On Wheels by Brooks Peterson

Saturday, September 22, 2001

Ramming the point home

George Tuley/Caller-Times

Dodge, in restyling the successful Ram pickup line, was faced with the quandary of freshening its looks while retaining its aggressive and individual quality. The company exaggerated the most recognizable elements of the truck’s styling, such as the crossbar grille.

Thinking back - way, way back - I realize that of the relatively tiny number of vehicles that have brought passersby to a dead halt, at least three were the work of the old, pre-Daimler Chrysler Corporation: the totally berserk Plymouth (now Chrysler) Prowler; the neo-retro-throwback Chrysler PT Cruiser; and . . .
   And the big ol' Dodge Ram pickup that made its way into the market in the mid-'90s and changed the lives of workin' men and drugstore cowboys irreversibly. Particularly down here, the Ram hit the market like a meteorite slamming into the sagebrush. After producing bland, blah trucks for what seemed eons, Dodge suddenly was a contender. True, it never came within striking distance of Ford or Chevy/GMC, but it definitely was a presence on the automotive scene.
   Part of that was because the Ram was a much better truck than the model that preceded it - better-handling, better thought-out and more capable in virtually every respect.
   However, we know what really put it over the top, don't we?
   It was The Look.
   Smitten

David Pellerin/Caller-Times

The Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 SLT Plus is the manufacturer’s terminology for a crew-cab pickup that has four full-size doors and the capability to seat six adults in comfort.

   Every bit as helplessly as debutantes succumbing to the allure of the latest offerings of the Paris fashion houses, big ol' hairy-knuckled guys went all wobbly in the knees at the sight of the Ram: Its big-rig look, inspired by Peterbilts and Kenworths, was like nothing else in the market. If you were behind the wheel of the new Dodge Ram, you weren't just driving a truck. You were a trucker. (At least in your own fantasy world. Dances With 18-Wheelers are Not Recommended.)
   Beyond a doubt, the Ram prompted a massive rethink of the ruling verities in the world of trucks. When Ford reworked its best-selling line of pickups in '97, Dearborn saw to it that the stylists gave 'em a lot more visual character - not as raw as the Ram, but definitely pugnacious. Even Chevy/GMC, when it (they?) updated their pickups, factored more aggression into the mix.
   Imitation being the most sincere form of flattery, the Dodge Boys probably enjoyed all this. However, they faced a bit of a dilemma as the first-edition Ram grew long in the tooth: When we do a makeover of this baby, do we pull out all the stops? Or do we stick with what's worked for us up to now?
   More is more

George Tuley/Caller-Times

Facing the driver of the Dodge Ram 1500 is an arrangement of straightforward, no-nonsense, black-on-white instruments.

   With the 2002 Rams on the streets now, the answer is obvious: a little from Column A, a little from Column B.
   Up front, however, it is clear - almost painfully so - that the wild men had their way.
   Was the front end of the old Ram aggressive? Maybe even belligerent? Forget about it: The 2002 Ram, with its even larger, more menacing frontal aspect, fairly radiates homicidal intent.
   Call it Moby Dodge.
   From the outset, the Ram was a love-it-or-hate-it sort of affair. Until the public gets used to it, fistfights in America's parking lots are a distinct possibility.
   Of course, there's a lot more to the second-generation Ram than cosmetics. The Dodge truck division obviously has been paying attention to owners and owner-wannabes who complained that they wanted more room and more user-friendliness.
   Done and done. The enormous refrigerator-white Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 SLT Plus with which I spent a week now can contest the roominess issue on an even footing with the competition.
   The Quad Cab, in case you wondered, is what Dodge calls its crew-cab pickup: Four full-size doors, all hinged at the front, and room inside for six adults.
   Pleasing interior

David Pellerin/Caller-Times

The center of the front seat of the Dodge Ram 1500 doubles as a seatback or a storage area for laptop computers and other business items.

   Inside, the accommodations are comprehensive and well thought-out. As before, in the middle of the front seat, you have that fold-down seatback that can double as a storage area for your laptop; and if you leave the seat back in the up position and pull up the bottom cushion, presto: more storage space.
   The mildly goofy fake-wood insert around the radio and climate control area does not alter the fact that you're dealing with a serious truck. None of your sissified velour upholstery or pillowy seats.
   And . . . should you opt for the 4WD and the huge 20-inch wheels, be prepared for a bit of a climb to get into the thing. Thoughtfully, Dodge has included a grab-handle for the driver's door as well as the others. Otherwise, mountain-climbing gear would have been obligatory. And I really hate what pitons do to the flanks of a vehicle.
   Like virtually everyone else who brings out a new vehicle or updates an old one, Dodge is making much of the improved structural integrity of the new Ram. And it shows in the driving: not so much as the suggestion of a rattle or squeak. This thing has the massive solidity of a boulder. And some extra weight to go with it.
   Very firm ride

David Pellerin/Caller-Times

Dodge boasts roomy accommodations for rear-seat passengers as well in the Ram 1500. The company also claims greater structural stiffness this year, although the ride is somewhat on the firm side.

   Be advised, too, at least in 4WD models, ride quality is un-posh. The tester rode like something developed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. We're talking firm here, scouts.
   Note well: The Ram in this configuration does not like abrupt steering inputs when negotiating curves (expressway on-ramps, that sort of thing). This is not unusual in a tall, tippy vehicle, of course; but you want to file this away somewhere in your list of Things Not To Do.
   Of course, when you go sloshing by all them little Cute Utes mired in the mud come the next deluge, you can chuckle nastily to yourself and savor the one-upmanship points that will accrue to your account.

2002 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4 SLT Plus Six-passenger 4-wheel-drive crew-cab pickup Base price: $25,350 Price as tested: $36,555 Drivetrain: 5.9-liter fuel-injected V-8, 245 hp; four-speed automatic-overdrive transmission Brakes: Front and rear discs, power-assisted, with standard antilock (ABS) EPA mileage: 11 city/15 highway Website: www.4adodge.com

   Our tester had the largest gasoline V-8, a 5.9-liter, 235-hp engine that struggles a bit against the Ram's formidable weight. Acceleration is, uh, adequate . . . and fuel mileage is . . . scary. Around town, I'd be surprised to reach the EPA's 11 mpg city rating. The good news: A 300-plus hp 5.7-liter hemi V-8, harking back (one hopes) to MoPar's golden era, reportedly will be available next year. Keep the faith.
   As before, Cummins diesel power is available - in 235-hp and 245-hp iterations.
   Ultimately, the new Ram, even with its prominent new proboscis, may not stun the population as its predecessor did. But make no mistake about it: It's no shrinking violet.
   Captain Ahab? Your pickup is ready.
  
  

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