- pickup
- Jerome, ID
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- autoshopper.com
1994 dodge ram 1500 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. introductionfor years, full-size pickup shoppers scrutinized ford, chevy and occasionally gmc and then said: 'oh yeah-doesn't dodge make one too?' that's changed-drastically. With its first truly complete pickup redesign in 22 years, dodge has served notice to customers that its new offering is worthy of switching brands. It's obvious that dodge was determined to stand out from its full-size ford, chevy and gmc competitors. Different it is. there's also an array of muscle choices under the hood that ford, chevy and gmc currently can't match. Chrysler's tried-and-true 5. 2-liter 220-hp v8 won't disappoint either. While there's a difference of only 10 hp, the bigger engine has an impressive increase of 100 pound-feet of torque. Up the line, there's an optional stump-pulling cummins diesel six rated at 175 hp and a whopping 420 lb.-ft. Of torque and-watch out-a 300-hp v10 based on the dodge viper engine, scheduled for availability in 1995. The hood angles in gracefully to a distinctive grille set off by touches of honeycomb brass. The massive center-mount chrome front bumper is topped by a black vinyl step pad that integrates with a full width air dam underneath the bumper. It can be illuminated by twin halogen lamps mounted alongside the third taillight atop the rear cab wall. Taillight lenses are flush-mounted and impact-resistant, and they meld with amber wraparound side markers. We just wish dodge had wrapped them a little farther around the side for even better visibility. interiorthe interior is another major effort from dodge to make the new ram stand out from its full-size competition. We see nothing in here that reminds us of the last-generation pickups. While the influence is definitely truck-like, chrysler designers took their cues from the advanced interior design found in the company's very successful and stylish lh sedans. the ram 2500's instrument cluster is housed beneath a gracefully curved padded dashtop and features a standard circular speedometer and analog oil pressure, fuel, coolant temperature and battery/voltmeter gauges. These are all easily readable through the steering wheel, which also houses an air bag - the first in any full-size pickup. there's room for three really big adults up front with only a lap belt for the middle passenger but belts and shoulder harnesses for the driver and far-side passenger. But that's offset by a huge fold-down center console big enough to store and/or support a laptop computer or fax machine -a real convenience for workers who take the office on the road. There's also a second power receptacle next to the cigarette lighter to power or charge all that exotic equipment. Delivering 230 hp at 4000 rpm and 330 lb.-ft. Of torque at 3200 rpm, it performed smoothly and impressively in all speed ranges. Dodge says that there are about 200 different power train options with six engines, six transmissions, 2wd and 4wd choices and 49 front and rear wheel axle ratios. turning and sharp cornering proved a little harsh and unsettling in the 4wd mode. That's more an inherent characteristic of 4wd vehicles and not a flaw in this dodge pickup's system. In an attempt to gain ground on ford and chevy in the full-size pickup race, dodge may have moved right up front. introductionits squarish design and traditional mechanical underpinnings tell us that dodge, for the most part, stopped well short of a redesign when configuring the 1994 ram wagon 250. Among options we liked were a muscular 5. 9-liter v8, abs, a premium am/fm stereo with a cassette player, a towing package and eight-passenger seating capacity. With an optional 12-passenger seating arrangement, this van would be ideal transportation for an entire little league team. Front fenders were complemented by wraparound light assemblies and a rounded grille. All the characteristics of a traditional van were present, including plenty of glass and a high road clearance. As for overall fit and workmanship, we were disappointed to discover that the grille could be moved a full half-inch by reaching behind and pulling on it. Also, the sliding cargo door on the side required a good deal of muscle to open and close, but we attributed that more to the van's conventional design than to flawed fit or poor workmanship. from the rear, there was little to distinguish the ram wagon 250 from a traditional work or travel van, with the possible exception of curved wraparound taillight assemblies. Traditional double doors and a hefty, vinyl-covered step bumper, though functional, weren't nearly as exciting as the hydraulic liftgates and curved color-matched rear bumpers found on popular minivans. interiorit was a big step up for both driver land passengers when entering the ram wagon 250, but we were stepping into a truly roomy, high-riding van. A minimum five inches of head room, not to mention proportionate shoulder- and legroom, for everyone was one benefit of its high-roofed design. visibility was marred only by an undersized rearview mirror and the center pillars of the rear doors, but the big side-view mirrors helped to remedy that problem. seating and overall interior design didn't bear the slightest resemblance to advanced minivans. Middle seats could face each other to flank a walnut-grained table, or they could be folded down to sleep three kids or two modest-sized. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning
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