- pickup 101,000
- 24,995 overpriced
- Orem, UT
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- autoshopper.com
- pickup 101,000 gasoline manual
2003 dodge ram 2500 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. New hemi v8 brings more power. introductiondodge ram boasts high levels of refinement and comfort. Completely redesigned and re-engineered last year, this latest-generation ram has re-established dodge as a leading product among full-size pickups. But all this refinement doesn't mean the dodge ram has gone soft. The new-generation ram also delivers improved towing and hauling capability, plus more powerful and efficient engines. for 2003, dodge has introduced a sophisticated new five-speed automatic transmission. A more capable off-road package has been added, along with a rugged work special. Also new for 2003 is a line of heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 models, not covered here. in january 2003, the 5. 7-liter hemi v8 replaced the aging 5. 9-liter v8, increasing power by 100 horsepower and 40 pounds-feet of torque while improving fuel economy by 10 percent. lineupdodge ram is available with two cab configurations, regular cab and quad cab. Prices start at $18,525 for a 2wd regular cab short wheelbase. Quad cab models ride on a wheelbase that's 20 inches longer than comparable regular cab models. two bed lengths are available, a 6-foot, 3-inch standard bed and an 8-foot long bed. Ordering the long bed adds $300-$350 to the price, and another 20 inches to the wheelbase. For maximum economy, two-wheel-drive rams can be ordered with a 3. 7-liter v6 that's similar in design to the 4. 7-liter v8. The most powerful engine in the line is the new 5. 7-liter hemi v8 with hemispherical combustion chambers for improved airflow and burn. The new hemi produces 345 horsepower and 375 foot-pounds of torque. When properly equipped, that increases the towing capacity to 9200 pounds and payload by an additional 500 pounds. The hemi adds about $800 to the price. a five-speed manual transmission is standard with the 3. 7-liter v6 and 4. 7-liter v8. Optional is a new five-speed automatic 975) that includes an alternate second gear for hill-climbing and towing (so it's technically a six-speed). This new transmission is more responsive than the unit it replaces. three trim levels are available, st, slt, and laramie. st is the base level and comes standard with air conditioning, but is equipped with vinyl upholstery, wind-up windows, and manual door locks. slt adds $1700-$3200, depending on cab style and driveline, and includes the 4. 7-liter v8, plus cloth upholstery, nicer interior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a host of convenience items, and wider tires. laramie is the luxury package, which costs in the neighborhood of $7800-$8900 and brings leather seating surfaces, dual-zone air conditioning, a premium stereo, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, and a long, long list of luxury features. sport body-color trim for grille and bumpers is available for $470 with any trim level; that price includes fog lights and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Also new this year is an off-road package 870-$1405) for 4wd models consisting of a 3. 92:1 limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, lt275/70r17 all-terrain tires, skid plates, tow hooks, and fog lamps. walkaroundram's radical big-rig styling turned the pickup world upside down when it was introduced in 1994. It was a highly successful design, one that gave the dodge pickups a look of power and capability. The bold styling also helped boost sales exponentially. So dodge had no intention of turning away from the big horse-collar grille and freightliner fenders when it redesigned the ram. This latest dodge pickup maintains and even reinforces the look established nine years ago. the sheet metal is indeed all new. Park a 2002-3 ram next to a 2001 or earlier ram and the differences are striking. The design has been extensively re-sculpted for reduced wind noise and better rainwater management. The new ram looks sleek and refined compared with the previous model. The old one looks mashed down compared with the new one. few grilles are as instantly recognizable as the massive horse collar grille of the ram. Even more massive this year, the grille also provides trim-level identification: the outside rim is all chrome on the slt model, with a gray honeycomb center. Laramie features a body-color grille surround and chrome cross hairs. Sport trim includes a body-color surround and cross hairs with unique chrome billets in the center. moving rearward, the new ram presents a more robust appearance than before. The broad, sloping hood has a pronounced crown that falls over the sides to the prominent front fenders. A faster, raked-back windshield improves aerodynamics and water management, and gives the new ram a more modern appearance. The leading edge of the front door overlaps the a-pillar, creating a smoother transition from the front of the cab to the side. Everything is smoother and more integrated. The big side mirrors, great for visibility, are now mounted on platforms to reduce wind noise, and a channel has been specially designed to keeps water off of the mirrors. An integrated air dam improves engine cooling and air conditioner performance. standard bed length is 6 feet, 3 inches, but an 8-foot bed is now available for both cab styles. That's a bit much when trying to heave heavy gear aboard. interiorram interiors were completely redesigned last year. the new interior is more comfortable than before. That comfort starts with roominess. To fit more space in the cab, dodge stole 3 inches out of the bed and added it to the cab's total length. Dodge claims its regular cab has the largest interior of any full-size standard-cab pickup. the cloth 40/20/40 split bench front seat in the sport model is quite supportive, better than some of the seats we've seen recently in other brands. The optional leather seats are also comfortable and supportive during long drives. Three-point shoulder belts are used at all locations, including the rear center seat. Adjustable pedals are usually offered only with an automatic transmission, but for 2003 dodge has made them available on manual-shift pickups as well. We believe that's an industry first. side-curtain airbags are a $390 option on regular cabs, $490 on quad cabs. A big fold-down center armrest/console comes with adjustable dividers and a power outlet. White-faced instruments with turquoise numbers look sporty and trendy, but don't offer the legibility of traditional white-on-black designs, particularly at dusk. At night, the instruments are nicely illuminated in green. the design of the audio system could be improved for ease of use. Setting a button for a station, for example, requires pressing a separate 'set' button, rather than just holding the station button down. Sliding bass and treble controls are harder to adjust than knobs when bouncing around in a pickup truck. Optional steering wheel audio controls 75) solve this with brilliantly designed buttons behind the steering wheel that are easy to use. Likewise, cruise controls 390, including tilt steering) on the steering wheel are easy to operate. otherwise, the center dash is a paradigm of convenience. Large heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (hvac) buttons can be operated while wearing gloves. A textured fabric is used for trim around the audio and hvac controls, somewhat similar to what's found in volkswagens, gives the center dash a nice look and feel. Just below the hvac controls is a slot lined with a rubber mat that's perfect for a wallet or other small items. A big panel below that folds down with adjustable cup holders. Air Conditioning✔ Leather Seats✔ Aluminum Wheels
24,995 Orem, UTOrem, UT at autoshopper.com