Ram News: Ram 1500 Classic to Live On

[Drew Dowdell]

The Ram Classic could live on indefinitely as long as it make business sense says FCA CEO Michael Manley.  At an investors meeting, Manley suggested that it might even get an update. Ram recently introduced a new Warlock package on the 1500 Classic, indicating their willingness to invest in the aging platform.

Ram currently doesn't have a mid-size offering in its stable, and without one on the horizon, the Ram 1500 Classic fills the niche of a lower priced truck.  The base Tradesman model rings up at $29,340 and can be configured all the way up to a Big Horn with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 at $46,240. That contrasts with the new Ram 1500 which starts at $35,135.

One thing keeping the Classic around has done is allowed the RAM to creep ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado in the truck sales race, moving to the number two spot in market share for this class of truck. 

 

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[Robert Hall]

Even a decade old, it's still a good looking design compared to GM and Ford's overwrought uglies, IMO...

[G. David Felt]

4 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Even a decade old, it's still a good looking design compared to GM and Ford's overwrought uglies, IMO...

So true, would take this over the Chevrolet or Ford current look, I do like the current GMC though.

[ccap41]

Yeah, it has aged well enough they could and probably should keep it around for a couple more years and maybe even drop the price here and there in the next couple of years to fill that mid-size void even better. If they could do that they would make buying a mid-size almost idiotic when a Ram 1500 could be bought for almost the same price. 

[riviera74]

RAM still needs a midsize pickup because not everyone wants or needs a full sized pickup truck, regardless of price.

[ccap41]

Jeep Gladiator.

[Robert Hall]

25 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Jeep Gladiator.

It's premium priced w/ a small bed, though..they need a mainstream midsizer like the Colorado or Ranger. 

[ccap41]

Ram is too big

Gladiator has too small of a bed

Let's try and fill every little niche and see how long it takes to start cutting products because they're cut too thin. 

[G. David Felt]

9 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

It's premium priced w/ a small bed, though..they need a mainstream midsizer like the Colorado or Ranger. 

I would question that the mid size market needs full size beds. When looking at what the bulk of the beds being bought on mid size trucks, Jeep Gladiator even being a premium mid size truck with the smallest bed will and should do well in sales.

I think the 6' or 5'6" beds will be the bulk of sales especially on the crewcab models.

[G. David Felt]

22 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Ram is too big

Gladiator has too small of a bed

Let's try and fill every little niche and see how long it takes to start cutting products because they're cut too thin. 

 Sounds like the german brands you speak of.  

[Drew Dowdell]

There is definitely a need for a midsize RAM pickup along the lines of a Colorado or Ranger. They should probably start with the Gladiator frame as a base. 

[ccap41]

9 minutes ago, dfelt said:

 Sounds like the german brands you speak of.  

You read my mind. That was 100% what I was thinking. 

[ccap41]

I don't think there is a need for it as long the there is a Ram 1500 Classic. There are probably enough incentives on the Classic that there is only like $1000 difference in a Ranger(with little to no incentives) for a similarly equipped Ram 1500. 

XLT Ranger w/ 4WD and crew cab: $34,295

Express 1500 Classic w/ 4WD and quad cab: $37,345

The 1500 is showing rebates/incentives for a final price of $34,540 before even meeting a dealership. 

[Drew Dowdell]

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

I don't think there is a need for it as long the there is a Ram 1500 Classic. There are probably enough incentives on the Classic that there is only like $1000 difference in a Ranger(with little to no incentives) for a similarly equipped Ram 1500. 

XLT Ranger w/ 4WD and crew cab: $34,295

Express 1500 Classic w/ 4WD and quad cab: $37,345

The 1500 is showing rebates/incentives for a final price of $34,540 before even meeting a dealership. 

There are people who are limited by the size of vehicle they can have or don't want a truck that large. They can be pretty cumbersome to roll around a city. That's where a mid-size truck would come in. 

[ccap41]

I know that. I just don't think, if they're on the same lot, there are enough of those people strictly hampered by size. 

[Drew Dowdell]

4 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I know that. I just don't think, if they're on the same lot, there are enough of those people strictly hampered by size. 

Uh... The Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, Ranger, Frontier have a different take on that. The 5 of them have sold 275,515 as of the half year report.  It's not as big as the big trucks, no, but it's still nothing to sneeze at. 

[balthazar]

1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

RAM still needs a midsize pickup because not everyone wants or needs a full sized pickup truck, regardless of price.

That said- the current Colorado is the same size as a Silverado from the ‘90s- its not like its anywhere near S-10 size anymore. This adage is commonly repeated, yet I question if theres really that many people who couldnt handle a Silverado other than ‘don’t want to’ (as opposed to ‘inability’).

[thedriver]

And this is why i drive a 25 year old s10. Regular cab 6 foot bed is all the truck i need.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Uh... The Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, Ranger, Frontier have a different take on that. The 5 of them have sold 275,515 as of the half year report.  It's not as big as the big trucks, no, but it's still nothing to sneeze at. 

You're excluding the fact that, in this case, there would also be a half ton priced almost exactly the same on the same lot.

Those you just listed all have half tons priced like "regular" half tons on the same lot. Ram would have two trucks priced very very similarly and one is small and one is big. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Just now, ccap41 said:

You're excluding the fact that, in this case, there would also be a half ton priced almost exactly the same on the same lot.

Those you just listed all have half tons priced like "regular" half tons on the same lot. Ram would have two trucks priced very very similarly and one is small and one is big. 

I don't think we're following each other.  The Classic would get canceled in favor of a true mid-size truck.  The Colorado starts as low as $22k and no half-ton comes close to that. I would expect a base Ram mid-size (lets call it a Dakota) to be priced accordingly. 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

That said- the current Colorado is the same size as a Silverado from the ‘90s- its not like its anywhere near S-10 size anymore. This adage is commonly repeated, yet I question if theres really that many people who couldnt handle a Silverado other than ‘don’t want to’ (as opposed to ‘inability’).

I say there are PLENTY of people who are in the inability  camp that drive full size pickups that are fairly new and beat to hell as they cannot seem to avoid hitting things, opening doors and smacking things and rubbing against the curb and my all time favorite observation is the plethora of Morons that cannot seem to PARK said full size pickups in a parking spot.

Wish the auto companies would give the trucks better turning radius too while I am on my soapbox.

14 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I don't think we're following each other.  The Classic would get canceled in favor of a true mid-size truck.  The Colorado starts as low as $22k and no half-ton comes close to that. I would expect a base Ram mid-size (lets call it a Dakota) to be priced accordingly. 

Remember when Toyota advertised on their 1/2 ton to 1 ton mini pickup trucks to show that you did not need a full size to do the job. Those trucks sold big time.

Bet GM could gain additional sales if they did a 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton mid size pickup.

[ccap41]

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I don't think there is a need for it as long the there is a Ram 1500 Classic.

This is what I said that you responded to. 

[ccap41]

59 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I don't think we're following each other.  The Classic would get canceled in favor of a true mid-size truck.  The Colorado starts as low as $22k and no half-ton comes close to that. I would expect a base Ram mid-size (lets call it a Dakota) to be priced accordingly. 

Read above quote.

The 22k Colorado is a fleet truck and you know that.. 

That is why when I price matched both trucks I went up one trim level to the majority bought trims. 

You go up one trim package and add 4WD and that 22k Colorado is 32k just like that(with the 3.6 because that 2.5 is garbage).

A 2.5 Colorado that isn't in work truck guise is like the mystical 2.0T CT6. 

 

[Drew Dowdell]

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

Read above quote.

The 22k Colorado is a fleet truck and you know that.. 

That is why when I price matched both trucks I went up one trim level to the majority bought trims. 

You go up one trim package and add 4WD and that 22k Colorado is 32k just like that(with the 3.6 because that 2.5 is garbage).

A 2.5 Colorado that isn't in work truck guise is like the mystical 2.0T CT6. 

 

The same thought process applies to the Ram Classic.  At the under $30k mark, all you're getting is a 4x2 Tradesman single cab with the V6. Start adding the stuff you added and you're up over $36k.

[ccap41]

Yeah, for pretty dang close to the same money, you get a 1500 Classic or a mid-sizer. 

I showed you the Ranger/1500 Classic comparison above. w/o incentives, $34.3 vs $37.4. 

You know damn well if you add the 5.7 to that for $2000 the dealers will do the whole, "for only $33 a month you can get the V8." 

[surreal1272]

4 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Ram is too big

Gladiator has too small of a bed

Let's try and fill every little niche and see how long it takes to start cutting products because they're cut too thin. 

Never mind the overpriced nature of the Gladiator. 

[ocnblu]

Gladiator is a toy, plain and simple.  Dodge needs a midsize truck.  275k sales in six munts bears that out.  "Dakota" still holds a positive connotation with John Q. Public.  There are plenty of reasons to choose a midsize truck over a fullsize.

Towing or not

Hauling a bunch of ppl or not

Gas mileage (on mainstream engines)

Maneuverability in tight spots

Garageability

Price

Feeling cute, IDK, might hit a tight trail after work or on the wknds

[caddycruiser]

Good move, and a great truck.

Had a 2019 Classic 1500 Crew Cab Big Horn, $48k sticker, as a rental for a few thousand miles. Loved it. More manueverable and easy to drive than many cars, length aside. Comfortable, solid, quiet, tough, quick, good mileage, and easy to use. I'd take it back in a second. Was sad to give it back to Enterprise...it was so easy to park, even parallel, with big camera, sensors, mirrors and powertrain mapping, never had an issue. That big firm cloth bench seat up front with USB ports...liveable.

Great deal, and thanks to not looking "old", they're an easy sell for dealers with the incentives.

[daves87rs]

Well, a cheap truck is a  cheap truck- could even discount it a bit to up sales.

 

Still need that midsize though...

[Miradart]

I guess if they can have a new Pacifica (nee Town and Country) and still sell the old Caravan, I guess anything is possible.  Milk that last drop out of old development costs!

[Drew Dowdell]

21 hours ago, Miradart said:

I guess if they can have a new Pacifica (nee Town and Country) and still sell the old Caravan, I guess anything is possible.  Milk that last drop out of old development costs!

True, but they now have an end date for the Grand Caravan. It'll run until May 2020. 

[Miradart]

Unless they extend it, which they've done before.  Who knows?  The recession might hit, and a low cost van might be the only thing that does sell!  haha!