What color should this truck be? Help me choose!

[AutopiaAdmin]

I created a new section here in our Automotive Lifestyle section called Car Buying Guide, Comparisons & Advice and decided to break it in with a thread about some vehicle research that I have been doing.

I plan on making a purchase in the next 3-6 months but am in no hurry as I want to make a well informed decision and be happy with the vehicle as I plan to keep it for at least 10 years, so I need to get it right and need to get a great deal.

Through my research I have learned about and test drove a wide variety of cars and I have narrowed down by choice to a truck. Not just any truck though, I`m looking at the Ram 1500 Sport R/T Regular Cab 4x2.

Being 6`1 I find most cars that I am interested too small for my liking. On the weekends I enjoy camping and fishing so a truck makes sense for my lifestyle.

The Sport R/T has a look that appeals to me and the performance of the 390hp 5.7 HEMI combined with the 4.10 rear end gives this truck 0-60 times in the 5.7-5.9 range so the fun factor is there as well. Fuel economy has to be taken into consideration but the good news is my weekly commuting is light because I live so close to work and for longer trips the RAM is rated 20 mpg on the highway.

So now I just need to decide on the color! Actually, you guys get to help me pick the color. I created a poll to let you vote. If I decide to get this truck, I will take the results into serious consideration.

Now here are the choices:


Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat


Bright White Clear Coat


Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat


Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat


Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat


Flame Red Clear Coat


Hunter Green Pearl Coat


Mineral Gray Metallic Clear Coat

[C. Charles Hahn]

That truck is just begging for the deep cherry red!

I would say that black is an option too, but being in Florida with the sun beating on it all day I`d imagine it would get really hot inside in a hurry.

[GearHead_1]

I like blue but I think you`re fooling yourself if you believe that will get 20 m.p.g. on the road with those low screws and a Hemi. I have two neighbors that own these (one is a 2011) and they don`t sing the praises of mileage when discussing the Hemi. Then again, we are in the thin air of Utah.

[AutopiaTech]

My vote goes to Mineral Gray Metallic Clear Coat.

Hey Dwayne, make sure you check off this option box...

[AutopiaTech]

Hey Dwayne, I thought about it, and if you`re going to get a truck - go big or go home!

2011 F150 Raptor Supercrew

411 Horsepower, All-Terrain Tires, and it`s built like a tank. Did I mention it has a track that`s 2" wider than the Hummer H1?

Best part!....11 mpg city, 14 mpg highway!

You can`t go wrong!

[GearHead_1]

I`m with AutopiaTech on the Raptor. Then have Hennessey turn it into a VelociRaptor. I`m thinking you can get by with the 600 HP version as oppossed to the 800 HP version. Oh yeah, it ain`t gettin` 20 m.p.g. either.

http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/62raptor800.html

http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...or-600-sc.html

[jammerz101]

20 mpg is realistic on the highway at 55-60 mph. 20mpg isn`t the avg if are are factoring in city driving but as long as you are on the highway running on 4 cylinders it`s very possible without a lead foot. It`s the city driving where the mpg goes down fast. Plus Florida has all flat straight roads, much different that driving through the mountains.

But Dwayne didn`t ask us about mpg, I picked Brilliant Black for the color. It just looks mean.

[GearHead_1]

Voted on the color, mentioned one too.

20 mpg is realistic on the highway at 55-60 mph.

I`ll take the bet.

[AutopiaTech]

Voted on the color, mentioned one too.



I`ll take the bet.

The 5th gear in those trucks is taller than a mountain, and combined with the truck running on only 4 cylinders, it certainly is possible.....but then again, that 4:10 rear end is certainly not going to help.

[GearHead_1]

The 5th gear in those trucks is taller than a mountain, and combined with the truck running on only 4 cylinders, it certainly is possible.....but then again, that 4:10 rear end is certainly not going to help.

I`m aware of the features, I wasn`t just throwing it out there.

[AutopiaTech]

I`m aware of the features, I wasn`t just throwing it out there.

Gas mileage really has increased over the years with these trucks, so we`ll see.

[TLMitchell]

You like your DD to look clean all the time? White. If you wash `em all the time you know how trucks seem to get larger while you work on `em. I`ve been driving pickups as a DD for 20 years. A bit of a thought that might be a budget buster... it`s real convenient to have a place to put stuff that you don`t want to throw in the bed. I wouldn`t be without an extended cab. Plus you can`t be piling all the babes I see you pictured with in the bed like cord wood. (well, you could but they`d get tangled up)

My $.02

TL

[Mel Craig]

Hey Dwayne, Just remember that Hi Impact colors, (Dark Cars) are very hard to keep looking good all the time. they show everything from dust and dirt to paint defects and damage. Low Impact colors, (light cars) are very easy to keep looking good, very hard to see dust and light dirt, extremely hard to see minor paint damage and paint defects and over time its the all around best choice. Especially if you don`t want to have to always be cleaning it. At least you know where to get some cool car care products! LOL... At any rate, buying a new truck is awesome and I can`t wait to see it.

MEL

[C. Charles Hahn]

You like your DD to look clean all the time? White. If you wash `em all the time you know how trucks seem to get larger while you work on `em. I`ve been driving pickups as a DD for 20 years. A bit of a thought that might be a budget buster... it`s real convenient to have a place to put stuff that you don`t want to throw in the bed. I wouldn`t be without an extended cab. Plus you can`t be piling all the babes I see you pictured with in the bed like cord wood. (well, you could but they`d get tangled up)

My $.02

TL

You know, the thought did cross my mind that he was only buying a truck so he could get chicks to join him in bed (the truck`s bed) on the first date.... but I wasn`t going to go there.

For the record I totally agree about having an extended or crew cab -- mine comes in handy way too often to be without it.

[AutopiaAdmin]

That truck is just begging for the deep cherry red!

I would say that black is an option too, but being in Florida with the sun beating on it all day I`d imagine it would get really hot inside in a hurry.

The Florida sun is so intense in the summer and black panels get well over 200 degrees. I might get a black one for going stealth at night.

I do agree on the Deep Cherry Red. It looks incredible!

I like blue but I think you`re fooling yourself if you believe that will get 20 m.p.g. on the road with those low screws and a Hemi. I have two neighbors that own these (one is a 2011) and they don`t sing the praises of mileage when discussing the Hemi. Then again, we are in the thin air of Utah.

The blue would definitely match my eyes... Other than the MPG, do your neighbors love their trucks?

You like your DD to look clean all the time? White. If you wash `em all the time you know how trucks seem to get larger while you work on `em. I`ve been driving pickups as a DD for 20 years. A bit of a thought that might be a budget buster... it`s real convenient to have a place to put stuff that you don`t want to throw in the bed. I wouldn`t be without an extended cab. Plus you can`t be piling all the babes I see you pictured with in the bed like cord wood. (well, you could but they`d get tangled up)

My $.02

TL

As I get older I find that I just need room for one babe these days. For me the regular cab works best. Single, sons grown up, there is room behind the seats for a backpack or briefcase, I love the look and less paint to polish!

Hey Dwayne, Just remember that Hi Impact colors, (Dark Cars) are very hard to keep looking good all the time. they show everything from dust and dirt to paint defects and damage. Low Impact colors, (light cars) are very easy to keep looking good, very hard to see dust and light dirt, extremely hard to see minor paint damage and paint defects and over time its the all around best choice. Especially if you don`t want to have to always be cleaning it. At least you know where to get some cool car care products! LOL... At any rate, buying a new truck is awesome and I can`t wait to see it.

MEL

Great advice for anyone looking at a new car Mel. I currently drive a silver car and know exactly what you mean.

You know, the thought did cross my mind that he was only buying a truck so he could get chicks to join him in bed (the truck`s bed) on the first date.... but I wasn`t going to go there.

For the record I totally agree about having an extended or crew cab -- mine comes in handy way too often to be without it.

Most trucks I see on the road are extended or crew cab and I agree that they are vital for some people. The Sport R/T only comes in regular cab. I`m looking at it like buying a Corvette or 370Z, just with more payload and towing capacity and less cornering ability. The thousands of $$$ I save going with the regular cab will be going towards fuel of course!