So I currently have a 98 Ram 2500 club cab and have been looking at some 03 and up Ram 1500's. I test drove a few and it is far and away a better truck then my 98 as far as performance and driveability.

Just have a few questions. Most of the ones I see for sale are 05's, is there a reason for this? Did sunroofs come stock on them, two have had them but that is all I have seen? Also is it the leather interior worth the extra money at least comfort wise?

The two I'm looking at are both 05's with the 5.7L HEMI and quad cabs. One is white with the 20" rims and the other is silver and fully loaded with the 20" rims. Besides the interior difference in leather and sunroof etc.. the white one has 20K miles and the silver has 50K on it. The silver one is about 1K cheaper. What do you recommend? Thanks for the help.

 

If I was to get a used truck which I'm not sure I'd do in this day and age I'd get the one with 20k miles for sure.

 

I would guess you are seeing a lot of 05's because they are at the end of their 3 year warranty, or the end of someone's 3 year lease. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with them. Just shop smart and if you are unsure, have it checked out by a mechanic before you buy it.

 

I would always bring the truck to a mechanic I know before I buy it. The dealer I am buying from will warranty the truck to 8 years from the in service date or 80K miles whichever comes first.

 

Depends on if you'd rather have leather and more miles. Or cloth and less miles. I thot that sun roofs were rare in rams. Personally id love one, but i have herd too many horror stories about adding one. If it were me, id get the silver one, or just take a trip to california, and get a brand new one for the price you won't believe.

 

Any good dealers you know off the top of your head? The best deal on new around here was $34K but that was pretty much HEMI and nothing else.

 

Sunroofs were a part of packages. The silver one should be more that a kilobuck cheaper. Visit http://www.edmunds.com Generally a good reference. Low mileage is a plus, but not a sole determining factor. My '03 had 86K when I bought it. Runnin' strong now at 96K. I love it.

 

That's a horrible price on a new Ram. I got about $12k off sticker price, bringing it well below $30k and mine is full of options. Since then, I've heard prices have come down even more, with some people saying they've seen 1/2 off sticker price. Now that the '09s are coming out soon, dealers are looking to get rid of the remaining '08s. I don't know exactly where you live in CT, but I bought my truck in NH.

 

Looked both up on edmunds for their true market value. The white one with less miles was $16,527 and the silver was $16,488.

Without much haggling I have the white one around $15,400 and the silver one right around $14,500. Around here all the ones I find are around these prices.

 

Sh*t, dealer here just ran a full page ad extending their 50% off list sale. Fully loaded '08 QCSB Hemi 4x4 featured was $23,000. RCSB 4x2s at like $13,500!
A friend of mine bought a new '08 QCSB Hemi 4x2 from them on fourth of July weekend, fairly loaded, sunroof, power sliding rear window, etc. Just about every option but leather and dvd/nav system for $17,800.

As far as the '05s go, it's true, you always see a lot of three year old vehicles on the lots. Leases are up, and a lot of people always trade at the end of the 3/36 bumper to bumper. I always did on my ex's Grand Cherokees, we had an '05, '08 and '02 that were all bought just about as the bumper to bumper went bye-bye...

I have the Laramie pkg. in my '04 with the leather seats, their ok, and I specifically wanted leather because I've ruined cloth getting wet red Ga. clay on them and having it actually permanently stain. With the leather, you just keep a towel along to wipe it off.