Lots of new Ram trucks rotting on dealer lots it seems

[k1xv]

A friend who likes large SUV's bought a Grand Wagoneer last year. He bought it then because it was the last year it would come with a naturally aspirated Hemi V8. The current model comes with a turbo 6.

I wonder if there are others who are not buying because V8 engines have been replaced with turbo sixes?

 

[4WD]

Well yes that is true I forgot that one and it did just come out recently. But those lifters lol

It’s too nice for me - I get things dirty …

 

[4WD]

A friend who likes large SUV's bought a Grand Wagoneer last year. He bought it then because it was the last year it would come with a naturally aspirated Hemi V8. The current model comes with a turbo 6.

I wonder if there are others who are not buying because V8 engines have been replaced with turbo sixes?

Probably - and some just fear first year or two engines …

 

[OVERKILL]

Jeep sales year over year are down 44% since peak in 2018. It’s a declining brand.

RAM trucks are following same pattern. Chrysler lost their sales leader Grand Caravan to Pacifica no one is particularly interested in .

By that completely contextless metric, both Honda and Toyota are declining brands, both having peaked in 2017:

If you've got a Stellantis hate-boner, that's cool, but just let me know so I can avoid wasting my time engaging with you.

 

[4WD]

But sales haven't cratered, they've dropped by ~16,000 units in Q1 of 2024 vs Q1 2023, which is similar to Ford's drop of 17,400 units. RAM still moved just shy of 90,000 trucks Q1 2024.

Yes, sales are down, but it's not just RAM that is seeing slower sales.

Jeep sales are up 2% in comparison and Chrysler sales are up 9%. They've also somehow managed to gain the spot of #1 and #2 selling hybrids in the country, according to their media release with the Wrangler 4xe and JGC 4xe

Could not imagine a ten year old 4xe (brace for additional comments)
10-9-8…

 

[OVERKILL]

Could not imagine a ten year old 4xe (brace for additional comments)
10-9-8…

Yeah, those are going to be exciting...

 

[4WD]

Yeah, those are going to be exciting...

Try owning Mopar and GM - I just need a KIA and:

 

[OVERKILL]

Try owning Mopar and GM - I just need a KIA and:

 

[4WD]

View attachment 224015

Sure - only have one …

 

[burbguy82]

I agree GM holds the market for large SUVs and I spent the last 25yrs of my GM career working on the 800/900/K2/T1 models so I am proud of them and can never understand why anyone would even look at another SUV brand especially the Fords! I will also say, to be fair, that Grand Wagoneer is a SWEET truck and has a much nicer interior than GM offers (which is true for any Ram truck vs GM as well) and I would probably buy one if I was in the market for new large SUV. As for Ram being in trouble, they aren't They are building great trucks with great transmissions (ZF8), best interiors and the sweet Hemi atleast until 2025. I own a GMC Sierra Denali and a RAM Limited so I can honestly saw what is best about each truck. I prefer my Ram.

GM, has never been that much on interiors, you know that. "General" means general.......Escalade doors handles rotting off, the pleather driver seat deal, and so on.

I had a 99 2500 Ram, 5.9 Magnum, Nv4500, 4.56 gears, and if I could choose a truck to have of all time, that would be tied for first for sure, with of course the 2500\3500 HD of 2006.5, the Classic gasser.

TBH, I drove a Jeep Commander, that vehicle impressed me like no other, at least for the price point, aint no G Wagon, but real nice.

Pity really.

One gauge, at least for me, is how many of the older models do you see on the road today? To me at least, that is the best gauge of quality. Of course, that does not play in with the present, as we cant see into the future. Rare is it to see a late 90s Dodge Ram anywhere, at least around me.

Very rare do I ever see a new Ram.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

I agree it's primarily the high interest rates and high prices that's keeping lots well stocked (lol). But what's also not doing dealers any favors is the mandatory 'value' packages they've been forcing on people - $3-5K on top of the vehicle price for essentially some floor mats, nitrogen in the tires, pin striping, etc. As well as the endless 'market adjustment' add ons. dealers have been hitting buyers with. I think all those things have scared off a lot of potential customers.

Not sure how it will all play out. My wife and I always buy used and haven't bought a vehicle since 2019, and I'm really glad we're not needing one right now. A year or two ago there was a huge shortage of vehicles because of COVID, and now new prices are sky high which of course affects used prices. just not a good time to be car shopping.

 

[burbguy82]

The element of population interested in their products are not cash buyers

Very true, but most people dont buy in cash either though. We are on the same page on this comment though.

I have to wonder if that has something to do with it aswell: If a bank loans out "money" for a Dodge product, and (I'll pick an arbitrary# of 20%) dont pay their loans off, of get impounded or whatever.........does it makes sense for the loan company to loan out for that product, to that "element of the population". And if so, I argue at a much higher rate, but even still, does it make much sense.

Without banks loaning money out, none of the car makers would survive, except for Toyota, HAHAHA

 

[OVERKILL]

Very rare do I ever see a new Ram.

May depend on your area, DT's are EVERYWHERE here (as are DS's), but we have three Stellantis dealerships in the area. Also see a lot of WKII and WL GC's, but it's very rare to see a 300, Dart or Hornet. Lots of old Caravans and plenty of new Pacificas though.

 

[burbguy82]

May depend on your area, DT's are EVERYWHERE here (as are DS's), but we have three Stellantis dealerships in the area. Also see a lot of WKII and WL GC's, but it's very rare to see a 300, Dart or Hornet. Lots of old Caravans and plenty of new Pacificas though.

I agree, good point, area dependent, just like you would be likely to see more Lambos, McLarens and Bentleys in Beverly Hills. Dont get me wrong, I see a lot of Dodge cars, (in the hood) so to speak, but rarely a Ram truck....such that I would not be able to tell the difference between a 2019 and 2024, like I would with a Ford or GM for sure.

What are Dt's and DS's?

 

[OVERKILL]

I agree, good point, area dependent, just like you would be likely to see more Lambos, McLarens and Bentleys in Beverly Hills. Dont get me wrong, I see a lot of Dodge cars, (in the hood) so to speak, but rarely a Ram truck....such that I would not be able to tell the difference between a 2019 and 2024, like I would with a Ford or GM for sure.

What are Dt's and DS's?

They are the generations of truck. The DT was introduced in 2019, but they kept the old model (DS) around because it was very popular and continued to sell it alongside the DT as the "Classic".

Here's our DT:

And this was our DS:

 

[10WSmuckers]

It's not just a Ram issue. There are absolutely no new cars worth their asking price being sold today and I don't want to wrangle with dealer scum either.

 

[ragtoplvr]

When is the last time you bought a brand new vehicle?

2004 still driving it, buick lesabre, best car I ever owned. 1992 Dodge Dakota, before that 89 Tempo
Then there was the black Black lemon, 86 Monte Carlo SS before that 82 S10

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

It seems every Ram dealer I've driven by has a very large inventory of trucks not selling well. Is Ram in trouble?

They've been trying to hold the line on prices as competitors discount their inventory. That's going to change very soon if it hasn't already. Dealerships weren't happy during their last meeting with corporate.

 

[parmm]

I brought a new to me Winnebabo Micro Minnie travel trailer 2 years ago. My Chevy Colorado just did not feel comfortable pulling that 4000 lb dual axle trailer. The trailer wanted to drive the Chevy. I did a lot of home work research on pickups towing small travel trailers. Ended up with a lease turn-in 2020 Ram Big Horn Crew Cab 1500 with a Hemi 5.7 e-torque, Love it!! Best, most comfrortable, pick-up I've ever owned! And she pulls that trailer like it isn't back there! I quit buying new vehicles. Always buy a lease turn-in with about 30,000 miles on it. Last 4 vehicles I've brought have been lease turn-ins. Let someone else break them in and loose the big bucks deprecation of new vehicles!!!

 

[wtd]

Most of the dealers have tons of trucks on the lot. Probably because the prices are sky high and people either can't afford it or won't pay what they are asking. High interest rates don't help either. While I would like a new truck, I'm not paying $50,000+ plus for one.