- pickup
- 2,054 below average
- 15,986 good
- Springfield, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- 2,054 below average pickup silver
2009 dodge ram pickup 1500 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Redesigned and re-engineered for 2009. introductionthe 2009 dodge ram is a new truck that incorporates dodge's forward-thinking style and refinements to cosmetics and engineering. The dodge ram is a light-duty full-size pickup, a so-called half-ton truck, but this latest version lacks the 1500 badge of previous versions because the heavy-duty versions (2500, 3500) share little in appearance and running gear. technically the truck is not all new. The v6 and 4. 7-liter v8 engines (overhauled recently), the brake system (upgraded), and transmissions have not been substantially changed for the 2009 model year. In a few cases, such as the front suspension geometry and the forward frame sections, the design remained but new materials are being used for more strength, less weight, or both. Some audio and climate control systems, and the middle front row seat may appear familiar, too. But that's where any similarities between the 2008 and 2009 models end. the bodywork is all new and more aerodynamic. A crew cab model has been added to the mix; it has more cabin space than the quad cab but in more manageable dimensions than the retired mega cab. The new crew cab required its own pickup bed, dubbed rambox: a perfect rectangle inside, it sports a pair of lockable bins along the bed sides, but can carry the standard 4x8-foot sheet flat on the bed floor. interiors have been given new styles and materials, new center console with shifter for some models, and new amenities and gadgets. Virtually every mechanical and air management system has been refined to limit noise and vibrations that become fatiguing over time. chrysler's image-building hemi 5. 7-liter v8 has been tuned up to 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque; it's the most powerful v8 in any regular or mid-size-cab pickup at time of introduction, and it didn't come at the expense of fuel economy. At the other end, a new rear suspension employs a design returning to full-size pickups after a decades-long absence and currently used on some sport-utilities like the jeep grand cherokee and chevy tahoe that see off-pavement use. what dodge didn't do is follow the last decade's trend of making half-ton pickups carry and tow more than the previous generation. There are plenty of dodge (and other) heavy-duty pickups for pulling big trailers or hauling two tons of hay, and the decision to keep the light-duty ram in the light-duty work realm pays dividends in comfort and is beneficial in terms of fuel economy. lineupthe 2009 dodge ram comes in six trim levels: st, slt, sport, trx, r/t, and laramie. Special edition models, such as big horn and lone star, are regional offerings and primarily cosmetic or packaging changes. The 5. 7-liter v8 hemi is offered across the board. No manual transmissions are offered. ram st models 21,270-$29,735) are workhorses, with standard vinyl floor and manual windows, although they do include chrome bumpers and grille outline, air conditioning, abs, cd player, variable intermittent wipers, locking tailgate, sentry key and on 4wd, electric-shift. Options include chrome wheels, two-tone paint, cruise control, trailer mirrors, limited-slip differential and alternate axle ratios, sliding rear window, sirius radio and mopar wifi. ram slt models 25,465-$34,850) upgrade with carpet floor covering, floor mats, 40/20/40 split-bench seat, overhead console, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, heated mirrors and 17-inch painted aluminum wheels. Trx features electric-shift transfer case on 4wd models, unique shocks and ride height, 17-inch aluminum wheels and a full-size spare tire, heavy-duty vinyl floor covering, cloth 40/20/40 split-bench front seat, folding rear bench seat (quad cab models), tilt steering column, remote keyless entry and standard two-tone paint. Pay extra for an engine block heater, power-sliding rear window, heated power folding mirrors, bedliner, 3. 92:1 axle ratio, limited-slip differential, tip start, cruise control, and uconnect studios sirius satellite radio. Ram sport 29,365-$38,670) is available in all three cab styles but is labeled r/t on the regular cab. It adds a 5. 7-liter hemi, slate-gray contrast-stitched bucket seats, body-color fascia, fog lamps and 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. R/t models use a 4. 10:1 rear axle for superior acceleration but will still tow 5000 pounds. Options mirror those on slt. Ram laramie 37,870-$43,240) is the top of the line, with leather heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, chromed door handles and mirrors, and security alarm. Extra-cost features include 20-inch aluminum wheels, sunroof, navigation and rear-seat entertainment. The illusion comes from more sheetmetal and smaller gaps. for the last 15 years rams have had lots of space between tires and fenders but the '09 narrows the gap. Side panels have increased in height by nearly 3. 5 inches, to close the crevasse between the truck and the ground, yet the approach angle critical to pickup use hasn't diminished. The split between cab and bed is narrower, and there's a lateral seal in it to reduce air turbulence, the side mirrors stand off from the door glass, the sides are flatter, and the tailgate spoiler and windshield are both rounder for improved aerodynamics. Seen from behind where the tires appear almost flush with the body panels, the truck looks quite trim, rather like a european-cut dress shirt as opposed to an american-cut shirt. there is no large seam between the front bumper and the grille and lights, and if the truck does not have fog lights the bumper does not have the outline marks that show it's missing something. The rear bumper is larger, has half-round openings for the sport exhaust on trucks so equipped, and both 7- and 4-pin trailer plugs are fitted adjacent to the rear plate. On upper variants the mirrors have led puddle lamps and the headlamps are dual-bulb units, the first since the mid-'90s sport models, and on the 2009 sport the front bumper is deeper and body-colored. The rambox of crew cab models has a perfectly rectangular interior with no wheel-well intrusions. The crew cab rambox is 49 inches wide, ensuring it can carry the ubiquitous 4x8 building materials flat on the floor. Side rails with cleats secure the cargo, and a bed divider that locks into place segments the bed into smaller areas or can be flipped over and used as a bed extender with the tailgate down. along the sides of the rambox are two locking bins, capable of holding 120 standard 12-ounce cans on the left side (where the fuel fill is) and 130 on the right. These boxes have locking lids, drains, lights and 90-degree opening lids; together the volume exceeds that of a 55-gallon drum. The new seats offer good support and plenty of room. We swapped through a few ram models back-to-back t.
15,986 Springfield, ILSpringfield, IL at autoshopper.com