Quick Test
A big brown truck with a diesel engine and manual transmission—one that doesn’t say “UPS” on the side. The Ram is the only full-size pickup still offered with a stick; the row-it-yourself six-speed can be had only on 2500 and 3500 models powered by the Cummins diesel. This particular truck is very similar to our long-term Ram 2500 and, with the stick and its requisite front bench seat, is eerily similar to the long-termer that should have been, according to one staff member (read “the author”).
It’s actually a ton—well, closer to four tons—of fun. Turbo lag is more noticeable as a result of the slower shifts—quickly throwing a lever that long is tricky—which made the experience extra trucky and involving. Although it’s not exactly a Ram SRT10, five minutes in this thing had a smile plastered across the mug of everybody who drove it.
The short creeper first gear is useless in most situations, but the huge torque (650 lb-ft) allows easy starts from second, manageable starts from third, and even possible starts from fourth. We did, however, find times to use gear one, such as when towing (which this thing does with the same ease as our autobox long-termer, albeit with a tad more interaction) and in parade duty. You might think a manual would be the last choice for such a low-speed job, especially during the stop-and-go-and-stop-some-more Woodward Dream Cruise. But we were hauling a rather large sandwich board emblazoned with our “Save the Manuals!” logo, so it would have been hypocritical to promote the cause with a slushbox pickup. Idle in first gear was good for about 3 mph with no pedal intervention, and second allowed the Ram to chug along at a blistering 6-ish-mph. The truck (and its somewhat cryptic signage) got plenty of attention; when one carload of teens asked for proof that it was in fact a manual, a quick burnout may have been performed. So that’s another use for first gear.
As the only manual full-sizer, it’s the king of the hill by default. Plus, this one’s brown. Compared with our automatized Ram, though, it’s, er, slower. The 0-to-60-mph jog takes 9.6 seconds, an extra 1.2 over the auto truck’s. Blame the frequent shifting and increased turbo lag; you trade a little bit of performance for ultimate gear control. The diesel Ram may not offer the gonzo torque numbers of the Ford and GM heavy-duties, but neither can match this truck’s fun factor. Of course, for those who are towing or hauling often—i.e., most HD-pickup buyers—the automatic is a lot easier to manage.
A totally stripped, two-wheel-drive 2500 with a regular cab and the diesel starts at $34,610; stepping up to a 4x4 Laramie Mega Cab that’s mechanically identical to this one will run at least $50,545. Our tester added $5000 in options, including rear-seat entertainment, chrome side steps, a rearview cam, a sunroof, a spray-in bedliner, a trailer-brake controller, and a nav system. Steep, yes, but you’re saving $1575 by opting for three pedals versus two. Incidentally, the brown pearl paint is a no-cost option and grants membership in the Brown-Car Appreciation Society, so you have no excuse for skipping it.
