2013 Ram 1500 Gets Consumer Report’s Love

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Consumer Reports put the 2014 Ford Silverado and the 2013 Ram 1500 in a head to head competition to see which one is the better truck. The results showed that both compared very favorably to each other but the final verdict is a tad surprising as the winner may not necessarily be the best.

In the end, the winner of Consumer Reports truck battle was the 2014 Ford Silverado, but it came with a caveat. While they were ready to say that the Silverado is the better of the two, they actually ended up recommending the 2013 Ram 1500 overall as the better daily driver.

The 2013 Ram 1500 held its own against the Silverado, losing only slightly in the amount of towing power and cargo space in the rear cargo bed. However, the Ram 1500, tested with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivered on having a smooth drive thanks to the eight-speed transmission. The acceleration was noted as being better than the Silverado’s.

“The reality is that you can’t go wrong with either one. Both are capable trucks that get decent gas mileage and are as quiet inside as a good luxury car,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Report’s director of automotive testing.

For more information on the 2013 Ram 1500 or other Ram products, contact a sale rep at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. The dealership operates in the Queens, Bayside area of New York and works with each customer to find them the right new or used car for their life style. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see more auto news and our monthly specials.

Ram Trucks Improve Tech to Improve Fuel Efficiency

2013-ram-1500Gas prices are always a concern whenever it comes to picking out a car.  The recent roller-coaster trend that the gas prices have been going through is disconcerting to anyone.  That price has been a major factor for anyone stepping into a dealership looking for a new or pre-owned car.  For a truck driver, it has to be even more of a concern.  Thankfully, while trucks have been traditionally seen as fuel hogs, Ram is making great endeavors to make their trucks even more fuel efficient.

The Chronicle Herald took a look at how each truck maker is handling this new demand from their customers in having fuel efficient trucks.  Here’s the list of the methods Ram is taking to give their truck drivers the best possible and most fuel efficient trucks.

One type of technology is cylinder deactivation.  In Ram trucks, this is known as the Multi-Displacement System.  All that is fancy speak for making sure the truck isn’t using more cylinders than necessary.  If only four cylinders are needed, then only four are used.  When more force is required more of them will activate.  This in turn helps to save fuel.

Next is the an eight speed transmission.  Other truck builders use six-speed transmissions, but Ram is offering up eight on certain models.  The benefits of this are “Key benefits to having more gears include low highway-cruising revs, improved refinement and enhanced power delivery.”

The last bit of tech being used in Ram trucks to help save you gas is “Variable Valve Timing.”  This is a term that most muscle car drivers will know of.  What this does is let the vehicle’s engine computer system control performance by opening up valves when needed.  The system is constantly making sure fuel efficiency is being properly met.

For more information on Ram and the trucks using these fantastic technologies to improve fuel economy for the drive, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Ram 1500 Tops Consumer Reports Full-Sized Pickup Test

ram1500_06Consumer Reports has put out their rankings of full-size picks up and the one that made it to the top of the list, the 2013 Ram 1500.

“The Ram 1500 is surprisingly luxurious and refined-but still fully capable of doing hard work when needed,” said Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Ct. “Continued interior and powertrain improvements make the Ram a particularly well-rounded choice.”

By heading over to their website, at ww.CosumerReports.org, they have the full break down of their test and ratings that led to the 1500 earning the top spot. The Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a fan-favorite engine choice, was used in the testing.

The pick up managed a 78-point overall road test. To put some perspective on that number, here’s how the competition did. The Ford F-150 got 68 and the Toyota Tundra had a 69.

The 2013 Ram 1500 has been extremely popular with critics and fans of late. This is thanks to a lighter and stiffer frame than previous models. Including the new infotainment system on the inside to improve driver and passenger comfort certainly helped the scoring.

Consumer Report did mention that they are still waiting to test the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, so we’ll see if the 1500 can hold onto the crown afterward.

For more information on the Ram 1500, or other Ram products, head to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  You can view the full product line-up online or schedule a time to be seen in our service department for a check-up.  We also have added a mobile app for customers to access the dealership on the go.  Be sure to also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see our monthly specials.

Ram Trucks Heats up the Commercial Truck Segment

ram_promaster_02Trucks have an odd dual life attached to them. Sure everyone likes to drive a car that looks good, but trucks need to be able to do their duty as a heavy duty mover. That’s what commercial vehicles are all about, trading in the frill and good looks for providing the highest quality performance. With the 2013 Ram 1500 being such a success with fans and critics, Ram is setting their sights on providing competition to Ford and General Motors with commercial vehicles.

Currently, both Ford and General Motors dominate in this field. They have almost 90 percent of the market with Ram picking up the rest. The economy is improving and companies are looking at their fleets in need of updating.

Ram is introducing a new commercial truck, a downsized cargo van based off the Fiat Doblo, later next year.

It’s clear for truck sellers that this will be a major market over the course of the next few years. Truck builders are certainly concentrating on providing solid competition amongst themselves. When that happens, the consumer wins.

Go to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge to view our full Ram line-up, including our full selection of commercial trucks.  We have our new and pre-owned vehicles also available for view online.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more Ram news and monthly specials.

Ram 1500 Named Automobile Magazine 2013 All-Star

2013-All-Stars-Best-Cars-in-AmericaAutomobile Magazine just announced their All-Stars for 2013, and among their top-honored vehicles was the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn.

11 vehicles were named 2013 All-Stars and given distinctions like “Hometown Hero” or “Compact for America.” The Ram 1500 and the Audi A7 were designated as the “Houston Rockets.” Jason Harper, who wrote the section of the piece on the Ram 1500, had lots of praise for the truck, calling it “the ultimate in cowboy cool” and “king of the ranch.”

As they put both vehicles through their paces, the Ram 1500 easily beat out the Audi 7 for earning its keep. This is the type of vehicle that can haul more hay, bring back a runaway cow, and take out skeet shooting. Aside from its practicality, though, Harper was also surprised at the attention given to the interior, praising the stitching as “European quality” and noting the lack of “tawdry veneer” in the design.

The full article is available here or in the July issue of Automobile Magazine.

To view our Ram line-up, go online to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Our entire new and pre-owned inventory is also view-able.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube for more Ram news and for monthly parts and service specials.

 

2013 Ram 1500: Giving The Competition a Run for Their Money

ram1500_02It’s time for a good old fashion showdown between the most popular trucks on the market.  New York Daily News took a look at the popular 2013 Ram 1500 and saw how it stacked up next to the competition.  What was their conclusion?  It was that Ford and Chevrolet better be worried.

The Ram truck is a staple of American engineering for heavy-duty trucks.  The official origins for the Ram started around 1981, but the ram hood ornament has been a feature since the Great Depression.  Since then, the Ram has undergone quite a number of since then and is now poised to really shake up the established thought when it comes to trucks.

The 2013 Ram 1500 especially is looking to combine refined luxury covering powerful capability.  The redesign of Ram as the article puts it “attempts to innovate along with Chevy and Ford rather than follow while undercutting their prices.”  While there is a sense of gimmick in some of the features, such as the sidewall storage compartments or the “Rambox”, but many others would be considered class leading, such as eight speed transmission and electrical steering.

Where the Ram 1500 really shines is the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with eight speed automatic transmission.  The transmission is 10 percent more fuel efficient  than a six-speed and almost 15 percent more than five-speed.

For the pricing, it’s not hard to see it’s the choice for any driver looking for the best valued truck on the market.

To view our Ram line-up, go online to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Our entire new and pre-owned inventory is also view-able.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube for more Ram news and for monthly parts and service specials.

Ram Truck & Chrysler Donate to the First Response Team of America to Help With Oklahoma After Tornado

UntitledThe Chrysler Foundation, the charity arm of Chrysler, has donated $100,000 dollars to the First Response Team of America to help with the efforts underway to aid Oklahoma after the destructive Tornado. The First Response Team of America is a nonprofit disaster relief organization that helps local first responders and aids with cleanup efforts.

What the First Response Team of America does is head into an area that’s been struck by a disaster and lends a helping hand. They assist with the rubble, water rescues, clearing roads, and a host of other things to help the nearby communities. In order to do this, they require heavy duty equipment and Chrysler has been a supporter for a while now in that regard. The company has already donated three heavy-duty trucks to the team. Ram trucks are included in the long list of heavy equipment they need to handle the cleanup.

Last year, Ram began a partnership with The Weather Channel Companies and the First Response Team of America. The Weather Channel Companies also started the series “Responding by Storm” which reports on the work of the First Response Team of America.

Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Ram, has this to say, “We know that the road to recovery for residents of Moore and Oklahoma City will be long. The Chrysler Foundation is proud to support First Response Team of America’s efforts to help the people of Oklahoma get back on their feet.”

Chrysler has a history of support for communities dealing with extreme disasters. Just last year, here in New York, Ram donated 20 Ram 1500 Tradesman trucks and $100,000 to the American Red Cross in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims in Oklahoma still dealing with this horrible tradgey.  Please visit the First Response Team of America page and lend any support you can for your fellow Americans.

To view our Ram line-up, go online to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Our entire new and pre-owned inventory is also view-able.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube for more Ram news and for monthly parts and service specials.

2013 Ram 1500: Built For Stop-and-Start Traffic

ram1500_03Gas prices might be on the decline, but that doesn’t stop anyone from wanting to keep that cost down overall.  Fuel economy is important to drivers.  The recent state of the economy showed just how much the average consumer cared about staying away from the pump as much as possible.  The automakers noticed this.  A major selling point of newer vehicles has been based around fuel efficiency.

That’s here the new 2013 Ram 1500 comes in.  Thanks to the Stop-Start technology it has; drivers will have improved fuel efficiency by 1 mph in city driving.

The Ram 1500 HFE models come with a high-performance starter that includes the Stop-Start system.  That is for both the 3.6L V-6 Pentastar or 5.7L V-8 HEMI engine.

What is the Stop-Start system?  It’s a very smart little do-hickey that stops the engine when the truck is at a complete stop.  A stop is based on the amount of brake pressure the driver puts on the pedal.  That means if you don’t want to stop the engine completely, then you can use soft braking.

This perk is definitely intended for anyone who has to deal with excess traffic.  Anyone who’s driven into New York through any of the tunnels knows how stop and go it can get.  How this system works during these conditions is that the stop-start turns on during the first off.  As long as you stay under 5 mph, the engine continues to run to maintain the heating or AC.  Another awesome aspect is that if the 1500 is stopped for a lengthy period of time and if it detects that the temperature is rising or decreasing, then the engine will restart to turn on the heater or the AC.

No worries about this feature wearing out fast because of what it does.  Yes there’s an additional load of work placed on the starter, alternator, and battery; the components were upgraded to handle it.

Its features like these that are compelling so many to recognize just how amazing the Ram 1500 is.

For more information on the Ram 1500, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  You can view our new and used inventory online.  Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to see our monthly specials.

Ram Sponsors Kentucky Derby for Fourth Consecutive Year

Ram-Truck-Official-Truck-Kentucky-DerbyThis weekend is the Kentucky Derby, and as people are placing their bets and predicting the winner, Ram is getting ready for its fourth consecutive year as the Derby’s official sponsor.

In a post on RamZone, Ram Trucks expressed their gratitude for the honor of sponsoring the Kentucky Derby, stating, “We hope that in time our presence at the Derby will become customary as seersucker suits and the garland of roses.”

For years, Ram’s line-up has catered to a variety of needs from light-duty truck for trailers and ATVs to heavy-duty trucks built for towing horse trailers. They understand the needs of truck drivers and more specifically of horse trainers and owners. Ram’s sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby is the perfect match between product and event, a partnership that will hopefully continue for years to come.

The Kentucky Derby will air live on NBC from 4 PM to 7 PM eastern time.

To view our Ram line-up, go online to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Our entire new and pre-owned inventory is also viewable.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube for more Ram news and for monthly parts and service specials.

Ram Jam Auctions Raise $181,731 for Charity!

Road to Ram Jam ImageRam’s all-star country music series, ‘Ram Jam,’ has been a resounding success.  One of the main parts of the event leading up to the concert was called “The Road to Ram Jam.”  All five of the country stars that would be performing as part of the concert were given Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn trucks with which to drive around before auctioning the trucks off with proceeds going towards charity.  The five trucks have been sold off and the final total for the donation has been tallied.  In total, they made $181.731.

The final truck sold belonged to Easton Corbin.  His Ram raised $37,101 for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.  The fund awards college scholarships to the children of the men and women in the Armed Forces who have lost their lives or limbs in defense of the country.

The other artists included Kellie Pickler, Brantly Gilbert, Billy Currington, and Zac Brown Band.  They were all given the Longhorn trucks, including Corbin, in early January.  Each one was then put up for auction to go towards the charity of the artist’s choice.

Breaking down the individual totals comes to Pickler raising $36,200 for the USO Warrior and Family Care program; Gilbert’s went for $34,552 and his charity was the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  Billy Currington’s charity was for Team Rubicon and raised $34,578 and Zac Brown Band, the charity being Camp Southern Group, raised $39,300.

The Ram Jam concert was held December 29th in Nashville.  It was by invite only, but you can still see the highlights here. (http://music.yahoo.com/programs/ram-country/. )

To view our Ram line-up go online to Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  Our entire new and pre-owned inventory is also viewable.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more Ram news and for monthly parts and service specials.