Whats the deal with the HEMI?

[Mike Up]

Wow, I thought it was pretty obvious why the RAM is slower but I'll give some explanation.

I do believe that our Titan's are under rated. As I said in another post, Titan is a completely new class for Nissan. They surely didn't want to cripple that 'foot in the door' with a high insurance rate. Keep the HP rated at a normal power ratio, and insurance rates should keep with the norm.

Next, the Titan is a lightweight because of it's frame design, short bed, and it's aluminum block. RAM is a lighter 1/2 ton, but it's significantly heavier than the Titan. Even the standard SLT Quad Cab 4.7 4X4 is 5300 lbs. That's ~250 lbs heavier than the Titan's XE Crew Cab 4X4 rating of 5046 lbs. At this point the Titan's payload is 1453 lbs and Rams is 1353 lbs. Add ~200 lbs more for the RAM's 5.7L Hemi engine and now curb weight is up to 5500 lbs and payload is down to 1153 lbs. BTW, RAM's standard towing is only 4100 lbs also.

So RAM is heavier = Slower; Ram is heavier = Less payload; Lower standard towing capacity

It's obvious, our Titans are POWERHOUSES!!

So just tell you friends, "Yeh, it's got an Endurance!" WHAT, a Hemi. Let's see Endurance vs. Hemi

Here, read for yourself Ram's Specs. Just remember, the payload is based on the standard "manual" transmission. The GVWR is 6650 lbs. for the RAM compared to Titan's 6499 lbs. Titan's Curb weight is 5046 lbs compared to a "HEMI" RAM's estimated ~ 5500 lbs. This equates to a payload of 1150 lbs or 300 lbs less than Titans! Let me point out that the Hemi 5.7L's additional 200 lbs is conservative as I've heard it called "300 lbs". I'll give RAM some slack.

Just so you know, I really do like RAMs and I would had bought one if the salesman could had worked a better deal, but he couldn't and then sold me the Titan (that I intially thought I couldn't afford!) . So the RAM isn't a bad truck at all, it's just that the Titan is such a great truck!

Have a good one. (I know, I sound like a damn cheerleader )

[phillipyang]

how about peak power and RPM? I think that has a lot to do with the distance

[Gearman1987]

You have to consider the programming too. WHo knows how the engine programming effects performance.

I traded my 2004 Titan in last week for a new 2004 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 5.7 HEMI. Talk about deals I got $24000 for my Titan XE CC with 22,000 miles on it, The Ram stickered at $36000 and after negotiating and rebates I got it for $25,500.

As for power I believe the Titan is faster & lighter, The Ram rides a whole lot better, the interior is nicer (my opinion of course). But I really think they are two different animals - I liked the Titan for quickness, speed, and it felt nimble. I only have about 500 miles on the Ram so it maybe too early to tell but I like the ride, control, and power - I don't think it's quite as quick - but I didn't by a truck to race. I do love the Ram Hemi though.

[QShip]

Originally Posted by Gearman1987

You have to consider the programming too. WHo knows how the engine programming effects performance.

I traded my 2004 Titan in last week for a new 2004 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 5.7 HEMI. Talk about deals I got $24000 for my Titan XE CC with 22,000 miles on it, The Ram stickered at $36000 and after negotiating and rebates I got it for $25,500.

As for power I believe the Titan is faster & lighter, The Ram rides a whole lot better, the interior is nicer (my opinion of course). But I really think they are two different animals - I liked the Titan for quickness, speed, and it felt nimble. I only have about 500 miles on the Ram so it maybe too early to tell but I like the ride, control, and power - I don't think it's quite as quick - but I didn't by a truck to race. I do love the Ram Hemi though.

I like the fact that you were able to compare the two trucks without bashing either one.

[GETSOMZ28]

I think a lot of it has to do with the differing powerbands on different engines. The Titan is down low and kinda peaky, whereas the Hemi makes more power up higher in the rpm range. Plus, gearing is in our favor also.

[Hemi4Me]

Originally Posted by OnebadSE

I don't get it. Not that I race my truck around town but, at a red light today a new 1500 Ram HEMI CC pulled alongside me and asked me how I liked the Titan. After a few pleasant words, the light turned green (I wasn't ready and he got a half a truck length head start) and we got on it. Within about 4 truck lengths, his nose was just off my rear bumper. By about 10 or 15 truck lengths, I could see his entire truck in my rearview. At the next light he said "dayum that's got good go". I know we have only a few fl lbs of torque on the HEMI but its' supposed to have about 325 to 335 (depending on the vehicle its' in). Why isn't it able to keep up? Anyone else able to figure this out? It also tows much less than the Titan.

The Hemi Ram you raced more than likely had 20's
on it. Slap a set on your truck and watch your
performance drop. They look great but are performance
killers. I would guess that 20's will add 3/10 to 4/10ths
to your 0-60mph times.

The big problem with the Hemi's performance has nothing
to do with it's engine design. It's the computer software
that is loaded into the PCM. The worst feature of this
software is the Electronic Throttle Control (some call
it the Torque Management System) that limits the amount
power to the transmission. This occures from out of the
hole performance to limiting the power between shift
points. It is a horrible feature and one can only guess
why they did it. My guess is that Chrysler tranmissions
are not the greatest and they may have felt it was the
weakest link coupled to the Hemi. The Superchips
programmer for the 03 Hemi eliminates about 80% of
the ETC. This really wakes up the bottom end where
the Hemi is lacking. Look at the dyno sheet at Superchips
website for the 2003 Hemi programmer. I can't wait for
a programmer for my 04.

[Hemi4Me]

Oh!! And by the way I enjoy your site

[GETSOMZ28]

I hear you Hemi4me on the programming. I think you will find TM on many cars/trucks with lots of power. On GM's, it pulls timing between stifts to help prolong tranny longevity. Programming can do wonders for a computer controlled tranny!

[pluckyew]

Originally Posted by Mike Up

(I know, I sound like a damn cheerleader )

RAM Hemi is darn good, it's just that the Titan is such a great truck!

Ram Hemi Crew 4wd was my 2nd choice
GMC 2500 6.0l ExCab 4wd was my 3rd choice, but was $9000 to $10,000 msrp more than Titan

'04 Fx-150 was never my consideration, as i've had owned two F150s

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by Hemi4Me

The Hemi Ram you raced more than likely had 20's
on it. Slap a set on your truck and watch your
performance drop. They look great but are performance
killers. I would guess that 20's will add 3/10 to 4/10ths
to your 0-60mph times.

The big problem with the Hemi's performance has nothing
to do with it's engine design. It's the computer software
that is loaded into the PCM. The worst feature of this
software is the Electronic Throttle Control (some call
it the Torque Management System) that limits the amount
power to the transmission. This occures from out of the
hole performance to limiting the power between shift
points. It is a horrible feature and one can only guess
why they did it. My guess is that Chrysler tranmissions
are not the greatest and they may have felt it was the
weakest link coupled to the Hemi. The Superchips
programmer for the 03 Hemi eliminates about 80% of
the ETC. This really wakes up the bottom end where
the Hemi is lacking. Look at the dyno sheet at Superchips
website for the 2003 Hemi programmer. I can't wait for
a programmer for my 04.

The Titan's TCM (transmission control module) also pulls power during shifts. Whether it's as much as the Hemi, who knows, the Dodge software may do it more. I agree, the auto trannies have been a weak point on the Dodges.

[braun04]

My first kill was a RC hemi ram with the 20s. Pretty even through three gears then i started pulling from him. I really thought that he would beat the brakes off me.

[Mike Up]

Well some idiots in the rush hour traffic locked me out of the lane I needed so I had to go straight in a turning lane. Since people are normally asses, I pulled a hole shot not to let them lock me out again. I then realized another frustrated driver behind me. He was driving a RAM.

When I pulled the hole shot, I had to watch out for tire spin as it's been raining. After I was hooked up, I just did a moderately heavy acceleration up to 70. Low and behold the RAM driver behind me thought it was a contest and started to race me. I was heavy on the pedal from frustration, (man, I hate traffic) not trying to impress him or anyone else. Anyhow, it was almost comical to watch this guy try to catch me, then finally give up when I wasn't even trying to race him.

Now that he's got a taste, perhaps he won't pull that with another Titan owner.

It's funny how joy can come out of the things we hate the most.

Have a good one.

[Gearman1987]

I guess your assuming he was racing - a ridiculous assumption since he was behind you - that's what kills me about some Titan owners - they assume everyone wants to race. I put 22,000 miles in 8 months on my Titan drove from Maine to Toronto and everywhere else, and can't recall anyone lining up to race. Mybe I wasn't looking hard enough. It's like the dopes that assume every Ram is a Hemi - and that every other truck wants to dog them - I just don't get it sometimes. You know what the say when you Assume.

[Hemi4Me]

Originally Posted by pluckyew

RAM Hemi is darn good, it's just that the Titan is such a great truck!

Ram Hemi Crew 4wd was my 2nd choice
GMC 2500 6.0l ExCab 4wd was my 3rd choice, but was $9000 to $10,000 msrp more than Titan

'04 Fx-150 was never my consideration, as i've had owned two F150s

I allways found the Toyota's and Nissan's more
expensive. I paid $22340 for my Ram Sport and
it's loaded.

[GETSOMZ28]

Originally Posted by Hemi4Me

I allways found the Toyota's and Nissan's more
expensive. I paid $22340 for my Ram Sport and
it's loaded.

Nice truck Hemi4me! I have noticed the same thing. Even though the MSRP may be higher, domestics always have HUGE rebates and the price comes down considerably.