RAM Australia moves to 24hr production

Sprintey · 14-04-2019, 07:21 PM

More proof that those huge pickups are a winner in Oz:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/745276/...al-jobs-boost/

burnz · 14-04-2019, 07:35 PM

the holden dealer up here sells them, might be a permanent thing..

Franco Cozzo · 14-04-2019, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

More proof that those huge pickups are a winner in Oz:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/745276/...al-jobs-boost/

'But no one wants them in Australia, they're too big, they're too fuel hungry blah blah blah'

Mate people are willing to pay well above and beyond their true worth because they won't offer them in our market, people are paying Mercedes C63 AMG prices for butchered American utes.

People got money.

People will spend money to get what they want.

Theres a bazillion C63 AMGs on our roads here in Melbourne, every drug dealer and their dog has one, theres plenty of these American utes getting about too.

Falcon SXR8 · 14-04-2019, 08:20 PM

Seen a nob taking up 2 car parks in one of these things the other day, funny thing was it would have fit in one

simon varley · 14-04-2019, 08:23 PM

does anyone know if they have to crash test those right hand drive cars, or are they exempt as they are low volume?

Brazen · 14-04-2019, 08:25 PM

I believe one of the articles said they did crash test one

Sprintey · 14-04-2019, 08:25 PM

These make a lot of sense in non-capital city parts of Australia.

In some ways they are the continuation of our RWD locally manufactured cars - V8, space, a bit of performance. A long way from 40K however. But competitive with the top end Hilux/Ranger and you get so much more with the pick up V8.

Here's the base model 80K 1500 review:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/743414/...o-us-pick-ups/

I also like the fact the tray on it is 6'4" (1939mm) - so the diagonals are going to be over 7 feet which is good for surfboards if you must have a ute.

Brazen · 14-04-2019, 08:28 PM

They make so much sense once you are approaching 80k on a Ute, and they are pretty good on fuel.

They really need the crew cab option rather than quad cab on Express though, I think people will gladly sacrifice some load length for a bigger cab.

Franco Cozzo · 14-04-2019, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

They make so much sense once you are approaching 80k on a Ute, and they are pretty good on fuel.

They really need the crew cab option rather than quad cab on Express though, I think people will gladly sacrifice some load length for a bigger cab.

Agree - would rather the bigger cab and sacrifice some load space - its the advantage of the Americans over the Thailand specials, the interior space, the way they drive and whats under the hood!

The tub is still going to be huge even with the bigger cab in comparison to a dual cab Thailand special.

We're talking 80 grand here, thats top spec Amarok and Ranger Raptor spondoolies.

Its better on fuel than my cammed VSII Caprice which makes over 100KW less power and is over 1000kg lighter - 17.5L/100km all day every day city or highway

**GasoLane** · 14-04-2019, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

does anyone know if they have to crash test those right hand drive cars, or are they exempt as they are low volume?

Does any vehicle HAVE to be crash tested, or is it just up to the manufacturers to offer one.

Bossxr8 · 15-04-2019, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

More proof that those huge pickups are a winner in Oz:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/745276/...al-jobs-boost/

Let's not go too overboard here. Hilux would sell more in a fortnight than these big utes will sell in a year.

simon varley · 15-04-2019, 03:45 PM

it's great that a local company can offer the conversion, and even better that there are local jobs, but the numbers are never going to drive more than that. It's unlikely that there would ever be a factory RHD option so this is probably the best compromise foe the relatively few who want this.

simon varley · 15-04-2019, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Does any vehicle HAVE to be crash tested, or is it just up to the manufacturers to offer one.

the manufacturer has to prove that they meet the ADRs including Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 69/00 - Full Frontal Impact Occupant Protection) 2006 I don't know if they have to physically crash the car or if they are allowed to present simulation results, or use LHD as surrogate. I don't know if remanufacturers also have to meet this or not, hence my question. Sometimes there are exemptions for low volumes.

naddis01 · 15-04-2019, 04:10 PM

So the starting ticket for a converted RAM is $80k. How much of a potential saving could be made if they were developed as RHD? Would $15-20k be too much? What would happen to the sales figures if they started at $65000?

Sprintey · 15-04-2019, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Let's not go too overboard here. Hilux would sell more in a fortnight than these big utes will sell in a year.

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150

"Starting at $28,155"

See ya later Hilux

hayseed · 15-04-2019, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

does anyone know if they have to crash test those right hand drive cars, or are they exempt as they are low volume?

The link the Op posted claims they've been crash tested. But doesn't quote any ancap rating ???

XR Martin · 15-04-2019, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

the manufacturer has to prove that they meet the ADRs including Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 69/00 - Full Frontal Impact Occupant Protection) 2006 I don't know if they have to physically crash the car or if they are allowed to present simulation results, or use LHD as surrogate. I don't know if remanufacturers also have to meet this or not, hence my question. Sometimes there are exemptions for low volumes.

Plenty of euro cars get a free pass when it comes to crash testing here.
But it's been proven that the RH side of alot of cars doesn't crash as well as the LH side.
IIHS in the US has proven this with their crash testing...

Adamz Ghia · 15-04-2019, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150

"Starting at $28,155"

See ya later Hilux

At current exchange rates that’s $39,251, add shipping, taxes (not forgetting the Australia tax), and you’re looking at a starting price north of $50k.

vztrt · 15-04-2019, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Let's not go too overboard here. Hilux would sell more in a fortnight than these big utes will sell in a year.

Wow a whole 460 orders. Why has Ford not spend vast amounts of money on this.

Shows how inefficient it is doing conversions.

chevypower · 16-04-2019, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150

"Starting at $28,155"

See ya later Hilux

“Starting at.” Two words that are easily forgotten when you shop around. You’re talking single cab 4x2 XL work truck with a 3.3L V6. Plus taxes, shipping to dealer etc. Most family oriented crew cab 4x4s will be in the $45k-60k range.

hayseed · 16-04-2019, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Wow a whole 460 orders. Why has Ford not spend vast amounts of money on this.

Shows how inefficient it is doing conversions.

Quote:

To reduce the current three-month delay, the Ram production line will begin working around the clock from 1 June, 2019

Pretty sure they sell far more than 460 of 'em

Dr Smith · 16-04-2019, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayseed

Pretty sure they sell far more than 460 of 'em

FWIW, Ram Australia's website states they passed the 200/month build in March so coupled with the newly announced production rate increase from June which might get it to 250-275/month...while great news for local work it's still relatively small in the scheme of things. As a comparison Ford sells triple the number of Mustangs per month in Australia, maybe triple or 4 times again that number in RHD around the world and developed it for RHD from factory in the beginning.

I was once wondering if the Ford Campbellfield site was used for global RHD build and received CKD units from the US would it have been possible for models not initially engineered for RHD from day one? ...moot point but what if......Lincoln Aviator

last fairlane · 16-04-2019, 11:12 AM

Just one question is this ute a Ram or is it a Dodge Ram or is Ram the Trade name as in Falcon not Ford Falcon

Dr Smith · 16-04-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Just one question is this ute a Ram or is it a Dodge Ram or is Ram the Trade name as in Falcon not Ford Falcon

I think it's now known as Ram Trucks, having been spun off from Dodge nearly 10 years ago with each model known as a Ram 1500 to 5500 iirc in the case of the pickups, so as you alluded its the name of the brand and then individual models...like Falcon Falcon

Bossxr8 · 16-04-2019, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprintey

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150

"Starting at $28,155"

See ya later Hilux

Don't compare US car prices to here. They aren't compatible in any way. Just look how cheap cars sell for over there.

A 911 Carrera is 91k

xrystl · 16-04-2019, 03:20 PM

An acquaintance of mine has a six month old RAM1500 , his wife on two occasions has had to Cab home from shopping centers because she couldn't get the Ram out of the undercover carpark, the first time she was boxed in because of the way she had parked and couldn't swing wide enough to exit her parking spot, second time she parked so that she could turn right into the flow of carpark traffic, problem this time was she couldn't access the passenger side as she was parked too close to a pillar and the vehicle on her right-hand side was too close (was parked within its space) so that she couldn't get into the drivers side , she was very ****ed off and resulted in Hubby using the Ram to get to work and she has the runabout Hyundai for her shopping trips.

naddis01 · 16-04-2019, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrystl

An acquaintance of mine has a six month old RAM1500 , his wife on two occasions has had to Cab home from shopping centers because she couldn't get the Ram out of the undercover carpark, the first time she was boxed in because of the way she had parked and couldn't swing wide enough to exit her parking spot, second time she parked so that she could turn right into the flow of carpark traffic, problem this time was she couldn't access the passenger side as she was parked too close to a pillar and the vehicle on her right-hand side was too close (was parked within its space) so that she couldn't get into the drivers side , she was very ****ed off and resulted in Hubby using the Ram to get to work and she has the runabout Hyundai for her shopping trips.

I'll take it off their hands if they want to get rid of it.

jpd80 · 16-04-2019, 06:53 PM

OT,
The base price for the new GT500 has been revealed as
around USD $67,000 and about US $8,000 for the track Pack

Link to report.

I wonder if that will spur buyers here to sign up for a RHD converted.....

xrystl · 17-04-2019, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naddis01

I'll take it off their hands if they want to get rid of it.

He needs it on weekends as he tows an 8 metre boat with it. The $80k RAM with on road costs and a few extras was over $100k, it looks good on the road but is quite handicapped in the city as the width of the vehicle is the width of a car park space and it has a huge turning circle making it a real handful.

Vesper Martini · 17-04-2019, 10:46 AM

Yes I heard the turning circle is bad.
Our Prado serves as the boat towing vehicle (just not as fast)
surprisingly In a carpark they are quite good. great turning circle and sidestep entry makes them easy to enter with minimal door opening.
quite practical really for a type of vehicle viewed as an unnecessary 4WD for a soccer mum.

Twin cab utes I've driven all have a larger slower turning circle