Pickups are pricier than ever—you know this, we know this. Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to drive off the dealer lot in a new truck that costs any less $35,000, a number that wasn’t too far fetched just a decade ago. So what if we let you in on a secret that could, theoretically, put you in a zero-mile, never-titled 2019 Ram 1500 Classic for around $21,000? It’s possible, but you’ve got to play your cards right…and don’t go looking for leather.
A full year into the current generation Ram 1500’s production run, the old body style Ram Classic is still around. Sold as a new model while carrying everything over from the previous gen, it’s effectively the best way to get a steal on a factory-fresh Ram pickup. This is especially true of two-wheel-drive models, which can be had for next to nothing when compared to other trucks of the same ilk.
As those at the CleanMPG forum recently pointed out, there’s an insane amount of incentives that drive down the prices of 4×2 Ram Classic EcoDiesels. Kearny Mesa Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in San Diego has a host of the trucks up for sale, its cheapest of which is listed at $21,745 with no less than 10 separate discounts contributing to that price. A healthy dealer incentive of $5,325 makes up a chunk of that, although the state of California also pitches in its fair share. Collectively, on this one Tradesman crew cab example, there’s an astonishing $20,575 taken off the MSRP.
Scroll a while longer and you’ll find higher-optioned variants with around $10k still taken off the sticker price.
This is for a respectably capable pickup, too, as the EcoDiesel produces 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. In its top working spec, the compression-ignition Ram half-ton can tow 9,350 pounds and hold over 1,600 pounds in the bed. Unloaded, it’s rated at 20/27 miles per gallon city/highway.
Keep in mind, these discounts are only available on 2019 model year trucks. Compare these marked-down rates to a current-generation Ram 1500 with the revised EcoDiesel, though, and you’ll notice a huge price gap. A quick AutoTrader search shows the country’s cheapest 2020 example with similar specs at $34,824; intriguingly, it’s fitted with four-wheel-drive.
With dealers looking to unload as much year-old inventory as they can, expect these deals to be pushed at every opportunity. In turn, they likely won’t last long. If you miss out on this round of big-time discounts, however, keep your eye on local lots later in the year—after all, Ram’s got a reputation to keep up now.
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