Ram 1500 "Truck of the Year" back to back

[Old Moparz]

I like the new Dodge / Ram trucks but won't be in the market for a long time. My 2004 Ram 1500 just turned the odometer to 70,000 miles & everything is still in decent shape.

As far as the "Car of the Year" or "Truck of the Year" awards from magazines that take advertising dollars from the vehicle manufacturers, I don't buy into it for the same reason I don't believe most newsertainment outlets that claim to be in the news business, it's too biased.

Don't forget that these automotive mags picked these turds as best vehicle, too.   

[DadsCharger00]

Heres the new toy

[Ghoste]

I spent a good portion of the last week riding and driving a 2014 Ram and the accolades are well deserved in my opinion. 

[twodko]

That's a gorgeous truck no doubt about it. Congrats!  Is it a '13 or '14? All the Rams I've looked at had the new dash dial tranny shifter not a console lever. What's the deal there?

[DadsCharger00]

Thanks! The dial feature if I'm not mistaken is a 14' option for the 8 speed tranny. This is a 13' model so 6 speed tranny. Incentives were to good to not buy it.  The used one I was looking at was close to my final price after dealer/dodge incentives plus trade.  Only thing we didn't get that we really wanted was the crew cab vs the quad.  But the crew cab was an extra 5200 $ for the 3.5 inches in rear leg space. I drive it anyway! Don't ride in the back lol!

[chargerboy69]

Mike. . .Sweat truck buddy, looks great.  I love the interior, very cool.  Is she a 4X4?

[War wagon]

Thanks! The dial feature if I'm not mistaken is a 14' option for the 8 speed tranny. This is a 13' model so 6 speed tranny. Incentives were to good to not buy it.  The used one I was looking at was close to my final price after dealer/dodge incentives plus trade.  Only thing we didn't get that we really wanted was the crew cab vs the quad.  But the crew cab was an extra 5200 $ for the 3.5 inches in rear leg space. I drive it anyway! Don't ride in the back lol!

The 8spd was optional on 13's and is standard equipment on 14's that gives you the rotary dial.
Beautiful truck, I think you'll like the QQ better than the crew anyway, you get a bigger box. I had a 09 CC and traded for a QQ this time. Found I didn't need the interior space as much as I needed the exterior bed room.
Nice colour choice, sharp looking truck

[Charger_Dart]

I bought my 09 1500 QC in 2008 when the model changed to the current style. 5 years later I still love my truck and have no regrets at all. It really is a well built truck that has a great ride to it.
The newer ones seem to come with an air ride suspension that raises and lowers the truck automatically or manually. I would be curious to hear what owners think of this feature.....

[DadsCharger00]

Mike. . .Sweat truck buddy, looks great.  I love the interior, very cool.  Is she a 4X4?

Thanks Tim. Pretty excited....still honestly kinda in shock. Wasn't going to buy a new one....actually the WIFE talked me into it! Guess you take it when you can get it right! LOL

She's a 4x4. Air ride suspension, heated fabric seats, and steering wheel. Need to upgrade for the navigation, but honestly I use my phone for that anyway.  Need to add the back up camera (little longer then my hummer was!) Suspension air ride is pretty nice. Adjustable ride heights per conditions, or when you want to get into the truck you can lower it so it's not so high. Button right on the remote to lower it down. (wife likes that part). So far I can' complain. Dodge has come a long way with design, and attention to detail. I love it....tell ya more when I can start adding up the gas mileage!

[moparjohn]

The only drawback to the 8 speed is the dial control.  Push button I would have liked better, but shifter is my first choice.  JMO, MPJ

[bill440rt]

I've posted before about my '11 1500 4x4 Laramie, LOVE my truck. I've owned one of each of the previous 3 generation Rams with them being 2500's, this is BY FAR the best Ram I've owned.
I went with the Crew Cab, my kids are getting bigger & I needed the room in the cab vs the bed, although at times I do wish the bed was longer. Pick-n-choose, I guess.
Pulls my enclosed car trailer as good as my old '07 2500, and WAY better than my first '98 2500. I'd only like the payload to be a little better, but now air assist suspension is an option. Some people I know have added airbags to assist with payload capacity.
Decent gas mileage, super comfy on long trips, nice ride, features, and is the best looking truck of the Big 3 IMHO.
IIRC the Mega cab is not an option on the 1500, only on the heavier duty trucks.

[hatersaurusrex]

Decent gas mileage, super comfy on long trips, nice ride, features, and is the best looking truck of the Big 3 IMHO.

GMC had a great looking truck until this year.   The new ones are horrible looking.   Ironically, GM appears to have taken a quantum leap forward in interior design.  Anything is better than the squeaky cheap plastic they've had since the 80's.   Ford screwed the pooch in 09 when they decided the F150 should look like a Focus in the front end.  Sad, because (not counting 04 - 08 when they had a great looking truck) Ford is almost always at the back of the pack in styling since the 70's.   I thought their 'new edge' design philosophy was really solid, but the current lineup - bleh.

Ram wins in looks hands down.   I agree with one of the above comments - replacing the crosshair grille is long overdue.  It's really gawdy in places where it doesn't fit and has ruined a few vehicles outright - like back when Pontiac used to put gross plastic cladding all over otherwise nice looking GM cars.  They're technically not even Dodges anymore, so no need to stick with the theme.

[twodko]

"GMC had a great looking truck until this year.   The new ones are horrible looking.   Ironically, GM appears to have taken a quantum leap forward in interior design.  Anything is better than the squeaky cheap plastic they've had since the 80's.   Ford screwed the pooch in 09 when they decided the F150 should look like a Focus in the front end.  Sad, because (not counting 04 - 08 when they had a great looking truck) Ford is almost always at the back of the pack in styling since the 70's.   I thought their 'new edge' design philosophy was really solid, but the current lineup - bleh"



Agreed, the new GM truck are blunt and square. hey look like big Volvos. The new interiors are really plush though and its a huge plus GM appears to have moved away....far away from all the plastic.

I'm going to checkout a pre-owned 2011 Ram 1500 this afternoon. Crewcab 2wd (I think) Brown w/beige, CPO truck.

[bill440rt]

I actually like the crosshair grille on the Ram, especially this generation. Very reminiscent of late-'50's 300's. Gives the truck an aggressive look to the front.
I hated the previous front end on the '07. 

[ACUDANUT]

Hater, you truly live up to your name.  Ram also has the same grill as a nitro, caliber and everything that else that Chrysler comes out with.
BTW Dodge does not makes trucks anymore.

[DC_1]

Love mine. Had it 3 weeks now. Ram has the best looking trucks on the road IMO

[hatersaurusrex]

Hater, you truly live up to your name and education. Ram also has the same grill as a nitro, caliber and everything that else that Chrysler comes out with.
BTW Dodge does not makes trucks anymore.

Lol Cuda, I know, that was my point really - no need to stick with it because it's no longer a Dodge.   Only the Dodges have carried the crosshair unless I'm wrong, the Plymouths (RIP) and Chrysler versions always had a different grille.

And to Bill's point - I do actually like the crosshair on the current Rams, and I also agree it was a bit round a bulbous looking on the previous version.   Since it's a 'Dodge' thing, I think they should create something new for the next version of RAM, since they're not really Dodges anymore.

[War wagon]

Dodge may not admit they make trucks anymore and insist its a new brand called Ram..
Well my Ministry of Transportation ownership in the province of Ontario calls it a Dodge Ram LMAO

[hatersaurusrex]

Mine was built after Ram spun off into it's own marque - yet the change holder up high on the dash still says DODGE.   I wasn't even aware that Ram was it's own thing until I got home and started looking for tires, and could only find models listed up to 2010 on the sizing guides.

[twodko]

http://4488.autowebshowcase.com/vslp/12474404/2/9287209

I looked at this truck today. It was a rental but it's in great shape. Not a Hemi though....bummer. 2012 SLT 16k miles listed for $24k+. Silver isn't my first choice and I know nothing about this smaller V8......I won't be towing anything.
It has most of the bells and whistles except a power drivers seat. The front seat is basically a bench seat with a fold down armrest/storage thingy.

Opinions?

In case this link doesn't work, the listing is in the SF bay area CL northbay all cars and trucks catagory.

[hatersaurusrex]

http://4488.autowebshowcase.com/vslp/12474404/2/9287209

I looked at this truck today. It was a rental but it's in great shape. Not a Hemi though....bummer. 2012 SLT 16k miles listed for $24k+. Silver isn't my first choice and I know nothing about this smaller V8......I won't be towing anything.
It has most of the bells and whistles except a power drivers seat. The front seat is basically a bench seat with a fold down armrest/storage thingy.

Opinions?

In case this link doesn't work, the listing is in the SF bay area CL northbay all cars and trucks catagory.

Nice truck.  Not sure what care prices are like on the west coast but I think you could probably get a bit more truck for 24K than that.   Then again, they may be negotiable.    There was a silver 4x4 crewcab Outdoorsman for sale at Carmax here for like 26K that had only 2K miles plust a hemi, and power everything, with navigation and some other stuff I can't seem to remember right now but I looked hard at it before I got the sport.

Might want to talk them down a bit, but def a nice truck.    I don't know much about the 4.7 either, never seen a vehicle with one in it.

[twodko]

Compared to the rest of the country the PRK is broken in many ways one of which is car prices. One reason for this is Kalijokia's ultra lib environmental laws.
I'm looking at other vehicles the next few days but I did like this truck. I would prefer a hemi and a club cab for the extra leg room. The mileage on this one is what I'm looking for.....lower the better and a couple more bells and whistles are on my list too. I'm thinking a Ram this time instead of a Chebbie.

Thank you for your response.

[gschmidt211]

I ordered a 4x2 Quad Cab Outdoorsman a week ago.  I have received 2 emails from the factory indicating the truck has been scheduled.  I can't wait until it gets here.

[twodko]

I'm still shopping. There's a '14 Ram 1500 Hemi QuadCab 2wd at the same dealership I may test drive tomorrow.
I saw a '14 Chrysler 300 today as well as a '14 Chevrolet Impala LT2 both of which I want to drive.
I'm actually beginning to be honest with myself. I don't really need a 4wd here or even a truck for that matter. It would be easier for me getting into/out of a full size sedan with my back issue.........I think.