Get a 2020 or order a 2021?

[wallyuwl]

I am in the market for a new RAM, if the right deal can be had. I have a 2018 F-150 that has been nothing but problems and I just don't enjoy driving it anymore. I test drove a couple RAMs yesterday and they are so much nicer. I have a good idea what I want, but it is very hard to find. There are two scenarios:

Either would be: crew cab, ideally in red (second choice would be gray), also would prefer the 3.92 gear

1. Big Horn level 2 equipment group, etorque, BENCH SEAT
2. Laramie, level 1 equipment group, etorque, bench seat

It is nearly impossible to find a BH level 2 with the bench seat, but a few are out there. MSRP is about $50,500. In the Laramie, MSRP is around $53k. I would probably put Katskins on the BH for a cost of about $1800. I can't seem to find either option with the 3.92, but not a deal breaker.

What would you do?

The other option is waiting and ordering a 2021 later this year for delivery early next year, or possibly order in October for Dec delivery. It would be a year newer for any resale, and there are no deals to be had right now anyway. Incentives suck and dealers aren't dealing because inventory is so low. I think incentives will be better on 2021 models early next year when inventory normalizes than they are right now on 2020. I talked to a salesman yesterday and he said they are trying to make up for the lack of incentives with more of a dealer discount, and that he doesn't expect the normal end of year pricing on 2020s in Nov and Dec because of such low inventory. Said they normally dealer discount the higher trims more, even though factory incentives are less. The Criswell offer of 11% off a Laramie special order doesn't seem bad right now to use as leverage.

Thoughts?

Also, does anyone know if a dealer gets credit for the sale on special orders when it is ordered or at delivery?

 

[mikeru82]

I'd just order one with the features you want. As far as when to order, you can try waiting and see if they'll start offering more dealer and manufacturer incentives. But if you hate what you're driving now, a little happiness is worth a lot in my book.

 

[STR]

The big changes were last year. The only changes for the next several years will be tech, and some refreshers. If you can find a ‘20 equipped like you want, then you’ll certainly get a better deal than waiting on a ‘21... and you could be driving it now. If you can’t, then order what you want, or you’ll regret it.

 

[mikeru82]

The big changes were last year. The only changes for the next several years will be tech, and some refreshers. If you can find a ‘20 equipped like you want, then you’ll certainly get a better deal than waiting on a ‘21... and you could be driving it now. If you can’t, then order what you want, or you’ll regret it.

Some of the tech changes for 2021 are significant for some people. One of the biggest is the power folding tow mirrors are now available on the 1500, and the trailer reverse steering control, just to name a couple. FCA has announce the changes for 2021 here...

Stellantis Media - Press Kit: 2021 Ram 1500:2021 Ram 1500 Fact Sheet

media.fcanorthamerica.com

 

[nburd]

I priced mine out online as a 2021 and the price difference was about $900 more with incentives.

 

[STR]

Some of the tech changes for 2021 are significant for some people. One of the biggest is the power folding tow mirrors are now available on the 1500, and the trailer reverse steering control, just to name a couple. FCA has announce the changes for 2021 here...

Stellantis Media - Press Kit: 2021 Ram 1500:2021 Ram 1500 Fact Sheet

media.fcanorthamerica.com

I didn’t see the OP mentioning the need for power folding tow mirrors or trailer reverse steering control in his post. Yeah, someone looking for the those tow related items might consider them “significant”, but most, including myself, would certainly not label them as such. Trying to catch new and better will never be caught as the ‘22 will be presumedly better than ‘21, ‘23 better than ‘22, etc. It’s what manufactures do... If not, then nobody would be buying new products.

 

[brian42]

With the low inventory dealerships are not willing to deal as much it seems. Some are still trying to move trucks and some are trying to maximize profit per unit.

Low inventory also makes it hard to find the options you want. Red and front bench seat are going to be tough to come by (especially in a higher level BH or in a Laramie in general).

I'd keep shopping around to see what's out there. If it falls in your lap then jump on it otherwise order exactly what you want with the new tech when you are tired of looking and the dealerships start taking orders for the 21s.

Just my .02

 

[mikeru82]

I didn’t see the OP mentioning the need for power folding tow mirrors or trailer reverse steering control in his post. Yeah, someone looking for the those tow related items might consider them “significant”, but most, including myself, would certainly not label them as such. Trying to catch new and better will never be caught as the ‘22 will be presumedly better than ‘21, ‘23 better than ‘22, etc. It’s what manufactures do... If not, then nobody would be buying new products.

I never said the OP mentioned those things. I was just pointing out that the new tech features you seem to dismiss as unimportant might just be important to anyone else who might be wondering this same thing. I agree that there will always be new things every year. But knowing what new features are available for 2021 (and not in 2020) could have some bearing in this decision.

 

[silver billet]

I had the same trouble: my requirements were similiar, BH, level 2, bench seat, 3.21, with brake controller, no sun roof, billet silver, no tow mirros; Didn't find a single truck in my area and the 6 weeks it took from time of ordering to time of delivery was worth every day of waiting, got exactly what I wanted without compromise.

6 weeks of waiting vs instant purchase but 3/5/10 years of owning something you didn't really like 100%, no contest.

 

[Paultg]

I found Laramie LV1 much easier to find than BH Level 2 trucks, and Laramie includes as standard the LED lighting, Heated & Cooled leather seats (your katskin won't be as nice), auto high beams, auto wipers, and some other features I prefer. I ended up ordering my Laramie though, but if I were looking at inventory options I open up the wish list to include Laramie Level 1 trucks too.

 

[wallyuwl]

The local dealer I went to yesterday found a Laramie how I want it about 150 mikes away, MSRP $52,900. They are offering 11.5% dealer discount. I saw people getting 14%+ in March, plus incentives were $2k more. They are known for service, not price.

I see some people said the build site and incentives are up for 2021, but for my zip code they aren't. I wonder what the price increase is for 2021?

So I can either see if other dealers can do better, or wait until Halloween and order a 2021 just how I want it for delivery late December. I can't imagine 2021 rebates in Dec being worse than $3000.

I don't need tow mirrors and the trailer backup assist is not a priority (I have it on my Ford and fond it easier to not use it). One thing I really like about the Laramie are the memory seats.

I just am now questioning etorque or not. I like the theory and how it drove, but don't want a potential very expensive out of warranty repair later on.

 

[STR]

I never said the OP mentioned those things. I was just pointing out that the new tech features you seem to dismiss as unimportant might just be important to anyone else who might be wondering this same thing. I agree that there will always be new things every year. But knowing what new features are available for 2021 (and not in 2020) could have some bearing in this decision.

I never dismissed anything, I said, “The only changes for the next several years will be tech, and some refreshers.” I also said, “If you can’t (...find a ‘20 equipped like you want), then order what you want, or you’ll regret it.” Your assumptions are baseless.

 

[jastevenson]

Yeah, really annoyed that they basically force you to get eTorque if you want any of the packages. I’m glad it’s only 200 dollars more, but the repair cost will be $2000 more at least.

 

[SpeedyV]

Yeah, really annoyed that they basically force you to get eTorque if you want any of the packages. I’m glad it’s only 200 dollars more, but the repair cost will be $2000 more at least.

But not for 8 years / 80K miles.

 

[brian42]

Yeah, really annoyed that they basically force you to get eTorque if you want any of the packages. I’m glad it’s only 200 dollars more, but the repair cost will be $2000 more at least.

That's why I didn't get the Alpine audio in my BH. I had to get the eTorque to get the Alpine. I would have done it for $200 but the eTorque option was $1200 for the 2019 trucks.

 

[AmericanRebelution]

11% dealer discount seems like a fair offer considering current conditions. Ordering will allow you to get exactly what you want on a truck that is one model year newer.

 

[mikeru82]

I never dismissed anything, I said, “The only changes for the next several years will be tech, and some refreshers.” I also said, “If you can’t (...find a ‘20 equipped like you want), then order what you want, or you’ll regret it.” Your assumptions are baseless.

My mistake if I misinterpreted what you meant, and if so I apologize for that. I still stand by my comments about the new features. Features that are not meaningful for one shopper might make the difference for another. As for trim levels, I made the decision to buy a Laramie almost exclusively because it was the lowest trim level that I could get with ventilated seats. But a lot of people couldn't care less about ventilated seats.

The local dealer I went to yesterday found a Laramie how I want it about 150 mikes away, MSRP $52,900. They are offering 11.5% dealer discount. I saw people getting 14%+ in March, plus incentives were $2k more. They are known for service, not price.

I see some people said the build site and incentives are up for 2021, but for my zip code they aren't. I wonder what the price increase is for 2021?

So I can either see if other dealers can do better, or wait until Halloween and order a 2021 just how I want it for delivery late December. I can't imagine 2021 rebates in Dec being worse than $3000.

I don't need tow mirrors and the trailer backup assist is not a priority (I have it on my Ford and fond it easier to not use it). One thing I really like about the Laramie are the memory seats.

I just am now questioning etorque or not. I like the theory and how it drove, but don't want a potential very expensive out of warranty repair later on.

Ah the etorque question. My advice is to avoid it if you can unless the majority of your driving will be city. My commute is almost all highway, and the stop/start never activates. It's not the extra $200 I paid for the system that bothers me. It's the potential for it to malfunction after the warranty expires, forcing me to pay to repair a system that doesn't really benefit me. Maybe by then someone will have figured out how to delete the system and convert to a normal alternator.

 

[brian42]

I think the eTorque is better than the standard start/stop using the starter. Those drive me crazy. At least the eTorque is a lot smoother and doesn't require you to anticipate the light.

My dad has the eTorque in his 2020 Limited and it's not bad. I do a lot of city driving and commuting on crowded freeways (start/stop) so would have benefited from it. I did not get it because it was brand new and didn't want to be the guinea pig for it (as mikeru82 mentioned), I wasn't comfortable with the battery pack in the cab right behind my kid's back, and the fact that it was a $1200 option for the 2019 trucks.

 

[mikeru82]

I think the eTorque is better than the standard start/stop using the starter. Those drive me crazy. At least the eTorque is a lot smoother and doesn't require you to anticipate the light.

You're right about that. I've driven a few rental cars with stop/start, and they all had an annoying delay. Ram definitely did a great job of implementing it by using the generator as a starter motor for this. I'm just bummed it does nothing for me on my commute.

 

[millerbjm]

The local dealer I went to yesterday found a Laramie how I want it about 150 mikes away, MSRP $52,900. They are offering 11.5% dealer discount. I saw people getting 14%+ in March, plus incentives were $2k more. They are known for service, not price.

I see some people said the build site and incentives are up for 2021, but for my zip code they aren't. I wonder what the price increase is for 2021?

So I can either see if other dealers can do better, or wait until Halloween and order a 2021 just how I want it for delivery late December. I can't imagine 2021 rebates in Dec being worse than $3000.

I don't need tow mirrors and the trailer backup assist is not a priority (I have it on my Ford and fond it easier to not use it). One thing I really like about the Laramie are the memory seats.

I just am now questioning etorque or not. I like the theory and how it drove, but don't want a potential very expensive out of warranty repair later on.

Both times I've bought a Ram I had specific requirements and wanted a truck that was in stock rather than placing an order so I could get the deal made and have my truck. In both cases with my 2014 and 2019 I ended up using a dealer I liked that was willing to negotiate a good price and had them do a dealer trade with another dealer that had the exact truck I wanted. This wasn't a quick process - both times I spent at least a week talking and negotiating but in both cases I got the truck and the deal I was looking for from a dealer I trusted and had a history with.