Dodge Express vs. Ford STX

"FJ80WaitinForaLSV8" (fj80waitinforalsv8) 08/26/2013 at 12:18 • Filed to: None

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Oppo-

I have recently been captivated by the siren song that is cheap muscle trucks. It all started innocently enough while browsing the ram website to investigate their 6.7L cummins after the Nissan Titan announcement. I started browsing their 1500 series and stumbled across the dodge 1500 express.

For those unfamiliar- the express is a strip down options package- vynil floors, manual locks, crank windows- but, most importantly it comes with the 5.7L hemi V8. You get this practical and fast truck for the paltry price of $25,000 (I don't envision paying more than 22 out the door) when configured in the standard cab short bed combination. I got very excited by this mainly because of the price and the fact that I've always wanted a pickup truck. I also think it would be a kick to install a pair of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in the back. For me this is exactly the kind of car I've been wanting automakers to build for a while. It makes total sense to do it in a truck since they already build total strip down versions of these vehicles for commercial customers. Just to illustrate this point, the ram express is more than $5,000 cheaper than the least expensive hemi challenger. MIND BLOWN. It would have to be in fire truck read because - well Lil Red Express of course!

Now I decided to do my due diligence and check out Fords offering. From the Blue Oval you can get a Coyote powered F-150 FTX also for 25 grand. Now the Ford comes standard with power locks and windows but its only a $700 option on the Ram- plus I imagine most that are sitting on dealer lots will have this option checked. Personally I am more fond of the styling on the Ram truck but I have some reservations about its coil springs and the fact that FIAT now owns Chrysler (read not 100% American).

Some stats: Ford 5.0 Coyote is rated at 365 HP and 420 lb/ft. (PS I have no interest in the ecoboost- much more difficult to upgrade, I don't trust turbos worth a damn, and the exhaust note doesn't come close)

Rams 5.7 395 HP and 410 lb/ft

Both have 6 speed autos.

Ram is available with 3.92 gears for $50 bucks - Ford only option is 3.31's

As for Chevy - Since its a new truck prices are in the $28,000 neighborhood. Not interested especially when the engine is the weakest of the bunch.

So what do you think Oppo- which truck would you take and why?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 12:28

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Ram. Because Hemi. I would say stretch to get the 5.3 Silvetado, but cheap and fast is the Express's MO.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/26/2013 at 12:44

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Why would you go for the Silverado? Is it because you see it as the best balance of the three in terms of refinement and speed?

Decay buys too many beaters > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 12:45

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I imagine either one would make one hell of a hoonmobile if they only came with a manual transmission. With that in mind If I were in the market for a muscle truck, it would have to be this

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 12:56

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Well you can't go wrong with a SBC. And yeah, it's got close to top power, but dominates on MPG by 3+mpg. Plus I like the design of the new ones a lot more. It's a hearty and aggressive truck, but not a super testosterone compensator.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/26/2013 at 13:02

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Yeah I'll have to crunch the numbers on the fuel economy vs. price increase.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:03

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There's also the suspension factor. I've always found Rams a bit more floaty than I like. But that's a taste thing.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Decay buys too many beaters 08/26/2013 at 13:04

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Agreed in an ideal world that would be it. Unfortunately I'd be spending about the same coin for a used truck (likely with over 50k on the clock) that has most certainly already been hooned. Plus I'd have to imagine servicing that beast of an engine would be a lot more expensive if anything did in fact go wrong.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/26/2013 at 13:05

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I haven't read much about peoples' reaction to the switch over to coils. I imagine it would be a good thing for a sport truck.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:05

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If I were choosing between the two I'd pick the Ford. I've always felt that Dodge was always "Number 3" behind Ford and Chevy for best truck. For some reason I just trust the Ford more than I do the Dodge. I always have.

I'm right there with you on the turbos though, I avoid them too.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/26/2013 at 13:14

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I agree with you on Chrysler typically being number 3. Both of them are just so plain simple though that fixing either should be a piece of cake. Chrysler does make the hemi in Mexico though which is never very reassuring.

Decay buys too many beaters > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:16

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That is probably true, but the SRT-10 is still the only "modern" full size truck that has really spoken to me.

The SRTs engine and drive-train are designed for performance, so the occasional burn out or exuberant driving should not do any damage. In fact, I'd be a lot more inclined to buy a vehicle with a high performance engine that had been driven hard (so long as it was also maintained well), rather than babied. Who knows what kinds of issues could be lurking right beneath the surface of an engine that has never really been able to stretch it's legs.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:23

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I believe (if it's the same trans as my buddies charger R/T) that they are sealed and you can't check or add trans fluid if needed. He had some drips from the trans and had to take it in because he couldn't even check the fluid level on it. I have NO IDEA if that's a concern with a newer model and a truck, could be very different from the car trans, who knows?

I also happen to love anything that says "5.0" on it.

Firewrx234 > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:34

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Dat Ram. One hell of a styling set on those things. None of the trucks come close to the sheer anger those things exude. Also, mo powa, mo gears, mo fun!

Makoyouidiot > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 13:43

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Keep in mind this is coming from a born and raised Texan, who works in parts and deals with these trucks all the time, and has owned/driven/borrowed most of them.

If I were buying a single cab truck, I would get a Toyota Tundra, despite it having v6 only in standard cab, and auto only, because I would then turn right around, swap in a manual, and bolt on twin turbos. I've driven the Ford ecoboost, and was very impressed. With the engine, if not the rest of the truck. I think the 4.0 six in the Tundra would be a monster when boosted the way the Ford is. Sure I'd spend a lot more. But it would be worth it.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Makoyouidiot 08/26/2013 at 13:58

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Interesting indeed. I'm sure that would be a monster. I think all of these trucks would be about equal amounts of difficulty to swap a manual into seeing as none of them ever came with the third pedal but all have available manuals that should bolt right up.

I like the suggestion, but V-6 just isn't my style.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 14:04

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Think again about the ecoboost, a simple $600 tune will gain you roughly 80 horsepower. Look into livernois performance. But to each his own. Just wanted to note that more power can be had easily and cheaply with an EB.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 08/26/2013 at 14:09

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So my thought on tuning and Ecoboost is that you are just straining an already strained engine. I'm sure it produces the power as advertised but for how long? I'd rather go the more reliable route as I tend to hang onto vehicles for a while.

Also whats the deal with tunes and warranties? Can't say I've ever owned a vehicle still under warranty.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 14:18

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I think it's all up to your dealer, some are cool with it, some aren't. I personally have an EB in my SHO and my thinking is, if I tune, I may as well do it while I still have a shot at warranty repairs. On top of that a lot of repairs will never include the dealer touching anything where they will discover that you've tuned it, as long as you go back to stock when you bring it in.

It never hurts to ask your local dealer what their feelings on the subject are.

Just for reference, my car will go 0-60 in under 4 seconds after a tune, it currently gets there in 5.2.

As far as reliability, the EcoBoost engine seems to be happy to handle the extra power. There is cases where people have put on 50,000+ miles and those miles include frequent visits to the drag strip.

So with that said, should this pique your interest, I'd definitely head over to ecoboostownerforums.com, which is where I learned everything I just told you.

HeelToe Do-See-Do > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 14:44

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I bought myself a used 2004 Dodge Ram. 16k miles, single cab, short bed, with the older 345hp version of the 5.7. Paid about than half the price of a new express and I had a basically new truck. Aftermarket looks to be a little cheaper for the 3rd gen. That's my recommendation.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > HeelToe Do-See-Do 08/26/2013 at 14:53

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I looked around a little bit for used stuff but there really aren't many single cab short beds out there. I suppose it would be a waiting game to see what comes up. 10 grand with 16k is a hell of a deal.

boxrocket > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 15:00

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Ford. Better value, better truck, less of a douche factor.

Also, you don't trust turbos? Semis have been using turbos for decades and they're not a high-fail item, ditto for other OEMs that have been using them (like Volvo and Ford) for a while. If a vehicle isn't taken care of the turbo could fail, but it's rare; you're more likely to have a failure from something electronic or a wear item. Also, folks getting cheap turbos off ebay are going to run into problems with them because they're cheap pieces of crap, so don't buy into that malarkey.Turbos are more reliable than variable cam timing systems. Ford tested the hell out of the EcoBoost turbos, they're fine .

My 1990 Volvo has its original turbo that I had looked at not long ago, and it's within spec for a refurb, despite being original equipment.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > boxrocket 08/26/2013 at 15:12

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It's not the turbo itself that I don't trust, its running boost in an engine that, in my opinion, wears down numerous engine components faster. Sure semi trucks use turbos, but that's a diesel engine (already designed to deal with much higher compression ratios) that is also designed to run 500,000 miles between overhauls.

In my opinion, a boosted gasoline engine is virtually guaranteed to not last as long as one that is naturally aspirated and making the same horsepower numbers. I was at the NAIAS when ford tore down those ecoboosts, but I still don't trust the motor as much as I do the 5.0. Plus, if I ever wanted to boost my engine I could get way higher numbers with the coyote than the ecoboost.

Makoyouidiot > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 08/26/2013 at 15:51

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V6 ain't for errybody