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Dodge Ram 2500 or Toyota Tundra
Hi everyone-
My fiance and I are planning on purchasing a truck within the next month. He really wants a full size truck (although we do not really need one). He has looked at both the Dodge ram and Tundra. He really likes both. He likes the Dodge b/c of the diesel and gas mileage plus it is really a full size truck. However, the Tundra is cheaper and nice too but the gas mileage is not great. We will tow with it but only a jetski trailer with two skis (maybe 2000 pounds). If anyone has any comments on either truck I would appreciate it. Also, we have looked at used Ram diesels....however, I am very worried about buying a used car especially from a private party. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks! Carrie
My fiance and I are planning on purchasing a truck within the next month. He really wants a full size truck (although we do not really need one). He has looked at both the Dodge ram and Tundra. He really likes both. He likes the Dodge b/c of the diesel and gas mileage plus it is really a full size truck. However, the Tundra is cheaper and nice too but the gas mileage is not great. We will tow with it but only a jetski trailer with two skis (maybe 2000 pounds). If anyone has any comments on either truck I would appreciate it. Also, we have looked at used Ram diesels....however, I am very worried about buying a used car especially from a private party. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks! Carrie
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How much are you willing to fork out? There will be an all new (2002) ram. Here's the website:
http://www.4adodge.com/
Price starts at $23k, leads up to $30k. IMO, it will be the BEST looking full sized pickup out there. Rear seating is by far better than any (without being a crew cab). They should be at the dealers by now. The diesel model is not available yet.
Toyota tundra's also a good looker, but you will not get many options. Toyota fans will boast about reliability and longevity, and that's basically all there is. It's relatively much smaller, but easier to drive. A tundra access cab v8 is $25-26K.
Both are off-road worthy.
Before you go to used, if I were you, i would stop at dodge dealers and check out the 2001 models, which they are discounting HEAVILY right now.
I hope this helps.
tavgrad
If your fiance is a manual trans fan, the tundra comes in manual with V6 only. Dodge comes in manual in V6, V8, and diesel.
In terms of longevity, the toyota has that, along with easy manuverability, car like ride...But in just sheer brute force, machoisms and spacey interior, the dodge beats it hands down.
Regarding longevity and realibility, people say that the Ram 2500 Diesel will run forever. Have you heard anything about that? I know that Toyota has that and that is why I tend to want to go with them. We will be paying quite a bit for a truck and I do not want it to be a lemon or even have many problems, especially since we plan to keep this truck for years to come.
If you only want to tow 2000lbs, even the Tundra is WAY overkill. I have a Tacoma with the V6 and it easily tows my boat and trailer which I'm sure weighs more than your jetskis and trailer. Plus, this truck will take you to places both the Ram and Tundra wouldn't dare go. It's like a mountaingoat on the trails.
It sounds to me like your truck will be used as your daily driver with occasional light towing. With this in mind, the Tundra would be a much better vehicle for your needs. I would recommend going with the Ram/Cummins combination only if you really plan on doing some serious towing and hauling.
While the Ram's Cummins diesel engine is awesome (probably the best diesel engine available), that's probably the only thing on that truck done right. What good is a 300K mile engine when the rest of the truck is spent at 50K miles? Do some research on Dodge trucks. They're argueably the worst trucks on the road today.
My advice is think practicality. Will you really want to live day in and day out with a big truck and its ease of use disadvantages, especially since it won't even be used to nearly its potential? Some of these guys are on the biggest-truck-you-can-get-a-loan-for bandwagon no matter how you plan on using the thing. Just ignore them and go with the best truck that suits your needs, despite what many of these big-truck-inflated-ego personalities may say.
Do you like the smell of diesel? Some people don't. Diesel is a little inconvenient because not all stations carry it. The Cummins turbodiesel is one LOUD truck. I would suggest that you stand outside the truck and listen to it idle. You will have to turn the engine off to order at drive thrus.
I own a BMW 524td. It gets about 40mpg on the highway and around 30 in town. It does have the noise, smell and high maintenance costs of a diesel though. I got it cheap ($4000) and I always wanted to own a diesel auto(I like to be different)
I would drive both before deciding, but you will find the Tundra has better ride, is quiter, and is much more maneuverable. It also will not be much if any more expensive to operate.
How long do i intend to keep it? How much city driving will i do? How many people at most will be riding in it?
The tundra is arguably a better choice in these situations. I myself considered it heavily, but turned away from because of the rear seating. It is like a park bench. But that is me. If you FIANCE (fellas, he is wanting it) want a full size good looker, than yes, a dodge RAM 1500 is good choice. (14 city/17 highway, not much less than the tundra).
I agree with plutonious and bamatundra. The test drive will answer your questions. Right now is a good time to start shopping.
As forward as these two trucks you should have all the information that you need. Good luck on your decision, and avoid quadrunner.
I am surprised that you haven't looked at a Dakota they can get very good gas mileage with a 4.7L and still have the macho big truck stance.
Towing the jet ski's with the cummins is like driving a tack with a post maul,sure it will work,but there are better tools for the job.
Guess which vehicle takes second place as the world's most recognized and mass produced vehicle? None other than the Corolla. Hey, the VW's 22 million Beetle production record is going to be hard to beat.
Guess which truck was rated as one of the best built and most reliable? The T-100.
Guess which vehicles command some of the highest resale values? Toyotas.
Guess which manufacturer has a 500,000 mile club for its customers? Toyota.
Toyota consistently gets great ratings (above average) for quality and reliability in the many consumer report sources.
If Toyotas are no more reliable than the other makes, why can't the other makes boast these kinds of accomplishments?
for us all to share the FACTS.
Thanks........Geo
Sonjaab, if I said a watermelon was bigger than an orange, I suppose you would demand a link for that too, right? What I posted were facts I recall from reading various automotive publications over the years. I'm not going to research every fact I know just to satisfy YOU. Hey, your ignorance is your problem, not mine.
Besides, why should I do that when you still haven't answered my simple question regarding your little post editing/deleting stunts?
BE CAREFUL ARGUING WITH SONJAAB, EVERYBODY. IF YOUR POSTS DISPROVE HIM, HE WILL GO BACK AND EDIT AND DELETE HIS OWN POSTS IN A PITIFUL ATTEMPT TO SAVE FACE.
BTW, gotta love the 500,000 mile club... There should be more manufactures with this, as they know how to build vehicles that get many miles... Look at big rigs... They choose not to, because of the ole mighty buck... Some car manufactures choose to let them last from 200-300 thousand miles, and most (like American manufactures) like them to break down before 100k....
This way they can keep up with selling more.. That's all they care about...Selling selling selling... It's a no brainer.... Make em chitty, and they will buy more new ones...
Fellas, the "T100 what if it had a V8" topic has started another Toyota vs. the Big three war again. Go over there.
PF Flyer, put the snow on this topic. It's done.
If you cannot discuss the trucks, and INSIST on attacking other users, no matter how innocent you think it is, you had better find another place to play.
This behavior is unacceptable in Town Hall. I suggest you put a lid on it NOW.
PF Flyer
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Perhaps have you considered the Tacoma Double Cab? Has back seat room and the bed is about 5' long.
If you like the wide stance muscular look, check out the Dodge Dakota quad cab. It has more room than the tacoma, and bed is about 5-5 1/2' long. Plus side on the dakota quad is that is a tad bigger and you can get a V8. And like i said, if your fiance wants a manual, the dakota quad cab is available in V6 and V8, manual option on both.
And from what i've read, the dakota has received high praise recently.
the bad part about these crew cabs: when you start putting on options, they creep up in price.
IF you click here
http://www.4adodge.com/
you get an additional $500 ben franklins back.
Dan
My wife has a Grand Cherokee which has the same 4.7L engine and transmission as the Dakota,it has returned an average of 20 m.p.g. in mixed rural driving(small towns and thru-ways). So far the engine and transmission have been literally trouble free,it has just over 46,000 miles on it.
Hope this helps in some way.
All I can say is that ALL vehicles will break down if they are not maintained properly. Toyotas are no exception. Example: woman at my job drives a lexus GS400. Has had it in the shop 4 times since she bought it in 99. She does not take care of it, her husband says (and neither does he, apparently.)
I have heard good and bad things about dodge. That is not deterring my decision. and I will be buying that Ram quadrunner500 displayed sometime next week. And guess what I just "got rid of?" Oh, of all things, a TOYOTA! Guy I sold it to picks it up tomorrow.
BTW, we're coming up on 50K miles with no problems. As far as brake problems, they switched to a new braking system half way through the 01 model year. I've got over half of the pads left, and they bite hard and fast. Big improvement over the prior brake systems on the Rams. I had to pull a 12,000# boat with no brakes on the trailer and the truck did a fine job.