Discussion
I've never done a 'What car' kind of thread and usually view them as quite tedious, but if you cant beat them join them!
Besides, this forth coming purchase of vehicle is one of my least emotional purchases and I need to make a decision quickly- like within less than a week.
I move up north to Ilinois very soon, where to say, it snows alot would probably be an understatement. So 4WD is definately a requirement, along with the capability to tow a Porsche 993 Turbo or Dodge Challenger on a trailer and not break into a sweat. I'll also probably be carrying heavy engines such as Dodge Hemis and BMW S50s around. I may even take this pick up camping sometimes. In time I may do some off-roading in it. I definately need four seats also.
It seems like an amazing time to buy right now, with even dealers putting up sticker prices of way below Blue book values.
I was always naturally drawn to the brawny good looks of the Dodge Ram- especially the "Big Rig" post 2003 design.
So far, I've found a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Z 71 truck for sale. It has covered 117,000 miles, and has the trusty pushrod 5.3 litre Vortec V8 that makes about 310 Bhp. Apparently the Z71 package is a special off road package with skid pans and specially tuned gas pressure shocks.
The book value for this truck is about $13,000. The dealer had it down to $10,990, however after a test drive and some shrewd negotiating, I got him down to $7,900
The truck looks similar to this:
The truck felt refined and comfortable to drive, although it didnt feel all that fast and the engine felt too subdued. The truck had obviously been taken off road a bit, and unusual for a southern truck had some light surface rust underneath. I personally think the truck looks fairly bland. No real service history I could trace and I dont know how many owners.
The next truck I came across was the 2005 Ford F 150 5.4 litre 300 Bhp V8 "XLT"-which is a base model (less to go wrong). This one is up for $9000 as it has covered 165,000 miles, but has full 'Ben Satchers' Service history and only 1 owner. This truck felt tight and solid and the condition was great inside and out. It also felt fast to drive and it was very easy to 'light up the rears'. There was a slight shudder/shake at 55 mph-which is probably down to wheel imbalance. This truck felt much more responsive than the Chevy, with more direct feeling steering, a great sounding engine, felt faster, and more agile. I went to the dealer who had serviced it, and no expense seems to have been spared in its up keep. The 5.4 litre engine is a 3 valve design, over head cam, and has more torque than the Chevy, not only due to the capacity advantage but also due to the better port air flows combined with shorter duration cams. This truck was typical of a southern truck, and the underneath was just as clean as the top- even the exhausts still seemed aluminised.
Personally I think in the looks department the truck looks bland.
I was out at a bar the other night and by chance the bar man told me his 2003 Dodge Ram thats covered only 60,000 miles may be up for sale for around the $10,000 mark. I told him I would be interested if he was interested in selling. He said he'd get back to me. Viewing the truck externally, has some dings, but has the Rams classically butch good looks. I havent driven it yet, but it has the 5.7 litre hemi engine. This has a shallow Hemi combustion chamber with a twin plug layout (for a fast burn) and cylinder deactivation. This is also a pushrod layout so probably has very low friction. If the gearing has been matched well to the vehicle and cylinder deact- this one promises to have the best fuel economy. From what I;'ve heard it should also sound the best also.
From what Ive heard- Ford makes the toughest Truck chasis and frames. I dont really know if I would be utilising this 'toughness' though. The extra torque of 5.7 hemi would be welcome though. ANy other helpful comments or suggestions welcome!
Besides, this forth coming purchase of vehicle is one of my least emotional purchases and I need to make a decision quickly- like within less than a week.
I move up north to Ilinois very soon, where to say, it snows alot would probably be an understatement. So 4WD is definately a requirement, along with the capability to tow a Porsche 993 Turbo or Dodge Challenger on a trailer and not break into a sweat. I'll also probably be carrying heavy engines such as Dodge Hemis and BMW S50s around. I may even take this pick up camping sometimes. In time I may do some off-roading in it. I definately need four seats also.
It seems like an amazing time to buy right now, with even dealers putting up sticker prices of way below Blue book values.
I was always naturally drawn to the brawny good looks of the Dodge Ram- especially the "Big Rig" post 2003 design.
So far, I've found a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Z 71 truck for sale. It has covered 117,000 miles, and has the trusty pushrod 5.3 litre Vortec V8 that makes about 310 Bhp. Apparently the Z71 package is a special off road package with skid pans and specially tuned gas pressure shocks.
The book value for this truck is about $13,000. The dealer had it down to $10,990, however after a test drive and some shrewd negotiating, I got him down to $7,900
The truck looks similar to this:
The truck felt refined and comfortable to drive, although it didnt feel all that fast and the engine felt too subdued. The truck had obviously been taken off road a bit, and unusual for a southern truck had some light surface rust underneath. I personally think the truck looks fairly bland. No real service history I could trace and I dont know how many owners.
The next truck I came across was the 2005 Ford F 150 5.4 litre 300 Bhp V8 "XLT"-which is a base model (less to go wrong). This one is up for $9000 as it has covered 165,000 miles, but has full 'Ben Satchers' Service history and only 1 owner. This truck felt tight and solid and the condition was great inside and out. It also felt fast to drive and it was very easy to 'light up the rears'. There was a slight shudder/shake at 55 mph-which is probably down to wheel imbalance. This truck felt much more responsive than the Chevy, with more direct feeling steering, a great sounding engine, felt faster, and more agile. I went to the dealer who had serviced it, and no expense seems to have been spared in its up keep. The 5.4 litre engine is a 3 valve design, over head cam, and has more torque than the Chevy, not only due to the capacity advantage but also due to the better port air flows combined with shorter duration cams. This truck was typical of a southern truck, and the underneath was just as clean as the top- even the exhausts still seemed aluminised.
Personally I think in the looks department the truck looks bland.
I was out at a bar the other night and by chance the bar man told me his 2003 Dodge Ram thats covered only 60,000 miles may be up for sale for around the $10,000 mark. I told him I would be interested if he was interested in selling. He said he'd get back to me. Viewing the truck externally, has some dings, but has the Rams classically butch good looks. I havent driven it yet, but it has the 5.7 litre hemi engine. This has a shallow Hemi combustion chamber with a twin plug layout (for a fast burn) and cylinder deactivation. This is also a pushrod layout so probably has very low friction. If the gearing has been matched well to the vehicle and cylinder deact- this one promises to have the best fuel economy. From what I;'ve heard it should also sound the best also.
From what Ive heard- Ford makes the toughest Truck chasis and frames. I dont really know if I would be utilising this 'toughness' though. The extra torque of 5.7 hemi would be welcome though. ANy other helpful comments or suggestions welcome!
I did think about a Land Rover Defender but they aint cheap around these parts- ebaymotors shows prices ranging from $25K up to $55K!
I know a Jeep Wrangler has too short a wheel base to tow the Chally, but my neighbor (in the UK) seems to think a Defender would have no problems. However, the LR has what- a 4 litre V8, I wouldn't fancy towing with that engine across half a continent.
I also dont imagine the Defender is too refined over long distances when, say , crusing from Illinois to Oregon on Vacation (2000 miles plus)
I know a Jeep Wrangler has too short a wheel base to tow the Chally, but my neighbor (in the UK) seems to think a Defender would have no problems. However, the LR has what- a 4 litre V8, I wouldn't fancy towing with that engine across half a continent.
I also dont imagine the Defender is too refined over long distances when, say , crusing from Illinois to Oregon on Vacation (2000 miles plus)
ol' dirty said:
Ignoring those for a second- the 'trucks' I saw pulling big loads were the Diesel F350's.
Quick Google says the towing capacity is 8.7tonnes, & a payload of up to 2.6tonnes (depending on the back axle)
I had a short drive of the F150 & had an Explorer for 3 weeks & was really impressed with them.
Cabin seemed better built than the Ram- although we put a fair few miles on the Ram & we never complained about feeling uncomfotable.
I'd go diesel all the way. I love me some torque, Ma!Breaker, Breaker, 10-4
I know the Diesel F350 really well. I wass involved in some of the development work of the Piezo Common rail 1900 bar injection system. I used the development mule (that looks like a run down version of the one in your picture) regularly. Quick Google says the towing capacity is 8.7tonnes, & a payload of up to 2.6tonnes (depending on the back axle)
I had a short drive of the F150 & had an Explorer for 3 weeks & was really impressed with them.
Cabin seemed better built than the Ram- although we put a fair few miles on the Ram & we never complained about feeling uncomfotable.
I'd go diesel all the way. I love me some torque, Ma!Breaker, Breaker, 10-4
The only diesel I was considering was the Cummins diesel engine fitted to the Ram. Its amazingly robust and not over complicated in the name of emissions- and very easy to get 600-800 Bhp (if you dont mind sold coal coming out of the exhaust
)Only problem is that diesel is about $2,20 a gallon here versus $1.59 for regular. Then factor in that the actual truck price is about 70-100 percent more year on year. A diesel Ram is a heavy duty affair and achieves about 22 mpg in daily driving. If you tow this doesnt go down much and may go to 18-20 mpg. The 5.7 Hemi petrol will achieve around 18-20 mpg long distance but when you tow- may go down to 11-13 mpg. With all this in mind the diesel is only worth it if I tow all the time-which i dont or if I wanted to have fun chipping- which I wouldnt mind- but not sure if it warrants purchase enough. The other problem is that with the diesel engine in -20 conditions it would probably take about 20 years for the heater to get warm!
The Black Duke said:
XitUp said:
The Black Duke said:
Buy anything Japanese if you cant quite have a Landy?
He said he needs to tow stuff.
FRAME:
The Ram’s frame is hydroformed (reducing the number of welds) with fully boxed rails, carrying a tensile strength rating of 85,000 psi. The advantages are strength and a 30 lb. weight savings. It’s hard to beat. The rear section is a complete re-design to accommodate the new coil spring rear suspension.
The Tundra’s frame is arguably it’s weak spot. While the jury is still out on Toyota’s choice to use the triple-tech frame instead of a more traditional fully-boxed frame (like the Ram, F150, and GM trucks), it’s clear from stories of bed-bounce that Toyota hasn’t gotten the frame completely right.
Winner: Ram. Toyota’s decision to use a frame completely different than every other truck seems like an unwise decision.
Just not intersted in Tundras really
Amazing how folks over here are brainwashed into becoming Toyota evangelists.
There's little doubt that Toyota make robust and reliable cars now. Contrrary to popular opinion- this didnt happen overnight and in the 70s their cars were rubbish. Phrases like Cheap-Jap-crap came about for good reason. To their considerable credit-they learnt but this didnt happen over night.
With trucks they're still learning.
On this informative you tube video about truck frames-
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfE_XAk2mE&feat...
I came across this thickie who made this comment:
"this is one hilarious video, especially since you noobs are too dumb to realize that ALL 3/4 and 1 ton pickups from the big 3 are made with at least 2/3 C channel...just like the Tundra. A good frame needs to bend under heavy loads or it will be much more prone to cracking. You go try telling a trucker with a F-350 super duty that his truck is inferior to a F-150. The Tundra really is the truck that's changing it all."
Last time I looked at Hookes law as applied to metal I dont remember reaching a 'cracking' limit before going over the hookian extension limit or the plastic region
There's little doubt that Toyota make robust and reliable cars now. Contrrary to popular opinion- this didnt happen overnight and in the 70s their cars were rubbish. Phrases like Cheap-Jap-crap came about for good reason. To their considerable credit-they learnt but this didnt happen over night.
With trucks they're still learning.
On this informative you tube video about truck frames-
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfE_XAk2mE&feat...
I came across this thickie who made this comment:
"this is one hilarious video, especially since you noobs are too dumb to realize that ALL 3/4 and 1 ton pickups from the big 3 are made with at least 2/3 C channel...just like the Tundra. A good frame needs to bend under heavy loads or it will be much more prone to cracking. You go try telling a trucker with a F-350 super duty that his truck is inferior to a F-150. The Tundra really is the truck that's changing it all."
Last time I looked at Hookes law as applied to metal I dont remember reaching a 'cracking' limit before going over the hookian extension limit or the plastic region
Raffles said:
I'm tempted to get a Dodge Ram in the UK, I had a look at one but it ended up I couldn't afford it. I got an MX5 in the end!
I have had both a Chevvie Silverado and a F150 in the US and loved them both. So good for long journeys and a feeling of poweraround town. I feel you would just look a nob in the UK though, but would eb worth it!
Me in the F150
And what looks like me trying to appear as gay as possible
No doubt about it, the F 150 is a damned good truck. That looks like the one I test drove. I have had both a Chevvie Silverado and a F150 in the US and loved them both. So good for long journeys and a feeling of poweraround town. I feel you would just look a nob in the UK though, but would eb worth it!
Me in the F150
And what looks like me trying to appear as gay as possible
I have a friend in the UK from Essex and she's really turned onto the idea of getting a Ram now. May be she'll look less of a knob because she's a woman?
Looking at Autotrader.co.uk I see them from anywhere from 7000 up to 25,000 GBP. With British petrol prices, I told her it may be worth getting the diesel. they get around 22 mpg over here, with means about 25 mpg (UK).
With the weakness of the British pound, I wonder if it is STILL cheaper to import one yourself....
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