Dodge Has Raised The Bar

ChrisNJ · September 13, 2008

Dodge's 09 Ram has a few game changers:

1. New coil spring-link rear suspension, in a word awesome.

2. 5.7 Hemi now has 407 ft-lbs of torque, via VVT I presume. I can't find a torque curve, so the jury is still out on how usable it will be.

3. IMO the new front grill looks a lot better than before.

4. Interior is better looking, but still not as nice as GM's.

For my application (need a pick-up for my work, but also need it to be as close to sedan comfort as possible, and able to tow heavy in the hills), this new Dodge at least warrants a look when my current S. Denali goes away.

66nova · September 13, 2008

Dodge's 09 Ram has a few game changers:
1. New coil spring-link rear suspension, in a word awesome.

2. 5.7 Hemi now has 407 ft-lbs of torque, via VVT I presume. I can't find a torque curve, so the jury is still out on how usable it will be.

3. IMO the new front grill looks a lot better than before.

4. Interior is better looking, but still not as nice as GM's.

For my application (need a pick-up for my work, but also need it to be as close to sedan comfort as possible, and able to tow heavy in the hills), this new Dodge at least warrants a look when my current S. Denali goes away.

But seriously could they lower the bar much? I have never had really much bad to say about the dodge engine selection, but the rest of the truck :s The new truck I do think is an improvement over the old one, but the interior and if cut the front off it, it looks like a ford. Hey, it's just my opinion. There is going to have to be a lot more before I ever consider a chrysler product.

geektoad · September 13, 2008

Dodge's 09 Ram has a few game changers:
1. New coil spring-link rear suspension, in a word awesome.

2. 5.7 Hemi now has 407 ft-lbs of torque, via VVT I presume. I can't find a torque curve, so the jury is still out on how usable it will be.

3. IMO the new front grill looks a lot better than before.

4. Interior is better looking, but still not as nice as GM's.

For my application (need a pick-up for my work, but also need it to be as close to sedan comfort as possible, and able to tow heavy in the hills), this new Dodge at least warrants a look when my current S. Denali goes away.

But seriously could they lower the bar much? I have never had really much bad to say about the dodge engine selection, but the rest of the truck :s The new truck I do think is an improvement over the old one, but the interior and if cut the front off it, it looks like a ford. Hey, it's just my opinion. There is going to have to be a lot more before I ever consider a chrysler product.

Well, as far as bad things to say about Dodge's powertrains...12/16 EPA? is that really the best they can do? And yes, nowdays, that's important enough to be an issue. Agreed on the rest. I've shopped dodge trucks serveral times over the years, and they just don't stand up to the GM trucks.

66nova · September 13, 2008

Dodge's 09 Ram has a few game changers:
1. New coil spring-link rear suspension, in a word awesome.

2. 5.7 Hemi now has 407 ft-lbs of torque, via VVT I presume. I can't find a torque curve, so the jury is still out on how usable it will be.

3. IMO the new front grill looks a lot better than before.

4. Interior is better looking, but still not as nice as GM's.

For my application (need a pick-up for my work, but also need it to be as close to sedan comfort as possible, and able to tow heavy in the hills), this new Dodge at least warrants a look when my current S. Denali goes away.

But seriously could they lower the bar much? I have never had really much bad to say about the dodge engine selection, but the rest of the truck :s The new truck I do think is an improvement over the old one, but the interior and if cut the front off it, it looks like a ford. Hey, it's just my opinion. There is going to have to be a lot more before I ever consider a chrysler product.

Well, as far as bad things to say about Dodge's powertrains...12/16 EPA? is that really the best they can do? And yes, nowdays, that's important enough to be an issue. Agreed on the rest. I've shopped dodge trucks serveral times over the years, and they just don't stand up to the GM trucks.

Very good point! I forget about the mileage issue sometimes (I live about 2 miles from my work). And really, the only engine I truly have ever been impressed with from the ram boys is the cummins.

satori · September 13, 2008

I love when people brag that they have a Hemi. I always say, "Yeah, so do weed-eaters and Ford Escorts."

Hemispherical head engines have been around almost as long as engines themselves. Every engine manufacturer has at some point used them. Chrysler didn't introduce their first one until something like 1951. They trademarked the Hemi name and marketed it effectively.

I found this site some time ago and found it quite good, so I saved it:

http://www.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/...sic_cars/116733

sondog · September 13, 2008

Just look up hemi ram on youtube, and then sierra, you will see much different buyers and different purposes for each truck.

Zembonez · September 13, 2008

They can keep the coil spring rear suspension. They are trying to make the truck ride like a car by sacrificing the things we real truck buyers like..., like TRUCKS. I say if you wanta totally silent, soft riding, girlie vehicle... BUY A FU**ING CAR. I like my trucks to be like a truck... to run and drive like a truck.

For the record... I hate the wussification of America. Where the hell did the real men go? I see guys all the frikkin time being told exactly what to do by their women... WTF? Losers! Girlie Men. Slap that ho!

I do EXACTLY what my wife tells me I can do, thank you!

DamageInc · September 13, 2008

They might be a big improvement, but they still have a lot to prove before I would consider one. We have a shitload of salt on the roads around here, and Dodge is always the first one to rust out. They also always get the worst mileage (by far), which is getting even more important with today's gas prices. And last but not least, their reliability is consistently the worst of the full size trucks.

Sinkhole · September 13, 2008

Hey my wife didn't want me to buy a truck because it only has two doors and no back seat, "You can't put a baby seat in a pick up." I thought about arguing the point that we really aren't trying for kids yet and she can buy a crossover when the time comes, but I decided to keep my mouth shut and just buy the truck.

As for the new Dodge you can keep it. I don't think Dodge has ever produced a truck I liked. Their styling is awful, their transmissions are weak, And their differentials just down wright suck. I've lost count of the number of differentials that have been replaced in Chrysler products that people I know own. A guy I used to work with has been through 4 in his Ram, another friend is about to be on his 3rd with his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Funny thing is neither tow, plow, carry heavy loads or go off-road. Keep your Chrysler products.

2000DV4.8 · September 13, 2008

I'll repeat what I said back in May:

I don't really get the whole "it needs to ride like a caddy" thing. It's a truck, for christ sake. Most people get a truck so you can move heavy shit around! If I wanted something that rode like a luxury sedan, I'd buy, well, a luxury sedan. Next they'll be going a la ridgeline and give it IRS. As if IFS isn't enough of a pain in the ass...

ChrisNJ · September 13, 2008

HA, HA, I love it, mostly negative responses. No bigggie, opinions are like a$$ holes, everyones got one, but nobody wants yours, including mine.

As for a truck having to ride bad to be a man, you got me stumped on that one. How can a better riding vehicle with the same load capability be a bad thing?

And how can more torque with better mpg be a bad thing? At least that's what Dodge is saying about their new 5.7.

Maybe Dodges aren't as good as whatever. But they certainly have, IMO, made their offering better. My reasoning behind why I buy things is all I need, as yours are too.

I care little about what the average buying wants/needs in mpg or reliability.

I don't think anyone is questioning my manlyhood, but if so, be more than happy to compare 42 years of notes, might be fun.

pj5454302 · September 13, 2008

The 09 ram may have coilover shocks in the rear but then towing and payload capacities will be reduced.

AllBlkdOut07 · September 13, 2008

I owned a Dodge/Chrysler product once and it was a lemon and NOTHING but a complete ASS ACHE, albeit not a truck. But I'll never, ever go down that road again thank you.