Dont shoot..09 Tacoma or 09 Ram

Wait, what Tacoma weighs 5350 lbs? Mine is rated under 4000.

 

I drove a 1500 doublecab while mine was getting worked on from an accident. The truck was nice but it sucked gas big time (I was getting about 10mpg) and the transmission seemed clunky. The power was good though. It definitly would pull away from a stock Tacoma. I've heard the V-8 Hemi's actually get pretty good mileage. According to a friend of mine, his has a variable engine where some cylinders stop firing on the highway (e.g. 4 cylinders while cruising, 8 under power). He says he can get 20 mpg highway. A Taco with an automatic should get that easily though. The Dodge is also more difficult to park (much wider).

The downside of the Dodge is reliablilty. I've owned a Dodge car in the past and had to have a new transmission put in. Also, the ball joints failed on the car (had about 80K miles on it). A friend at work had just bought a Dodge 3500 fully equipped diesel (cost him over $60K). After owning it for about a month, he had serious front end failure while on a trip (wasn't pulling anything) and had to have it towed to the dealer.

 

Yea well advertisement numbers and GVWR so I'm doing a worst case scenario here.



I forgot to mention that was GVWR in my original post.

 

I had a Dodge 1500 as a company truck. When I pulled a trailer, my gas mileage was a whopping 12-13. But, I did have pretty heavy loads on it...

 

I had two dodge trucks with the cummins 5.9 turbodiesel. I bought them for the diesel engine. Both 6-spd manuals. The '99 had the dash literally fall apart. The '03 was an awesome truck got rid of it due to cost of diesel. I had a dodge short bed w/ 360 and auto it was a total POS.

 

You can probably get a smoking deal on the Dodge in Canada right now, whereas with the Taco it will be much harder to deal, if you can at all. Lots of times they go for MSRP up here. Now that being said, there is also a reason you can get them for that good of a deal . . . they are currently in bankruptcy protection! Who knows what the heck their future holds and while they "should" still be around, I'd lay money that Toyota WILL be around.

The Dodge will have great power but the mileage won't be as good as the Tacoma and it won't be as nimble. My double cab is also super easy to get around town with. It drives much smaller than it actually is if that makes any sense. It turns quite sharp and parking is no problem at all.

I think it comes down to whether you truly need a half ton for the additional capacity. If you do, I'd actually suggest the new F-150 over the Dodge. If you don't, Taco all the way.

Good luck!

 

My sister owns an 01 Ram Sport 5.9L and at 20K, the brakes had to be replaced along with one of the hubs. At around 40K, somekind of electrical problem happened and at about 60K, the tranny started acting up and now at about 75K, the radiator leaks along with the pressure line.

 

If you're worried about fuel mileage get a damn Prius. If you want a kick ass truck that is fast and can tow a pretty decent load, get a Taco. If you need to tow more get a Tundra.

Dodge? At least get a diesel if you're gonna stoop this low.

 

LOL first time I heard that. Guess we can say Obama GM as well Not being political, just struck me as funny.

Kenobe

 

I just traded my 02 Ram for my Taco....Don't miss it at all and glad to be rid of it.

 

I wanted a full-size truck. Being seeing the troubles that GM and Chrysler are in, that rules those out. I looked at the Tundra, but hated the interior. Sorry! The F-150 was the last option, but out of my price range.
So I debated the Tacoma for about 4 months. Finally pulled the trigger when I saw some decent rebates roll around. Don't regret the purchase one bit! I do wish they would make a diesel version, though.

Kenobe

 

Well... Leseee: One company is bankrupt and about to be partially taken over by Fiat. I think that would make the choice a little easier.

 

Go with the Taco!

 

If you want a truck that has the fastest depreciation in the world get a Dodge with a gas engine.

If you want a truck that has the best overall value for your hard earned dollar get a Toyota.

 

Well said!

 

LMAO.. these are the answers i knew i would get, as i also think im crazy considering the dodge just wanted to see what peoples opinions were with the power factor over the big V8's over the 4.0 taco

I know rams are scary, my boss's son bought an 07 tranny blew 3 times within the first 6 months, and again just recently and they wouldnt even give him a new one..LEMON

anyway Taco im pretty sure it is.. thanks for the opinions though!

 

I LOVE MY TACO! But then I have really been impressed with all of them...this is my fourth.

 

Add me to the list of "been there, done that, never again" with Dodge. My 2000 Durango (same frame/drivetrain as Dakota) was the first and last Dodge I will ever buy. I had the same experience as many others on here... was a great vehicle until about 60-80K miles or so - and then it started slowly self-destructing. One problem after another after another - some minor, some not so much. I kept up with the routine maintenence too.... this was definitely not a neglected vehicle.

Bottom line... if you buy one, make SURE you buy an extended warranty and/or trade it before the warranty expires. I sure wish I had.

 

The dodge gasser I had (custom ordered) the engine pinged so bad it made the truck undriveable. Super unleaded just made it mad...forget towing my flats boat. I was pissed. The truck went away. Never again.

BTW, anyone seen the new ford f150's? They musta stayed up real late to try to figure out how to make that one fugly as possible. Too bad; the old body style was a classic. The pre-'94 models that is.