Hey all, last week I bought an 08 QC 4wd with the new 4.7L v8. I've got to say that this was the hardest decision ever. I have drove a 06 hemi for 20K miles and a 07 4.7 for about 23k miles. So when it came time to get the 08 I had a hard time making up my mind. The 07 4.7 drove me crazy andI told myself that I would not even consider looking at a 4.7 ever again. Then when I went to the dealership they told me about the changes for 08 and I took one for a drive then came back and took a Hemi for a ride. The Hemi was had little better acceleration (especially over 60mph) but from a stand still you don't miss the 30 hp. I am wonderingwhat anyone else's thoughts are.

Now my new worry is the gas mileage (arg!) I am only getting 12.8 mpg(so much for the claimed 25% increase in fuel economy from Dodge) My 07 4.7 averaged 14.8 to15.2 and the 06 Hemi averaged high 17's. Hopefully after a few more miles it will improve or I am going to have to trade it in on the exact same truck but with a Hemi.

 

I should state that I am actually impressed that Dodge made the changes that they did and that i am not being sarcastic. For me personally they fixed all of my driving complaints about the07 4.7 that I drove.

If this engine could have MDS with the ethanol capability it would be 100% perfect for me.That was the other reason for not getting the Hemi, where I live we have Ethanol available and next summer when gas is$4 a gallon Ethanol should bewhat gas is right now.

Oh yeah and I also want to thank Dodge for the lifetime warrrany! There's no competition for that.

 

wow how come so many new rigs??? anywho mileage will improve over time.... its still breakin in..

 

I'm also driving an '08 with the 4.7, QC 4X4 only mine is the 6 speed. I only have about 275 miles and a lot of that has been in 4X4 mode due to all the snow this week here, but in mixed driving I've been averaging a steady 15 mpg. I have expectations of pretty good mpg once she's broken in and weather conditions are a bit kinder. Could not be happier with this rig, not even one complaint!

 

TDmopar the 06/07 were executive leases from Chrysler which you only get to drive one year. But for 2008 I bought the truck because of the awesome incentives. It was actually about $95 dollars a month cheaper to buy than keep leaseing. Also with the lifetime warranty I don't have to worry about any major repair costs.

 

I like the 4.7, but no how much h/p dodge can muster, the 4.7 is too small for the tasks I put my hemi threw, Dodge should putthe 4.7 in the charger as a base engine and scrap the v/6, for point A to B transport in a Ram, the 4.7 is all right, milage is = to the 5.7, but you can get a 6sp with the 4.7.

I had to go for a 2500 6sp with the hemi engine ...

 

Cyclone429, If the only way I could have gotten a manual was to go 2500 then that's what I would have done, it was the availability of the 6 speed that brought me to Dodge after years of driving Fords, but I really don't require the towing capacity of the 2500. The tweeked 4.7 with the 6 speed is a great combo, and for some like me the perfect setup.

 

Ford / Gm no longer have V/8 with manaul transmissons in a pick up, I'm not being critical of the 4.7 6sp, I would take one over a 4.6 with a auto in a Ford ( I allways drove Fords, this is my first dodge product )

The 5.43v in a F-250 is no were as good as the hemi 6sp combo, my old 04 F-150 was a 5.43v with automatic, sucked flue more than the hemi, Now that I have a 2500, I'm using it big time But a 1500 hemi with a six speed was what I wanted.

260 h/p in the 4.7 H/O is = to the 5.4 ford ( before 04 )

 

i thought the new '08 4.7s were supposed to have improved economy? i stopped to look at one tonight out of curiousity and it was identical to my '07, except the mileage. my sticker said 14 city/18 highway. the '08 said 13 city/17 highway. i'd like the extra power they claim to have but not at the expense of MPG.

 

My understanding is that the EPA has changed their way of computing MPG, the new math results in EPA estimates lower than what had formerly been reported. The '08 4.7 is suppose to give slightly better gas milage, only about a mile to the gallon better, than the '07 4.7 in identical trucks. The bigger plus is the improved power, up to 310 hp now.