- Joined
- Sep 6, 2005
- Posts
- 12,919
(posted on a RAM forum)...if any of you care to read this...
My former truck was a 2014 Express with the black package (bought Feb of 2104), here's a short rundown of the features:
Quad cab, 5.7L, 6spd trans, 4x4, anti-slip, 3.55 rear
"Black" package at the time included LED lamps, projector headlights, 5.0 -w- backup cam, no "1500" emblems, black wheels.
Here's what I got a few weeks ago:
Crew Cab, 3.0L EcoDiesel, 3.55 rear, anti-slip
typical Big Horn package, heated seats/wheel package
After 4 years of driving the '14...here's my observations:
Exterior:
-I'll admit it...I'm not a chrome guy. I think my '14 was overall better looking.
-Illuminated side mirrors are really nice.
-I really do not understand the purpose of the LED bed lighting...maybe I will some day, but I lived without it for 4 years and never once wish I had it.
-The power fold mirrors may be handy some day, but I haven't needed that feature yet.
-I can't believe I'm saying this, but the stock headlights are better than those horrible "projector" lamps my '14 had...well at least for STD lights. The high beams on the projectors were WAY better, but I didn't use those often. I was always surprised at how crappy the projectors were on my '14.
Interior:
-Giving up 7" of bed space to get the Crew cab was worth it...that extra room makes a far larger difference than I thought it would.
-Most the of the Big Horn interior additions I can take/leave. I know the Express interior is rather spartan, but I cannot recall it ever bothering me. The additional center console is ok...but not 100% needed. Going from the 5.0 to the 8.0 screen is nice, I'll say that.
-Heated seats are freaking nice, I'll admit it.
-The gauge cluster in the BH is WAY better than the stocker in my express. I have to say, it really is that much nicer. I didn't think I'd care much about it...but I do.
-I despise the rotary knob gear selector vs my standard pull down column shifter on my '14. That dial just plain sucks, I don't 100% know why, but I do not like it at all.
Performance:
-The trucks really are night/day. My 5.7L had some serious get-go...the ED just does not. I had to learn to drive my 5.7 properly so I wasn't constantly hammering passengers necks, or laying a patch of rubber. I'm going to have to completely re-train myself to drive the ED, I have been consistently under throttle'ing the thing and I need to have a heavier foot with it. I'll say there is noticeable turbo lag, it is what it is.
-It's already making a significant difference in fuel consumption. I'll say that I don't drive a ton, but my winter 12mpg 5.7 was consuming 25-30 gallons a week...the ED sucked down 15 gallons and that's with helping a friend move all day Sat.
-The ED is COLD BLOODED. I know, diesel engines don't like cold weather. It takes some serious time for that fella to get up to proper temp when the temp is cold outside.
-The engine sounds super cool. I love the sound of a diesel truck, I just do. For the most part, this things sounds great. The turbo isn't the loudest due to the stock intake, and the exhaust is very tame. I jokingly said that I feel all "biggg-riggggsss" when driving the thing.
-I had to learn what DEF is, and the proper place to get it. Perhaps I'll change my idea on this later, but I don't see the big deal here. Fill it up every 4-5000 miles, it will set you back a whopping $30.
-The stock tires are still total crap. I actually made the dealership transfer my Toyo Open Country tires form my 2014...but I had to drive on the stockers for 2 days. They are mushy, miserable tires.
Anyway...pics:
My 2014:
...the 2017:
My former truck was a 2014 Express with the black package (bought Feb of 2104), here's a short rundown of the features:
Quad cab, 5.7L, 6spd trans, 4x4, anti-slip, 3.55 rear
"Black" package at the time included LED lamps, projector headlights, 5.0 -w- backup cam, no "1500" emblems, black wheels.
Here's what I got a few weeks ago:
Crew Cab, 3.0L EcoDiesel, 3.55 rear, anti-slip
typical Big Horn package, heated seats/wheel package
After 4 years of driving the '14...here's my observations:
Exterior:
-I'll admit it...I'm not a chrome guy. I think my '14 was overall better looking.
-Illuminated side mirrors are really nice.
-I really do not understand the purpose of the LED bed lighting...maybe I will some day, but I lived without it for 4 years and never once wish I had it.
-The power fold mirrors may be handy some day, but I haven't needed that feature yet.
-I can't believe I'm saying this, but the stock headlights are better than those horrible "projector" lamps my '14 had...well at least for STD lights. The high beams on the projectors were WAY better, but I didn't use those often. I was always surprised at how crappy the projectors were on my '14.
Interior:
-Giving up 7" of bed space to get the Crew cab was worth it...that extra room makes a far larger difference than I thought it would.
-Most the of the Big Horn interior additions I can take/leave. I know the Express interior is rather spartan, but I cannot recall it ever bothering me. The additional center console is ok...but not 100% needed. Going from the 5.0 to the 8.0 screen is nice, I'll say that.
-Heated seats are freaking nice, I'll admit it.
-The gauge cluster in the BH is WAY better than the stocker in my express. I have to say, it really is that much nicer. I didn't think I'd care much about it...but I do.
-I despise the rotary knob gear selector vs my standard pull down column shifter on my '14. That dial just plain sucks, I don't 100% know why, but I do not like it at all.
Performance:
-The trucks really are night/day. My 5.7L had some serious get-go...the ED just does not. I had to learn to drive my 5.7 properly so I wasn't constantly hammering passengers necks, or laying a patch of rubber. I'm going to have to completely re-train myself to drive the ED, I have been consistently under throttle'ing the thing and I need to have a heavier foot with it. I'll say there is noticeable turbo lag, it is what it is.
-It's already making a significant difference in fuel consumption. I'll say that I don't drive a ton, but my winter 12mpg 5.7 was consuming 25-30 gallons a week...the ED sucked down 15 gallons and that's with helping a friend move all day Sat.
-The ED is COLD BLOODED. I know, diesel engines don't like cold weather. It takes some serious time for that fella to get up to proper temp when the temp is cold outside.
-The engine sounds super cool. I love the sound of a diesel truck, I just do. For the most part, this things sounds great. The turbo isn't the loudest due to the stock intake, and the exhaust is very tame. I jokingly said that I feel all "biggg-riggggsss" when driving the thing.
-I had to learn what DEF is, and the proper place to get it. Perhaps I'll change my idea on this later, but I don't see the big deal here. Fill it up every 4-5000 miles, it will set you back a whopping $30.
-The stock tires are still total crap. I actually made the dealership transfer my Toyo Open Country tires form my 2014...but I had to drive on the stockers for 2 days. They are mushy, miserable tires.
Anyway...pics:
My 2014:
...the 2017:
