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Wednesday, August 22, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D5 B e s t W h e e l s O a k v i l l e As subtle as a Louisville Slugger (Continued from page D6) twenty-one percent and gave rise to a wave o f successor products - the '97 Dakota, the '98 Durango, the '98 Ram Quad Cab and 2000 Dakota Quad Cab. "For the 2002 Ram, we're still about as subtle as a Louisville Slugger," admitted Dennis Myles, M anager of D odge's Truck D esign Studio. D odge designers found inspiration at the SEM A show in Las Vegas, studying aftermarket add-ons and cus tom izing treatm ents that owners add to personalize their pickups. Yep, the original horsecollar grille with the Dodge crosshairs is even bigger. "We call it the 'get-outtam y-w ay-grille'," Myles added with a smile. O ther exterior changes reinforce Ram's in-yer-face styling w hile im proving aerodynamics and function ality. A large integrated air dam improves engine cool ing and air conditioning con denser airflow. A steeperraked windshield and new mirrors reduce drag and wind noise and just make the truck look that much better. Jeweled, dual-lamp head lights are bigger and brighter, sweeping smoothly into the classic dropped-fender design. Almost all o f the sheetmetal - alm ost all o f the truck, for that matter - is brand new. Under the skin, the 2002 Ram backs up its more aggressive style with functional changes that include: a stiffer hydro formed frame; 4-wheel disc brakes, with biggest-in-class 13" plus rotors and rearwheel ABS; standard 17" steel w heels that can be optioned up to a whopping 20" aluminum alloy wheels; an across-the-board move to rack & pinion steering sys tems; a new torsion bar inde pendent front suspension for four-w heel drive m odels; increased suspension travel and rear leaf springs that have been lengthened by three inches to reduce rear w heel'hop. The Ram 1500 lineup starts with a 3.7 L SOHC V6 engine, a motor shared with the new Jeep Liberty. This derivative engine, inspired by Grand Cherokee's 4.7 L V8, replaces the 3.9 L V6. The new aluminum-head 3.7 L motor is lighter, stronger and more fuel efficient, rated at 215 hp at 5200 rpm and 235 lb-ft o f torque at 4000 rpm. Although, the base Ram weighs in at a few hundred pounds more than the Jeep Liberty, the V 6 Ram version still seems to hustle along smartly. M oving up the pow er scale gam ers the aforemen tioned optional 4.7 L Magnum SOHC V8, a motor also seen in Dodge's Dakota and Durango. This smallerdisplacem ent V8, rated at 235 hp at 4800 rpm and 295 lb-ft o f torque at 3200 rpm, makes roughly the same power as the previous 5.2 L version (5 hp plus, 5 lb-ft less torque) with less bulk and weight. We spent a day winding and spiraling pickups through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway in N orth C arolina and . this engine, married to the silky smooth 45RFE auto tranny, hits the sweet spot o f the Ram lineup. More than one driver commented that the curving roads cried out more for a Viper or sports car than a pickup, but the Ram did itself proud, the new rack & pinion steering and improved chassis and suspension allow ing for very smooth cuts through the com ers and surprisingly car-like ride and handling qualities. The Ram 1500 comes in a choice o f models - 2WD or 4W D, short box or long box, Regular Cab or Quad Cab. The in-between Club Cab extended version has been dropped from the lineup. H oist yourself into the driver's seat o f any o f these models and you gain a quick appreciation o f D odge's determination to add more interior space. An extra three inches o f length has been added to both Regular and Quad Cabs. To keep longer models - like the Quad Cab garageable, designers sub tracted three inches from the pickup box, reducing the six and a half foot (1981mm) box to six foot three inches (1905m m ). T hat trade-off was fine with most Quad Cab owners who, like Sport Trac owners, regard their trucks alm ost as SU V s and put more emphasis on passenger room than cargo space. Customers opting for the long box, however, proved to be a different kettle o f fish. "People choosing long box pickups tend to work their trucks a little harder," M yles explained. "In essence, they told us, 'don't touch my eight-foot box'." Regardless o f how those interior additions change exterior dimensions, inside benefits are obvious. There's more behind-the-seat storage in Regular Cabs and more seating space for rear passen gers in the Quad Cab. Actually, the rear o f the Quad Cab has gotten downright user-friendly, with easier access through 85 degreeopening rear doors, rear win dows that roll all the way down and substantially more leg and knee room, thanks to that extra three inches. The Quad Cab does offer an optional and versatile 60/40 split rear seat that can accom m odate passengers and cargo together. The seat cushions fold up to create a floor-to-ceiling storage area and an optional steel section under the seat can unfold to form a flat load floor for tools or heavy-duty inside cargo, with additional storage in the footwells. U p front, drivers o f both models can claim back some o f that extra space with three inches more front seat travel as well as improved storage and convenience features. The 40/20/40 front seat's popular center "business con sole" still swallows a laptop but now also features fold down dividers with a new storage area under the center cushion. Other front com partment changes and ameni ties include white-faced sport dials, a grocery bag hook on 2002 Dodge R a m Quad Cab the lower dash, dual power outlets (one inside the center console), and optional good ies like dual climate control, heated leather seats and even side curtain airbags. Dodge has also stolen a page from Ford's playbook with avail able power adjustable pedals. Maximum towing on the Quad Cab improves to 3788 kg (8,350 lb) from 3470 kg (7,650 lb). Maximum towing on the Regular Cab is now 3928 kg (8,660 lb), up from 3606 kg (7,950 lb) rating on its predecessor. Both the Gross C om bined W eight (GCW R) and the Gross Vehicle W eight Rating (GVW R) have increased on Regular Cab and Quad Cab models. Those numbers reflect the faith Dodge has in their new truck and they add one more tick in the plus column o f a truck that features improved performance, greater durabil ity and new levels o f safety, comfort and utility, all in a package that's unmistakably Ram. Walker Advantage Exhaust Systems % HU. EXHAUST PARTS · Lifetime guarantee on most mufflers · 1 i/ear on all pipes D rive C lean R e p a ir C e n tre AUTO SERVICE Q .E .W . N a: S. S ER V IC E RD. L U 3 < o W + E S I < CORNWALL RD. 573 Chartwell Rd. OAKVILLE SPEERS RD. p 131 (905) 844-9641 Q # / q p u rc h a s e fin a n c in g f o r up to 3 6 m o n th s on n e w 2 0 0 1 m a z d a s ' MAZDA MPV DX event NO PAYMENTS, <2>N0 INTEREST FOR 60 DAYS!1 © MAZDA PROTEGE SE - 9 NO SECURITY DEPO m p e r m o n th /4 8 m o n th s ^ le a se from · $ 4 ,9 0 0 dow n or tr a d e e q u iv a le n t on le a s e , fr e ig h t and P .D .I. in c lu d e d . C onvenience P a c k a g e w ith · cru ise c o n tro l · p ow er door locks · p o w er w in d o w s £ m irrors · air c o n d itio n in g · s ta n d a rd dual airb ag s · 3rd ro w tu m b le under s e a ts · 2nd ro w slide by slide. per m o n th /4 8 m o n th s cash purchase from For o n ly / / mo n t h m o re , g e t on LX w ith cash purchase from a ir co n d itio n in g , keyless e n try , n e w 2.0L 1 3 0 -h p e n g in e . 1 5 " w h e e ls and upgraded upholstery. · $ 2 ,4 0 0 dow n or tr a d e e q u iv a le n t on le a s e , fr e ig h t and P .D .I. inc lu d e d lease from or! · O ptional 1 3 0 -h p , 2.0L DOHC e n g in e a v a ila b le (IX and ES m o d e l) · AM/FM/CD s te re o sys te m · S ta n d a rd dual air bags O ffer ends August 31, 2001 Oakville U13ZD3 1291 SPEERS R O A D North side belween 3rd Line & 4lh Line G et In Be Moved lllhere Good Service Is fl Fact. Hot Just R Promisel w w w .o a k v ille m a z d a .c o m 905-827-4242 I t ' s t h e b i g g e s t s a l e o f t h e y e a r , si STO P DREAMING 2001 Chrysler Neon RT "A sophisticated and spirited performer" S TA R T DRIVING 2001 Dodge Caravan "Canada's best selling minivan" PURCHASE FOR $ f n f "7 Q Q OR LEASE FOR $"> * Q -- M \ $955 fre ig ht and $300 security d ep osit LD 22D package includes; · 2.0L engine · Automatic transmission · 4-wtieel independent suspension · Air conditioning · Tilt steering · Sentry-Key theft deterrent system · Full length centre console · AM/FM stereo cassette with changer controls · Child seat tether anchors · Next Generation dual air bags · Complimentary tank of fuel · 5 yr/100,000km powertrain warranty plus 5/yr/100,000km roadside assistance 28C Package includes: · 3.3L V6 engine -- 180hp · 4-Speed automatic transmission · Multi-Stage dual front air bags < Air conditioning · Dual sliding doors · AM/FM stereo cassette · 7 Passenger seating · Cargo net · Front & rear floor mats · Roof rack · Windshield wiper de-icer · Child seat anchor system · Complimentary tank of fuel · 5 yr/100,000 powertrain warranty plus 5 yr/100,000 km roadside assistance. Z 0 2001 Chrysler 300M "A stunning blend of design and handling" PURCHASE FOR 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Motor Trend "Car of the Year" PURCHASE FOR O 4 * J V f O > C O 3 C OR LEASE FOR C ^ M / 1 K S K f c | i | | | a m onth fo r 4 8 months, w ith $4,300 dow npaym ent o r equivalent trade. P lusS525 security deposit security deposit and $940 fre ig h t S 26M package insides; · 3.5.LV6 engine - 250hp · 4-Speed driver adaptive automatic transmission with AutoStickTM · Leather faced seating · Automatic temperature control * Power sunroof · Remote keyless entry · Sentry-Key® theft deterrent system ·1 7 " Chrome aluminum wheels · Stereo cassette with 4 disc CD player and 11 infinity Spatial TM speakers · Low speed traction control · 8-Way heated power driver and front passenger seats · Next-Generation dual air bags · Complementary tank of fuel · 5 yr/100,000' power 28D Package Includes: · 2.4L engine · 4-Speed automatic transmission · Under seat storage drawer · Deep tint sunscreen glass · AM/FM Stereo with changer controls -- 6 premium speakers · Next-Generation dual air bags · 65/35 rear seat fold · Complimentary tank of fuel · 5 yr/100,000 km powertrain warranty plus 5 yr/100,000 km roadside assistance Vehicles are plus taxes and license.. 27,788 fir W OR LEASE FOR a m onth fo r 48 months, w ith $2,766 dow npaym ent o r equivalent tra d e Plus $810 fre ig h t and $425 security d ep osit check train warranty plus 5yr/100,000km' roadside assistance 17\ ir\r\T \ us oft. 77^ LOCKWOOD mm E E C H R Y S L E R 1^5 W y e c r o f t R o a d , O a k v ille 905 .845.6653 (b e tw e e n Kerr & DorvaI) F l\ / E S T A R if fir C u (i. · Pence ol Mind w ith DaimlerChrysler Canada Int. backed warranty · Roadside Assistance · Quality Reconditioning · Nationwide Servke Oakville's 2000 · 2001 Rve Star Certified Dealership