Email from San Diego on New Dodge Pickup

[bajasurf]

My neighbor emailed me this morning and a friend of ours bought a brand new Dodge pickup yesterday. The list price excluding tax and license was $39,000. I am assuming it was a 4x4 Diesel. He drove off the lot in his new truck after paying $18,000. This is a $21,000 off the sticker price " buy this before we go bankrupt" deal.

 

[lowenbrau]

I'd take one for that price.

 

[bajasurf]

The Price is $18,000

Made a mistake and changed the price to $18,000 not $16,000 as I hit the wrong number key. So now not such a great deal or is it? They will be here tomorrow night so I will post my observations Saturday. I would buy one also if I didn't have to drive back to California from Baja for required service. I have to say once you become a full time Baja resident the thought of driving back to California can ruin a great day.

 

[Steve_in_29]

....The list price excluding tax and license was $39,000. I am assuming it was a 4x4 Diesel.....

Don't assume it was a diesel. That price is still within the ballpark for a 1500. Dodge has been holding a fire sale on 08 1500s because it is common knowledge that the redesigned 09s are coming soon.

 

[lowenbrau]

Don't assume it was a diesel. That price is still within the ballpark for a 1500. Dodge has been holding a fire sale on 08 1500s because it is common knowledge that the redesigned 09s are coming soon.

Plenty of 09s on the lots here. No real improvements that I could see. That 6" wide tailgate might be stronger though.

 

[Christian P.]

Maybe time to shop for a new car...



Economy forcing more car dealers to close

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/02/BUST139QVU.DTL&tsp=1

 

[Capt Eddie]

Has anyone been in the back seat of an 09? I hear they are going to be bigger then a Ford crew cab. That would be good. They say the 2010 big truck will get the bigger back seat.

 

[spencyg]

A buddy of mine just drove off the lot with an '08 Ram 2500 diesel crew cab for $34k....sticker was near $50k. I don't think your friend got a diesel for $18k as that is well below what they have into it at the factory. We have been seeing 2008 GMC 2500HD's with the gas engine on the lot for around $21k and they just sit. Those prices are more a result of the economy than gas prices at this point....God help us all.

Spence

 

[calamaridog]

Plenty of 09s on the lots here. No real improvements that I could see. That 6" wide tailgate might be stronger though.

Um, did you look underneath at the "improved" independant rear suspension?

 

[AZCPP]

Plenty of 09s on the lots here. No real improvements that I could see. That 6" wide tailgate might be stronger though.

Maybe not all are improvements but, a lot of changes! Cab, front-end, suspension, bed,......

 

[ThomD]

Somebody find me a deal on Sprinters.

 

[calamaridog]

I would argue the 2008 Ram 1500 4x4 with the 4.7L V8 is an awesome value right now. The 4.7L V8 is the upgraded version and the Ram underwent several key improvements in the last couple several production years.

I'll look forward to checking out the new 09 too, but I really liked the 07-08.

 

[lowenbrau]

Um, did you look underneath at the "improved" independant rear suspension?

You probably meant multi-link solid axle rear suspension. I'm not convinced it is an improvement for a pickup. Chevy did the same thing in the 60s on their light trucks and dropped it like a hot potato. Its a half ton thing at any rate, we were talking about diesels (i.e. 3/4 ton and up).

The forward rake of the grill looks funny but probably helps cooling so I'll add that to the small list of improvements. Thankfully. most of the changes are gimmicky (like the box side storage) but won't negatively affect functionality.

You know they are short on things to say when the press release list the following among the "improvements"..."The sculpted Ram's-head badge on the tailgate is 250 percent larger than the previous badge."
"Wow honey, that truck is cool, I wonder what kind it is?"

 

[bajasurf]

It Wasn't a Diesel

Steve and Spence, you guys have it right and it wasn't a diesel. I should have had all the facts before I posted and it shows how long since it has been since I have been in a dealership. I am still driving and happy with my 1990 Ford Centurion 4x4, 7.3 liter diesel. But then that was $40,000 back in 90. Anyway, he bought the 1/2 ton crew cab with the 4.7 liter gas engine.

 

[NorCalBronco]

Any pics of the Centurion? Don't see very many of those!