Ram’s Genius Pricing Strategy Has Opened the Door for More Sales
Many love Ram pickup trucks for their impressive hauling and towing prowess. Others appreciate the iconic HEMI engine that offers powerful performance that’s tough to beat. Blending practicality and performance with an impressive list of features, the Ram 1500 is a top-seller in the U.S.
Many aren’t aware that there are two variations of Ram 1500 and those who do may not be able to tell one from the other. What is the difference between the Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classic? What clever pricing strategy is Ram using with the two trucks to boost sales?
The Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classic aren’t easy to tell apart for the casual truck enthusiast. Both pickup trucks offer power, strength, and the latest performance features making them strong competitors for the Ford F-150. How can you tell the two apart?
Redesigned in 2019, the Ram 1500 got an updated exterior with improved aerodynamics. It got an impressive new 60/40 split tailgate with a futuristic flair. You can actually open the tailgate like barn doors or secure the two sections to raise and lower like traditional gates.
The interior is a study in comfort and style. The Ram 1500’s cabin has real leather and wood trim. The seats in the back recline so passengers can enjoy a comfortable ride even on big road trips. You can get an available center console that tucks back to provide a table-like workspace and has a USB port too.
Both trucks offer two engine choices. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine gets 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The popular 5.7-liter HEMI V8 puts out 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. You can only get the eTorque with the engines in the Ram 1500 which gives you improved efficiency.
The Ram 1500 Classic
The Ram 1500 Classic on the outside stays closer to the sturdy traditional style. It’s aggressive and rugged in its presentation with simple curves and a wider grille. You can also get the Ram 1500 Classic Blackout trim which gives you a body, full front fascia and grille, and rear bumper all in black. You also get 20-inch semi-gloss black aluminum wheels.
On the inside of the Ram 1500 Classic, the styling is less stylized and more traditional. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking any of today’s convenience or safety features because it’s not. It offers the 7-inch customizable digital instruments panel. It also gives you dual-zone automatic climate control along with available a 12-volt auxiliary outlet to charge your mobile devices and laptops. You get a heated steering wheel too.
There’s a third engine choice offered with the Ram 1500 Classic. It’s a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine that gets 240 hp. It can get 420 lb-ft of torque but only at 2,000 rpm.
A clever pricing strategy
With the popularity of trucks on today’s market, the prices have gone up quite a bit. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and General Motors (GM) have been selling their latest trucks but with fickle results. In today’s economy, they realized that many either couldn’t afford premium truck content or didn’t need it. Legacy trucks like the Ram 1500 Classic make for appealing alternatives and costs few thousand dollars less.
Leasing has also been a successful way for automakers to offer affordable and secure monthly payments to customers. It’s not as beneficial as ownership. But leasing can, according to Edmunds‘ 2020 Truck Report, save the average customer $247 on monthly payments for a truck with a sticker price of $40,000 to $45,000. For a truck in the $55,000 to $60,000 range, it can save buyers $207 a month.
Between leasing and offering an impressive legacy truck like the Ram 1500 Classic, FCA is both boosting sales and offering its customers exactly what they are looking for in a new pickup truck.
