Posted on 03/22/2014 8:24:03 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
DETROIT -- The side-view mirror of a Chevrolet Silverado contains this warning: "Objects may be closer than they appear."
The warning could be talking about the Ram.
The Silverado, the longtime No. 2 in pickup sales, still has a substantial lead on No. 3 Ram. But the Ram is gaining.
In the last seven months, after the redesigned Silverado arrived last summer, Ram sales were at 208,414, while the Silverado was at 261,258 -- still a sizable gap of 52,844 units.
But consider: In the same period a year earlier, the gap between the two was 97,199 units.
In the U.S. pickup market, dominated by loyal shoppers who rarely switch brands, it would be shocking if the Ram passed the Silverado. But the fact that the Ram is gaining ground is noteworthy.
"Never before has [General Motors] lost share after launching a new pickup truck platform," Barclay's analyst Brian Johnson noted last month.
From Jan. 1, 2013, through Feb. 26, the Silverado and GMC Sierra have lost 3.29 percentage points of market share in the large pickup market. In that time Ford has picked up 1.86 percentage points and Ram 1.8 percentage points of market share, Johnson wrote in late February. Johnson's market share calculation includes only the Detroit 3.
And the Ram seems to have momentum. In February, Ram started offering a diesel in the light-duty pickup, and dealer orders for the diesel have been strong.
It's the only diesel available in U.S. light-duty pickups and is rated at 28 mpg on the highway. The highest-rated Silverado light-duty is rated at 24 mpg on the highway.
GM spokesman Jim Cain said sales of well equipped high-end Silverados are fine. But there is some potential weakness in lower-end trims and V-6 models, he said.
That's why Chevrolet launched what he called an "unprecedented promotional assault," declaring a Truck Month promotion in March and increasing incentives and marketing.
The Silverado, with more than $7,500 in discounts and incentives, depending on the model, will be featured on advertising during the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Ram also is conducting a Truck Month campaign in March for its pickup.
I owned three Dodge Rams....every one of them trashed the transmission at 100K miles or below....no frigging good. A multitude of other problems along the way, too.
I never owned a GM truck, and I never will now that they are Government Motors.
I have a Ford F150 with 99K miles on it and it looks like a new truck, drives like one too. Original brakes (still good), did have to get a second set of tires at 70,000 miles though.
Both Chrysler and GM can suck it.
I have a Ram 1500 with a 5.7 hemi. It’s a muscle truck. When I drive it, I feel 18 again.
“Both Chrysler and GM can suck it.”
Exactly! Both are “Government Motors”; one Italian, one American.
Ditto. The new Silverados are so ugly, I don’t think they will grow on me, but I’m no Ram fan either. No problem, I don’t have to buy either.
The Ram is the better looking truck
It doesn’t seem to be price. Around me, Fords and Nissans seem to be cheapest, followed by Toyota.
All the smaller trucks are basic company units. When you get to the one ton series, they are all component trucks. The only thing company is the body.
Dodge has the Cummins, GM has a Japanese diesel and ford IH.
The Ford and GM have V8s and the Cummins in the Dodge is a straight 6. The Cummins is a far better engine over all.
Ford has the best auto in their big trucks. I wouldnt ever have an auto tranny in any diesel.
I would never buy a Ram. Again. I owned a`99 and that was the last Dodge I’ll ever buy. I won’t but a Obama truck either, but I would if it came to it over a Dodge.
F150 or a Tundra. Nothing else will do.
Ram trucks looks are actually pretty darn good, its a dam shame the running gear is crap, spoken from a 40 plus year mechanic.
I own a 2002 Silverado Dually with the 8.1 Vortec gas engine, best truck I have ever owned.
Thought about buying the new GM Silverado but even I have to admit it looks like 90’s era trash slabs. I hear 2015 will have some unique GM mid sized truck surprises.
Otherwise buy a Ram body and put it on a Ford? I agree Ford has the gear, Gm the bling and comfort and Dodge unique looks.
The new redesign of the Silverado is a flop. Experts are relating it to the Honda civic redesign from 2 years ago which also failed in the marketplace. Hence the deep and drastic rebates and discounts Chevy is now offering.
Lol
I have an ‘04 F-150. It’s still going strong at 148K. Looks great too.
There are certain rules that define a good automobile design. The Chevy truck just looks uninspired and committee-ish. Looks get people in the showroom. Probably why they have a new CEO.
Whatever they took away was from past designs, it was the wrong thing.
Mine is 2010 at 99K....I drove some serious miles.. Went through a 2005 Honda Accord and a 2009 Accord, too.....serious miles.
I have to admit, the running gear is first class, I couldn’t make payments and look at that thing every day.
Personally I have a Frontier 4x4. I paid 22k for it 4 years ago, today it’s worth 20k and like the looks very much.
The styling is somewhat questionable for the truck market, they tried to take a fairly hefty price increase, and “Government Motors” is killing them among the majority of potential buyers. Voting with their feet, Ford or Dodge.
How much is fall out from "Government Motors" when it is time to trade?
And the lesser buy. Rams/Chrysler is junk.
Chrysler in general has had a poor reputation with transmissions and transaxles for decades. As odd as it sounds to me and I’m really surprised that I feel this way, the Fiat people have been far better stewards of Chrysler, much more respectful of their history and their brands, than either Daimler or even the American Lee Iacocca bunch ever were. They’re doing it right thus far, imho. I have high hopes that they’ll address this longstanding issue, too.
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