Flex fuel doesn't improve mpgs, if anything it slightly decreases. That's been proven, burns faster, only benefit is savings at the pump.

My 4.7 '05 QC 4x4 3.55 Ram was horrible with mpgs. I drove a combination of city 1/3 highway 2/3 over 30 miles one way, everyday, for eleven years, and during most of those years I had a '02 Dakota 4x4 club-cab 3.92, and the '05 Ram as mentioned. Never saw better then 17 mpgs on my Dakota, or better then 15 on my Ram, both the same generation 4.7.

I'm not saying the Hemi is better all the time, but I consistently averaged now 17-18 on reformulated fuel on highway trips, and 14-14.5 around town.

My wifes vehicle is flex fuel, utilized flex fuel once, did the math, it was cheaper to run 93 octane when converting mpg's verse cost per gallon.

 

How's the transmissions with these new rams? Any rust issues?

 

Thats more or less what I have read on several forumns for quite a long time comparing the Hemi to the 4.7. There's no real trans issues. There is some software updates for shift,torque converter lockup,idle and cold start. Rust has been no issue. Few complaints about I think bumper rust. Best looking and riding trucks out there. Nothing wrong with 4.7s.

 

Meh, I live where you live and unless you are driving the unplowed roads to your hunting shack then a 2wd works fine.

The Ram weighs almost 3 tons so the bigger engine is a big plus.