Dodge Ram 1500

...This review is of our Dodge Ram 1500 double cab 5.7 Hemi V8 4 wheel drive pick up truck. However I will briefly touch upon the other varieties available.

Dodge, as I'm sure you will know is part of the Chrysler group, the Ram, is their pick up truck line, of which there are three main models: 1500, 2500 and 3500., getting progressively larger. The 2500 and 3500 are genrerally used by professional haulage contractors.

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...like his fuel and although Dodge claim you should get 11mpg's out of it, we average about 9.

They have just introduced the Mulit Displacement System which basically deactivates 4 cyclinder whilst in criuse control to ecomonise on fuel.

I preume you have already gathered then, not the most practical car??? well no, not really, but if you need to haul around some 'lumber' or anything else heavy, then it will do the job ... more

Brrrrrrummmmm, this was my husband's first word and the theme, seems to have continued through his life. Over the years he has owned in excess of 200 cars and we currently have quite a collection of vehicles around our house.

Among the collection we have our two main vehicles, plus an array of motorcycles, off road cars, my little project - an old fiat 500, a canoe, a unicycle.... it goes on. The point however, is that amongst this collection, my heart belongs to daddy. Daddy being the Pick up truck.

This review is of our Dodge Ram 1500 double cab 5.7 Hemi V8 4 wheel drive pick up truck. However I will briefly touch upon the other varieties available.

Dodge, as I'm sure you will know is part of the Chrysler group, the Ram, is their pick up truck line, of which there are three main models: 1500, 2500 and 3500., getting progressively larger. The 2500 and 3500 are genrerally used by professional haulage contractors.

The 1500 has a choice of 3 engines, 3.7 Magnum V6, 4.7 Magnum V8 and 5.7 Hemi V8. You have a choice of six speed manual, mulit speed auto or five speed auto. It has a choice of three cabs.. single seating 3 on a bench style seat, double, seating 6 and mega (new) which is the biggest cab ever offered in a pick up - still seats 6 though. You also have a choice of two lengths of bed... 6ft 3 or 8ft, however only the 6ft 3 is available with the mega cab.

So then, the Hemi, well it has been described as 'the most significant V8 production power plant on earth' and well yes, it is powerful, kikcing out 345 bhp. However, on the down side, he does like his fuel and although Dodge claim you should get 11mpg's out of it, we average about 9.

They have just introduced the Mulit Displacement System which basically deactivates 4 cyclinder whilst in criuse control to ecomonise on fuel.

I preume you have already gathered then, not the most practical car??? well no, not really, but if you need to haul around some 'lumber' or anything else heavy, then it will do the job and do it well.

So, I have to admit, tree transporting is not something that we do often, although it does get used for loading up for the tip or bringing stuff back from B and Q. Parking, also, not its best feature... at 247.7 inches long and 79.3 inches wide, you'll need at least two car spaces.

However, if you ever feel the need to have what can only be described as a bucket of fizzy pop, then the Dodge Ram cup holder can accomodate... and I said it wasn't practical.

you dont see many of these around, maybe the practicality issues are the reason, but I suspect the main reasoon is that they are not readily available in the UK. You can however pick one up at an American Imports Dealer, or do as we did and import one. Ours came from Canada.

Importing one is relatively simple, but there are people who will do that bit for you, for around £1000, which isn't bad considering that they will get it over here, UK legal and taxed, whilst you sit back and enjoy your bucket of pop and wondering where the hell you are going to put it down!

So then the dealers - well in the states we have found them to be most helpful, in the 'have a nice day' way that most American's are. We have actually bought spare parts from dealers and brought them back on the plane and you can pick up just about anything from the dealers within a matter of minutes - most helpful.

Safety wise, it doesnt really offer anything too special, you get ABS, but no traction control, or stability help at all. Driver and Passanger airbags are fitted as standard.

Obviously as these are imported you have the steering wheel on the wrong side... is this a problem?... well i dont think so.. I have never had a problem driving it, infact I love driving it, especially the looks of amazment as a small blonde girl roars past in a large pick up truck.

Starting at $26,020 for a Quad Cab truck in the states, you should expect to pay about £25 - 30K over here for a decent spec.

performance wise, what else can I say other than when you put your foot down the thing shifts! Reliability, well no problems as yet, and this is our second one.

In essense this thing has been built for the American market, big loud powerful and imposing.

So then, why do I love this car? I love it because its impractical, its a great lump of a thing, its noisy, its fast, its stupidly big... its fun.

anyone seem my bucket of coke?

For full spec check out the website
www.dodge.com/ram

 

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