Dodge RAM-Hemi-Auto Show

buster · Feb 2, 2004

Went to the Philly auto show today to scout out my next car/truck. GM still has bad interiors that are so plastic like. (Getting better though) I was actually impressed with the Dodge RAM. I'm not a Dodge person but the RAM is giving you alot of Truck for the money. I configured one with an off road package and Hemi engine for 28k. The Ford version would be well over 30k. Does anyone have any opinions on the Hemi engine? Good bad etc.?

The car show was good. The Pontiac GTO looked better IMO then the new Mustang, although in pictures, it was the other way around. GT40 was sweet and so was the new Vette. My wife sat in a Toyota and then a Honda and said "why can't GM make their interiors like this?" This is someone who doens't even pay attention to cars. How hard is it? Honda Accord and Tacoma specifically are just so much more refined then their American coutnerparts. The US is getting better, but still lags behind. The Toyota/Honda actually feel like your getting your money's worth.

From Edmonds.com:

quote:

Late last year, in response to concerns that the old 5.9-liter Magnum V8 had both poor performance and atrocious fuel consumption, Dodge made the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 available in the Ram 1500. With 345 horsepower, this mill with the legendary name makes 100 horses more than the 5.9-liter Magnum. Torque is also more robust and peaks at a stout 375 pound-feet.

We think highly of the Dodge Ram, as we appreciate its powerful performance, agile handling, comfortable ride, good crash test scores and tight build quality. Other than its poor fuel mileage, the Ram is an excellent all-around half-ton truck.

[ February 02, 2004, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: buster ]

MillerMan · Feb 3, 2004

well............you are talking about chrysler and MB, I don't have much faith in either company. dodge last series of full sized trucks were ok except for the bad automatic transmissions, which they never corrected,, if thay had the best auto transmission, dodge could have been maybe number one in full sized truck sales, but instead they get a bad name. the new ford? to early to tell. chevies aren't all that great neither, engine problems, electircal problems, cheap inteior, poor fit and finish and sheetmetal mounted on plastic with clips, chevy 6.0 is over rated, in power, many lose power quickly, burn oil , pistion slap and gas hogs.

nissan? to early to tell, but they look good for a first try at a full sized truck.

shortyb · Feb 3, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by MillerMan:
nissan? to early to tell, but they look good for a first try at a full sized truck.

I second that (I now have one on order). At least give one a test drive. I believe there is a thread where someone (JetForeman?) has dyno numbers that show the Nissan beat the Dodge Hemi in rear wheel horsepower and torque numbers. That should give the Dodge boys fits

.

MillerMan · Feb 3, 2004

toyota is disappointment in the full sized truck, they never put enough into it, wimpy, small engines.

I hear part of the reseon the hemi isn't pulling the power to ground, is heavy driveline mass(weight). not good, but maybe not all bad, maybe it will hold up better in the long run???????????????????

buster · Feb 3, 2004

quote:

toyota is disappointment in the full sized truck, they never put enough into it, wimpy, small engines.

That is exactly my problem with Toyota. I love the build quality of the Tacoma but it's too **** small. The Tundra just doesn't have it. Toyota is going back and coming out with some new truck in 05 called the FX. It was a concept truck at the Detroit Autoshow and addreses these issues that many have been complaining about.

Regarding the Dodge, I've heard the same things about the HP etc. From what I saw yesterday, you are getting a lot for your money with this truck plus it looks mean IMO. Trucks to me should look aggressive. Yeah I know, thats stupid and imature but thats how I like it.

Plus, I can easily have some work done on it and push well over 400hp with it. Then I'll have to carefully chose my oil.

If I do buy one it won't be for another 8 months or so.

Chris B. · Feb 3, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by MillerMan:
well............you are talking about chrysler and MB, I don't have much faith in either company. dodge last series of full sized trucks were ok except for the bad automatic transmissions, which they never corrected,, if thay had the best auto transmission, dodge could have been maybe number one in full sized truck sales, but instead they get a bad name. the new ford? to early to tell. chevies aren't all that great neither, engine problems, electircal problems, cheap inteior, poor fit and finish and sheetmetal mounted on plastic with clips, chevy 6.0 is over rated, in power, many lose power quickly, burn oil , pistion slap and gas hogs.

nissan? to early to tell, but they look good for a first try at a full sized truck.

Acctually GM has got their fit and build quality to over 99% of each car and truck they build. That is getting really good! Quality goes up each year and their full size trucks have good quality materials compaired to most.

Shannow · Feb 3, 2004

buster, get a Monaro.

Dan4510 · Feb 3, 2004

Write up with some pictures:
Its not a true hemi, but is a a pent-roof design that has advantages of hemi but minimizes some emissions problems.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hemi5.htm

http://www.aera.org/Techside/TECH09-03.pdf

http://www.dodgeboy.net/news/57hemi/images/hemi_cutaway.jpg

another good one.

http://www.histomobile.com/histomob/tech/2/131.htm

[ February 04, 2004, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Dan4510 ]

satterfi · Feb 3, 2004

Thanks for links Dan.

I assumed the "Hemi" label was a marketing tactic aimed at guys who lusted over 426 hemi's back in 1969. I'm not surprised that assumption is correct.

jsharp · Feb 3, 2004

What I've noticed with the local midwest farmers, guys that use their trucks pretty hard -

A few have purchased Dodges. No one seems to buy another when they wear it out. They go back to Fords and Chevys.

A bunch of them have looked at Toyotas but nobody is buying because of the small size and limited engine and towing capacity.

Nobody is looking at the Nissans yet.

satterfi · Feb 4, 2004

Is the combustion chamber design in the Dodge Hemi's really hemi-spherical?

Anyone have a picture they can post?

Dodge RAM-Hemi-Auto Show

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