A lower diesel option price is the biggest feature that can happen to make diesels popular; $39K starting price is going to be a huge boon for the Ram brand; and remember, the new Ram 1500 has no regular cab; so this is a quad cab price with a diesel and 8 speed! This was about the same starting price that it was in…

Well, three mpg, combined estimate (best Powerstroke 3.0 vs best Ecoboost), is not “almost as good”. That’s a substantail difference in this segment. The highway difference is 4 for 2WD. Ford reports only 4% so far of all F150s with the Powerstroke choice. Besides the super premium price, there are three reasons why:…

In 2015, I purchased a new, all aluminum bodied F150 RCSB with chrome bumpers and aluminum wheels and power glass/cruise option package and optional 2.7L twin turbo with 6 speed auto and 3.31 rear axle for less than $28K. It weighs less than 4200 pounds full of fuel. It goes like a rocket ship when called upon to do…

The Ram 1500 “Classic” withstanding who’s days are numbered, the Ford F150 is the last single cab short bed still in production and only in XL trim, however, that configuration can be dressed up in sport trim for body matching bumpers in select colors and aluminum wheels, or chrome bumpers with aluminum wheels with a…

Of the three domestics, GM is the worst at underestimating the intelligence and logic of American readers. While it is likely true that the price premium is the same for the new Duramax as for the 6.2L, but since the 6.2L is not available except  in the three highest trims (not in LT , not in RST) why are they making i…

Three times, there have been rumors abound of a future FCA 3.0L I6 GTDI engine to either replace Penstar V6 or Hemi 5.7L V8 or both for rear drive Ram and Jeep vehicles. Said to produce similar power as the Hemi. Even as highly regarded as is the Hemi, there has been almost no negative comments about the prospect of…

 In theory, yes. Much of the top half of their engines use half the parts. Packing is the difficult part due to engine length. Limited mostly to longitudinal applications, aka rear drive vehicles, but my favorite vehicle I’ve driven all time has been a full size truck powered by a mere 150 hp, 260 ft-lb @ only 2500…

I agree that horsepower will be kept in check. Nothing crazy. The higher the HP rating, the worse mpg that it’ll get in the real world. They’ll shoot for a specific hp number and try not to go over it, which will be just a tad more than GM’s new 6.6L and try to crush GM’s 6.6 for torque, which they’ll do easily.…

Not as much on this comment board, but on many others, I think folks are seeing way too much in this engine from a strategy perspective. TFL has suggested that this new gas engine is meant to start the beginning of the end for diesels, as they’ll add electrification to it via batteries and e motor(s); and some have…

Agreed that without a regular cab version, this truck makes little sense for anyone who would actually “need” such a truck for anything practical. On the other hand, what does “need” have to do with anything in today’s car culture. I do understand, however, the pricing dilemma, as consumers like me that would want a…

The way to go going forward for mid-sized trucks is a big-bore four cylinder, say a 3.0L; have one version naturally-aspired and one version turbo charged 220 hp / 230 ft-lb, 300 hp / 350+ ft-lb torque, respectively. Better mpg and better work duty and cheaper for the manufacturers. I hate NA V6s for pickup trucks;…

Auto media writers need to quit doing this. It’s a disservice to consumers and it’s counter to arguing for value, which should be one of the main roles of auto media journalists. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending and owning the $25,395 Ranger that comes standard with an advanced, powerful power train, goo…

I’ve got a 2015 F150 RCSB XL with 3.31 gears; modestly equipped; very light curb weight, but it’s got the 1st generation 2.7L Ecoboost V6 that one could get back then for only $800, but that was before Ford added the 10 speed and 25 more ft-lb torque at 250 lower RPM than what my truck has. Unlike many Ecoboost…

Exhibit 4: The 6.2L Ecotec in the new truck also gets DFM, upgraded from AFM, but additionally gets mated to a 10 speed instead of an 8-speed, and even with all of that added technology, gains one in the city but loses 1 on the highway for the same combined score.

It’s great engineering, and therefore, this power train should be in a truck today that achieves the gas-powered mpg championship; but unfortunately, GM has done something with this new truck body that is killing highway mpg no matter the power train.

This is where the media is letting us down. The RCSB maybe gone soon, yet the auto media (the industry that is supposed to represent the consumer) is helping the industry sneak around this issue. To be clear, the elimination of the RCSB pickup truck in 1/2-ton duty would be like baseball going away and a new game that…

Oh no. The work truck is my favorite. It’s a thing of beauty. Ram won’t even offer one in the new truck. Work truck versions are usually my favorite; especially when I see the low sticker price FOR THE SAME TRUCK AS THE $50k+ VERSIONS. This one is no exception. The only thing about it is with that black trim, the…

That’s debatable whether or not they would have been first, because Ford had a 4.4 V8 that actually came to fruition but not in an F150. It is built and exported from Mexico to Asia and Europe for commercial trucks; built at the same plant as the bigger 6.7 that’s in the current heavy, light-duty F series truck. Also…

I wonder why this keeps happening. Another 3-liter, exactly, diesel in a half ton; third one now; albeit this one has a different arrangement; and the first question anyone wants answered is “how much power and torque?”. Well personally, if I’m getting a FS truck with a 3-liter diesel, I’m going to be concerned only…

I wonder how much this technology has advanced and whether it is any more effective at saving fuel than my wife’s 2007 Saturn Aura that is described exactly the same except for the accessary cooling and it’s 48 volt versus my wife’s 36 volt system. The good news regarding the Saturn Hybrid from year s ago is that I’ve…