Ram V6 Roadtest

2013 Ram 1500 3.6-Liter V-6 Eight-Speed

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/03/rampage-the-test-at-davis-dam.html

Quote :

For this test, given our timing of mid-February, driving and testing on Interstate 70 out of Dillon, Colo., without snow chains (on the truck and trailer) was out of question, so we took our two Ram 1500s on the California-Arizona-Nevada portion of the test. This effectively cut our loop in half, but still gave us a chance to test our two trucks on level and steep grade roads to see how the little engines performed.



Both our 2013 Rams were two-wheel drive, had SLT trim packages and four full-size doors, rode on a 140.5-inch wheelbase chassis and used the all-aluminum Pentastar V-6 and TorqueFlite 8 transmission. However, instead of ordering both trucks with 3.21:1 gears and sacrificing towing capacity, or ordering both with 3.55:1 gears and sacrificing best achievable fuel economy, we opted to order one with the more fuel-friendly gearing to be driven empty (it came in True Blue Pearl) and the other V-6 with the gears that gave us the best towing capacity.

Our "tow" Ram 1500 (in Deep Cherry Red) came equipped with the air suspension package for better load leveling and rear-end control, as well as the Uconnect navigation system (with backup camera), RamBox storage bed, a 32-gallon gas tank and pivoting towing mirrors, all of which we thought would help during trailering duty. We should note those differences did create a slight weight difference between the two when we weighed them on CAT Scales (just more than 200 pounds) as well as a pretty good price difference. The final price for our blue Ram came to $37,490 while our red Ram with the air suspension, a few other towing essentials and RamBox was $43,630.

For complete test and results, head over to PickupTrucks.com.

Wow, they aren't inexpensive.

5500lbs is a pretty good load for a 1500 considering freeway wind resistance. Minus all the pedal to the metal acceleration and climbs, it sounds like the little V6 with 8 speed auto did ok with fuel economy.

I think they'll need to lower the price to move these things. It helps if an owner is trading in a pickup. But even then most put them on loan so there's not much equity to trade in. Maybe home equity line of credits will be the auto industry savoir once again.

A 1500 v6 would work great with a low profile popup tent trailer. Its excellent fuel economy could open up cross country travel.

Those prices quoted in the article are definitely high. I hope they were MSRP. If so, most dealers typically sell for less than that.

Video guy is vying for a Fiat/RAM PR position when he says, with a straight face, the SLT 2WD small box "looks very bare bone and actually is (with emphasis!) a pretty good deal at slightly under $38k."

I'd think $5k less would be in the ballpark. Gotta wonder how pricey that VM Motori option will be.

I'm thinking let the early adopters have at it at that price. Because you know it will come down in about a year. Not to mention the bigger motors will soon get the 8 speed transmission. Then you can really compare mileage and ability before you make a choice.

For those prices I'd look at a base 3/4 ton W/T 4x4.
Keep a car for fuel mileage.

For crying out loud are they smoking crack to come up with those prices ?