Months in Fleet: Four
Mileage to Date: 17,297
Mere days after our last update on the Dodge Ram, a minor tragedy struck when the passenger side of the truck suffered a major scrape, necessitating a trip to the body shop. We took the opportunity to also repair hail damage that the Ram suffered a few months ago. After three weeks, the grand total came to a substantial $5712.54: 78 hours of body and refinishing labor came to $3276, paint was $898.35, parts were $1404.71, and other miscellaneous expenses made up the remaining $133.48.
Despite its time in the shop, we've continued to pile miles on the Ram, using it for a variety of truck-y tasks. Copy editor Rusty Blackwell has spent lots of time in the Dodge this summer doing everything from helping his brother-in-law move to towing a camper to northern Michigan. Blackwell reported a lot of positive attention from Ford and Chevy truck owners during the move. The RamBox seemed to be the main draw, but the bed extender and cargo management system also came in for praise. On the way home, Blackwell was stopped for speeding, although he swears the speedometer read lower than the speed at which the officer had clocked him. We're going to have the accuracy of the speedometer checked out to make sure no unsuspecting staffers accidentally break the law.
Blackwell also reports the Ram handled his pop-up camper and associated accoutrements with aplomb: "I used cruise control at times while towing, and I was impressed that the system is smart enough to downshift for engine braking on downhill grades." Like other pickups, the Ram rides best with a little weight in tow. "On regular roads, the Ram's ride gets noticeably clunkier once trailer and gear are unloaded, but the Dodge is still much smoother than its competitors."
Throughout the Ram's first four months in our fleet, we've seen nothing but positive comments about its ride quality and handling, which is quite impressive for any truck, especially one that is being scrutinized by a group of handling-obsessed automotive journalists. The interior has also gotten heaps of praise for its well-placed storage compartments, multiple 12-volt outlets, and generally impressive material quality. Certainly this is a big achievement for Chrysler, seeing as how the interior of our Four Seasons 2008 Town & Country minivan came in for some sharp criticism. Here's hoping the rest of Chrysler's new vehicles continue to show this level of improvement as they come to market. ...next page >>