RAM boss praises locally made trucks

[Sprintey]

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...ted-rhd-models

Pretty good news story they've done. 641 employees, great sales growth.

[Franco Cozzo]

'No one wants American utes, they're too big for our roads'.

[kypez]

I looked at a RAM a couple of years ago. But the new DT was on its way and the dealership never came back to me. The other one I went to didn't even greet me or acknowledge I existed in the showroom. Even when I went and asked to speak to someone.

Shame, I'd probably own one if they had decent dealerships (or an online model). I do like the DT's.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

'No one wants American utes, they're too big for our roads'.

thought they were trucks not utes ......... as they are big enuf

[kypez]

Made me look at their site again

This made me laugh... One thing about being in space is not having to worry about the wind



Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...ted-rhd-models

Pretty good news story they've done. 641 employees, great sales growth.

Great news, I look forward to seeing a similar situation with F150 conversions done for Ford and hoping that business grows to include other Ford vehicles in the future.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I love my 2022 Ram 1500 Laramie.



Car has been fantastic (had a gremlin with the I connect 5 which was fixed with an update). It leaves Rangers for dead including the new Raptor *which I was buying but cancelled after a test drive.

[SSVPom]

Refreshing to read a good news story about local manufacturing like this. I just can’t afford one, nor can I fit one in my driveway or work car park!

[Fordman1]

Locally converted, not effing locally made.

[BENT_8]

Where are the parts for the conversion made?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Where are the parts for the conversion made?

Brake and bonnet cables are made in Melbourne, just those two items on their conversions are worth $400,000/year to the business that manufactures them, it basically employs a production employee full time just for those two products in those RAMs at that supplier.

HSV/Walkinshaw supply chain is pretty hectic locally.

Except the casing, liner, ferrules and the inner on those brake and bonnet cables come from Thailand

[aussiblue]

OK I'll play the troll here. Well it wouldn't be in their interest to say anything much else or slam their local outlet would it? So, while I hope it's as good as it sounds, I would not assume this is a totally objective opinion and take it it with at least a pinch of salt. And given the many negative reviews of North American produced vehicles from RAM e.g. https://www.motorbiscuit.com/2022-ra...sumer-reports/ , saying "local models are just as good as those made in the company’s own US plant" may not be exactly flattering as it also means they are just as bad.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

OK I'll play the troll here. Well it wouldn't be in their interest to say anything much else or slam their local outlet would it? So, while I hope it's as good as it sounds, I would not assume this is a totally objective opinion and take it it with at least a pinch of salt. And given the many negative reviews of North American produced vehicles from RAM e.g. https://www.motorbiscuit.com/2022-ra...sumer-reports/ , saying "local models are just as good as those made in the company’s own US plant" may not be exactly flattering as it also means they are just as bad.

Did you read the whole article, its the bare bones model that scored poorly, the next was top.
It also says F150/250 worse again.

[Polyal]

Either way its a great story of someone taking a risk and it pay off so far, creating (returning) jobs to the sector and keeping skills in the country. This is a big win and I wish I had the spare coin to get a nice big V8 truck. Perhaps a need an ABN.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Either way its a great story of someone taking a risk and it pay off so far, creating (returning) jobs to the sector and keeping skills in the country. This is a big win and I wish I had the spare coin to get a nice big V8 truck. Perhaps a need an ABN.

Getting an ABN costs virtually nothing and can be done in minutes, raising $100,000+ or funding a finance deal takes a bit more work...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

'No one wants American utes, they're too big for our roads'.

If you put it in context, 99% of the population still don't.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

If you put it in context, 99% of the population still don't.

What context? You could also say that 80% of the earths population doesn't even own a car, so it wouldn't be incorrect to say the majority of people don't even need to own one.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

What context? You could also say that 80% of the earths population doesn't even own a car

You know what context. Don't play dumb. In the 9 years they've sold 17000 utes, all the other utes have likely tallied close to 1million. Ranger and hilux would be close to 600000units just on their own.

These Ram articles regularly pop up and are worded to try to paint the picture that they're taking over the sales charts. They aren't.

Sure, it's great for local manufacturing, don't get me wrong, but to suggest the original comment you quoted was wrong is still very wide of the mark.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

You know what context. Don't play dumb. In the 9 years they've sold 17000 utes, all the other utes have likely tallied close to 1million. Ranger and hilux would be close to 600000units just on their own.

These Ram articles regularly pop up and are worded to try to paint the picture that they're taking over the sales charts. They aren't.

Sure, it's great for local manufacturing, don't get me wrong, but to suggest the original comment you quoted was wrong is still very wide of the mark.

Whats the average price of one? That'll give it context in comparison to Thailux Specials, if they were on even footing with pricing do you think anyone would buy Thailand Specials? American utes are the superior vehicle here, just the average punter can't afford the entry price to whats available in our market.

I can't remember how many times people here start rabbiting on about fuel costs running these things or 'they're too big for Australian roads' or various other nonsense about why people won't buy them in Australia - low and behold someone starts doing a decent conversion on them and there's a customer demand there for the American utes.

My comment is in relation to the comments from AFF members, thats the context.

No one wants them - thats why Toyota is investigating viability of our market for the Tundra, Ford has committed to a partnership to bring the F150 here, RAM has been here for a few years and same with Chevrolet.

Not forgetting that Ford Australia offered them in our market from the 1960s through to 2006.

[Citroënbender]

A fellow down the road, who I’d describe as an “early adopter” has recently ditched his large ute for a new full fat Patrol. Will these be the next trend - maybe more Suburbans and their ilk?

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I can't remember how many times people here start rabbiting on about fuel costs running these things or 'they're too big for Australian roads' or various other nonsense about why people won't buy them in Australia - low and behold someone starts doing a decent conversion on them and there's a customer demand there for the American utes.

My comment is in relation to the comments from AFF members, thats the context.
.

Just like the original Ranger Raptor thread back in 2017 or whenever it was.
“No one wants a Ranger Raptor with a big engine, they want the fuel economy of a 2L diesel”
People want what things they have easy access to

[Rob 351]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

A fellow down the road, who I’d describe as an “early adopter” has recently ditched his large ute for a new full fat Patrol. Will these be the next trend - maybe more Suburbans and their ilk?

New Patrols are everywhere atm. Not sure if they’re taking sales of the LC300 or not but they seem to be very popular atm.

[DTFRMONT]

Originally Posted by Rob 351

New Patrols are everywhere atm. Not sure if they’re taking sales of the LC300 or not but they seem to be very popular atm.

Wonder if better availability is a factor here....

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Just like the original Ranger Raptor thread back in 2017 or whenever it was.
“No one wants a Ranger Raptor with a big engine, they want the fuel economy of a 2L diesel”
People want what things they have easy access to

I think you are mixing the spin from Ford and those here in the "know".
Ford didn't want to bother putting a Hipo Ecoboost petrol in the old Ranger and we can see why now that new-gen is out...the new gen is superior and allows the best possible use of the new powertrains and were factored in from day one of design planning. Imagine all the costs involved in retro fitting the 3.0L V6 petrol into the old Ranger soaking up all the engineering time and then have to also work on the new Raptor at the same time.

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I think you are mixing the spin from Ford and those here in the "know".
Ford didn't want to bother putting a Hipo Ecoboost petrol in the old Ranger and we can see why now that new-gen is out...the new gen is superior and allows the best possible use of the new powertrains and were factored in from day one of design planning. Imagine all the costs involved in retro fitting the 3.0L V6 petrol into the old Ranger soaking up all the engineering time and then have to also work on the new Raptor at the same time.

The spin is the annoying bit, especially when some become border line abusive when others don’t agree with the spin…
I personally think this version is what we all wanted from day 1, I’m more of a fan now than earlier, but I’d still choose a ram or f150 if I was gonna spend 100 grand

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by au2000

The spin is the annoying bit, especially when some become border line abusive when others don’t agree with the spin…
I personally think this version is what we all wanted from day 1, I’m more of a fan now than earlier, but I’d still choose a ram or f150 if I was gonna spend 100 grand

I agree with you, between a $100K Raptor and a $100K F-150 I'd take the F-150 as you gain limo-large car interior space and for where I live and work the overall size isn't a problem, sadly I don't think the F-150 will be $100K and more like $140K and iirc the F-150 Lariat is the mid-model spec of the range with Platinum and Limited sitting above.

[au2000]

True, given RR are asking about 120 ish currently, I’d scratch up the extra for a 150

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I think you are mixing the spin from Ford and those here in the "know".
Ford didn't want to bother putting a Hipo Ecoboost petrol in the old Ranger and we can see why now that new-gen is out...the new gen is superior and allows the best possible use of the new powertrains and were factored in from day one of design planning. Imagine all the costs involved in retro fitting the 3.0L V6 petrol into the old Ranger soaking up all the engineering time and then have to also work on the new Raptor at the same time.

That’s all true. However there where a few members on here who were saying things like “A big engine Ranger Raptor would be a stupid idea because no one would buy it, people only want economical engines”

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Ben73

That’s all true. However there where a few members on here who were saying things like “A big engine Ranger Raptor would be a stupid idea because no one would buy it, people only want economical engines”

I don't recall any comments of that nature. Perhaps you can include a link to the posts you're referring to.

There were comments about the costs to engineer a bigger engine to fit for one model or that the 2L was good enough but I don't recall anyone bringing economy in to the discussion, especially in the context of why a bigger engine wasn't offered.

Ford obviously market what they have available. Some call it spin, but they are just doing their job. What kind of salesperson says, 'don't buy this, there's a better one coming'??

What is consistent is those with a beef against Ford appear like clockwork whenever it appears there is an opportunity to poke holes in an argument.

I don't think Ford are too concerned about Ram sales.

[Hemihunter]

Originally Posted by kypez

I looked at a RAM a couple of years ago. But the new DT was on its way and the dealership never came back to me. The other one I went to didn't even greet me or acknowledge I existed in the showroom. Even when I went and asked to speak to someone.

Shame, I'd probably own one if they had decent dealerships (or an online model). I do like the DT's.

AUSMV are the place to buy from , service and help is very good.