Buying a dodge 1500 hemi

[Winny1234]

Hi there I am looking to buy a 2008 hemi ram with a 5.7 litre engine I was just wondering what are the common problems with these trucks and if there is anything I should watch out for. I am in the process of deciding between a dodge hemi 1500 or a 1500 silverado can anyone suggest which is better. Thank you very much

[CanukGMC]

I just bought a 2008 1500 hemi 2 days ago with the TRX4 offroad package quad cab. I'm loving it so far. I went with dodge because in my area the equivalent priced GM was almost 15k more from a good sale they have going right now to move the 08's. I paid 31k out the door fully licensed and taxed (good for my province, not sure on your prices where you are but it's a 45k truck normally BEFORE taxes\licensing here). We drive these exact trucks as lease rentals at work and have for about 4 years now and I haven't seen any problems at all to speak of. We have some of the 2500 diesels we use that get problems with the particulate filters and need service but the hemi's are solid so far.

As for gas consumption I have yet to measure the MPG after break-in. While I broke it in (throttling up and down, not holding a constant speed and not using cruise, basically not using the 4cyl mode much at all and random accelerations) I got 15mpg. Now mpg will almost always improve with engine wear (everything is very tight still with only 800km on it) and also the break-in driving style is about the worst way to drive for fuel economy. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[Winny1234]

What province are you from, I am in BC, if you are in BC what dealer did you buy from?

[CanukGMC]

Originally Posted by Winny1234

What province are you from, I am in BC, if you are in BC what dealer did you buy from?

Ontario guy here. I bet if you check around (run your postal code through the dealer locator at www.dodge.ca and check the inventory) you can find a similar price out there. Just so you can compare (I'm sure that's why you are asking what dealer, for the price) this is what I got for a deal not more than 48 hrs ago:

-2008 1500 ram
-hemi 5.7l w\MDS
-4x4
-TRX4 offroad package with the protection package (tow hooks and full under-belly skid plates)
-rear differential limited slip
-towing package (frame mounted receiver hitch, auxiliary coolers for engine oil, tranny, coolant, and power steering rads)
-AC, power locks\mirrors and 1 year of free sirius satelite radio, remote key unlock
-0 miles
-standard warranty
-bed liner (plastic insert, not sprayed in)
-fog lights and chrome bumpers

That's the package I got with an OUT THE DOOR price (GST\PST taxes, freight, licensing, etc) of 31,500$. Hope that helps if you're looking to barder a bit, I checked with a dealership much further south of me (almost in the Toronto area) and he had the same price, but on the other hand I checked another dealer and he couldn't even offer the same truck within almost 8000$ of that out the door price.

EDIT: I just did a quick inventory search of a dealer near Prince Rupert (just for curiosity sake) and it appears they have pretty much the same deals going on right now (about 28-29k listed price, which is what mine was before freight\tax\etc). Not sure on your sales tax in BC but maybe it'll work out even cheaper than my price. Good luck

[scmoparmex]

i have heard all good things . . .just one thing, when and if you decide to do a aftermarket exhuast , ive heard that is sounds like crap through the exhuast when its running on 4cyl. only way to help that is to program it and shut off the variable displacement , but then you loose the good gas mileage. but if you dont plan on any exhuast then you'll have no problem with that and im sure it will be a great truck. I have a 04 1500 w/ the hemi and i love it . . .no regrets even when i have to pay the car payment.

[CanukGMC]

Originally Posted by scmoparmex

i have heard all good things . . .just one thing, when and if you decide to do a aftermarket exhuast , ive heard that is sounds like crap through the exhuast when its running on 4cyl. only way to help that is to program it and shut off the variable displacement , but then you loose the good gas mileage. but if you dont plan on any exhuast then you'll have no problem with that and im sure it will be a great truck. I have a 04 1500 w/ the hemi and i love it . . .no regrets even when i have to pay the car payment.

Thanks for the reply. I've bought the truck and man do I love it (have had it for a few weeks now). Excellent excellent truck, no regrets (especially at the out the door price!). The canoe is loaded in the back and I'm heading out duck hunting at 6am. Back in business lol

[wafrederick]

Also use 5w 20 oil only for the next oil change or the acuators for the MDS will gum up if you don't.Where I got this info was from the Jasper rep that stops by my father's shop once in a while and my father is a Jasper dealer