This may be perceived as an unusual post to some of you. My apologies in advance. I do not mean to offend anyone.

I am still trying to decide between a new Ram 1500 5.7 Laramie and a new F150 Lariat Ecoboost. My biggest problem with the F150 is the engine... and all the other new F150 engines in the 2011 line-up. A new engine is an unknown, whereas, the Ram 5.7 Hemi has been around a long time... For your information, my current vechicle is a 2001 F150 5.4 which I purchased new... about 10 years ago, so I keep a vehicle for a fair length of time. I have had no significant problems with the 2001 F150.

I am currently leaning (51/49) towards the Ram, BUT... when I read the posts on this (and other Ram 1500 forums) there sure seems to be a lot of issues regarding the Ram...and not always minor issues. The F150 forums seem to document far fewer problems... not a lot of posts on the Ecoboost, but then again, it is a new product... I realize that it is possible that the F150 owners may not be as vocal, but I would estimate that the complaints on this forum outweigh the F150 forum at least 2 to 1.

I really like the 2011 Ram and in my area, I can get it for at least 15% less than the comparably equipped F150.

Can you help me decide?

thank you all in advance.

 

No problems here... 58,000 miles on the 2009 and she runs sweet. Gets great fuel mileage, tows the boat and camper just fine. I have a 2003 with 135,000 miles and it too runs sweet gets fuel mileage almost as good ad the 2009 and no problems. Of course both of them are maintained by the book.

 

I also have had no major issues. Only failed items would be the puddle lights. Other service were RRT's.

Based on posts the only things I would try to stay away from is the vented leather seats (although I understand they are fixed) and chrome bumpers, depending where you live.

They all (makers) have issues and ANY new truck could have a major one. No one, well few, will post their "happiness or content". So the number of issue posts % is a direct relation to total number of posts, so if you have less traffic the issue posts show up more often. I stopped buying Ford products after owning a 99 and 03. They carried over "common issues" year to year and I ended up with the same issues on my 03 as my 99. That was not acceptable. Not saying they still do that, as a matter of fact I am fairly confident they do not. But I only give two strikes.

 

I order my 2009 from the factory. I could not pass up just how sweet looking this truck was plus the rambox, bed divider, interior the list goes on. I have had zero problems and have 46k thus far. I was also torn between the f150 and ram, but I could not pass up the lifetime powertrain warranty (unfortunately thats gone now) and the ride. So much smoother than any other pickup I've driven

 

I had too many issues with my F150's ( 04 FX4, 05 Lariat and son now has the 06 FX4 ) so I now drive a Ram and have no regrets after 47k miles. Wife also had an 08 Edge and was on it's 3rd PTU seal for the AWD unit until we traded it. I have an early 09 Ram and had a bunch of free oil change coupons from dealer so they did a few RRT's when I went in every 5k miles for oil changes.
The new ecoboost setup is sweet but I wouldn't touch one until a few years past based on my past experiences with Ford since I saw my new 04 ( 8k miles on odo at the time ) get torn down for a cam phaser replacement.
Only complaint on the Ram is this MDS mode, some do not mind but I had to disable it. It is like driving around with a 5 speed manual at 25 mph in 5th gear. Not good for us back woods drivers. Dodge need to make it a setting option in the EVIC and allow us to enable it at speeds of 55 mph and up for road trips only.

 

I've had my 2010QC since July and it has been faultless; couldn't be more happy.
My previous truck was a 97 F150 with the 4.6. Other than some engine misses, it was fine too.
It would hit 100mph with 210 hp and I thought that was pretty impressive.

 

There is always risk in buying the first year design. You have take into consideration that the 4th gen Ram has been out 3 years longer so don't compare the comments for 3 years worth of owners and the quantities versus the just released Ford. If you go back and look at the comments for the Ram when it first came out and compare them with the F-150 you may get a clearer picture. For sure no one know what will happen long term but my '09 has been flawless for 23,000 miles.

 

I vote for the Eco Boost. Only problem is they are sold out around here and there is a waiting list for them. Ford has a winner with the Eco Boost.

 

any manufacturer is going to have issues and going to put out a few lemons.
and I looked into gettting an eco boost. would have cost me an extra 13000 with my trade in, could not justify it, would never save that kind of money on any difference in what the echo boost will get in gas milage. plus the lifetime powertrain and lifetime bumper to bumper could not get that in a ford.
Also, no one yet knows how the echo boost engine will be long term when it is in a truck. and used as such.

what they are claiming on gas milage I have beat (highway) with my v8 regularly, now maybe with the echo boost and me driving maybe i do beat what I am getting now 18-23 (hand calculated). and what they are claiming city I have come close to (14-16 hand calculated) . so for me it was just not worth the trade, and the thoughts of replacing turbos and all that years down the road.
if you don't keep a vehicle long term then the game changes a bit. the ford drove good and all.
but i like the ram better in most every way. I like the ford evic better, and the sync system. their dash pad is better (I don't have laramie or sport just slt) then the one in my truck but once you bump up to the sport or laramie then the ram's is just as good or better. guages in the ford was good too.

 

Ford it about to get another 2.7M F150's recalled because the fuel tanks may fall out of them.