The final decision rests with Sergio and the Fiat Board. This article gives the impression that Chrysler and RAM Truck executives have a say in the matter. They don't!

All they can do is RECOMMEND to Sergio and the Fiat Board that they would like to see a 3rd shift for the RAM 1500. There are a lot of increased expenses that go along with starting a 3rd shift.

Chrysler no longer controls its own resources and destiny since Fiat owns them and made them a subdivision of Fiat.

So you missed the part where Sergio moved to Detroit and most Fiat decisions are taking place in Chrysler boardrooms?

Chrysler controls Fiat, not the other way around.

Plus, Sergio is about the best CEO in the industry right now-if the demand is there, the production will be too.

That is good news for Chrysler/Fiat. I wonder how much extra capacity would come from a third shift?

I'm of the option that if they do put the 3.0L diesel in they won't be able to build enough of them even with a third shift. That goes double if the diesel is paired with the ZF-8 tranny. I'd also like them to bring back the 8ft bed. I know they won't put it behind a crew cab, but since we are wishing...........

I agree that Toyoda, Mulally, Ghosn and Marchionne are better than anything the industry has seen in the past.

And I also think that creating more jobs in America for Americans would be beneficial for all involved, but adding a third shift is a massive startup expense that may not work because RAM sales have barely been break-even since Fiat took over Chrysler (not the other way around Don).

But I also remember the same sentiments, as you expressed, when "Chrysler took over Daimler". Of course, we all found out what the real story was, in time. Daimler owned Chrysler, not the other way around.

And with Fiat now upping its "ownership" stake in Chrysler to more than 64% (not the other way around), I suspect the shots are called by Fiat, no matter where they hold their meetings. Sergio and the Board giveth but also taketh away, as we will see in the 2013-2015 time frame.

Daimler did wonders for Chrysler with the 300 and Grand Cherokee. So, I was enticed enough to purchase a 2012 Grand Cherokee Overland Summit for my wife and even though it is UAW-made and imported from Detroit we hope it will do better than my previous Jeep products.

I will be happy if the Grand Cherokee will turn out to be as good as our 2008 Highlander Limited still is. That has truly been the perfect vehicle without any problem in more than 80K miles. Time will tell.

@ Highdesertcat - I agree that Fiat owns/contols Chrysler not the other way around. Head office or where the CEO resides has little relevance in the corporate world.
I believe that many Americans need to feel that they are not loosing control of their own industries so they chose to look at it from the perspective of Chrylser taking over Fiat. Chrysler is currently Fiat's most profitable devision so that does carry considerable weight in the corporate decision making process. I bet that Fiat executives are well aware of the "Buy American" sentiments and are playing to that fact to reassure its customers. Marcionne is astute enough play the optics of corporate decisions.
One must remember that all indications are that Fiat is going to kill the Dodge name. The SRT Viper is on a Maserati platform. The Dart is also on Fait platform. The Grand Cherokee is on a Mercedes platform. Lancia on the other hand will be built on some Chrysler platforms but some of that lineage traces back to Mercedes Benz. The full sized North American trucks will most likely be the only products exclusive to NA. Maserati will eventually find its way to a Chrysler dealer near you as well as a host of Fiat cars. Many of the current muscle cars may also find their way to the SRT banner.

In addtion to a 3rd shift at the Warren truck plant, Allpar is saying they are adding empoyees at Toledo for Wranglers.

Load the factories with the employees. Load it with the Ram fans!

@Lou you are probably correct about the cars but I do hope for the workers that Chrysler continues to do well and that RAM sales continue to increase and that they add the third shift. I hope all the car companies succeed and employ lots of NA workers.

Chrysler is a success. It is the fastest growing auto maker. Thank god for FIAT. The best is still yet to come. Being a HUGE CHRYSLER supporter times have never been better. I am so happy for the jobs CHRYSLER will bring. Helping the AMERICAN blue collar working men and women in the best country on this planet. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOD BLESS CHRYSLER AND GOD BLESS THE U.S.

MORE GUTS!

MORE GLORY!

MORE U.S. JOBS!

I was hoping this article had something to do with manual transmissions... oh well.

@Jeff S - Increased domestic production is always a welcome thing regardless of where the platform originated or the head office is located.

Load it with the Ram fans!

@Lou:

"The SRT Viper is on a Maserati platform."

FALSE!!! It's a revised and reworked 2010 Dodge Viper chassis.

Lou and Highdesert: Take a read of this article.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120619/COPY01/306199973/1490

Technically speaking, Fiat as a company is the majority shareholder of Chrysler, as a company. And when the inevitable merger does occur, it will technically be Fiat taking control of Chrysler. That said, the new entity will likely be based in the USA, headed chiefly by American executives. Ralph Gilles is the forerunner to take over when Sergio Marcichonne steps down in the next few years, the major profit centers are from Chrysler-designed trucks and SUVs, American requirements are driving the design goals of Alfa Romeo, Lancia is simply becoming a way to sell Chryslers outside of North America, and American-designed Jeeps are the universal Fiat/Chrysler group brand.

Fiat/Chrysler already has a very distinctly American bent (Remember: Marcichonne is technically an Italian, but his education and the vast majority of his business experience is from Canada), and it's only going to become moreso as Italy goes down the economic crapper.

@RAM MAN - initial reports were talking about a Maserati chassis.
This is straight from Alpar:
"While the Viper will not be based on a Ferrari or Alfa, Inside Line claimed that the Viper would be based on the Maserati GranTurismo. Our sources say something else — the next generation GranTurismo will be based on the Viper. We suspect that in reality this will be more like the Mercedes ML/Grand Cherokee: a joint development project resulting in two very different-feeling cars. There are quite probably Maserati people at Auburn Hills (or staying in Italy) working with Chrysler and McLaren people on the Viper and GranTurismo chassis engineering.
An alternative explanation comes from Dan Minick, who noted that “the Maserati M139 platform (Quattroporte/GranTurismo) is dimensionally similar to the LX — particularly the base of the windshield versus the front wheels (a telltale sign, the cowl/firewall position related to the front suspension). There were rumblings back then of Daimler talking to Fiat about developing a platform for Maserati. I think there’s something here nobody will ’fess up to. There has been talk of Viper moving to a short M139 platform, which may be correct, but it might just be a full circle — LX > M139 > ZD.”

It looks like a collaborative engineering effort. My comments were based on "older" information.

I stand corrected.

The Italian word for hater is Lou.

3rd shift means big pay checks.

800 more eomployees.

GUTS GLORY RAM

@ Lou, "I stand corrected" You need to stand aside. Shut your
anti chrysler, anti italian, canadian mouth. You talk out of your @$$. You are an ignorant, jealous FORD fanboi. You look like an idiot on putc. Go troll another site where you can fool people into believing your bull$#!*. Come back in 2014 when FORD might have something to talk about.

@ not really a hemi V8 - looks like those hemirrhoids are spreading. I've been told that they can be really uncomfortable. That does explain all of the irritability.
I hear the cure is an IForce 5.7 or maybe something smaller like an EB3.5.

HEMI V8

are you on drugs

@Don Hornby, Lancia is primarily only sold in Italy, so the Chrysler 300c "Lancia" makes sense, although it is not selling well(depressed market does not help)
Fiat Industrial on the other hand has been expanding Globally. It will be merged with CNH(Case and John Holland).
I foresee, Fiat/Lancia cars probably going to the wall or being absorbed by a competitor(Renault/Nissan ?) too much excess capacity in Europe. Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat Industrial(IVECO, CASE John Holland), Chrysler will be the divisions left standing.
Jeep ,Ferrari, Maserati will be the global "car divisions"

GUTS GLORY RAM

I have no problem with shared platforms such as Fiat, Maserati, and Lancia as long as the car or truck is good. The Opel platform that is shared by Buick Lacross, Buick Regal, and the Chevy Malibu is also a good platform. One of my neighbors and friends just bought a 2012 Lacross what a beautiful car and nice ride. The new Dodge Dart is a looker as well. Chevy Camaro as the former Pontiac G8 and GTO shared the Australian Holden platforms. Those are great cars as well. I realize what you are saying Lou that you are not critical of platform sharing its just these HEMI heads are looking for a sparring match because they have nothing better to do. I really don't care who is Number 1 I buy what I like. Recently I am more inclined to buy a Toyota since Oxi has not driven me away by his comments but any positive thoughts about Chrysler have now vanished. HEMI probably drives an old Dodge Intrepid or maybe a Neon to compare to Bob's company Impala. These guys make me appreciate Bob or Oxi and his fan club. Happy blogging and have a nice evening

hemiv8:: I saw the funniest thing today, a Ram reg cab 4X2, getting it's doors handed to it from a 6.2 Chevy CC 4X4! and the last time a Ram with a hemi tried to pass me, all I can say is the tried! and here I am in a little ol 6cyl F-150! (reg cab 8'bed 4X4 Ecco-Boost 6cyl) wasn't even a contest! and he never even sees 20mpg! and here I am getting 22 every day on the hyw.

@Lou-Read your last comment on the prior article. Good luck on your exam. I am sure you will pass with flying colors. Have a great evening!!

They will need another shift once the 2013s come out!

@Red: Maybe someday one 1/2 ton truck manufacturior will bring back a manual 6 or even a 7 speed. I think there is a group of people that would go for it, hopefully when they bring in the Dakota replacement, they will make sure a manual trans is an option if not base transmission. Pretty sure it would be alot cheaper.

@Jeff S - thanks. Exam is actually at the end of July. I don't like to cram. You only retain 10% post exam if you do. You have a good evening too.

@Sandman 4x4: Now how would you know that a truck rated at 20 MPG highway never gets 20 MPG?? How do you know yours gets 22? The lie-o-meter? How do you know the 6.2 Chevy didn't have a tuner? Of course it should win, it's a bigger engine, that must run on 91 octane! It's pretty lame for a 6.2 tho! Lets see how long your turbo lasts, ok?

As a Chrysler fan My chest is sticking out from pride for this 2013 Ram. Coming from certain death a few years ago to their class leading vehicles now is an american success story. Adding
jobs to build them is a win win. The U.S. government made the right decision. I am not in the market for a new truck since my
DIE HARD DODGE is still in great shape. Thank god when I am in the market I will have a choice between the big american three.

@sandman4x4, I enjoyed the same experience with my 03 hemi when it came out. Blowing the doors off ford & chevy.
Enjoy it while it lasts the 2013 Ram is coming soon.

GUTS!!!GLORY!!!RAM!!!!!!!!!

Well, when Chevy sells ugly pile of junk Silverado's like they've been selling the last 13 years (and especially since 2003 and again in 2007), Dodge Ram sales are bound to go through the roof. Especially with this new bodystyle and these awesome Laramie-Longhorn-Limited interiors!. As an added bonus, no piston slap, no tinfoil bodies and no low slung HD frames like those cheaply built disposable Silverado's. Ram is going to dethrone Silverado one and for all! Third shift will be in full force no doubt. C-ya Chevrolet.. Next up, Ford.

Don Hornby | Jul 1, 2012 3:09:08 PM,

Chrysler pulled Fiat's fat out of the fire last year because the Chrysler subdivision was profitable where the rest of Fiat was losing money hand over fist, everywhere, including with Fiat 500 sales in the US.

That's the irony of it all. Obama and his advisors thought they were doing the right thing by bribing Fiat with $1.3B to take Chrysler's carcass off our hands, and instead put all their efforts into saving GM.

But Chrysler is now making money, keeping its parent (Fiat) alive, and GM is still losing money hand over fist in Europe and Asia. Maybe Obama should have dumped GM instead of Chrysler. In retrospect that would have worked out better.

It won't be long (2014) before GM will need another bail out, and they will get it, no matter who's in the White House or who controls Congress.

GM is burning money faster in Europe and Asia than the US can print it. Fleet sales in the US are not nearly as profitable as individual sales are.

But another shift for RAM is iffy because of the startup costs and the prospect for RAM sales remains poor. The possibility for a positive ROI is nil. At least not without divine intervention.

In order for a third shift at RAM to work, RAM needs to DOUBLE its annual sales.

Look at it this way. Right now RAM sales are just barely break even, and that is with almost full production capacity using two shifts.

So if they increase production and take on those added expenses, and sales remain like they are today, Fiat will never recoup the expenses. There's no shortage of RAM products today with only two shifts. They sell all they can make, eventually, some faster than others.

RAM sales would have to increase by half of what they are now to remain at barely break even with a third shift. In order to realize profit and get a return on investment, sales at RAM need to double, with a third shift.

With trucks like the F150 variants out there in the market place, only diehards and fans would continue to buy Silverado and RAM. And there are not enough of them to keep GM and RAM in toilet paper.

And for the people who can afford a really upscale truck there's the Tundra 5.7. Yeah, its not for everyone, but they sell all they can make and have no plans to expand production. Kinda jacks up the price for a Tundra that way, like exclusivity always does, for those who choose to buy a Tundra.

So unless and until RAM can peel away a very large number of F150 and Silverado buyers, I don't see a third shift as justifiable.

There's reason why the F150 outsells everything out there. It's the best truck for the money and Joe Sixpack.

I own a 2011 Tundra 5.7 DC SR5, by choice. I've owned Silverado and I've owned F150, both of them at the same time in fact. Now I want to drive the best. That's why I bought a Tundra 5.7.

It's got the finesse no other truck has.

@Highdesertcat

Maybe the big three need to reassess their strategies. Without Fiat, Chrysler wouldn't exist. The platform sharing and technology transfer out of Europe is what the NA auto industry needs to stay afloat.

The US can't keep on thinking it is different than the rest of the world or your industries will continue to go off shore.

Everything from farming, banking, auto has some kind of protection, subsidy, tariff, bailout etc. The US has to stand on its own two feet or sink. Just continually borrowing isn't the answer.

Big Al from Oz | Jul 1, 2012 11:20:28 PM,

What you say is true, but in America it is an ideology that steers our future, and not always without unintended consequences. NAFTA is a great example.

It also depends on who's in power in America that determines the ideology du jour. Right now it is the Liberals/Labor with their socialist cradle-to-grave nursemaid mentality.

As long as our national policy is to tax the hell out of the job providers and punish them for making a profit, this philosophy will chase businesses to locations outside of America. We saw that and did not learn from it.

Places like Mexico, China, India, Viet Nam and Indonesia are havens for American manufacturers to get away from American labor unions and government mandates.

Right now the scramble in America is to downsize small-businesses to where they employ less than 50 employees because now there is certainty about healthcare and social medicine in America. The Supreme Court has determined that government can tell us what healthcare to buy and what to pay for it.

Both our family doctor and my wife's surgeon have told us that they will retire because they do not want to be forced to take on poor Medicaid patients or see more elderly Medicare patients and get even less reimbursement than before the mandates. They are not the only ones retiring early because they can.

This also directly extends to the US auto manufacturers. The US government couldn't wait to dump Chrysler because they saw it as a lost cause, whereas GM and its employees continue to live large on the taxpayers' dime.

But keep in mind that no matter how things develop in America, Americans get exactly what they deserve; good, bad, or indifferent. We vote for it!

A point of view all depends on if an American is on the receiving end of it all, or if an American is the one paying for it all through his/her taxes.

The rush of course is for those with little or no wealth to get the others who possess the wealth to pay their way in America. It's called reapportioning or redistribution of America's wealth.

The kicker is that fewer people with wealth are willing to pay for others benefits and that's what we saw when there was a mass-exodus in America away from its domestic automakers to the better foreign brands. Why buy something inferior that's UAW-made for the same money?

That is also a reason why foreign cars made in non-union American factories sell so well in America. Buyers like the concept of getting better products without the penalty of bailing out the UAW.

Those who could, bought foreign, and that's what helped get us to the crash of 2008/2009/2010.

Remember though, we got exactly what we deserved. We voted for it. The majority wins in America. The majority voted for Obama whose philosophy it is to bail out failed businesses like GM, et al.

But once precedence has been set, America is loath to admit that the bail outs of GM, et al, were ill-advised and when GM needs another bail out, we, the people, will bail them out again and again, just like we did our Postal Service, Fannie and Freddie and God only knows what other failed ventures like Solyndra.

It doesn't matter who'll be in power in the future. The bail outs, hand outs and future nationalization of failed companies will be done again and again. Maybe it is our national character flaw, or maybe, just maybe, it may be a silent admission that "There, but for the grace of God, go I".

@Big Al from Oz-Maybe I am one of the few Americans that think platform sharing overall has been beneficial. Back in the early 90s when Ford shared platforms with Mazda for the new Escorts, Probes, and Rangers the final product was much improved over the prior product. The Buicks with Opel platforms are very nice and the quality is much better (the same with the Chevy Malibu). The Holden platform is the basis of the Chevy Camaro which is a great car. The Dodge Challeger and Charger share Mercedes platform. Whatever keeps the car companies competitive and maintain quality is what I am for.

@Highdesert cat-Congratulations you are the new Oxy. GM is making record profits in China and Asia as are any of the auto companies that are there. Why do you think Ford is fast tracking themselves in China. GM is having a harder time in Europe but so is Ford and some of the others. Europe is in bad economic shape. GM Opel makes quality products as does Ford Europe but with a bad economy they are suffering. GM has had record sales in the US as Ford and Chrysler have as well but the economy is showing signs of strain. The Silverado and GMC still manage to come in number 2 in truck sales granted that RAM is catching up but when a manufacturer changes their product for the better as RAM has then they gain sales. Hopefully the next generation of GM trucks will be better making Ford and RAM then further improve. That is called competition which is good for the consumer. Toyota could stand to update their cars and trucks as well. Tacoma has gone almost 10 years without any real changes (no direct fuel injection, 4 speed autos, and hardly a noticeable change). Tundra could also stand a few updates as well. Corolla is getting stale and the Camry although mildly refreshed better pay closer attention to Hyandai who has been rewriting the rules of compact and intermediate cars. I am glad you like your Tundra but some would argue that it is not the best. The best car or truck is the one that satisfies its individual owners regardless of what others may think.

@Highdesertcat
The US can change, without a great change in idealology. We did it the Germans have and they are very unionised (I'm a conservative).

The problem with the idealology is that the US is representing a smaller and smaller ratio of world GDP (influence). There was a true saying back in the 60s & 70s, "when the US sneezes the rest of the world caught a cold". This isn't as relavant now. We might cough. US industry thrived on its influence but now it needs to adjust and compete on a more level playing field.

The US's influence is slowly diminishing, it is still the greatest individual power, but the Eurozone is competing for dollars as well as the Asians and Brazilians etc. When the US was by and far the largest market it could dictate what and when occurred.

Just talking pickups, have a look at what we have. Yes your trucks are larger and have more HP. The US used to dominate the pickup market, but not for much longer. But our trucks are highly optioned as standard and they work extremely well. You guys will get "Americanised" versions that will be stripped so they sell for less. This is what you the US wants.

My mother bought a NA Focus for $17 000 driveaway last year, and equivalent one in Australia sells for $24 000. But there were significant differences. Her dash and interior looked like it was made from recycled plastic ice cream containers, in Australia this wouldn't sell, unless it came from China for $12 000.

We pay more but the outcome is we aren't indebted. And this is what the US may need to realise.

I'm not anti US. It is good to see that Fiat/Chrysler have made some difference with the Ram pickups.

@Big Al from Oz--Good points I am an American that is mostly proud of my country. The influence of the USA is not as significant as it once was. I am not saying the USA is vanishing I am just saying that as any great power through history no country ever stays number 1. Throughout history there has been the Persian empire, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Roman Empire, the Spanish, Napolean and France, the Briitish Empire (where the Sun never set), and the USA,. China is emerging as the number 1 power whether you like it or not. China too will have its time in the Sun then it too will be replaced by another country (maybe the US again or maybe someone different).

Most US based companies are international and are adapting to the international market. We individual Americans are not adapting as quickly. That is why GM will survive as well as Ford and Chrysler though all will be much differrent than they are now. GM is becoming more Chinese and Asian because that is where the growth is. This is not to say NA market will be ignored it is to say more focus will be put on 'Asia because that is where the market is. This has been happening to Europe as well the huge potential for growth is not Europe or NA it is Asia and South America. More and more products are being designed for the World and as a result there will be less variation for NA and Europe. This is not too say that there will be no variation just less. Al as you pointed out about the Focus Americans are transitioning to better quality. This is an Evolution. Thanks for the input Al. Always wanted to visit Australia and maybe someday I will.

@ Highdesertcat ,

YOU ARE 100% WRONG WITH YOUR ASSUMPTION ABOUT CHRYSLER !

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120619/COPY01/306199973/1490

@Canadian Dodge RAM Owner !! --I had my reservations about Chrysler surviving especially since Fiat took over but so far this has been very positive and Chrysler is headed in the right direction. A little Italian infusion in the design depart also is a plus. The one thing Italians can do is design beautiful products. Look at the new Dodge Dart. What a looker!! I wish Chrysler all the success and plenty of NA jobs to go around.

@Highdesertcat ,

You must be high because the Tundra is not the best truck on the market !

I owned a 2010 Tundra and it rode rough,the only reason the 5.7 can move is because of the 4.30 rear axle gearing..I

It rattled when the road got rougher,even rough on a smooth road,shook overall a bad truck.

I bought a 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 Hemi it is faster/quicker than the Tundra,better gas mileage,handles better around corners,drives straight when you hit a bump(toyota veres off in another lane at highway speeds)doesnt shake,doesnt rattle,and has a smooth ride !! And gets 5 mpg better on average !!!

I remember when I read Car&Driver they tested a Camry and said the kicker panel fell off,and it squeaked/rattled as well,I guess thats a typical Toyota !!

I will never buy a Toyota again,I got suckered by the journelists saying it was the best around and Toyota is actually one of the worst around...

So far in 9 months of my RAM's ownership I have taken it in once to the dealership once (for a free oil change) The Tundra after 22 days it went in for 2 days ,then after 4 months in again for a second axle shaft ,then twice for a gas pedel recall (so much for so-called floor mat issue) My truck would sometimes surge to high rpms but when in park,some sensor also was redone.

My worker has a Dodge and he is a 26 year old who beats on it,brake stands,floors it all the time ect..and his truck was always at work,never broke down..My Tundra owned by a 53 year old who babies it,works in management in the office my truck had axle and engigine pulsating problems,not the young guy who races around with his Dodge like the world is going to end at any momment !! By the way his Ram is a 07 model with 96,000 hard miles and runs/looks new !

Shrink the 1500 by a little each way, call it a Dakota, and THEN add a third shift. And if not they will still need a third shift when that new diesel shows up if it lives up to the hype.

@highdesertcat: Your logic, or rather lack of logic, fails to impress. Rather, it makes me want to pity you despite the effort you put in to sound knowledgeable.

Let me ask you this: If Chrysler is making X number of RAM pickups AND Chryslers is selling X number of RAM pickups at or near retail price, then how is it they are barely breaking even on that product? Rather, logic states that the product is making enough of a profit that it is essentially carrying the other models which provide lower profit margins. In other words, your argument seems to say that Chrysler's truck products can't even support themselves when true logic says Chrysler's trucks are supporting the rest of the product lines. Even then, however, the logic fails.

Why? Because Jeep--more specifically the Jeep Wrangler--is also selling just about as fast as they're being produced. In fact, of all the lines in the Chrysler inventory and even when compared to other brands, the Jeep Wrangler comes very near the top in resale value, coming very close to matching if not exceeding the Toyota Tundra in resale value with 3-year-old Jeep JK Wranglers selling on used car lots for as much as 75% of their original sticker.

No, Chrysler is doing better than "barely breaking even" as the Chrysler Corp. has posted significant profits for the last several quarters and for the first time really since Lee Iacocca rescued the company back in the '70s.

@ Vulpine, Thank you Sir.

Maybe Highdesercat meant the Tundra "Needs to be finessed" as opposed to "having the finesse"?

Lets see; 30K shootout, the Tundra barely beat the Ram in UNLOADED autocross, by .07 seconds, but loaded it lost to the Ram by .65 seconds. Same situation on the braking test, the Tundra did great empty, by edging the Ram, under a load it lost to the ram by more then twice the space it had won with when empty. 7% loaded hill, yeah it won that one with it's lower trans gears and lower diff gears, yet the Ram was catching it. You kinda had to finesse it to get it moving good, same as the dragstrip, where it barely beat the Ram with all it's gear. That won't happen now that it was changed for 2013. Gas mileage suffers from those gears. I do like it's gear ratios tho.

I get the idea Highdesertcat hasn't even driven a 2009 or later Ram? I can say I drove a Tundra. To say it's the best out there is based on opinion, and my opinion is it was pretty good in 2007/2010 but Ram and Ford have caught up and overtakin it.

So tell us, Highdesertcat, do you buy everything based on what somebody else says? Like Consumer Reports, or your neighbor that bought one? No opinion of your own, or just a "this 2011 is so much better then that 2002 (ish) truck" that you say your neighbor traded in. Of course, it's called progress!

Oh, by the way there is alot of people switching from GM, Ford, and Toyota, not just diehards are buying Rams.

Keep telling youself your truck so on top of it, you are outdated.

@highdesertcat: Regretfully, your logic in your second--political--rant is as bad as your logic in the first. Just to begin, it was not Obama that triggered the automotive bailout, but rather his predecessor, since it took effect even before Obama took office. Cause and effect (logic) therefore says that Obama ends up taking the credit for its success, rather than for his predecessor's failures. The simple fact that the automotive market has seen a turnaround to profits from losses during Obama's administration and the fact that more Americans are buying cars this year than they have in the last 6 years shows that the American People are also realizing some improvements in their lives. However, if the wrong person is elected in November, all those improvements will go down the drain.

I would individually counter every one of your arguments in that rant; however, I won't because your rant is totally off-topic and does not belong in a discussion about cars and trucks. I fully understand that you feel strongly about your political views--right or wrong--but they still do not belong here. I hereby ask for an apology and a retraction of your second rant and that you try to stay on-topic from here on.

Highdesertcat: Could you please post a source saying that the Ram is 'barely breaking even'?

Ford, Chrysler, and GM are all doing extremely well right now and most of that is due to pickup truck sales. Even after dealer discounts there is still a sizable profit margin. Chrysler would not even think of adding a third shift if sales were not as good as they are. Let's hope this continues for a while. Hopefully the crisis in Europe will not ruin the party. Aside from politics I hope this continues. America needs to rebuild itself and create more jobs.

Ram is doing so well that I see more of them om my GM lots for sale, and am just wondering why they keep aksing me to buy them. My answer is allways the same.....NO good TRANS yet.

WHAT TRANSMiSSION PROBLEMS ?
I've had two rams no problems yet.
All my friend who own a ram have never had any transmission problems.
This must have been a problem from the 70s 80s or 90s.
Somebody help me what model year does this problem exist?
I have a 2010 TRX4 Quad cab 1500 shifts just fine and rides like a dream.

The only problematic transmission in the Ram was the auto in the non-chassis cab diesel HDs in the early 2000s. That transmission has since been replaced.