Some of these new trucks are VERY nice vehicles. I can understand why people drive them. A truck is easier to enter and exit. There is usually more interior space since trucks are wider than most cars. Comfortable leather seats, a quiet ride. There is a LOT to love about newer trucks.

On the other hand, trucks often cost more to drive than a car. A truck will almost always cost more to purchase. A truck will use more fuel. If a truck is not needed, it is probably not going to be the cheapest option.

If you want a more comfortable vehicle, some of the "near luxury" cars are quite a bit more comfortable than cheaper cars. For example, a Chrysler 300 is a nice car in my opinion. A V6 model will get decent fuel economy.

As some of the other guys have suggested, it would be best to start adding up the projected expenses for a truck and a car to determine the difference. Everybody's situation is different!

Edit: If you want a more economical truck, an older 12 valve Dodge Cummins, 2 wheel drive truck MIGHT be a good choice. The 2 wheel drive trucks do not bring near as much money as a 4x4. Of course, you probably wouldn't want to drive it every day. But it would use less fuel than your current truck, especially when towing. I suspect a 12 valve, 2 wheel drive Cummins will be the cheapest diesel to buy and perhaps to drive. Some of the other guys here could probably give you some better advice on this though.

Half ton trucks are not really trucks anymore, they are SUV's with a bed. There are a multitude of them from Chicago to Milwaukee where I drive to work everyday, they look nice, drive nice, and can tow an open trailer when needed, but are at their limits towing and enclosed trailer. If I were to downgrade to a 1500 I would get the 395 HP 5.7 Hemi and get 20 MPG on the highway where I only get 15 MPG in my 2500. I drive between 120-160 miles a day, and sometimes wish I had something smaller the got better mileage, but I like the heft of a truck and they do still get some respect on the highway...

Yeah, you know I'm starting to realize that. Even when I was working on them every day (which was only 4 years ago), they weren't quite as 'refined' as they are now. Definitely a far cry from what a truck used to be, even just 10-15 years ago.

I enjoy having an older truck but it's hard to ignore what a newer vehicle offers. Guess I just have to concede that sometimes newer is a little bit easier to live with on a daily basis, especially with kiddos.

Might go and test drive something this weekend.

The ultimate!

I'll see your Mega Cab and raise you a Durango Shaker.

HELL YEAH! you need a truck! even if it isn't a full sized.
I myself drive trucks and Jeeps because I cannot stand anything available in a "car", made in at least the last 15 years.... and people laughed at the Pacer for being a "bubble".... what are basically all the cars now a days?
too small, FWD, sit too low to the ground, hard to get out of, no thanks...

Haven't been able to go look at any vehicles these last few weeks, just too busy. I think about it all the time though since I am in the car so much. Funny too, once I made the decision to find a larger vehicle I've really noticed how tiring it is driving in the Mazda.

One thing I do notice though is that the overwhelming majority of the Rams I see on the road are Hemi equipped. I could probably count the amount of Ecodiesel trucks I've encountered on one hand.

YOU STILL HAVE NOT DECIDED TO BUY A TRUCK???

I drove 280 miles round trip on Sunday to go to the NWDRA 41st annual swap meet to look for parts for the racer with a friend. We could have taken his Honda car, but we took my truck and it only gets, at best, 12 MPG. I just can't fold myself into an econobox anymore. I really did not need the truck because all I did get was some Plymouth hubcaps for the trailer and a dual remote oil filter for the racer. I had a very comfortable trip, though.

Well, things have just gotten a little cloudier.

Dodge has introduced a Durango SRT model to come out in the 4th quarter this year. 475 hp, 8,600 lb towing capacity with AWD and sway control in tow mode.

No idea how much but I'm guessing close to what a top of the line Ram would be?

Maybe I will use the D100 for this summer and wait for this monster to arrive.


2018 Durango

OK that is an acceptable reason to wait...for now I am quite happy with the payments I have to make...they are very easy on my wallet and my insurance is still happy with me.

Updating an old thread. Finally made a decision and bought a truck, a '17 Laramie Crew cab.



This truck has most if not all the stuff I wanted in regards to equipment - trailer brake controller, 3.92 rear gear, bed cover, sliding rear window, 2 tone paint and leather trimmed interior. It's a really nice truck. Really like the chrome grille and the two-tone paint.

Only weird thing is the gearshift knob. Very strange feeling putting a car in gear with a twist of a knob on the dash. The console in this truck is huge too. What do they expect people to put in these things?

Just thought I'd mention that I did inquire about a Durango SRT in August. At the time there was about a two month wait. As of today, it's been almost that long and I have not seen one at either of the dealers I went to or anywhere for that matter. One salesman said a few been sold ahead of time but none were even in stock to look at with none expected any time soon.

Ultimately, the SRT wasn't the right vehicle for me anyway. Too much money for an SUV. If I was going to spend that much coin on a performance vehicle, a car would seem to be the better choice. I guess there are handful of Vin Diesel wanna be's out there who think otherwise but I'm not that guy.

So the truck got the nod. Still hard to wrap my head around the fact that trucks are now luxury vehicles. Not a luxury guy at all but I will say, it's nice to ride in comfort. Far cry from my old D100.

Interior shot.


Gonna be a big adjustment driving this thing after 5+ years in a Mazda 3!