Test drove a Ram 1500 Sport

nadrojcote · July 29, 2015

Yesterday when I got off work I had a check engine light on again with a new issue. Some of you that know me on here know I have had a lot of issues with my truck. So being fed up I went and test drove a Ram. It was a used 2014 crew cab sport with heated and cooled leather and half as many KM's as mine. This is what I found.

Pros

-cooled seats even though its not a top trim model

-great ride quality

-incredibly throttle and brake response compared to my truck

-nice infotainment system and DIC

-Frame was not rusty like mine was after the same amount of time on the road

-center console seemed nicely finished instead of a big giant hole

-Fuel mileage on the DIC from the previous owners trips was around 12-13l/100km which is better than I expected

Cons

-Seats were uncomfortable, I tried to find a position I liked and I couldn't. They also didn't have as much side support to stop you from sliding sideways, like a race seat.

-Felt very heavy and like a 3/4 ton

-even though it had heated and cooled seats, it was missing a sunroof, automatic climate control, dual climate control, navigation and memory seats compared to my SLT

-8 speed shifts a lot, not sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was different getting used to

-the exterior look is getting a little stale, they could use a refresh or redesign

Over all I wanted to love the Ram, but I couldn't. The uncomfortable driving position and exterior look of the truck turned me off. I know lots of people that have had good luck with Ram's lately and I'll consider them in the future, but for now I like the look of my truck and prefer the seats.

MikeNH · July 29, 2015

There is some inconsistency in the seats cause I drove two similar Rams a few months apart and disliked one seat and was ok in the other. GM does nicer seats though (at least according to my butt lol). The missing stuff are all options I think.

I was real torn between another Chevy and a Ram earlier this year. I ended up with a Wrangler but I was leaning toward a regular cab Sport before I decided to change direction and get the Jeep.

jonsnow · July 29, 2015

I just traded my 09 Ram Sport reg cab short box in on a 13 Sierra crew cab. I liked the Ram for power,it was a rocket. I did notice the body panels dented very easy. The rear diff limited slip clutch pack went out twice at $1000 a wack. Talking to some guys on the Ram forums,they said about 20k miles was about all you would get out of the clutches and that's ridiculous.

As for mileage, I averaged 14-15 mpg.

The Sierra feels like a higher quality vehicle. Fit and finish just feels better.metal on the body seems to be a heavier gauge,not sure if it is but it doesn't dent when you bump it. With the 5.3, it doesn't have the power my Ram had but I can live with that. I like the feel of the GMC better.

I guess your going to get a bad one once in a while no matter who makes it. I have been buying GM's and Dodge's my entire life and I have to say, I have had better luck with the GM trucks.

nadrojcote · July 29, 2015

The newer rams have come a long way from the older ones for fit and finish. They're pretty nice, but I did notice there was a a couple small dents in the one I looked at.

jonsnow · July 29, 2015

The newer rams have come a long way from the older ones for fit and finish. They're pretty nice, but I did notice there was a a couple small dents in the one I looked at.

jonsnow · July 29, 2015

I don't think I have seen one that didn't have a dent or two in the upper box sides. I put a small crease in my door just by touching a 2x4 wall in my garage. I didn't hit it, it was just resting against it while I was getting in. You could push against the body anywhere with your thumb and indent it.

I liked the truck,just thought it should have been better for the money you pay.

20SierraL8T24 · August 14, 2015

The newer rams have come a long way from the older ones for fit and finish. They're pretty nice, but I did notice there was a a couple small dents in the one I looked at.

Just had a customer of mine come in w 13 Ram w a 5.7. He's been back and forth to the dealer 3 times for a check engine light that won't go away, his seat fell apart and is the second, and his exhaust has a nasty leak and he's taking it to his dealer when he gets back home in Ohio next week... He said his mileage is 12mpg on a good day, and wishes he never traded his 10 Chevy in on it.

nadrojcote · August 14, 2015

Well that must just be his bad luck because I know lots of people who have been problem free and happy with their Rams. So I would guess that guy got a lemon or he drives it like he stole it. No offence to gm, as I've always loved them, but ram seems to be a more solid, less mass produced truck right now.

20SierraL8T24 · August 14, 2015

I also have another buddy who bought a salvage RAM (flooded) and he hasn't had any issues at all.

BlackZ71Silverado · August 17, 2015

I think the Ram's are beautiful trucks appearance wise, looking at body style.

They have been the best looking truck bodies for years IMO. The problem I have is everything else that comes with it, not that great of a truck. They feel fast and quick compared to the Silveraod/Sierra 5.3L but GM really has their engines detuned from the factory. They also have terrible programming with the throttle body opening. I understand they do it as a "safety" factor so we don't go through parts but their amount of torque management really takes the fun out of the GM trucks. All of that can be fixed with a tune but the throttle response is still not as quick as other manufacturers.

The Ram's I test drove had much better throttle response than both of my GM trucks and that makes them feel quicker. The OEM ride of the Ram felt great BUT the trucks I drove had the rear coil spring suspension and that makes a huge difference when it comes to ride quality. That is easily fixed on GM's with a good set of aftermarket shocks.

The Ram rear drive system is terrible, their 'limited slip' doesn't work well. I also don't care for the interior design, I am just not a fan of a truck with a center console shifter, they are for cars and SUV's. It seems GM is the only manufacturer left with the shifter where it belongs, on the steering wheel. I would love to have a Ram with the 5.7L HEMI but there are a lot of things they would need to change for me to give up on GM and buy one of their trucks.

Default User · September 1, 2015

Any thoughts on the Ram Rebel?

MikeNH · September 1, 2015

Local dealer got 2 in a few weeks ago. The goofy grill looks better in person but I'm still not sure I like the departure from the crosshair grill. Aside from that the truck does have a mean stance. I wish GM would figure out how to grow a pair and do something unique like this.

Default User · September 2, 2015

I agree completely

I'm torn because I like both styles - but for different reasons.

The rebel looks more DAKAR super truck rally - where as the original Ram looks like a work beast.

MARSOC · October 3, 2015

Local dealer got 2 in a few weeks ago. The goofy grill looks better in person but I'm still not sure I like the departure from the crosshair grill. Aside from that the truck does have a mean stance. I wish GM would figure out how to grow a pair and do something unique like this.

MARSOC · October 3, 2015

Don't get me wrong, GM makes a nice truck, I've all but given up on thier product design as far as "outside the box" thinking goes. If only GM had the progressive designers that Ford and Ram had, they would be number 1 for sure.