Special Features - MIssion Driveway October 31 3013

The Mission Record Thursday, October 31, 2013 23

drivewayBC.ca |

Welcome to the driver’s seat

…they can be rugged on a work site and luxurious for all occupants.

Visit the RAM trucks photo gallery at drivewayBC.ca

A big part of the RAM brand success has been built on the sturdy and macho exterior styling.

ZACK SPENCER

Question

Rounding up and riding the RAM range 2014 RAM Roundup The full-size truck market is big business for automakers and a big deal for the businesses and people who depend on them.

For almost five decades the Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck, with little chance they will lose that crown in the near future. What has been happening, over the last few years, is a strong shift from General Motors to RAM in terms of establishing the second best selling truck brand. The rise in RAM popularity can be traced back to a few key changes over the last several years, from muscular styling to class-leading interiors, a refined ride, plus engine and transmission advancements.

I drove the 2014 RAM model range recently, on a beautiful fall day, just outside of Toronto. The “RAM Roundup” was a great opportunity to get my hands on these new trucks well before they arrive at BC dealerships.

Looks A big part of the RAM brand success has been built on the sturdy and macho exterior styling. Front and centre is a grille that was enlarged, but better integrated, for the 2013 model year. Depending on the trim the grille finish can be chrome, painted or with a different insert. This feature is one RAM owners love so, in this case, larger

is better. Behind the grille are “active shutters” that close at higher speeds to help send the wind around the vehicle to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The same idea was also behind the longer side step, which helps reduce buffeting down the side of the trucks.

One option that I find fascinating, and would seriously consider, is the $1500 air suspension that can be lowered for easier entry into the RAM or loading into the bed. Plus this system automatically lowers over 100km/h to also reduce aerodynamic drag. At lower speeds and for off-road duties, the air suspension can be raised for better ground clearance. Having had a chance to drive several RAM trucks with this feature I notice the already smooth ride is even better and the cabin is further insulated from vibration.

Inside In the past trucks were typically used for work. Today, trucks have grown in popularity because they can be rugged on a work site and luxurious for all occupants. Having driven the Ford and new GM trucks recently, I can easily say that RAM still has the lead in interior design and finish with the Chevrolet and GMC right behind. (Ford is looking dated but look for an all-new F-150 in 2015). The centre console can be equipped with an 8.3-inch Uconnect communications and entertainment screen. In addition, there is a large

7-inch screen behind the steering wheel for fully customizable instant information readouts. The dash and seats can be trimmed in leather typically found in luxury cars not long ago.

for gasoline truck buyers but RAM hopes this 429 lb.-ft. engine will attract more buyers.

Verdict As competitive as the car business is, the truck side is Drive The biggest It takes dynamite nuclear. Truck buyers take their trucks very change for 2014 includes to get a loyal truck seriously and the people the first diesel engine building them do too. It found in a light duty 1500 owner to change takes dynamite to get pickup truck. This is an Ital- brands but RAM a loyal truck owner to ian designed engine that has done a good change brands but RAM has been used extensively has done a good job of in Europe in Jeep products job of blasting the blasting the competition. like the Grand Cherokee. competition.

Most of this success has With 420 lb.-ft. or torque, been thanks to constant this new “EcoDiesel” has Zack Spencer improvements instead of the same output as Ford’s waiting years to update Ecoboost but not the same their rigs. With a new diesel engine in towing capacity. Rated at 9200 lbs. this the 1500 to an all-new gasoline engine truck will be perfect for buyers who in the heavy-duty trucks, matched to want impressive fuel economy and sophisticated transmissions, improved good towing capacity; a balance of suspensions and cabins, it is no wonder usability and thriftiness. This engine has that RAM is on an upward swing. not been rated yet for fuel economy but thanks to a standard 8-speed automatThe Lowdown Power: 3.6L V6, ic transmission; this new EcoDiesel is 3.0L V6 turbo diesel, 5.7L V8. 6.4L V8 going to get better numbers than the and 6.7L diesel already class-leading gasoline V6 RAM. Price range: $19,995-$36,495 base Look for the new EcoDiesel RAMs prices. The diesel option adds around arriving in January of 2014. On the $4,500 heavy duty side there is also an all-new engine in the form of a 6.4L Hemi V8. zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca The old 5.7L was not a perfect match

‘‘

’’

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What is it that appeals to you about the car?

Go to drivewayBC.ca to submit your answer and enter to win a $100 Safeway gift card Feel free to post a photo if you have one.

Safety Tip: As we set our clocks back an hour this Saturday night for the end of Daylight Savings Time, please take extra care as the time change can affect the quality of our driving – poorer concentration, alertness behind the wheel and slower reaction time.

Find more online at

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24 The Mission Record Thursday, October 31, 2013

SHOP YOUR NEXT PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THE Access to over 500 used cars, trucks, suvs and vans backed by the MURRAY reputation including CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED Looking to find us? Visit the Fraser Valley Auto Mall and immediately turn Right. gh ht.

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The Mission Record Thursday, October 31, 2013 25

driveway

What women want while car shopping Women are a huge driving force (pardon the pun) in the car-buying world.

Studies show that around 60 per cent of new vehicles purchases are made by women. Further to that, matriarchs heavily influence decisions on car buying within the family, too – perhaps as much as 85 percent of all purchases.

While many hubbies would love a hot, little sports car, perhaps it’s not always ideal for, you know, life.

Buying a vehicle is considered to be the second biggest purchase someone can make. The first is your home. So when someone says it’s not that big of a deal, it kind of is.

Not only is it a long-term decision, but a financially significant one as well. It can also bring up many emotions: excitement, stress, anxiety and more.

Leading up to the 2013 Vancouver International Auto Show, I had the privilege of assisting six women with their new car purchases. They gave me a budget and a list of “needs and wants” and then we went to the drawing board.

The experience opened my eyes to a few things.

Though each of the women were looking for something different from each other, there were common threads that presented themselves.

PRICE Budgets are very important to everyone. And sticking to it was even more important for the women I worked with. Yes, there are always temptations to get a few extra bells and whistles, and if you can work it into your bottom line, that’s ideal. But the navigatiopackage or premium sound system wasn’t a must-have.

the case, and with designs of vehicles these days, it is getting easier to have your cake and eat it too.

‘‘

CAR BUYING COMFORT The dealership experience plays a huge role in having that brand new vehicle sparkling on your driveway. In fact, you can’t really avoid it unless you’re buying through a private sale.

No matter how good the product, if

Looks are great but it is the safety features women are after.

there’s discomfort or pressure in the buying process, can sour the sale.

The product is the same regardless of where you buy it from, it’s really the human element that can make or break the deal. Though, the women I worked with all had wonderful experiences.

Ladies, if you’re looking at buying a new vehicle and would like some

’’

Alexandra Straub WARRANTIES Additional warranties were ABS, traction control and paramount. For those not even backup cameras (for leasing and swapping vehi- the larger vehicles) were cles every four years, having high on the priority list. the extra bit of protection INTERIOR from wear and tear was CAPACITY something they wanted Cargo volume is subjective to accommodate in their in the sense where not budgets, especially those everyone needs asmuch as who drive frequently. the other. But when it was SAFETY in the top three of “needs” Looks are great but it is sometimes thinking outside the safety features women of the box was necessary. are after. There’s a lot of Sacrificing looks for functechnology out there. Some- tionality, again, is sometimes it is even overwhelm- thing that often happens. ing. But things like airbags, That said, it is not always

Anki Kervinen (left) and Louise Long (right) check out the new Mitsubishi Mirage subcompact. PHOTO: ALEXANDRA STRAUB

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26 The Mission Record Thursday, October 31, 2013

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The Mission Record Thursday, October 31, 2013 27

driveway DON’T OPEN YOUR HOOD TO STRANGERS

HUGE

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REBATES FROM Honda’s ‘Mean Mower’ is set for a special appearance next week in front of 60,000 trade visitors at the world’s premier automotive speciality trade show, SEMA in Las Vegas.

The 1000cc, 109hp lawn tractor will appear on Honda’s stand within the Las Vegas Convention Centre alongside the 2014 Civic coupe, which makes its world debut at the show, as well as an array of personalised Honda cars and motorcycles.

Commissioned by Honda (UK) and built by its British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) partner, Team Dynamics, Mean Mower is set-up and geared to achieve a top speed of 133mph, weighing just 140kgm, producing 96Nm of torque and an incredible power-to-weight ratio of 532bhp/ tonne.

The project saw Team Dynamics re-engineer a Honda HF2620 Lawn Tractor from the ground-up, adding a custom-made fabricated chassis, a 1000cc engine from a Honda VTR Firestorm, a bespoke suspension and wheels from an ATV. It features a custom-made paddle shift six-speed gear system, a bespoke sports seat, a Scorpion exhaust system and a steering rack taken from a Morris Minor.

Every effort has been made to retain as much of the look of the original mower as possible. The cutter deck was custom-made in fibre-glass, to reduce weight, while, in a stroke of pure genius, the grass bag provides a happy home for the fuel tank, a high capacity oil cooler and a secondary water cooling radiator. Mean Mower can also still cut grass, at up to 25 km/h, thanks to two electric motors on the cutter deck, spinning 3 mm steel cutting cable at an incredible 4,000rpm. kmorgan@blackpress.ca

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