i might just have to slow it down a little bit on the highway from now on!! lol

 

It is worth test driving the various new transmissions...
the Lexus 8 speed automatic
the VW/Audi DSG 6 speed
the Jatco made CVT in various including Dodge Nitro, Nissan Murano, etc
the Tundra 6 speed
the Ford/GM joint venture 6 speed automatic

Some of the new automatics in the 18 wheel trucks made for the women are worth driving if you get a chance.

With 7 gears you can stay in the "island" of good fuel economy most of the time, but with an electrically operated splitter like the GV to make 14 gears you can stay in the island nearly all the time except all-out maximum acceleration.

I believe Dodge would be selling more than an extra 200,000 pickups and SUV's right now if they paid more attention to reliability details (like d-ring seals, 5th gear nut and better vfs programing) of all their transmissions. The basic designs of the Dodge transmissions were solid, but the details were messed up and the reputation of Dodge transmissions suffered greatly.

 

I got mine new and the truck was on the lot for 5 monthes. a customer ordered it and the bank"LATER SAIDNO".
I have everything except power windows and hi dollor seats... for $13,000 out the door. I was looking for a 4.7 with a manual but no lock. this one was a great deal. I keep trucks about 15 to 20 years.

 

Well Hank, I have V6 with the 6 speed quad cab. What will be my combination to get out of the 15.5 mpg I am getting.

 

strictly money. a new vehicle for 15,200 is a sweet deal. i could have gotten a 2003 hemi w/ 40k for like 11,999 (and that's what it was stickered at...so it would probably go cheaper). but i was in a wheelchair at the time,a nd wasn't able to work on my own truck. so, i needed a truck with room, and a way to launch my wheelchair into the back of it.

 

I origionally had the 6. After moving some bricks, i knew i needen more power. i thought the same thing about MPG. Scary thing is, i get better MPG with my Hemi... and my RPM's are about 500-700 lower

 

Price... simple as that.

 

Price is why i got one, i got a 2008 reg cab v6 out the door with a trade in of $1500 for $14500

 

I got mine simply for the price. While at the dealership I did get excited about the V6 thinking I would get great mileage, but boy was I wrong (at least on the highway for long trips). I bought mine used at 49k miles on it. Its a Quad Cab which I needed for hauling stuff locked up. I know the arguement of "get a tonaue cover" but I need it lockable for my rifles and pistols when I go hunting and the cab is safer than a bed cap or tonaue, and I need the open bed for carrying box blinds and such that won't fit under a cap. Plus my wife and I are planning on kids and I wanted the extra seating when that happens. Oh, and I paid $13,998 + tt&l.

As far as gas mileage, I don't know all the math and physics of it, but I can tell you my experience. In the city, my V6 kicks the crap out of all my friends trucks with V8's all the time. I fill up once a week driving 50 miles round trip a day to work and a little bit on the weekend. Most of my V8 friends (Dodge, Chevy, Ford, and Nissan - don't know any Tundra owners real well) have to use at least 1-1/2 to 2 tanks a week for the same driving.

On the highway, its another story. I go from Dallas area to far East Texas to my hunting lease quite a bit. It is more of an uphill drive there, and down hill on the way home. But either way, It takes me more than half a tank to drive there going 70mph because of all the hills. Usually I do have some gear in the truck, but I wouldn't call it a "full load" and at least one person riding with me. SoI don't think I'm pushing a lot of weight when I do this trip. I almost always have to fill up on the way home also and this is only 304 miles round trip. Across flat ground with no wind maybe the mileage is better, but not going through the hills of East Texas its not. My friends with the V8's begin to kick my butt even while pulling their campers or trailers with ATVs on them they get better mileage for those trips. I just don't get it, and for that reason I'm going to wait until the 09 or 2010 comes out and get a base or SLT QC model with the diesel engine in it (1/2 ton). Better mileage and I like the longevity of smaller diesel engines.

 

I drive the hill of east Texas daily, and I am going just about 400 miles between fillups. However, I tend to drive at 70-75 mph. I didn't buy a pickup to go 90 mph, I have motorcycles for THAT at 50 mpg.

Howard