it is low in the power department - and has poor MPG to boot (compared to GM, Ford & Toyoya).
I hope the new Hemi engine solves both of these problems - I may be looking for a new truck in 2005.
I have the small V8 on a 4x4 shortbed Ram 1500, towing pakage. I get 15 mpg on a 90 mile run that climbs from 1200 feet in Scottsdale, AZ, to 6000 feet in Washington Park. temperature in the summers start at 110, and drop to 95 in the pine forest [if it hasn't burned up this week]. the last 10 miles are in 4x4 high to cross streams and hang onto the dirt roads at 40pmh. That sir is a killing drive. I haul 800 lbs of ATV and equip in back, and it will still go 80mph up the 7 degree grade. I see a lot of jawing here about speed, racing, MPG, etc. I suggest you look at what you want it to do. if you are going to haul stuff, tow stuff, get the towing package to insure the truck won't wear out before you tire of it. You wanna be a rhinestone cowboy, get the 2x4 non towing package. A lot of commuting, and light hauling occassionally? four cylinders compact will save you real money. Are you driving/hauling on the level, at sea level ? V6 saves you gas and upfront money. I've seen plenty of Toyotas pass me going downhill. I've never seen one pass me going up that 7 degree grade on the Bee Line highway. My V6 ranger wore out on that killing hill. Yes I buy more gas. Yes I haul more stuff, now too. I don't have worn out steering rods, brakes, and transmission is doing well because I can disable the overdrive. I have owned a 82 Mazda b-2000[commute truck, poor air conditioning], 85 S-10 V6 [transmission gone at25,000 miles, damn GM quality forever] small ford ranger 4x4 V6 [nine GOOD years and it was worn out]. I could recommend the ranger, but my 50 year old kiester is VERY comfortable in the Ram. I would say dealer service is very important. Who has parts and can get back to you in ONE day? My Dodge Ram, and dodge dealer has delivered. One unnecessary trip for a shoddy part out of warranty costs you more than all the gas you save. Make sure you have a dealer you can trust. Every truck mentioned on this forum goes fast enough to flip and kill you and whoever you hit. Your job is to find the one that keeps you alive and happy. Think about it... Dusty
What is not enough for some is more than adequate for others. Some individuals may want more power out of the 4.7, but I've driven a RAM with one and I'd compare the power to anything I've driven lately, and maybe even a little bit better. The new RAM with the 4.7 does seem to launch better, in my opinion, than the 4.6 or 5.4 Ford SuperCrews. Since my friend's Silverado got dusted a while back by a RAM Quad (and the RAM is heavier by 200 lbs), I guess the new RAM can even compete is this respect.
As someone mentioned previously, fuel consumption is just as likely to be dictated by driving habit as anything else, too. Light duty trucks driven around town as cars are all going to pay the penalty for their weight, engine power, and gearing. You can't beat the laws of physics.
It's sort of like the argument awhile back about the RAM Quad's rear seat. You had Ford people in here trying to proclaim the invalidness of the RAM because the SuperCrew has more rear seat room. Again, what is enough for some is not enough for others. Maybe some don't need to carry rear seat passengers that much but need a bigger box. I know I can't get my ATV onto a SuperCrew and have the tailgate up. But I can on the RAM.
Many are missing the beauty of a culture system that offers differences in approach and various options.
Quad cab 4x4, 4.7, auto, 3:92 posi, 275\70\17 tires. Weight of truck is just shy of 5,500 lbs.
I live in the central mountains of Pa. There is no such thing as "flat land" up here. You are either going up or down.
According to my trip computer over the last 2250 miles my avg. is 15.6 mpg.
That milage includes 20% towing, 50% city, 30% highway.
Now according to the fill ups at the gas stations my milage has avg'd 16.2 mpg over the same 2250 miles.
The only problems I have with this truck is POOR paint and the way they designed the Infinity sound system, a simple rewiring of the amp/crossover solved that problem.
Comments
I then ran an errand in town (6 miles, lots of lights) then I went to the gym (6 miles ....same) Now I am down to 16.2 MPG.
The stop and go is a real killer.
By the way, it was 72 degrees here tonight just after the sun went down. All four windows down. That engine sounds great while it's drinkin my gas!
My low gas alert came on this morning. I checked the computer which indicated I had only 26 more miles before I was to start walking. I filled up immediately. It only took 20 gallons. If I had 6 extra gallons and I had been averaging 14MPG, I should have been able to travel 3X what was indicated. I guess those computers cannot be trusted for the minute details. I'm sure the folks at Daimler are just trying to keep me out of trouble.
I received some info in the mail from DC today. There is a really cool 3 piece hard cover for the bed available from Mopar. How much? Anyone have it yet? Any recommendations? I also need a set of nerfs so the wife and kids do not need to take a running start to enter, or break a bone getting out.
Obx1, What gears do you have? Is your truck a 4x4? Have you been checking your actual mileage against the computer? Are you doing mostly city driving?
My suggestion would be to just set the computer and forget it for a couple of thousand miles or so. Resetting it all the time is unrealistic anyway, since you need to make your measurements over a relatively long time and/or distance. Example: reset your computer just as you start up a good hill. The mileage will it computes will be awful. Reset it again just as you start back down the hill. The mileage it computes will be stupendous. In the end, it will average out. The longer you let it go between resets, the more accurately it will reflect your true mileage, based on your normal driving style and traffic conditions.
An exception to that might be if you are leaving on a long trip, with lots of highway miles. Reset it then and you can get a realistic estimate of your high-speed "traveling" mileage, instead of your daily in-town & commute mileage.
4.7 liter 5M with 3.92 anti spin about 17-18 at 55
16-17 mpg at 65-70 15.4 - 16 at 75-80 using cruise control..
Put the hammer down & watch fuel flow...
Truck hauls [non-permissible content removed].
Does not seem to matter if you have 2,000 lbs behind it.
1st truck in 40 yrs I have a hard time finding a [non-permissible content removed] about...
OH ya I forgot no ash tray....
QuadCab 4x4 45RFE & 4.7, 3800 miles = "steady 16 back-and-forth to work" (approx. 15 miles one way)
QuadCab 2wd 45RFE & 4.7, 5200 miles = "14 around town. 19 highway"
QuadCab 2wd 45RFE & 4.7, 4400 miles = "a little better than 13 around town, 18 on the road" (This person's local driving is quite short)
Reg cab 2wd auto & 4.7, 3200 miles = "14 daily driving, 19 highway"
Reg cab 2wd manual & 3.7, 5800 miles = "15 around town, 23 highway"
Can't testify to accuracy or anything else. These are parking lot reports and, except for the 4wd owner, are not people I know or know well.
Dusty
QuadCab 4x4 45RFE & 4.7, 8700 miles = "still steady 16 back-and-forth to work" (approx. 15 miles one way)
QuadCab 2wd 45RFE & 4.7, 9200 miles = "13 around town. 18 highway"
Dusty
and am getting about 17 on the freeway if it is fairly level with the cruise
set at 60 mph. Bump it up to 70 mph, and it drops to 15. Throw in a few
hills and it drops to 14. Add a head wind and it drops to 12. Around
town (lots of hills here) I am getting about 10.5.
20 mpg you will use 750 gallons of fuel, at $1.35
a gallon you will spend $1012.50 dollars a year.
16 mpg you will use 937.5 gallons of fuel, at $1.35 a gallon you will spend $1265.63 dollars a year.
The difference of 4 miles per gallon equates to $253.13 / year, or 0.69 cents a day. This is pocket change when you consider the price of a new truck. C'mon lets not micro manage this milage thing.
In any case, my question is about the posts of people getting in excess of 20mpg. I don't find this to be reasonable, unless they are talking about the instantaneouos F/E on the trip computer, or they are running downhill both ways every day.
You most certainly are free to say that you don't believe some of these reports. There's no problem in that. However, your morally superior response implies I'm not mentally cogitative, and I take serious offense to that. Perhaps you are use to talking down to people when you hear things you don't want to believe, but in most civilized areas of the country it's considered rude and juvenile.
Dusty
brnzbk.....Southern California lowest prices in the $1.60's, paid $1.99 over Memorial day in San Diego County. (87 octane unleaded)
Dusty
Going to Dover this weekend will let you know highway when we return
brnzbk makes a good point. For those that can afford a $25-$30,000 vehicle, $250 a year is not a big delta over something else, especially if the extra fuel cost buys something that have the features you like, that you enjoy, and does the job.
Let's not kid ourselves here. I know plenty of people that would be buying a Chevy or Ford or Toyota anyway, regardless if the situation were reversed. Then there would just be other reasons not to buy the Dodge.
And while I'm a little fired up at the moment, let's talk truth. There are few things that receive more passive lying than the fuel mileage one gets on their vehicle. I'm not implying this is the plague of the century nor is it always dishonestly intended, but I know plenty of guys (yes, mostly guys) who have said they get such-and-such for mileage based on their memory of some past best outing, but who are in reality getting less then they think in real driving.
Case in point. My hunting partner last year was very insistent that his 2001 Chevy "quad" with the 5.3 engine got 17 mpg. But, during the trip to camp, around town for a week, and back, the average for the week was 12.8. And that included 240 miles of interstate driving. How do I know? We split the gas.
Dusty
Yes. Let's go one step further. There are two cars that have one of the most abysmal quality and reliability histories as statistically compiled by Consumers' Report (CR). They are the Chevrolet Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro. Yet, the very same CR surveys will show high consumer satisfaction with these cars. Higher, in fact, than many models that have far less reliability issues.
So obviously, it cannot always be assumed that assembly quality and reliability are correlated to consumer satisfaction. Likewise, you and I both know people who own "X" make of vehicle that, despite past history of mechanical troubles, will always buy that make and will always say everything else is junk.
My point here is product bias, which unfortunately, cannot be discounted. When I see "USA #1" or "Fordtuff" or "RAM 02" on a license plate, I sense I'm likely not to get a critical report from the driver. I prefer reports from more emotionally disconnected people. I think these are generally going to be more realistic.
Dusty
4WD 5.9L), and averaged 13.9 mpg for the whole trip. This
was mostly freeway driving, running at about 82 mph. Most
of the driving was in states where the speed limit is 75. We
were carrying 4 adults, and about 600 lbs of gear. I was
pretty happy with this considering the weight and speed...
high altitude, and lots of mountain passes. That Ram
really drinks the gas when climbing a long pass!
point it was showing about 5 miles to empty...
All the manufactures could build a truck that gets 20 MPG - but most of us want more than 150 HP. Just like they could all build a 450 HP engine - but who would accept 3 MPG out of their daily driver?
The problem with the 4.7 (5.9 also) is it is low in the power department - and has poor MPG to boot (compared to GM, Ford & Toyoya).
I hope the new Hemi engine solves both of these problems - I may be looking for a new truck in 2005.
Dusty
As someone mentioned previously, fuel consumption is just as likely to be dictated by driving habit as anything else, too. Light duty trucks driven around town as cars are all going to pay the penalty for their weight, engine power, and gearing. You can't beat the laws of physics.
It's sort of like the argument awhile back about the RAM Quad's rear seat. You had Ford people in here trying to proclaim the invalidness of the RAM because the SuperCrew has more rear seat room. Again, what is enough for some is not enough for others. Maybe some don't need to carry rear seat passengers that much but need a bigger box. I know I can't get my ATV onto a SuperCrew and have the tailgate up. But I can on the RAM.
Many are missing the beauty of a culture system that offers differences in approach and various options.
Dusty
Thanks,
Dino
I live in the central mountains of Pa.
There is no such thing as "flat land" up here. You are either going up or down.
According to my trip computer over the last 2250 miles my avg. is 15.6 mpg.
That milage includes 20% towing, 50% city, 30% highway.
Now according to the fill ups at the gas stations my milage has avg'd 16.2 mpg over the same 2250 miles.
The only problems I have with this truck is POOR paint and the way they designed the Infinity sound system, a simple rewiring of the amp/crossover solved that problem.
This is one awesome truck to say the least.