Can-do Ram pickup will boost your popularity
Friends will call on the trusty diesel with opulent trim
Gaining access to a truck while living in a city is like striking gold. Everyone is excited for you, but everyone also wants a portion of the fortune.
I noticed that I became significantly more popular when word got out that a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Crew Cab Laramie Edition truck was in my driveway. That’s not to say my ranking on the popularity scale is low, but additional points are always welcome. My phone rang often with people saying, “So, I heard you have a truck. I was wondering if you could help me … .” My answer was always yes — why not put a truck of this size to the test and help others along the way? It was my pleasure.
That said, the 2500′s size is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because the Crew Cab configuration is spacious and comfortable. Plus, there are some excellent features inside like the optional 6.5-inch touch screen GPS navigation system; a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with mounted audio controls; a great stereo system and more.
Addi t iona l ly, t hr e e average-sized adults fit in the rear seats, with ample head-and legroom. Also a boon is the long bed, which is great for hauling larger items such as ladders, plywood and furniture.
But add the Crew Cab to the long bed for a total length of 6.6 metres, and the curse comes into play, especially in the city. When driving the full-sized pickup, the streets seem crowded and narrow, and finding a parking spot can be difficult.
The Ram 2500 is relatively quiet, whether driving around in stop-and-go traffic or cruising on the highway. The sound-deadening materials used to muffle the noise from the optional 6.7-litre Cummins Turbo Diesel engine did a bang-up job. The 350-horsepower truck also runs relatively quietly when you are standing outside the vehicle.
Nor is it sooty and fumy like diesel engines of old. In fact, this truck, with up to 650 pound-feet of torque, is the only heavy-duty diesel pickup on the market that does not require a diesel exhaust fluid, such as a urea-based additive, to meet Canadian emissions standards.
Having experienced Dodge products such as the Caliber, Avenger and Journey, I didn’t expect much of the Ram’s interior. The textures that drape the dashes of those vehicles, even on the top-of-the-line models, are typically unflattering. However, when I hoisted myself into the Ram’s newly redesigned cabin, I was floored. I almost didn’t believe my eyes. Soft-touch materials? Wood-grain trim? Contrasting stitching and colours? It couldn’t be.
Granted, it was the top-of-the-line Laramie trim, but the interior was better than I expected. One less impressive feature of the cabin — the only unimpressive feature, in fact — was the Uconnect hands-free phone system. It cut out on me mid-conversation numerous times, and I wasn’t thrilled. I was willing to turn a blind eye the first couple of times it happened, but it didn’t stop. I tried to blame my phone, but this problem has never occurred with any other vehicle’s hands-free system. Hopefully, this was an isolated case.
All my good deeds of helping others out didn’t go unnoticed. My fuel bill was the evidence. Even when linked with the efficient six-speed automatic transmission, the Turbo Diesel engine drank its fair share of fuel, and then some.
This particular Ram came equipped with the 4×4 system to give it the “go anywhere it can fit” option. There was also a built-in trailer brake controller, a two-inch receiver hitch with four-and seven-pin trailer connectors, and an exhaust brake, making it an extremely convenient hauler.
With all the extras, the MSRP of this Ram came to $70,165, including destination. Stripped down, the Ram 2500 HD Laramie 4×4 trim with the 6.7L engine is $52,395.
Overall, the 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 4×4 Laramie can be commended for its well-manicured interior, great ride quality and friend-making abilities. And if friend-making is a priority for you but a truck isn’t, might I suggest the Challenger.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com
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