Chester

Nobody should discredit the completion. Ram is a good truck whether you like it or not. The interior quality was what always set them back, and I know for a fact they use to be crappy... I.e. I have a Dodge (have had numerous Ford trucks also and a Chevy or two) with a crappy interior. That said, the truck itself has held up very well, and has never left me stranded. The new Rams interiors look 1000 times better than mine. No, I am not completly sold on them, and still prefer the Fords, but I do think they are pretty good.

Well, Ram is increasing there sales faster than Ford and GM, so they must be doing something right. Hey, I am Ford fan, always have and always will be. That said, I have certainly taken notice of the direction Ram has gone, and in many ways I like it. Better than Ford, not so sure, but I cannot say "no" either.

Correction, it is 9200lbs towing and a 4k premium over the base engine. People on here are comparing it to the 2.7 Eco boost, which will also have a premium on it, and probably a much reduced towing capacity over the V8, 3.5 as well. The Ram's towing capacity will be well suited for 90% of the towing applications that a half ton pickup is designed for. Will the same be said born the 2.7, not so sure. If you are pushing the capacity of a half ton, one should opt for a 3/4 ton anyway. The same can be said for the coil-sprung debate. If you are going to be overloading a half ton regularly, opt for a 3/4 ton.

Duh... That's why I said currently. But the Ram took a quantum leap, and it is Ford playing catch up at the moment.

It will be interesting to see how the 2.7 stacks up. Currently, the Ram Diesel looks pretty potent. It has 420 pound feet of torque which is the same as the 3.5 ecoboost. Sure the gas turbo has way more HP, but diesel fans pay way more attention to the Torque figure. Gas milage for the current Ford 3.5 ecoboost truck is 16/22/18 and the Ram gets 20/28/23. I like the Ram specs much better overall. Some will argue that the tow capacity is greater in the gas Ford, but I will argue that if you are pushing the limits on a half ton, you really should be looking at a 3/4 ton truck.

They must be selling OK, since Ford is upping production by 55k units.....2/3rds diesel.

Yes, but that is in your own unique SoCal market, where Ford Flex's are popular. My local Ford dealer has a huge amount of Superduties, and doesn't even stock the Flex.

Not sure I get your point? Maybe it's because I hit a nerve about the 2.7 eco, but you all that are against a half ton diesel hit a nerve about not having a diesel in a half ton. To each their own, and as a consumer I want options, especially a Ford half ton diesel. And I truely beleive that Ford would sell enough to justify having one in their fleet (that could be used in other applications as well).

I would bet that 75% of all loads pulled by 3/4 ton trucks are under 10,000 pounds, and at least half never pull more than that ever. The tow capacities of these trucks are so far over what most people use them for, I would say it's a moot point. That said, sure their are some that do pull heavy weights. Fit 10-12 large cows in a stock trailer and you will know what a heavy moving load feels like. But most aren't using their trucks for this type of application, but still buying diesels.

How can anyone say that many want a diesel but don't want to "PAY" for it when the take rate in the F250 is 2-1 diesel at an added $8k. Heck, a gas 5.4 or 6.2 will town most any trailer, so why do so many opt for the diesel? Even if it is only a 1-5 take rate in an F150 that is a substantial amount of diesel engines being sold. You guys that don't have trucks keep tootin your horn about 2.7 ecoboosts etc. I bet this new Ram 1500 diesel will be a huge hit.

Ford better get into the game, or get left behind. Too many want a diesel not to offer one.

From what I observe in a rural environment, you couldn't be more wrong. For example, a young coworker in my office drives 100 miles a day in a GMC 3/4 diesel. It is used as a car. Cost 50k plus (loaded with leather etc.). He said he would have gotten a half ton if he could get one with a diesel. Guy is single in his early thirties. Makes 30-40k per year. A Prius would have suited him better the way he uses it. I doubt he would ever buy the new Ram as he is a big GM guy, but you get the picture. He is a dime a dozen around these parts (North Florida). A hybrid maybe more practical, but guys I know in the country (everyone drives a truck) wouldn't be caught dead driving a hybrid truck. 4k more on a truck costing 40K+ is chicken feed. I can see the penny pinchers giving up the leather to get the diesel, but that is about it.

There are plenty of reasons to pick a 1/2 ton over a 3/4 ton. The ride and handling is better in a half over a 3/4 ton truck. And believe it or not, mileage is looked at even if you can afford it. I could afford either gas or diesel, don't mind spending more on the diesel, but something just seems wrong not trying to get a little better mileage when possible. The trailer I pull is only about 8,000 pounds fully loaded with three big horses, and it is a gooseneck trailer. It is seldom pulled fully loaded. If it wasn't live animals moving around and was a bumper tow model instead of a goosneck, I'd say the 9,000 lb tow capacity of the Ram diesel 1/2 ton would be perfect. There are a million trailers out on the road that are bumper pull trailers and weight 5-7 thousand pounds loaded. A half ton is perfect for these, and for day in day out driving, I'd rather do it in a half ton. We used to have a 2 horse pumper pull, and I pulled it just fine for years with F150's. Never felt the need for a 3/4 ton truck unitl we got the gooseneck, but if a diesel option were avaialble on the F150's, that is what I would have had to pull my two horse pumper pull. Now my daily driver is a Ford Fusion. The 3/4 ton truck is parked most of the time, weekend use most of the time. If Ford comes out with a F150 diesel, I may get one for my daily driver. Other than that, the gas trucks just don't interest me. I'll stick with a Fusion or like vehicle.

I'm not a half ton buyer, rather have and need a 3/4 ton truck to move our goosneck trailer. That said, I think Ford is making a big mistake not having a diesel in the F150. Everyone keeps talking about the economy of the deal, but I think that is the furthest thing from peoples minds when buying these 40-60k vehicles to tow their toys around. If I was pulling a boat, bumper tow horse trailer, toy trailer etc and was getting a half ton pickup to pull it around, it would have a diesel engine in it.... No questions asked. Heck, I don't need a diesel in my 3/4 ton with the limited towing I do now, but their it sits in my garage (It's a Dodge 2500 Cummins because the Fords at the time with a 6.0 scared the bejebers out of me, will be replaced with an F250 6.7 at some point). And if you don't tow with your truck and are just buying for image, then a diesel is a better image in a truck than a 2.7L turbo. People buy what they want and like, and I truely believe there is a much larger market for diesels in the half ton range than what is led to beleive. Just look at the take rate in the larger class. 2-1 diesels. Wouldn't surprise me if it was 1-1 in the half ton class if a diesel was offered. I think Ram is sitting on a goldmine right now.

The new Ridgleine will be more of a direct competitor to the Canyonrado than any of the big three/Tundra trucks. If Honda can beef up the Ridgeline so it gets the economy and towing capaicty of the new GM MID SIze, then that will be the competiton + Taco.

That is why I like the front bench seat in trucks. Much more useable space.

I love the rear end. Has almost a Euro car flavor. Overall, I think this new mustang is spot on. It definately modernizes the Mustang into the current century, but is clearly a Mustang. Couldn't be happier. I think this will be extremely popular the world over.

Anyone really concerned about the payload of the truck, most likely will be buying a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck and skip right over the 1/2 ton. The 1/2 tons will tow occasionaly, so I expect the tow rating on such vehicles to be decent, but the payload is less imortant. Anyone really needed high capacity towing and payload will step up to the heavier duty models. No statistics, just going buy observations and living in rural communities most my life.

I would have to argue that this article is middling at best or maybe brings up the rear. Lots of miss information throughout. Then a car like the Nissan is picked at 3, yet it finished in last place in most categories except price. Brady, you can do better than this.

You have the previous Subaru Forester specs for the interior measurements. The new one is most likely best in class at 34.4 cut ft. In the rear and 74.7 total cargo room. Are you sure you tested the new model? I thought the interior was pretty nice to boot, as good as the Honda anyway.

I sure hope Ford changes their mind and markets this here. This is exactly the vehicle we would like to purchase next.

Eh, the much better gas mileage of the MKT will keep most of the companies in line.

The attitude is how you phrased the response. Instead of saying Ford has a small market share you said Ford is not doing well. On the contrary, Ford sales are increasing and growing in China, hence the mistake of saying they are not doing well. They are doing ok, and should be fine long term.

From experience, the paddle shifters is not something that comes naturally to me. When I've tried downshifting, especially in a curve, (when the wheel is turned) I have to look at the stupid steering wheel, locate the paddle and then pull accordingly. Grabbing a stationary shifter and pressing a switch just seems like a much more natural arrangement to me. But then again, I drive a manual, and am used to grabbing the shifter when needing to switch gears. Maybe for someone that has never driven a manual, the paddle sticks work better, but I don't think I'll ever get use to them.

What's wrong with the rocker switch? I hate the silly paddle shifters. My wife's Honda has this silly contraption in it, and it's a royal pain in the arse to down shift, especially when going through turns. Much easier to have the hand on the stationary gear shifter to hit a rocker switch.