The new dodge is a nice unit in the gas version, but Chrysler screwed up by not buying the cummins engine that was contracted to Nissan. The 3.0 is an engine Fiat has an interest in. SO.........
I bought a 12'3500 to avoid the need for the additive, a requirement on the 13'. The good side of the full size is the ability to pull a great deal of weight very safety. Also, The exhaust brake is a godsend! Then , The resale is way above ford or chevy.It baffles me that people will pay almost as much for a one year old cummins as the price of a new one. I ask all my ford friends why there are ford trucks sitting in front of the cummins shops? For engine swaps of course! However, if you don't need to tow a lot, the lighter version will serve dodge owners well, and the gas version will be a big hit! That $4,000 extra for a diesel that is a light duty truck is a big question mark, though. I recently tried to get a towing rating from the Ram site for the 3.0, to no avail, although the gas option showed a rating. I wonder why? On the positive side of light duty diesel vehicles, my son owned a 2005 diesel liberty with the 3.0, and the vehicle traded in at double the value of the 3.7 version.he also got 28 city VS 16 for the gas version, but his service costs were a bit more.(oil changes, filters,etc) he still feels like he came out better in the end.
Interestingly, My 12' gets the exact same mileage in an automatic setup that my 160HP 1996 2500 cummins got. Also, every cummins I have owned gets better mileage as the miles on the truck goes up. my best was when the trucks hit the 30k mark. Regarding towing, I tried a 2500 with the hemi, and with 8000 on the back it got 8 mpg. empty it got 12. I suspect that 21 rating in the gas truck is coasting downhill, and I'm sure as good as the phoenix engine is, with a heavy load the actual mileage will be much less. my experience is the diesel when pulling a load will always get better mileage than a gas engine in the same situation, so I ignore the highway ratings.
A relative of mine drives the new Chrysler and loves it, and gets 21 city. If I could afford two trucks, the 3500 would be king, and a sharp two door 1500 2WD with the phoenix engine would be my light duty Truck, in yellow with white interior like my first 68' charger! Better yet, a new challenger in that color combo with the phoenix engine, now that would be a beautiful ride, with better mileage than the 300. I know, good luck with that..........
I suspect a Nissan with the cummins reputation will eat into dodge light truck business.:profilel:
