2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Well it's supposedly been confirmed that this is indeed the 2009 Dodge Ram...

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009...m/524480/full/

I dunno, my feelings are kinda mixed. I have an 04 Ram 1500 Hemi that I bought new and that I still dearly love - this at first glance looks a bit like an upsized 1997-2004 Dakota. I'm gonna have to see more of it, which will hopefully be soon. I might end up getting one of these before I'm able to get a new Challenger...

What do you all think?

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

The Ram seems to draw inspiration from the tundra in the hood and body lines. Personally I like the new dakota better,



[IMG]local://upfiles/374/7A90937C6D214161A2ABC59FAD314C35.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/374/ED89CFBDE503474CA53255A614A59D40.jpg[/IMG]

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Why would they deviate from the Power Wagon homage that brought them back to prominence in the mid 90's? You're right the darn thing looks like a toyota. Makes as much sense as the Mustang that looked like a Toyota supra or the GTO that looked rather asian....ridiculous.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Those were my thoughts as well. No offense, but I feel like each time they update the Ram, it gets less attractive. Chrysler needs some better designers desperately. All of their talent went to GM (though I'm not sure they are helping GM very much on the exterior of their trucks). I think they need to shrink the Dakota and offer a more competitive engine line (including a 5.7L Hemi).

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Anyone think that this could possibly be a Photoshop picture?

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Right on RLSH700, Dakota SRT (yes, SRT w/ smaller 8 leave the Big 8 SRT for the full size ram) Sport Truck...why wouldn't ya?

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Thank you Skippy! Though I meant the 5.7L to be for the R/T, I was thinking the 6.1L for an SRT-8 Dakota and offering the 6.4L or 6.5L (whichever they offer in the Challenger) for a Ram R/T and reviving the SRT-10 with the new V10. My theory is offer two levels of performance to capture people's attention. The reasonable level that is affordable to satisfy the mainstreams interests, then the unreasonable one for the true performance enthusiasts. The problem I see with the current Dakota is it doesn't have an engine line that will appeal to those who want performance. The updated 4.7L is a definate improvement, but it hasn't caught up with the 5.9L powered R/T of the previous generation even though it produces more hp and slightly less torque because of the weight increase. The 5.7L should have been offered on the Dakota immediately in the second generation even if it would cost the Ram a few sales. I for one would consider a Dakota if they did offer it, but I'm not going to buy a Ram because I don't need that much truck at this point.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Your right about the size, and another problem is price. I could buy a mitsubshi raider below MSRP (i see commericals trying to push them all the time) and get virtually the same thing.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

I've noticed that one as well. I'm not sure why the current Dakota is so expensive other than the fact that it is so big. I think the size is a lot of the issue. The problem is you can no longer get an optional V8 in the Raider like you can in the Dakota. That is one reason why they are not selling as it needs the V8.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

As of the 2007 it has a V8. A 4.7 liter that puts out a 235hp; the same engine as a 07 dakota. the 08 dakota has 302hp v8 and a v6 gives out 210 hp.


07 dakota
http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do

08 dakota (under larmie)
http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do

raider
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/j...x.do?loc=en-us

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

RLSH700, Forgive my ignorance, is Dodge offering a raider again? I remember the Mitsu import of the 80's prone to rolling (even had an artificial horizon in the damned thing and a I believe a warning buzzer)....

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

They are sharing the platform with mitsubshi.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

I really hate to say it, but that truck looks a lot nicer then the Dakota right now that's for sure. Now switch the bodies and the badging, give the Dakota body to the Raider and visa versa, and keep the price, and I would be out looking for one. Oh yeah, and who could forget, give me a manual or forget it.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

That model ram looks better than the last model. BUT I still am not impressed with it. My favorite year was the 96 and the years that looked like this one. If I were to buy a Ram again, I would look for a used one of these years. But I don't really like buying used vehicles.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

No, not that dangerous compact SUV built by Mitsubishi (which I have only seen a couple of in my lifetime), the Mitsubishi Raider is nothing other than a Dodge Dakota under Mitsubishi badge and sheet metal.

Okay, I was talking about the 2008 models as I consider the 2007s to be left overs at this point. The 2008s are losing the V8. The Raider never had the H.O. version of the 4.7L. I think the reason why they are dropping the V8 out of the Raider is the fact that the new 4.7L comes in only one output and they are concerned that the Raider could cannabalize the sales of the Dakota (which I can see that happening considering that I actually like the looks of the Raider better).

I agree with TechmanBD, the looks of the 1994-2001 were the best looking Ram's ever built. I just haven't been satisfied with the looks of any of the more current ones after seeing those. I'm just glad the new models are getting rid of those terrible head lights they added in 2006 that looks like somebody had tapped someone's eye lids wide open to torture them.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

[/quote]

I currently have a 2000 Ram sport. Glad to hear you guys like that body style. I don't have a problem with the 03-05 body style. I think it looks great in black. In fact, I was going to get an 03-05 black ram until a while back when I first heard the Challenger was coming back.

And RLSH700, I couldn't agree more with the way you described the 06 to present headlights on the Ram. Yuck! Also, when they changed the taillights on the Ram to have the 3-D circles popping out (similar to the Dakota[before the latest redesign]). Not a fan of those either.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

It doesn't really look like much except for the new grill and an extended bed the one in the new motor trend looks much better

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Its an alright looking Ram overall, clean lines. In your face aggression is present, but what I really love is that tool box on the side rail! I would love to have that installed on my '01 Ram. Hmmm... fabrication time?[8D]

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Amen to all on the Ram. They broke new ground in the mid 90's only to regress in the mid oughts!

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Am I the only person who loved the ram truck from Walker Texas Ranger?

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Nope, those were my favorite years for the Ram and I actually owned one of them. I also owned an 03, which I got to take a survey on before it came out, and didn't like it at first, but it grew on me. When the new Ram came out after that, I didn't like it. It turned into parts of a Ford and parts of a Chevy with those back taillights. I hate those round lights.

Now back to the 2000 Ram that I had, that was a great looking truck. I love the interior and everything. What I would like though is to put what is under that body from the 03, including the Hemi or the Cummins, and put it together with older Rams. That would be the greates combination and I would buy that in a heart beat.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

I see Tundra and a bit of F150 in the lines. Good things if you ask me. Problem is that horrible Dodge grille. Clean that up and I'd consider it, otherwise it F-150 #3 for me in a year or two.

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

Though going back to the 80s box-o-truck looks...my fav mopar offering was the Propspector.....it was ridiculous big SUV before they were Chic!

RE: 2009 Dodge Ram pic
 

What do you mean by clean up the grille? What about it do you not like?

Axle, you summed up my thoughts. I wish I could combine the exterior and interior of the 98-01 Ram with the chassis and powertrains of the current Rams.

Mopar_Nut, I agree with you on the rear light covers as well. I'm not sure why Dodge has this thing about when an idea is hated they decide to offer more of it on everything else instead of making the logical move of getting rid of it.