38+ MPG EcoDiesel

Hypermiling a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to 38.1 mpg

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The truck in question was a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Limited Edition 4x4 with Crew Cab decked out with all sorts of luxury features to reach a $58,015 price tag. That means it had the customer preferred package that adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 20-inch wheels with chrome inserts and a pair of Ramboxes. Most importantly, for our mileage purposes, it had a 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

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Holy crap!  
$20K in options since a tradesman with the EcoD can be had for around $36K.

Impressive #s none the less.

Think most reasonable people understand the increase in MPG comes with additional cost.  Cost comparison the Corvette Stingray starts at $53k.

The market truck market on upper end trim trucks continues to expand, customers are buying.  Though one wonders if it's truly customers are buying and owing, or they're simply extending themselves financially to obtain the upper trims.

Hard to qualify an economy that supports the $58k truck or vehicle market for the masses.  Or the possibility the trend in buying at the top end is supported on false pretenses.

Inflation is likely more of a factor than official channels have espoused.

joemac wrote:

Think most reasonable people understand the increase in MPG comes with additional cost.  

The same MPG can be had for $36K that is what I was pointing out. A Diesel Ram tradesman of the same configuration can be had for $36K or $20K less than the loaded up Big Horn version. So maybe $5K in the air suspension/trailer tow and another $15K for bells/whistles.

Looks like whatever I finally replace my current truck with is going to be used. That's just too much money for a new one.

$58k for a half ton with itty bitty bed, just incredible when absorbing the picture of the market in it's entirety.

I like buying used when the opportunity is right and not taking the initial hit on deprecation, again when it makes financial sense. There are some cases especially with trucks in certain circumstances there's little difference in two year old truck with 24k miles and a new truck with $8k or more in incentives.

I know in my neck of the woods, the demand for trucks is high enough that even used trucks are crazily priced. Sucks, but it is what it is.
'You gotta pay if you wanna play!'

The ole 6.5TD isn't a powerhouse or mileage king but it is paid for!
At 5K miles/year it makes no sense to replace it yet.

joemac wrote:

$58k for a half ton with itty bitty bed, just incredible when absorbing the picture of the market in it's entirety.

I like buying used when the opportunity is right and not taking the initial hit on deprecation, again when it makes financial sense.  There are some cases especially with trucks in certain circumstances there's little difference in two year old truck with 24k miles and a new truck with $8k or more in incentives.

That's exactly how I ended up with the truck I have now. It was taking up room on the lot that was filling up with the next model year. The dealer wanted it gone so it was discounted, and it qualified for the factory incentives, discounts. For a few hundred more I got a new truck instead of used. It was a proud moment for me because it was the first new truck I ever bought   . The way prices are now though, it may be the last   .