2013 Dodge Ram gets Pentastar V6, 8 speed trans

[toylandcruiser]

The cars from the 90s are now considered pretty simple. They had one computer but rarely more. The current cars are more like ipods. There are just too many systems. I am not worried about the computers as much as I am worried about the plastics and corresponding clips, knobs, attachements and accessories. Computers can be replaced but plastics get truly impossible to maintain and repair after a certain age.

New cars with more miles than old cars? I doubt it. I see plenty of old cars with 200k plus miles and it all comes down to the owner and the maintenance of the vehicle. These newer vehicles will be more like repairing a computer as well as a car. Will they offer new computer systems and screens? It is a possibility and may lead to a longer life. It all depends on how they are approached.

So it may be his opinion but he isn't alone. Your opinion is also "only your opinion". I have no idea how the current crop of cars will last but I can tell you I don't plan to be one of the ones with first hand knowledge. I will keep my old beater going as long as possible. The more complicated these vehicles become the less I will be attracted to paying large amounts of money for them. I like technology but I don't like complexity. I would buy a simple modern truck but I think that safety, emissions and other mandates will require a level of complexity. I would buy a new argentine f100 with a 3.9 cummins but that won't be available here.

And people said the same thing back then. About how unreliable they'll be blow blaw. I just wish people would get out of the older is better mind set.

 

[Larry]

Nice upgrades to an already great truck. I hope they beefed up their internal warranty accruals and service part stock as there is a lot of new technology in this truck. Perhaps, too much too soon IMHO. The rotary dial transmission shifter is a terrible idea. I support many bigger class 5 & 6 class trucks for a truck manufacturer that run electric shift automated Eaton transmissions and Allison automatics. Not a very durable system by any means. A major parcel fleet of mine went so far as to retrofit manual shift levers back many metropolitan route trucks due to shifting issues resulting in tows back to the depot as well as costs and lost time to offload the goods to a different truck. Electric shift 4wd is bad enough, now this….aye, aye…. The RAM brand is known to be bold. I hope they didn't get over confident on some of this technology as it seemed to pop up a bit too quick where I don't see how they could have done solid durability testing which takes years. A lot of their presented technology came to be way too fast in my opinion.

I am GM loyalist, but yet a huge Chrysler fan. In fact, if I were to buy a brand new truck today it would be a RAM, not a Silverado or Sierra. This new 2013 Ram 1500 is fancy but I hope the guys at Chrysler are wise enough to separate the straw from manure and keep this technology in the lighter trucks for people that should really be driving cars or cute-utes and not roll all of this technology into the heavier 2500-5500 trucks intended for work.

As far as the new Pentastar DI 3.6L engine, all I can say it is one awesome engine. It should serve the 1500 Ram's well. I’ve had a few new rental Chargers and even a new Jeep Wranger with them. Great engine, V8 like power with the fuel economy of a 4 banger. Last week I had a new Chevy Malibu with the new GM Powertrain high feature LY7 DI 3.6L in Lexington, KY. WOW! That car hauled some serious ******** as well. These new direct injected engines are awesome. Wait until the DI technology arrives in the V8 engines in 2014.

I am not opposed to technology, in fact I love it. That is why l get off on sticking modern engines in old trucks. But, I only dig technology that makes sense. Adding buttons and dials to operate transmissions and transfercases are not where I appreciate technology. No dial operated Ram 8 speed auto for me thank you.

 

[Eaglefreek]

I surprised Allpar.com called it a Dodge Ram. They dropped the Dodge name a couple years ago and are just Ram trucks now.

 

[Larry]

I surprised Allpar.com called it a Dodge Ram. They dropped the Dodge name a couple years ago and are just Ram trucks now.

I noticed that too. My feeling is Allpar's naming it a Dodge was partly due to their resistance to recognize the RAM branding separate from the Dodge name plate. The RAM still carries a Dodge VIN so it is what it is. The only reason the RAM brand was created was incase Chrysler Group, LLC fails they could more easily liquidate the company by brand. Sell off the Jeep brand to some other manufacturer (just like how Chrylser aquired the Jeep brand many years ago), sell the RAM branded trucks to some other, etc. Someone like Freightliner, Navistar or even the Chinese could snap up the RAM brand in a heartbeat for a quick entry into the light truck segment and carry on like nothing ever happened if the industry auto collapses for good. I don’t see that happening but it is a wise business move on Sergio’s part to move the Dodge Ram to its own RAM brand……just in case. It will always be a Dodge to me!

As life moves on don’t be surprised to see Silverado, Sierra, F-series also become their own brand names in the next few years. Seems to be the industry trend in this uncertain world.

 

[lllateralus]

That's all it is is your opinion. Look at the cars from the 90's. They are pushing 20 years now. They are good to go.

Exactly my point.. cars from the 90's hardly had computers. Sure... they were fuel injected, so they did have an ECU, but its very simple by today's standards.
In today's super modern vehicles, everything you do from activate the headlights, roll down the windows, shift into gear, etc... there is a computer in the middle.
That's why when you turn on the headlights in a new Toyota, there is about a half second delay in the headlights actually burning.

I'm not totally against modernization and technology, but I am saying that the more complex these systems get, (a chrysler 8 speed auto... damn) the more likely they are to fail down the line... and diagnosing which computer or harness is acting up is going to be a nightmare.

 

[lstzephyr]

And people said the same thing back then. About how unreliable they'll be blow blaw. I just wish people would get out of the older is better mind set.

"Back then" I was 5. I didn't mean they would be unreliable, I meant they would be difficult to fix. I think that at a certain point the systems will crumble. There is too much widgety complex plastic crap in modern cars. That plastic crap will be just as crappy as old plastic crap is now. I will readily admit I may be wrong and it is entirely possible. I just don't want to be the one fixing these cars and that is a major reason why I got out of the industry. I don't(can't) pay people to fix things for me so maybe that is part of my bias. I tend to look at everything as "can I fix this in x years".

I'm not into the older is better mindset, maybe some are but that isn't me. I'm in the simpler is better camp. I would buy a new truck in other countries where they are still simple but not here. I would buy a new bike with a kickstart and a carb but not efi and electric start. As it is every motorized vehicle is a complicated mess and I don't like the idea of them getting even worse. Things like automated grill slats and rotary shifters go way beyond my level of "things I am willing to try to fix". What is wrong with a cable and an open grill?

People will always have more faith in things that are proven though. I bet that is why you will always see the "older is better mindset".

 

[toylandcruiser]

Those are both your opinions. I'm willing to bet that modern vehicles will be reliable in the years to come. J if d it easier to work on a modern car than an older one. Especially the 70s and 80s carb crap. It's miserable trying to track down vacuum leaks. But a modern computer controlled one, just hook up a computer and it tells you what's wrong. No spaghetti strewn all over the engine bay.

 

[rkj__]

Wow, lots of changes!

 

[BCHauler]

I wonder how that v6 will do moving a full-size truck. Not being a huge power guy, if the pentastar gets better fuel economy and isn't overburdened like the 3.7 was, this sounds like a good back road combo to me.

 

[haven]

The old 3.7L six had a max 235 ft lb. The new 3.6L six makes 260 ft lb. Matched to the 8 speed trans, I think this will be a useful, economical choice for a camping vehicle. I expect the Dodge to be rated to deliver somewhat better mpg than the V6 Tacoma.

If you're interested in towing, the 5.7L V8 is still available. And, of course, this is the Ram 1500. The 2500 and 3500 are still available, too.

I wonder how long it will be before the 8 speed auto shows up in a Wrangler?

 

[lstzephyr]

Those are both your opinions.

Your opinion is no more or less valid. However saying it that way implies that our opinons are not valid. Personally I have more issues with the plastics, I think the engines will be fine. Ditch the stupidity inside the vehicle and I would say they are good vehicles. As it is the biggest issues I have with my old truck is the stupid plastic.

The old 3.7L six had a max 235 ft lb. The new 3.6L six makes 260 ft lb. Matched to the 8 speed trans, I think this will be a useful, economical choice for a camping vehicle. I expect the Dodge to be rated to deliver somewhat better mpg than the V6 Tacoma.

I agree. I bet the v6 with that many gears will do just fine. The big power vehicles are usually a bit overkill anyway. 250 ish lbft or so is fine to move a reasonably light 1/2t around it just won't light the world on fire.

 

[Cole]

I love how the word "complex" keeps coming up with reference to the new features. This word was used back in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s to describe every new electronic gadget that ever went into a car. As time goes on these things seem pretty simple to us.

There really are not "more" computers in the car, just more stuff is controlled by the single computer through the use of a network instead of individual wir to everything. This technology has been in use in cars since the 80s too!

I did not see a single item of technology listed on the new Ram that has not been in use by some other manufacturer for at least a decade now. None of it is exactly ground breaking.

As for these things being in service 40 years from now? Probably. They will be considered simple to fix and most of the "plastic" stuff is usually cosmetic anyway. I had an original plastic dash in my 1974 chevy that still functions fine. The plastics of today are far superior to those.

 

[Larry]

My least favorite part of the new technology in the 2013. Manufacturers can't get electric shift transfercases to work reliably and now this.

:violent-smiley-031:

 

[78Bronco]

When Ford thought to build the Ecoboost F150 I am thankful they beefed up the engine to handle the stresses of operating in a fullsize truck. It can do all the work of a V8 without restricting what the vehicle can do.

Dodge is taking a car engine and sticking it into a truck. I wouldn't touch one with a 20 foot pole

 

[Cole]

Manufacturers can't get electric shift transfercases to work reliably.....

Who can't? Are we still talking about the stuff in het 80s?