I don't know about anyone else here, but I've always been reluctant to buy something in it's first model release. Let the kinks get worked out and look into the upgrade in a year or two.

 

Somebody created a handy calculator to compare the hemi to the eco. You plug in your annual mileage and local fuel costs and spits out the payback yrs for the premium. It even takes into account DEF costs. In my area, gas is $3.60, diesel is $3.90. I avg 14 mpg on the hemi, using that and my 12K annual mileage gives me a $700 savings with the diesel. It'll take 4 yrs for me to recoup the cost of the upgrade, at the $2850 premium.

The biggest issue, that even the Dodge engineers confirm, that it will not get the greatest mpg on multiple short trips, 8-10 miles. So if you have a short commute like mine, might not be a great choice.

 

I own both a 14' Outdoorsman with the 5.7 and an 14' Tradesman with the 3.6. Both with 8 speeds. The 3.6 is a mileage maker, while the hemi is a powershouse. I'd put the 3.6 real world mileage against the ecodiesel. Add in the extra costs of running a diesel (besides the initial up front costs) I'd bet the 3.6 is just as/if not more economical. Matter of fact my salesman and I put a pencil and paper to it when I bought the outdoorsman (coulda ordered it with the diesel) knowing how many miles i put on in a year and it would have taken 12-15 years to make up for the initial/operating costs of the diesel when compared to the 5.7. Owning both, I know it is quite a bit cheaper to run the 3.6 than it is the 5.7.

 

I've been following another forum that is specific for the 3.0 ED. Many of the first owners were very enthusiastic about the expectations. Seems that there are a lot of growing pains but for the most part, they are raving about the fuel economy. It sort of reminds me of the early gen 4 owners claiming 23-24 MPGs with the hemi, some ED owners are claiming 29-30. So the truth is somewhere in the middle. Realistically from what I can gather reading the posts for the last 6 months or so, is that towing a camping trailer 6000 lbs or so you can expect around 14 if you drive fast or 15 if you drive 60 MPH. Highway it's like 25-26 and lower for some hand calculated owners.

The biggest issue is that the supply and demand seems to be affecting prices, where you can get around $10k off MSRP on a hemi today, you can expect almost nothing on the ED. If you can get $2k off on the ED you'd be doing OK. No factory incentives for the ED either. Combine that with the fact that there is a $2800 added premium over the hemi, then the price spread is about $10 to $11k. That buys a bunch of fuel.

There seems to be a rash of Check Engine Lights on the ED that Ram is trying to work out but from a poll that was done. seems like 35% have an issue. This will probably get sorted out under warranty.

The biggest fear is the cost of future repairs, as we all know, diesels are very expensive to fix.

Personally, I think I'll wait for the 2017 Ram redesign for a new truck and see where things are then.

 

Very good points, Pedro. I actually went out to buy an ED when I sold my '04. The 3.0 diesel fit my needs perfectly and I was loving the fact that I could get a 420lb/ft torque hauler that would get 25+ mpgs. The real benefit is people are seeing 16-18 mpg towing weights that would have my '04 Hemi down into single digits.

But I'm driving an 800lb/ft CTD 2500 because NO dealer near me would drop much more than a token couple hundred off full sticker, while yes, $8000 was easy to get off a 4x4 Hemi. I ended up buying a 2500 that stickered for $11,800 more than the 1500 Eco Diesel for less than $3000 more than the best they would do on the ED.

Of the three dealers I visited, I saw about 120 1500 Rams and exactly four were Eco Diesels. Until production numbers climb on the 3.0, they are going to be a premium.


As far as problems, I'm seeing 99% are emission related which is about like the Cummins. NOBODY has all the government mandated emission crap down pat yet. I personally know a guy bought a new 2013 Duramax and after 17 CELs for emissions that put him in lkmp mode every time, he did a lemon law buy back. Bought a 2014 Ram 2500 Cummins same as mine and at 1800 miles shut him down on the side of the road with an emission CEL...

 

Yeah, the diesels are kind of scary for repair costs. I know several guys that have had injector problems with 2008 cummins and have spent $6k and $8k repairing them after warranty. Also my cousin has a '09 duramax that he loves but the injector pump went out and destroyed all kinds of things, fixed under warranty. He's kind of concerned it may happen again out of warranty.

I've also know guys with the old 2002 cummins 3500 dually 4x4 that has had no problems, only problems are the wives bitching about the ride. One guy showed me the evic on his old and it was showing 20 MPG. He did drive it so that he was in 2 or 3rd gear by the time he crossed the intersection after a stop.

By the way, I see from your signature you mention East Florida. I worked and lived in Fort Walton Beach back in the mid 80s, went back a few years ago and holly cow! they filled in all of the beaches all the way to Panama city with condos.

 

I took no chances, bought a 120 month / 120,000 warranty - bumper to bumper. Only jumped my payments by $23 a month. Suffice it to say there won't be near the mods on this truck that I did to my 3rd Gen Hemi.
Some steps, level kit in the near future. Probably some fender flares & 35" in the next year and maybe a winch bumper down the road and that's about it.