Ram 1500 Sport Hemi vs Range Rover L322 TDV8
Discussion
Evening chaps.
Talk me into or out of this please! I'm currently looking at various land Rovers to replace my old Disco, and the choice keeps swinging from G4 Disco 3 to FFRR TDV8 and back again. However......
I really really fancied a Ford Raptor, but I had to concede that they are just too big over here due to the flared bodywork and comedy suspension. They are also exceedingly expensive.
I therefore thought the dream of a yank truck was dead, until I spotted on ebay a lightly used Ram 1500 Sport 5.7 Hemi, on LPG, for the same price as a Rangie. Having checked out the dimensions, the Ram is positively svelte, with only the 2ft extra length being any different from a big Euro SUV.
My parents think it am daft for wanting an LHD car in an RHD country, but i don't personally see the problem - especially as its automatic anyway. Additionally, my man maths suggests that a hemi on LPG will be about the same, if not slightly less, per mile to run than a 28-30 mpg diesel SUV.
The truck I have seen has the added advantage of being a facelift model with a tactile interior rather than the Fischer Price effort of the up-to-08 model years.
Whilst I currently do 5000 miles a year, mainly for things like vintage vehicle shows, the odd bit of heavy towing, sleeping in on bleak airfields, 4x4 response duties and some light off roading; from this summer I will start commuting a 70 mile round trip for work.
So what do we think.... am I off my rocker or do I have a point here to convince my parents (whose house the vehicle will be kept at and who will use it occasionally whilst I'm at uni, and thus have final say on what is sensible)?
Talk me into or out of this please! I'm currently looking at various land Rovers to replace my old Disco, and the choice keeps swinging from G4 Disco 3 to FFRR TDV8 and back again. However......
I really really fancied a Ford Raptor, but I had to concede that they are just too big over here due to the flared bodywork and comedy suspension. They are also exceedingly expensive.
I therefore thought the dream of a yank truck was dead, until I spotted on ebay a lightly used Ram 1500 Sport 5.7 Hemi, on LPG, for the same price as a Rangie. Having checked out the dimensions, the Ram is positively svelte, with only the 2ft extra length being any different from a big Euro SUV.
My parents think it am daft for wanting an LHD car in an RHD country, but i don't personally see the problem - especially as its automatic anyway. Additionally, my man maths suggests that a hemi on LPG will be about the same, if not slightly less, per mile to run than a 28-30 mpg diesel SUV.
The truck I have seen has the added advantage of being a facelift model with a tactile interior rather than the Fischer Price effort of the up-to-08 model years.
Whilst I currently do 5000 miles a year, mainly for things like vintage vehicle shows, the odd bit of heavy towing, sleeping in on bleak airfields, 4x4 response duties and some light off roading; from this summer I will start commuting a 70 mile round trip for work.
So what do we think.... am I off my rocker or do I have a point here to convince my parents (whose house the vehicle will be kept at and who will use it occasionally whilst I'm at uni, and thus have final say on what is sensible)?
Interesting one, this.
I currently own a Supercharged L322 and drive 70 miles each weekday to work and back, yet have entertained the notion of purchasing a Ram or F150 many times to replace my RR. Not that my RR needs replacing, but I do want to own an American pickup at some point.
However, a few things have prevented me from doing so:
1. I know I never, ever want to be without a RR for many sad, boring, illogical, practical and emotive reasons.
2. The Ram would be slower than my current RR. Would it matter? More than likely not. But then again...
3. I need to be able to park in an underground carpark in a space that my RR only just fits into lengthwise. A Ram would be too long.
4. My RR fits my needs and those of my family like a glove. Any replacement has an awful lot to prove.
But as you've never owned a RR (and that's good), then just buy the damned Ram and have fun with it. I'm rather envious of you.
I currently own a Supercharged L322 and drive 70 miles each weekday to work and back, yet have entertained the notion of purchasing a Ram or F150 many times to replace my RR. Not that my RR needs replacing, but I do want to own an American pickup at some point.
However, a few things have prevented me from doing so:
1. I know I never, ever want to be without a RR for many sad, boring, illogical, practical and emotive reasons.
2. The Ram would be slower than my current RR. Would it matter? More than likely not. But then again...
3. I need to be able to park in an underground carpark in a space that my RR only just fits into lengthwise. A Ram would be too long.
4. My RR fits my needs and those of my family like a glove. Any replacement has an awful lot to prove.
But as you've never owned a RR (and that's good), then just buy the damned Ram and have fun with it. I'm rather envious of you.
Thanks Chaps!
I'm thoroughly set on the Ram now, just got to hope I can get my Disco repaired and shifted in time for it to still be for sale!
Pickup owners... who do you insure with? I presume it has to be classed as a commercial? How much is it relative to a normal SUV?
I'm thoroughly set on the Ram now, just got to hope I can get my Disco repaired and shifted in time for it to still be for sale!
Pickup owners... who do you insure with? I presume it has to be classed as a commercial? How much is it relative to a normal SUV?
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Friday 13th March 02:24
Stu R said:
FWIW LHD is no problem in the UK, especially with Rams as they've usually got the bench seat you can slide across at McDonalds / Toll booths etc 
I was pondering this, but the facelift ones with the tactile interior have a centre console with a gear selector and cubby bin. I'm not interested in a pre-facelift as the interiors look utterly dire and irretrievably cheap and tacky. ChemicalChaos said:
Stu R said:
FWIW LHD is no problem in the UK, especially with Rams as they've usually got the bench seat you can slide across at McDonalds / Toll booths etc
I was pondering this, but the facelift ones with the tactile interior have a centre console with a gear selector and cubby bin. I'm not interested in a pre-facelift as the interiors look utterly dire and irretrievably cheap and tacky. 
) and they do. For some reason I thought the 1500 Sport did, apologies. Anywhoo, LHD still isn't a big deal.
ChemicalChaos said:
Thanks Chaps!
I'm thoroughly set on the Ram now, just got to hope I can get my Disco repaired and shifted in time for it to still be for sale!
Pickup owners... who do you insure with? I presume it has to be classed as a commercial? How much is it relative to a normal SUV?
Good Man , keep us updated.I'm thoroughly set on the Ram now, just got to hope I can get my Disco repaired and shifted in time for it to still be for sale!
Pickup owners... who do you insure with? I presume it has to be classed as a commercial? How much is it relative to a normal SUV?
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Friday 13th March 02:24
Mine is insured through A-Plan at the mo'. Pretty sure it's classed as an LGV and with limited mileage is less than £200 fully comp ('04 Laramie, full NCB, etc.)
Stu R said:
The lower range ones still have bench seats - my work trucks are new tradesman ones (well, aside of my own which is much more plush ) and they do. For some reason I thought the 1500 Sport did, apologies.
Anywhoo, LHD still isn't a big deal.
99% of the stuff that came this way is export spec Sport or Laramie. Heated and cooled bucket seats with centre console.) and they do. For some reason I thought the 1500 Sport did, apologies. Anywhoo, LHD still isn't a big deal.
Get a crew cab not a quad cab, much nicer for passengers.
Insurance isn't a problem with them, just ring the usual people. You'll find most of them are registered as passenger cars.
I have a 03 Dodge Dakota V6, always wanted a Yank since I was a kind and now finally in a position to own one. Coming from a E36 coupe the Dakota is only a couple of inches wider, mine is a club cab (tiny bench behind drivers seat) with a 6 1/2 ft bed. only real issue is with certain places to park sometimes in a standard car park space but I just look for a space with a bush behind it and back in!
I can get in my local shopping mall multi-storey after I jump over the centre console to get the ticket!! (I once saw a Ram in the same car park and assumed he got out ok so figured I'd have no problem!)
Not bothered about fuel, my mpg is crap and I didn't buy a yank pickup because I was concerned about fuel consumption, also lucky enough to be able to walk to work.
LHD not an issue unless you need to overtake something bigger that you cant see over!
My insurance is through Aplans classic/custom car broker not down as commercial unfortunately probably due to my max payload not being enough but my truck costs me no more for tax and insurance than my E36 did.
so practical its fantastic, chuck anything in the bed and off you go, luck for me my local tip has no problem with it either.
Buying new tyres for it smarted a bit but they should last a good while.
So far the odd spares I have bought I've bought on Amazon US for pennies (serp belt £16 pulley about £20 shipped from the states)
only downsides, no central locking, manual windows and its too quiet!
I can get in my local shopping mall multi-storey after I jump over the centre console to get the ticket!! (I once saw a Ram in the same car park and assumed he got out ok so figured I'd have no problem!)
Not bothered about fuel, my mpg is crap and I didn't buy a yank pickup because I was concerned about fuel consumption, also lucky enough to be able to walk to work.
LHD not an issue unless you need to overtake something bigger that you cant see over!
My insurance is through Aplans classic/custom car broker not down as commercial unfortunately probably due to my max payload not being enough but my truck costs me no more for tax and insurance than my E36 did.
so practical its fantastic, chuck anything in the bed and off you go, luck for me my local tip has no problem with it either.
Buying new tyres for it smarted a bit but they should last a good while.
So far the odd spares I have bought I've bought on Amazon US for pennies (serp belt £16 pulley about £20 shipped from the states)
only downsides, no central locking, manual windows and its too quiet!
Ballbags! The truck I was watching on ebay has been pulled by the seller, presumably due to a deal being struck.
At £22k for a 5.7 Laramie on LPG with 50k miles, it was exceptional value and I can't find another one like it either over here or on US ebay (especially by the time import, vat, sva and lpg conversion are factored in)
At £22k for a 5.7 Laramie on LPG with 50k miles, it was exceptional value and I can't find another one like it either over here or on US ebay (especially by the time import, vat, sva and lpg conversion are factored in)
Keep an eye out for another one. They're pretty rare over here so you may have to think about what your ideal spec is and what can be compromised on. There are also a load of other yank trucks that might tick the boxes.
p.s. What's the story with the science classroom on open evening?
p.s. What's the story with the science classroom on open evening?
You should easily find them in the US in budget, I can think of half a dozen dealerships around here with $20-25k Rams on the forecourt - finding them with 50k miles might be trickier as it's a nation of people who use them for proper milage, but I'm sure there's some out there - Florida is a good place to start. General rule of thumb is swap the dollar sign for a pound sign and you've got a rough idea of what it'll cost OTR in the UK from my experience.
Also, being LHD they're reasonably popular in Europe - Germany and Scandinavia especially seem to have an affinity with USDM stuff so it's worth perusing their eBay and auto trader type sites.
Also, being LHD they're reasonably popular in Europe - Germany and Scandinavia especially seem to have an affinity with USDM stuff so it's worth perusing their eBay and auto trader type sites.
ChemicalChaos said:
Whereabouts in the US are you? I scoured ebay US earlier and any crew cab 5.7 Hemi in Sport, Laramie or Longhorn trim is at least $35K if you want it in 4x4
I'm in Ohio for the most part. I just took a quick peek on Carmax (who are typically hideously overpriced) and found many. http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/default.html?i...
There's bazillions more like it. Also try cars.com
If you're not dead set on a Ram, take a look at Toyota Tundras too. They're as good as Ram 1500s IMO, despite not having Hemi power.
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