Rental Ram Limited

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

Aight so I just put 300 hard miles on a new Ram Limited, which truly is a very highly specd trim. The mileage is 26k.

Good:

• 0 rattles ect
• smoother and quieter trans than the 10r80
• the entire drivetrain is overall better from an NVH perspective
• good power, but much less low end grunt than the 2.7, 3.5, and even 5.0
• very important- smooth launches because the rear end doesn't hop around like ours do
• better cornering
• the adjustable ride height is cool, but doesn't go low enough for real highway benefits
• 4a actually works great in the NY snow today

Bad

• holy crap, that infotainment is unbelievably bad. very laggy, over reliant on tough screen buttons, and poorly configured especially in the digital dash options
• the doors feel cheap, much more so than ours
• the leather feels very plasticy and has already developed a polish in areas with very low mileage
• rust on the front bumper already to the point where paint is peeling
• very bad cyl deactivation strategy compared to the 5.0, it doesn't do anything above like 50mph and is significantly harder to invoke compared to the 5.0
• The hemi exhaust drone is pretty much as expected, it's there
• this rental already has the hemi tick
• gas mileage isn't even close. I can hit 24 with the 3.5, 26 with the 5.0, and 28 with the 2.7 all under favorable mostly highway conditions. This 5.7, under extremely favorable conditions (much moreso than any of the f150s I'm comparing) on route 29 in NJ, completely struggled to get 25mpg while going between 40 to 50mph
• The curvey interior and exterior wasn't for me. I prefer defined lines and angles.
• the suspension on most settings feels like it lets the body shift around, but so does ours to a certain degree
• Lastly, the seats are almost really good, but the padding isn't as plush as the f150s.

It's fantastic rental, but it misses on some key things the f150 does well. The transmission is definitely smoother than ours, but it's definitely still clunky and loud. I think I would have actually preferred a lower spec like a rebel or tradesman that lacks some of the whistles chrysler screwed up.

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[Samson16]

Thank you for sharing your observations so thoroughly.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ram calls is U-connect. Yes very buggy, can’t say sync 4 is much better though . I’m not big on Rams styling but their 8-speed is smooth.

 

[tidefan1967]

I owned three Rams (all Laramie) before switching back to Ford three years ago. The ZF is definitely a much smoother shifting transmission for sure and would take it any day of the week over the 10R80. The F150 rides like a tank compared to even the cheapest Ram. I agree a lower trim level with the 8.4 Uconnect would have been better. The Ram 12” unit has been a problem since it debuted in 2019. If they ever decide to finally start using the Hurricane engine I’ll definitely give them a look. The 14th gen F150 is an ok truck but honestly my 2020 F150 was much less problematic.

 

[JExpedition07]

3.0 Hurricane Ram 1500s are entering production in 15 days. Production of 2025’s starts in February, all 2024 have been built all ready to my understanding. Ram runs their model years really odd. We will see them out on the streets in late March/April

 

[PowerBoostSoCal]

I really wanted to like the Ram on my last purchase (2023 F150) - but just cannot get past the V8 only, lumpy styling and even though the interior is very nice, albeit pretty, and rode well, it missed a few things like well integrated tech and options the F150 has ... same with the Silverado - the V8 and its potential long term issues, the HORRIBLE styling (think Camero meets Godzilla and the baby is Frankenstein) plus the tech even on the brand new ones is not well integrated, with buttons laid out everywhere and many not making sense as to the where and why ... but is steers well and is smooth.

 

[ryanc111]

I owned three Rams (all Laramie) before switching back to Ford three years ago. The ZF is definitely a much smoother shifting transmission for sure and would take it any day of the week over the 10R80. The F150 rides like a tank compared to even the cheapest Ram. I agree a lower trim level with the 8.4 Uconnect would have been better. The Ram 12” unit has been a problem since it debuted in 2019. If they ever decide to finally start using the Hurricane engine I’ll definitely give them a look. The 14th gen F150 is an ok truck but honestly my 2020 F150 was much less problematic.

I sold my 2019 Laramie to buy my 2021 Lariat in large part due to the 12" entertainment approaches. I much prefer what Ford has done (even with the Sync4 bugs) than the Laramie. It was a very comfortable truck though.

 

[stlgrym3]

we almost bought a Ram 1500 Lamarie last year. we liked its independent suspension, huge discounts (compared to Ford and Toyota). but ended up with the F150, because when you spend almost $80k on a truck, you want the best.

 

[Samson16]

The ZF is definitely a much smoother shifting transmission for sure and would take it any day of the week over the 10R80.

I thought Rams came with TorqueFlite 8HP75 transmissions?
Edit * made by ZF lol my bad

 

[Simon11]

I've got a 2022 2.7 502a Lariat. Love it. I don't get anywhere close to the mpg OP is posting but I do fine for a truck. 19ish most of the time 22-23 on trips. I enjoy it. Fits everyone in that I want. Has the utility that I want. Love 4A for the small winter I get.

My buddy has a 2019 Ram Limited. I've not spent nearly as much time with it but we took it on a several day trip. It has the air suspension, 60/40 gate, etc. Very nice.

While I didn't notice any issues with the infotainment I will comment on the interior versus my Lariat.

- I found the leather in the Ram to feel more "leather." I like the leather in my Lariat, it's soft, front seats are comfortable for me. I found the Ram leather to feel thicker and therefore a little stiffer. But not in a bad way. Closer to a full grain(though I'm sure it's not close) chair. I like both but they're different. Both were comfortable to me.

- The biggest issue that I came to reply about was the doors/leather overall feel, cheaper than ours. No way in hell did I notice that. If anything riding in his Limited made me realize just how cheap so much of the interior of the F150 is. So many door and dash surfaces in the Ford are just snapped in plastic pieces. I have several rattles and creaks in my interior. I'm moving in a few weeks but after that I intend to get a set of panel tools and felt tape and go to town on my truck. I gotta stop some of these rattles. Meanwhile I found the interior of the Ram almost flawless. More leather and soft touch areas. No rattles at all. Everything felt solid. The interior of the Limited is noticeably superior to my Lariat. Maybe I'd feel different if I had a Platinum. Or maybe I just didn't spend enough time to find all the flaws but I felt nothing about the Ram interior felt cheap by comparison.

I've had my truck almost 2 years and overall I still love it. There's a lot more that I'll consider than interior finish whenever I buy again. But I will for sure take a closer look at Ram next time.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

Aight update time. The Ram is now turned in after another 200 miles.

• The infotainment lags, inconsistencies, and bugs cannot be overstated. The lack of physical buttons is pretty crippling. Reaching across that huge infotainment screen isn't great either.
• the rotary shift dial is just as bad as any other.
• braking is way better in the F150s. the feel is vague and weak in this thing.
• I hate the automatically adjusting mirrors that move down when you reverse.
• The floormats were actually noteworthy because they had a carpeted section in the middle of the rubber, which is cool. They also had tie down points in the back seat- neat!
• The 4A is still amazing in the slush
• I didn't realize this is the etorque model, which is shocking because it not only feels much slower than my 2.7, but also has garbage mpgs. Without trying to get good mileage, I got 18mpg going 75 up to Syracuse from Owego.
• Handling in the backroads was flat out superb. With the suspension settings on low, the truck is very predictable.
• The gas tank is of course smaller, but still gave about 5-600miles of range.
• the digital dash configuration is okay, but less flexible than Id prefer in terms of what it displays.
• The lack of backup automatic emergency braking was interesting.
• Only a backup camera, no 360.
• no audible backup beeps like many Ford's have.
• low profile tires do not belong on a truck

I really didn't hate it, but I wouldn't really want to own it either. Again, a more stripped down trim actually might be great.

 

[HammaMan]

Ram calls is U-connect. Yes very buggy, can’t say sync 4 is much better though . I’m not big on Rams styling but their 8-speed is smooth.

Sync 4 is pretty good on the 12" screen. Sync 4a is bad -- think shitty computer with no ram that lags / glitches when you change windows. HVAC doesn't need to be in the screen and is clunky to navigate into submenus that should just be a persistent button.

 

[Samson16]

So it’s open season on Ram etorques for my 302A PB? ?

jk thank you for the thorough review.

 

[JExpedition07]

So it’s open season on Ram etorques for my 302A PB? ?

jk thank you for the thorough review.

You wish you could take on the MIGHTY HEMI. Not a Ford in existence that will take on Mopar. Mopar or No car.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

You wish you could take on the MIGHTY HEMI. Not a Ford in existence that will take on Mopar. Mopar or No car.

I didn't personally like the Hemi as much as I thought I would, even with the etorque. I had high hopes for the cylinder bank deactivation after being THRILLED with how well it worked on the 5.0.
That said, I loved my 4.6 F150 and am a supporter of the FACT that past a certain point in a truck, power is mostly irrelevant. Trucks aren't meant to be fast, they're meant to pull like a mufucka.

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