When people find a pickup they like, it’s nearly impossible to persuade them to buy anything different. If you’re reading this article, your pickup of choice is the Dodge Ram. And why shouldn’t it be?
Ram trucks are reliable workhorses that look good while getting things done. However, they’ve also firmly established themselves as great day-to-day travel vehicles, family pickups, leisure vehicles, and recreation activity trucks. The question isn’t what brand of truck you’re going to get, the question is: what Ram truck is right for your needs?
If you’re thinking about buying a new Ram truck, keep reading for the top nine considerations to keep in mind.
1. Your Credit
First, you need to think about your personal finances. Do you know your credit score? It can significantly impact the rate and term of your loan.
Unfortunately, if you have poor or little credit, you may not be able to get a traditional loan at all. You may need to find a co-signer or find a dealership that offers low-credit loans to customers. However, low-credit loans often come with high-interest rates.
It may be wise to spend a few months improving your credit score before buying your next Ram truck.
2. The Costs
When looking at Ram trucks for sale, you also need to consider all the costs involved when buying a new vehicle. Start with the monthly payments on your loan. You need to find a contract that gives you a comfortable payment – one you can make easily each month.
Secondly, you need to think about other vehicle-related expenses. Are you in a state with a sale’s tax? If so, are you accounting for that in your total loan amount?
Car ownership also demands monthly auto insurance payments and yearly vehicle registration fees to the state. Finally, don’t forget about regular maintenance costs, fuel, and random repairs.
3. New, Used, or Certified Pre-Owned
When looking at Ram trucks for sale, you have three primary options – new, used, or certified pre-owned. If you’re looking for a 2020 Ram truck, you’ll obviously be shopping for a brand new vehicle. These are top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art trucks that possess the coveted new car smell.
However, this may not agree with everyone’s budget.
You can go the route of buying used which has its benefits, such as lower costs. However, when buying used, you typically don’t get any warranties and are dealing with older technology and driver/safety features. If you buy from a private seller, you also don’t have much buyer-protection.
There is a middle ground, however, in the realm of certified pre-owned vehicles. CPOs are mildly used vehicles that are only a few years old. They’ve been refurbished to a like-new condition and are given new warranties from the manufacturer or dealership.
4. Features
Next, Dodge Ram trucks come with a lot of features, some are included in the base model, others are not. You’ll need to decide what comfort, luxury, and convenience features are important to you before choosing your truck.
These include things like smart device integration so you can pair your phone or other mobile devices with the onboard head unit. There are also driver assistance features such as parking sensors and cameras, emergency communication systems, navigation, automatic braking, and more.
Finally, think about comfort and luxury, such as heated/cooled seats, automatic/dual temperature control, keyless entry, and more. Look into the different Ram truck packages to find that one that best suits your needs and your budget.
5. Performance
Of course, when buying a pickup truck, performance is an important consideration. If you plan on using your pickup for work and require a truck that can bear a lot of weight in the bed, you need to think about hauling capacity. This can help you determine how big of a truck bed you need as well.
Similarly, you need to consider the truck’s towing ability. If you plan on towing trailers, campers, boats, or other vehicles, you need to know what your truck is cable of. Ram trucks have towing capacities ranging from 6,000 to 30,000 pounds.
6. Cab Size
Next, think about the daily needs of your truck in terms of passengers and passenger comfort. What size of a cab do you need?
If you have a small family, you may only need an extended cab. If you have a bigger family or will often be transporting more than yourself and another passenger, you may want to consider getting a crew cab. There’s also the mega cab option for those looking for maximum interior space.
7. Fuel Type and Efficiency
Ram trucks come with various fuel options. You have the option of diesel or regular gasoline -there are pros and cons to each.
Currently, gasoline is cheaper in most states than diesel. However, gas and diesel prices are constantly fluctuating and this isn’t always the case.
Additionally, diesel proves to be more efficient, offering several more miles per gallon. That being said, Ram trucks with diesel engines are typically a few thousand dollars more expensive than their gasoline counterparts.
8. Warranties
Next, let’s look at warranties. When buying a car of any kind, manufacturer warranties are vital to your peace of mind. Though, as mentioned above, if you’re buying a used Ram truck a warranty may not be an option.
New Ram trucks, on the other hand, typically come with a basic bumper-to-bumper warranty covering the majority of your parts and systems for 36 months or 36,000 miles. There’s also a 60-month or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty that covers the major mechanical components. Lastly, you get roadside assistance and a corrosion warranty for 60 months.
9. Trade-In
Finally, you need to consider your own vehicle’s trade-in value if you’re shopping at Ram truck dealers. We recommend researching your vehicle’s trade-in value in advance to make sure you’re getting a fair deal.
Trading in your current vehicle may be a great way to offset the costs, lower your interest rate, and get lower monthly payments.
Thinking About Buying a Ram Truck?
Are you considering buying a new Ram truck soon? If so, keep this article handy to make sure you’ve taken everything into consideration. Remember, buying a vehicle is a big investment that can impact your life for years to come.
And if you’re looking for more tips or knowledge about cars, our blog was made for people just like you. Be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go.