Originally Posted by elptxjc

This is exactly the thread I was looking for. I'm shopping for an F-150, and could already have one by now, but still negotiating with dealers due to not finding the options I want. Anyway, the last trucks I owned were a 1996 Ram and 1997 F150 4x4. My current non-sports car is a 2018 Audi S6, so any truck feels like crap by comparison. Need to adjust to live-axles, and in the F150's case, freaking leaf springs. Oh well. Anyway, have heard mostly crap from my buddies about the Ram since all own Platinums and Raptors now. I don't like the engine is still iron block, because they always leak due to dissimilar metals. I drove a '19 Ram but without the group 1 package. It was much louder than the Ford inside the cabin, which was very surprising... and disappointing. The group 1 package doesn't change that, right? Also my wife complained about the hard seats. I liked the Ram's interior much bettter, including the leather. But yes, the seats didn't feel like they'd be a good partner for a long trip. The other thing that surprised me is the ride. I was expecting much better with the air suspension. I could feel everything, but the truck felt way more wobbly, and unstable. Tires were at 36 psi, just like the Ford's, so it wasn't that. Both 20s. Drove a Ford Limited, with the 22s, and drove like absolute crap. The 20s were immensely more compliant. I plan to drive a Ram equipped like I want, but has 22s. I mostly want to hear the upgraded 19-speaker stereo, which should sound amazing. That's the main reason I still keep thinking about the Ram. Now that you drove both, hopefully you can post a comprehensive review of both, and include everything from seat comfort, cabin noise, ride, handling, reliability (so far), and general strenghts and weaknesses. I thank you in advance for your help. By the way, the equipment I'm looking for on the Platinum is 701A, 3.5EB (with 3.55 diff), Max towing package, and FX4. Anything I should add??? It'll probably have a moonroof I don't want, but that's fine. Cabin noise and comfort is important to me, since I'll use this truck to travel a lot, hauling a bike on the bed. Thanks.

Originally Posted by matt99

Hopefully your new Ram treats you better than mine did.

I departed from the Ford crowd for a few years, and it was a mistake. My Ram spent 3mo of the first year at the dealership with tranny and differential issues. Every time one problem was fixed, another one popped up and none of the local dealerships were easy to work with. I never got a loaner and had to borrow a family member's car for the two months straight it spent at the dealership for transmission work. I tried to threaten with the lemon law but they called my bluff and began to refuse service at the local dealerships, or every time I would bring it in they would give a "cannot replicate" after sitting on their lot for a week. I sold it for a pretty significant loss and went back to Ford, not wanting to deal with the time and legal costs of the lemon law proceedings. The hemi "tick" was noticeable but you get used to it after awhile.

I had my last F-150 for 6 years and it was at the dealership once for warranty work, and nothing for this one yet (I've got a small radio problem but not enough to bring it in). I'm not the type to bring it in for every rattle or shake. Unless Ram has significantly changed with their QC, I wouldn't drive one if it cost 1/2 as much as a F150.

Originally Posted by Wicked ace

Wow...not the impression I had. After driving an '18 Laramie Limited with air ride for three days I was impressed. It's a big heavy truck but they all are. A few weeks later the salesman let me have a '19 Laramie for a day and I was mightily impressed with the ride and handling, it rivaled the '18 with air ride. Progressive coil springs and a four link rear do wonders (it's called engineering BTW).
After that I began looking at Ford trucks because of the payload / hauling capacity and I have to say they do ride like the buckboard suspension they are.
As a disclaimer I have a '14 grand Cherokee Summit now that I really like. It has air ride and a Hemi V8. The tick you are complaining about is because the pistons have not warmed up and grown to the cylinder walls. I don't have it, or at least noticed it. The GM LS engines went through this too. It happens on my 2002 Camaro SS and a 2010 Silverado I once owned.

Originally Posted by SCrewYou

good luck, ive noticed they are already offering pretty good discounts on the 19 rams in my area. what kind of deal did you get on yours?