We owned a 2002 Expedition Eddie Bauer (so, well equipped) with the 5.4L 2V backed by the 4R100. Absolutely bulletproof powertrain, my dad still owns his 2000, and he can afford to drive anything he wants, but he's continuing to drive a 24 year old SUV because it is reliable and refuses to die.
We LOVED that vehicle. Got us through insane snow storms, we towed heavy with it, it made many, MANY trips to the east coast.
But, it doesn't hold a candle to the ride, handling, and overall relaxing drive experience the RAM affords. It's much nicer to drive than my SRT Grand Cherokee, it gobbles up pot holes that should jar your teeth out, it handles better than it should, the factory brakes are huge, the headlights are fantastic and go forever, which means night driving is not fatigue-inducing, and you can sit in those seats for 14hrs and be comfortable, it's bloody impressive. Now, ours isn't like a super pimped-out Laramie Long Horn or anything, it's a "Sport" trim, which the factory tow package, nothing exotic. I just don't get the opposition to something that is, by all accounts, objectively better, if one is in the market. Why would you not want those things I've described, if they are going to make the driving experience that much better?
