Chrysler receives overwhelming response for Ram 1500 diesel...

[enzo1]

DETROIT, MI- Chrysler executives expected sales of the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to surge, but even they might be surprised by the overwhelming response to initial ordering.

Within three days of opening ordering on Feb. 7, the company received more than 8,000 Ram 1500 diesel orders, which filled the initial ordering allocation Chrysler set for the vehicle and its new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine.

Chrysler attributed the ordering surge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certifying the full-size pickup at 28 miles per gallon on the highway.

“It’s every truck manufacturer’s dream to have this kind of initial order demand for a product,” said Reid Bigland, Ram president and CEO. “Fuel economy is the No. 1 request of half-ton buyers and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers without compromising capability.”

The new engine, which Bigland previously described to MLive as a “differentiator,” also packs 420 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 9,200 pounds of towing capability.

Chrysler, according to a Ram spokesman, may increase the monthly allocation amount if demand for the vehicle, which was strongly driven by customer ordering, continues. Officials said orders continue to come in, but did not have a specific amount since the initial three days.

Production of the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel began in February. Shipping is expected in March, which is months later than Chrysler’s initial plans of late-2013.

Although the company has reached its first planned order allocation numbers in three days, customers who special order the new truck will have priority in the build. The next order distribution, according to Chrysler, will begin in early-March. Chrysler receives overwhelming response for Ram 1500 diesel | MLive.com

[sketchers356]

I think that Fords aluminum F150 is going to be a game changer.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Diesel in a half ton truck is such a "duh" decision that I cannot fathom why it took this long. Let's see, the truck does everything a truck does but better, and gets significantly better MPG. What a shock that people want it. This is, BTW, why most trucks and SUVs in Europe have diesels.

[motion]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Diesel in a half ton truck is such a "duh" decision that I cannot fathom why it took this long. Let's see, the truck does everything a truck does but better, and gets significantly better MPG. What a shock that people want it. This is, BTW, why most trucks and SUVs in Europe have diesels.

Probably because it will cannibalize 3/4 ton diesel sales, which are a cash cow for Ford and others. Maybe Dodge doesn't sell too many 3/4 ton diesels and they can take the hit.

[JeremyD]

Should be in small SUV's too - there is a reason diesels are popular in europe. cause they work.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by motion

Probably because it will cannibalize 3/4 ton diesel sales, which are a cash cow for Ford and others. Maybe Dodge doesn't sell too many 3/4 ton diesels and they can take the hit.

That's why they didn't shove a cummins under the bonnet... lol

A better question is to see if they are going to make those 8 speeds work reliably.

[enzo1]

Real world testing....

[enzo1]

Nissan will get the v8 engine originally( rumored). built for the Ram... Cummins Engines

[aigel]

Originally Posted by motion

Probably because it will cannibalize 3/4 ton diesel sales

+1 - once one company starts it, the others will have to follow suit though. I'd buy a diesel 1/2 ton. I'd also buy a diesel SUV.

G

[enzo1]

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by enzo1

Nissan will get the v8 engine originally( rumored). built for the Ram... Cummins Engines

[rrental]

Talked to a few RAM dealers here and will take one for a test as soon as they have one available. If it does what everyone says it does I will get one.

Don't want a big 3/4 or full ton as a daily driver. Driving the F350 in town is like parking a school bus.

Air suspension, fully equipped, great mileage for the local drive. Good for taking the (not too big) toy hauler up the mountain in the weekends without getting single digits mileage.

On paper the perfect solution.

Disclaimer: Now driving a Ford F150 and I could not care less about the pickup truck brand name pissing contest. If it's a Ford, Chevy or Ram, all the same to me.

After driving a nice (diesel) SUV for a while I concluded living without a daily driver pickup truck just doesn't make sense for me.

Will let you know as soon as I test it here on the "highway True Hell"

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by enzo1

Very comparable to the output of a 5.9l....

[enzo1]

Fiat-Chrysler 3.0L Diesel V6 Was Originally A GM Engine

Read more: Chrysler EcoDiesel V6 Development Paid For By General Motors | GM Authority

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by rrental

Talked to a few RAM dealers here and will take one for a test as soon as they have one available. If it does what everyone says it does I will get one.

Don't want a big 3/4 or full ton as a daily driver. Driving the F350 in town is like parking a school bus.

Air suspension, fully equipped, great mileage for the local drive. Good for taking the (not too big) toy hauler up the mountain in the weekends without getting single digits mileage.

On paper the perfect solution.

Disclaimer: Now driving a Ford F150 and I could not care less about the pickup truck brand name pissing contest. If it's a Ford, Chevy or Ram, all the same to me.

After driving a nice (diesel) SUV for a while I concluded living without a daily driver pickup truck just doesn't make sense for me.

Will let you know as soon as I test it here on the "highway True Hell"

Cool! looking forward to your review...

[Chocaholic]

At least around here, diesel fuel costs 20-25% more than gas. So, in real $...the difference isn't so significant.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I want it as much for the diesel characteristics as I do the MPG. The diesel abundance of low end torque is perfectly suited for a truck, especially if you tow. My F150 5.0 has plenty of towing power but it's high enough in the rev range that the truck does a lot of shifting, especially when its hilly.

[Instrument 41]

Half ton trucks will never replace the three quarter ton trucks. The difference is not just the power plants. Wondering what the sticker for the Ram is going to be. If its not competitively priced, that could be a game changer.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

At least around here, diesel fuel costs 20-25% more than gas. So, in real $...the difference isn't so significant.

I see this as the argument against a diesel truck. The saving just aren't enough for me.

[GH85Carrera]

My father in law ordered a little Chevy S-10 with a diesel engine back in the late 1980s. Everytime he stopped to get fuel (about once a month) some trucker wanted to buy it.

It had a Mitsubishi made engine. It was slower than a slug but he drove a Mercedes 240D for years and that was not a rocket either.