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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
January 18, 2006
To accommodate goodies such as a power sunroof and a rear-seat entertainment system, Dodge has introduced the "Mega Cab," an extreme full-size pickup with a stretched cabin and a shortened bed. We spent a snowy week in our test 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4, which was loaded with 13 options, including a new $1,595 navigation system with 6-CD changer and MP3 player, $490 leather-trimmed bucket seats and a $5,555 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine. Our test truck had a price tag of $54,540, including shipping. SHE : My parents laughed when I pulled up to their house in the Dodge Ram Mega Cab one Sunday morning. "How do you expect us to get in?" my mother asked. But she was up to the challenge of hoisting herself into the cab. You have to be fairly agile to get in there -- or else carry a step-stool. It struck me as odd, because with all the standard stuff you get on the new Mega Cab, including things like steering wheel-mounted audio controls, heated front seats and a rear power-sliding window, the one thing you don't get are running boards. But my parents sure enjoyed that rear seat, which you can stretch out in and relax. HE : The Mega Cab is long on space, especially in the cabin, but short on every-day practicality. It's so big, we couldn't get it into our garage. That's a pretty basic issue. And I could tell at a glance I would never be able to squeeze it into the Ann Arbor municipal garage where I usually park. I didn't even attempt it. As a result, going anywhere in the Mega Cab requires a certain amount of pre-planning and logistics. You're left thinking "this truck is so big, it should have its own ZIP code." SHE : It would probably be a pretty ritzy ZIP code at that -- maybe West Bloomfield or Grosse Pointe. Because Mega Cab vaults the Ram into some very exclusive territory with that whopping sticker. Our test vehicle was $7,000 more expensive than the upscale Lincoln Mark LT four-door pickup we tested earlier this year. What you are paying for with the Dodge is a very cushy cabin decked out with things like leather-trimmed bucket seats -- the first time they've been available on a Ram -- and luxury features including Sirius satellite radio, a new DVD navigation system with a full screen and convenience items like the Uconnect hands-free phone system. This Ram isn't just for the construction site, it's for black-tie events like the opera. HE : Now there's a picture -- a monkey suit and a hardhat. Sounds just right for next year's charity preview. But the Mega Cab is still a workhorse, with a maximum towing capacity of 15,900 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,970. On the down side, the bed has shrunk to provide all that rear-seat space in the cabin. Dodge took the Ram 2500 long-box model's eight-foot box and replaced it with a six-foot, three-inch box. Our test truck was equipped with the 325-horsepower 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine, which pumps out an impressive 610 pounds-feet of torque -- enough to propel you out of a lot of sticky situations. Dodge equipped this model with a four-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed might have improved fuel economy a bit. The EPA doesn't require truck manufacturers to report fuel economy on a vehicle this large, but we averaged about 16 mpg in city driving and 20 mpg on the highway. SHE : The 4x4 models of the Mega Cab chew through the snow, but they have the more big-rig-like recirculating-ball steering setup and a rigid-beam front axle. That means it's a lot more difficult to maneuver and handle, as opposed to two-wheel-drive versions with independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. I was surprised to see that side air bags cost extra and that you can't get stability control or traction control. HE : But what you do get is a truck that looks extremely imposing, especially if it's looming large in your rearview mirror. Dodge tweaked the Ram's face, giving it a new six-sided chrome grille and large, angular headlights that intrude into the fenders. The cabin may be tame -- "warm and fuzzy" as you like to say -- but on the outside, it's got the demeanor of a monster truck. You get the best of both world with Dodge's big baby. Just be prepared to pay an equally hefty price for it. He drove, she drove Paul and Anita Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, an Ann Arbor-based automotive information services company. - - - 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Type: Front-engine, four-wheel drive, five-passenger pickup truck. Price: Base, $43,275 (inc. $900 destination charge); as tested, $54,540. Engine: 5.9-liter turbo-diesel V-6; 325-hp; 610 lb-ft torque. EPA fuel economy (Estimate only): 16 mpg city/20 mpg highway. Where built: Saltillo, Mexico. 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan*: $2,234. (Estimate. Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage, driving record.) - - - Anita: 4 (out of 5) Likes: The ultimate in rear-seat comfort in this segment. Sophisticated features such as Uconnect, Sirius satellite radio, new DVD navigation system. New bucket seats for front passengers. New white-faced gauges and easy-to-use knobs and buttons. Aggressive front-end styling. Standard power adjustable pedals. Dislikes: Mega price tag. Side curtain air bags cost $490 extra. Had trouble reaching vents, grab handle in rear. No stability control or traction control. Only 3-year/36,000-mile warranty for a luxury-priced truck. No running boards make it difficult to get in and out of. - - - Paul: 4 (out of 5) Likes : 4x4 model tackles snow and mud with ease. Cummins diesel has good horsepower and gobs of torque. Despite the amenities, it's still an incredible workhorse. Standard antilock brakes. New power-sliding rear window. Nice exterior fillips such as 17-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. Dislikes: Gas hog. Didn't fit in our garage -- or a local parking garage. Difficult to park and maneuver in tight spaces. More costly than premium competitors like the Lincoln Mark LT luxury pickup. No 5-speed automatic transmission.
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