I have to agree with BgBluRam. Before I bought my 05 w/4.7L, I test drove a simliar truck with the HEMI. Yes there was a difference in power but the 4.7 I was comparing with had a flowmaster exhaust systemand airaid intake. It made up some ground and is pefect for my everyday use and towing my 19ft CC boat. The hemi IMO would be fun to have but after the honeymoon I don't think it would make that much of a difference in everday driving.

 

the only reason people complain about the MDS is because of the "wierd sound" it makes after you put a aftermarket exhaust on them. i think its a great system for these trucks! i enjoy the extra MPG i get with my HEMI with the MDS i just put a tonneau cover on my truck and im pulling 15.5-17mpg in town and getting over 21on the highway!!! i also have a 50series flowmaster that might be helping with MPG too, and i love the sound of my truck!!!

 

i think some of you guys and gals are full ofit... i hav owned 4.7 and 5.7.. and i have friends that have bouth... how do you get 22-24 mpg.. and the performance between 4.7 and the hemi is night and day...

 

Well that's obvious...

Before I lifted my truck, I used to avg. 16mpg around town, and could get upwards of 24mpg on longhighway trips... He's not full of it, it is possible. Even with my truck lifted, I see 12mpg around town, and 18mpg on the highway. All mileage is hand calculated. There is a technique to good gas mileage, some people can do it, others can't.

 

I have a 4.7 and the best i can get is 14mpg,thats driving it normal and not babying the trottle.If i did 65 on the freeway here i would be nearly ran off the road.Worst i got was 9mpg,thats working it out myself and not going by the overhead console.

 

I guess it comes down to personal opinion really. For me I don't drive auto trannies. I think they are unreliable. so for me in a half ton it's 4.7 and six speed. I know u can say go get a 3/4 ton hemi with the six speed but if i'm gonna but a heavy duty It's gotta have the cummins and the six speed.. Just don't like a hemi in a heavy duty truck. Also in half ton I prefer RCSB and the 4.7 in that configuration has more than enough power. Maybe in a qc it's not enough but for rcsb it's good for me

 

You might be very right about the fuel savings on the 4.7Lbut it is very clear that a person buying a 5.7L Hemi is not as concerned about fuel economy andare definatly more interested in power and performance. You are making a big trade-offwith power and distinction for money saving and for that matter on a lease anyways the price is not that much different.

There was also a complaint with the MDS system on the 5.7L having wierd sounds when cruising around 40-65 mph when there is an after market intake put on. That is also a personal opinion in my mind because at my age and my interests i rearly cruise at 40 mph and the MDS system dose not engage during acceloration anyways and this problen dose not occure when overdrive is off, even better at that speed.

It just shows with a little thought and cash you can increase your fuel economy and have a better vehicle for a reasonable price. If it is cash you are looking to save I would trade is the leather seats and some other small thing and opt for the better engine.

 

iagree. at highway speeds, hills are almost too much for the 4.7 in my dakota. that'sbeing empty. it just doesn't want to downshift.. itwill lug the motor all day long and not downshift.. i've been told that it is"normal" and it will not hurt the motor lugging it. i disagree.

 

Stock for stock there is no replacement for displacement but with a set of 4.56 gears, the 4.7 performs mighty fine.

 

I am very happy my Hemi has the MDS. I only have 450 miles on the truck but the next full tank of gas I am going to track the mileage for a full tank. I know I will get full use of the MDS since I regularly cruise at 58 to 60 MPH in the right lane. A friend of mine has a chevy trailblazer with a 6 cylinder in it. He drives it like he stole it all the time. One time he tried driving at 60 MPH for a whole tank of gas just to see how it would do. He was amazed at how much further a tank of gas would go. He is back to driving like a fugitive now though.
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