Ken Garff - Your Dodge Truck Utah Dealer Wars

Dodge Ram 1500 & Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Overview

Undergoing a major redesign last year, the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 returns with a variety of body styles, powerful engine choices, and flexible seating configurations. In the ultra-competitive full-size pickup category, the Silverado competes head-to-head with the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan for king of the hill.

The Silverado 1500 comes in regular, extended and Crew Cab body styles and offers short, standard and long cargo box lengths. All models have standard rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive for improved handling and control. There are eight powertrain combinations, five suspension packages, and three trim levels to choose from. A variety of powerful Vortec engines are available. Starting with a 4.3 liter V6, the offerings ramp up to a 4.8 liter or 5.3 liter V8 and also include a FlexFuel V8, allowing a combination of gasoline and E85 ethanol to be used.

With a wide range of towing capacities, the optional Vortec Max Performance Pack includes a super-duty four-speed automatic transmission, auto locking rear differential, ride control suspension, and heavy-duty trailering equipment package, providing a towing capacity of 10,400 lbs. – the most of any half-ton pickup available.
All Silverado models come equipped standard dual front airbags and four-wheel anti-lock brakes, preventing wheel lockup during braking. The brakes also include Dynamic Rear Proportioning, which regulates front and rear brake pressure to optimize performance under varying load conditions. Traction assist is available on select 2WD models, limiting wheel slippage on wet or slippery surfaces. An available segment-exclusive automatic locking differential provides additional traction at low speeds in treacherous conditions, automatically sending power to wheels with grip to move the vehicle.

Interior amenities include an optional DVD entertainment system with a flip-down seven-inch display, remote keyless entry, and an AM/FM stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer and Bose® speakers. Crew Cab models include rear audio controls.

The full-size pickup segment is fierce, but the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has what it takes to stay near the top of the heap.

Dodge Ram 1500 & Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review

Performance

The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 is likely to feel a tad slow because of its high horsepower-to-weight ratio compared to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Handling

With its tighter turning radius, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is doubtless more agile than the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the flip side, remember that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain

The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have similar-sized engines, with a slight advantage to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is quite a bit more powerful than the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500.

Utility

Neither the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 nor the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a marked advantage in terms of seating capacity. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a better choice than the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 regarding hauling capacity, especially if you frequently need to carry a lot of loot or animals. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 outpulls the Dodge by a sizeable margin.

Convenience

You'll very likely have to take the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for a fill-up more often than the Ram Pickup 1500 because of its tank size and fuel economy.

Comfort

While the front cabin in the Ram Pickup 1500 offers a bit more head room than the Chevrolet, there frankly isn't much of a difference. The ampler interior dimensions of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 make it quite a bit roomier for your passengers than the Dodge.

Dimensions

The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 is slightly more ponderous than the Silverado 1500. Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 than the Chevrolet because of its bigger tank. The Silverado 1500 and the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 compete for the same parking spaces. The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500's longer wheelbase will likely result in a smoother, more stable ride; on the other hand, the Chevrolet may give a more maneuverable feel in daily traffic.

Cost

The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs approximately the same to get the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to the dealership as the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500. The Dodge consumes a lot of gas compared to the Silverado 1500. The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 doesn't pale in comparison to the Silverado 1500 when it comes to gas mileage. The Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 isn't much more expensive than the Chevrolet when it comes to MSRP.

Overview

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 have the same basic warranty. In terms of warranty against rust, the Chevrolet has quite a bit better coverage than the Ram Pickup 1500.

Other

The Silverado 1500 emits fewer smog-forming pollutants per 15,000 miles than the Dodge Ram Pickup 1500.

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