Picture Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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Like most trucks, the Ram comes in a variety of configurations and offers something to suit pretty much anyone’s needs. My tester is in the “family” configuration, or at least that is what I would call it; Dodge calls it “4×4 Crew Cab 140-inch wheel base.”
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The base price for my tester is $46,340; not inexpensive by any stretch, and she is loaded up with some goodies as well. Leather seats ($1,000); an upgraded radio with Sirius and hard-drive based audio system as well as navigation for a very reasonable $925; the rear backup camera, which is very handy in a vehicle of this size for $325; the protection package (tow hooks, and front and rear skid plates) for $200; a power sunroof at $1,250; rear seat entertainment system for $1,200; RamBox cargo management system ($1,495); and finally, a Class IV receiver hitch for $250.
Honestly, in a truck most of this stuff could be left out, unless, like I said, this is going to be used as a family vehicle, although I’m not so sure many families are opting for the tarted-up truck as their every day hauler anymore, at least not in Canada.
My initial impressions are positive, at least with regard to the interior, although the new Ram really strikes me as a weekend warrior / family truck more than a work truck, like many of its competitors, especially the other domestic trucks.
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
MSRP as tested (including destination): $54,385
For more information on Dodge and the Ram visit Dodge Canada
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A little less interest from onlookers in the new Dodge Ram than the Chevrolet Camaro I had last week. I guess that is to be expected for the most part, as Canada is not truck country; although, I hit the highway today to zip across town and surprisingly there are a lot of trucks roaming the “big city.”
The price of my tester is a little hard to swallow, as some have mentioned, but a lot of the included features such as the DVD entertainment system are easy to leave out when buying. There is one thing missing though: a bed liner. I have a hard time figuring out how a truck that costs fifty grand plus doesn’t have a bed liner standard.
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On the inside, things really look up, though, and you could forget that you are in a truck and not a luxury vehicle — if it wasn’t for the copious amount of space. The centre console, which doubles as a nice armrest, is large enough for a small laptop in the first level of storage, while the second level is large enough for the rest of your possessions, it seems.
There are storage locations everywhere in the interior, large and small, and too many cup holders to count. The leather seats are comfortable, and with this interior package, the dash is stitched to match. Rear leg room is as generous as you could expect; although it’s not as ridiculous as in the new Ford F150, you would still pretty much need to be a giant to have issues with it.
The rear seats do fold up to reveal some storage bins below. Personally I prefer the flat floor in the Ford, but this is a good compromise and a good location to keep tie-downs or other truck accessories that may come in handy. The RamBox sides on the outside are excellent, and fairly large as well. They’re a very expensive option, though, and they cannot be used with a tonneau cover or box cap, so unfortunately, it is a choice of one or the other.
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I was looking forward to driving the Dodge Ram for a few reasons, and most notably the coil spring rear suspension setup, which replaces the typical-truck leaf spring arrangement. There is another truck with this setup, but many wouldn’t call it a real truck (the Honda Ridgeline), but the Dodge retains its truck-like ride even with the coils.
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Wind noise is virtually nil; oddly, it used to be that pickup trucks were the noisiest vehicle you could buy, but now they are some of the quietest available, some of it due to great engineering and sound deadening, and some of it due to new tire technologies. Many truck tires these days are great in dirt yet no longer drone on the highway, like the big, blocky tires of the past.
Engine noise is very well-controlled in the Ram as well, though I would like to be able to hear the 5.7-litre Hemi engine more when I get on the go-pedal. The truck seems to move along quite well for a vehicle of its size, although I’m disappointed by the rated towing capacity of only 6,200lbs; I have a feeling that with a lot of weight in it or behind it, the Ram would feel anemic, despite the Hemi!
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I finally had a chance to drive over some railroad tracks and some bumpy roads, and wheel control and general ride quality is certainly superior to that of most other trucks I have tested, including my own. The coil springs do their job, providing a more predictable ride over rough terrain.
On the fuel consumption front, it went pretty much as expected, with an average of 16.8L/100km over the course of the week. This week consisted of mostly highway driving, though, so I’m slightly disappointed but that average is about on par for a large truck with a big V8 engine.
The Ram did grow on me a little, and it is a well-put-together machine. The optional cooled seats in my tester were certainly impressive in the hot summer sun as well!
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
MSRP as tested (including destination): $54,385
For more information on Dodge and the Ram visit Dodge Canada
to our site.
July 23, 2009, 09:57:03 am I thought I had seen pics of very nice interior in these. What The "Truth" About Cars failed to mention right off what that they picked the stripper, hose down the interior, work truck. From what I see, it is supposed to be cheap and plain. They also forget to mention that you can upgrade to interiors like this:
July 23, 2009, 10:14:19 am First off...
That tailgate is extremely light, as I can lift it closed with one finger and have demonstrated that. There is a smart bar in there to help with closing and opening. NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT -
Secondly...
As for the bedliner, if you ever sold a truck you may notice that a lot of people prefer no bed liner or to get the box sprayed.
Research a little more next time!!!
July 23, 2009, 11:34:06 am I've sat in a more basic Ram interior with bench seat and found it very impressive in its own right. Much of the interior is the same. The cloth even looks good and feels durable.
Compared to the competition with tail gate assists, the Ram's tail gate (which supposedly has some sort of assist as well although you'd never know it) is significantly heavier. I stand tall, but if I didn't would imagine it could be awkward to handle.
July 23, 2009, 11:49:48 am
Ya...I wonder what MotorTrend took to make this 2006 Truck of the Year...
December 20, 2005
With two full weeks of thudding over concrete, howling around tight curves and bouncing over rocky roadways, Motor Trend editors unanimously awarded 2006 Honda Ridgeline to be Truck of the Year.
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_news051220_truck_of_the_year/index.html
July 23, 2009, 12:00:44 pm ^^^^^
What's the problem? After 3 years on the market, the Ridgeline has more than proven itself in terms of sales, reliability and overall qualities IMO... It may not be what people consider a traditional truck, but it's a truck nonetheless!
July 23, 2009, 12:04:27 pm
Ya...I wonder what MotorTrend took to make this 2006 Truck of the Year...
December 20, 2005
With two full weeks of thudding over concrete, howling around tight curves and bouncing over rocky roadways, Motor Trend editors unanimously awarded 2006 Honda Ridgeline to be Truck of the Year.
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_news051220_truck_of_the_year/index.html
Well, that's different!
July 23, 2009, 09:53:10 pm Yes a spray in liner is what I expect not a plastic one. My Titan has a spray in it is great and invincible (so it seems). Not sure why you would want a painted bed, it is guaranteed to get scratched and rust within months of ownership.
July 25, 2009, 05:24:59 pm
It's an Accord-Camino. Honda doesn't sell trucks here.
July 25, 2009, 05:29:03 pm
Those problems showed themselves over time. As introduced those GM X-cars were innovative and exceedingly well-received. Believe it or not, there was a cover story in Business Week at the time that discussed GM's market share at about 60% and speculating whether the gov't would force them to break up the company for anti-trust reasons like they were doing with the Bell system.
And of course we cannot forget the '79 Honda lineup which was so environmentally friendly that the cars biodegraded back into dust in about 3 years.
July 25, 2009, 06:53:26 pm A
What are you smoking? The damned things were recalled the day they came onto the dealer lots for the last minute change to rear brake linings that made the rear wheels lock up. The V-6 ate head gaskets for lunch. The steering racks blew more often than a sperm whale. The Citation was such as disaster they had to remake it as the Citation II.
July 25, 2009, 08:08:22 pm
What are you smoking? The damned things were recalled the day they came onto the dealer lots for the last minute change to rear brake linings that made the rear wheels lock up. The V-6 ate head gaskets for lunch. The steering racks blew more often than a sperm whale. The Citation was such as disaster they had to remake it as the Citation II.
And what are you smoking?
Yes, there were problems that cropped up afterward, but Chevy sold 800,000 of them (helped by a few month early launch) for the 1980 model year. A HUGE success.
As he said, the cars were innovative and VERY well received. Again he is right (and you are wrong).
July 25, 2009, 08:36:32 pm Erik, I hate to bust your bubble of unreality but the Citation and the other X cars were so bad they turned so many of those 800,000 buyers off of GM products they never bought one again. See that little problem on market share? After being burned but the Citation and the equally bad 1981 Cavalier, those buyers left GM and never returned. It was the start of the process that led to GM's bankruptcy this year. GM's market share has dropped from 60% to 15% since those cars were introduced. The company took billions in corporate welfare and then went insolvent. What part of this don't you get?
July 25, 2009, 08:38:27 pm Page 2 of a Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie thread and we're already neck-deep in a Honda-versus-GM grudgematch...
July 25, 2009, 08:39:44 pm Yes, this is about a DODGE Ram, the blogs need to stay somewhat on topic, take it elsewhere.
July 25, 2009, 09:51:46 pm
Sorry Wing.
You are right, of course.
One more guy to put on ignore.
July 26, 2009, 03:26:17 pm Think the Titan is still the only truck to offer (standard?) factory spray-in bedliner. I don't get why more manufacturers don't and charge for it?
July 26, 2009, 05:11:29 pm
December 20, 2005
With two full weeks of thudding over concrete, howling around tight curves and bouncing over rocky roadways, Motor Trend editors unanimously awarded 2006 Honda Ridgeline to be Truck of the Year.
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_news051220_truck_of_the_year/index.html
Oh, look, another unprecedented comment about how the Ridgeline is "not a truck".
July 26, 2009, 08:56:56 pm Was in my friend's new crew cab
It is a monster of a truck, 8 ft box, duellies and diesel engine
He has millwrighting company and has to haul steel, fork lifts, back hoes and a 5th wheel at different times
He finds it easier on the pocket book compare to his old hemi
July 31, 2009, 03:15:33 pm Ah,you said Canada is not truck country?Hmmm Chrysler's best selling vehicles in Canada are 1-the Caravan then 2- the Ram.Every Ram I get sells extremely fast,I know in B.C the suburbs are filled witth 1/2 ton trucks used as personal vehicles,very popular.I know I own 2 Rams and proved to be very reliable(most reliable full size trucks around)Yes,Ontario may be different but in B.C Ram 1500's with chrome 20's are everywhere.
As for the Honda Ridgeline.(based on a minivan with transmission issues ect..).besides the reliability problems Honda has, waterpump problems,transmission problems it looks like a smaller scale Chevrolet Avalance and the sales of the Ridgeline are amoung the worst in the truck market..
Just to let you know I own a multi-make auto repair and I also have a small car lot with late model cars,so I drove them all,know the problems they have and yes the imports are over ratted for long term reliability,but it keeps me very,very busy..keep buying them,I want to buy a 2010 Challenger SRT and a new Ram R/T..by the way I will pay cash,once the Chrysler dealers have full stock in a few months,they are extremely low at the current time,basically not much to chose from ,here in B.C anyways..
July 31, 2009, 07:51:09 pm
Maybe you can get a stock holder's discount.
July 31, 2009, 09:58:27 pm
As for the Honda Ridgeline.(based on a minivan with transmission issues ect..).besides the reliability problems Honda has, waterpump problems,transmission problems it looks like a smaller scale Chevrolet Avalance and the sales of the Ridgeline are amoung the worst in the truck market..
Just to let you know I own a multi-make auto repair and I also have a small car lot with late model cars,so I drove them all,know the problems they have and yes the imports are over ratted for long term reliability,but it keeps me very,very busy..keep buying them,I want to buy a 2010 Challenger SRT and a new Ram R/T..by the way I will pay cash,once the Chrysler dealers have full stock in a few months,they are extremely low at the current time,basically not much to chose from ,here in B.C anyways..
Nice post!
Welcome to the board.
August 01, 2009, 03:34:18 pm It's funny,people are talking about the Citation,I was too young when they came out.But I know of people who bought them and other cars used.The people who bought them used are the ones who seem to complain how bad they are,but they bought them when the cars were at least 10 years old !!!And American cars had a 5 digit odometer until the 1990's,meaning after 99,999 km they went back to 0 again ,so you dont know how many km are actually on the car..People sell them saying they have 50,000 km as the odometer reads, but it actually rolled around 3 or more times already ,so its really 350,000 +km !!! My sister was given a new 1986 Chevette when she was 16,kept it 10 years only had a few problems a timing belt and alternator and battery ..she put on just over 300,000 km but only showed 1,200 km when she sold it(remember goes back to 0 after 99,999) And people nowadays complain that the Chevette was a lemon as well,most likely they bought one with 350,000 km..and thinking it was 50,000 km.
One just has to look at newer models of Honda/Acura..their transmissions dont last,major recall's throughout the last decade,timing belts,head gaskets,cracking waterpump housings.amoung others.. valve ticking is another..People who own a Honda should know about changing waterpumps and timing belts..Big complaint when people trade them in and one of my biggest repairs I do on Honda/Acura's..$1100+ they give to me for a water pump and timing belt every 40,000 km..I love it..keep buying them..I want to pay my house off early..and pay cash for a new Challenger and Ram !!!!I had 5 timing belt/water pump repairs on 2002 and newer Honda's in the 2 weeks !!! And 2 had less than 140,000 km and had newer transmissions recently put in the other 3 had less than 110,000 km all were just out of factory warranty ..
****As for the new Ram :
Chrysler announced stiffer springs for the rear and increased payload and tow ratings..
Trailer tow mirrors available..
I think they mentioned a Quadcab and Crewcab R/T version,not 100% sure but,that would be great..With 4.10 gearing and a hotter torque converter it will take a second off the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times !!As it does on the singlecab R/T version !!!!!As the new Rams have a torque converter that does not allow full power on take off in order to limit wheel spin..
August 01, 2009, 06:50:35 pm Amazing how quickly last year's gasoline prices have been forgotten. I hope Mopar fanbois get out and buy. I want my tax dollars back!
Pretty good, really, since Honda calls for timing belt replacement at 100,000 km and you may as well do the water pump when you are at it.
Mr Right, I am glad you are a big fan of GM and Chrysler since you now own them. You see, their success led them to lose their market share and go bankrupt.
August 01, 2009, 07:12:29 pm ^ we get it, you don't like them. Give it up it is pointless drivel.
August 01, 2009, 09:17:06 pm