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Author Topic: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster  (Read 16588 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« on: October 17, 2013, 06:31:01 am »


Ram's easy-to-use Promaster cargo van is more than a reskinned European.

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Offline Solstice2006

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2013, 07:15:23 am »
Sure most commercial vans don't look appealing, but man, this takes the cake of ugliest commercial van on the market, even beats Nissan....
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Offline redman

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am »
I'm sure it will be very functional. But.......


Mind you the looks would not stop me from buying this workhorse vehicle. Being coupled with the proven Fiat Ducato isn't a bad thing. This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers: (10.24am 10/17/2013 amendment.... Forgot about the sprinter with diesel)
« Last Edit: October 17, 2013, 10:25:49 am by redman »
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Offline dirtyjeffer

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2013, 09:06:25 am »
i don't think it's all that bad...kudos to Dodge for bringing out a functional and practical vehicle that is also affordable...i'm thinking this thing needs to seat 8 and they can sell it as a proper passenger van. ;D
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Offline JacobBlack

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2013, 09:08:04 am »
Quote from: redman on October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am
This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers:

Yeah that feature seemed cool to me too - mind you, I can walk upright into and out of Hyundai Accent.
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Offline tpl

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2013, 09:18:52 am »
I think it is far more attractive than the new Nissan delivery van...but a bit uglier than the Sprinter. Certainly looks like a practical thing. Do those huge mirrors fold for really tight manoeuvrings?

Wiki  fiat ducato shows all the variants over the years and current.   I like the RV version. A nice compact diesel RV seems like a good way to travel if one could not afford a Prevost
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Offline mixmanmash

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2013, 09:42:59 am »
Quote from: redman on October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am
This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers:

Where have you been for the last few years?  The Sprinter has offered a small diesel for years, starting with the 2.8L 4 Cylinder VM Motori engine, and now with the V6 3.0L OM642 Mercedes Benz engine.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2013, 09:50:29 am »
Quote from: mixmanmash on October 17, 2013, 09:42:59 am
Quote from: redman on October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am
This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers:

Where have you been for the last few years?  The Sprinter has offered a small diesel for years, starting with the 2.8L 4 Cylinder VM Motori engine, and now with the V6 3.0L OM642 Mercedes Benz engine.

man... where do you get those engine codes?  i thought i was an enthusiast, and i don't know of many actual names of the engines, nor do i desire to remember any of them.  ;D ;D ;)
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Offline mixmanmash

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2013, 09:53:43 am »
Quote from: aquadorhj on October 17, 2013, 09:50:29 am
Quote from: mixmanmash on October 17, 2013, 09:42:59 am
Quote from: redman on October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am
This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers:

Where have you been for the last few years?  The Sprinter has offered a small diesel for years, starting with the 2.8L 4 Cylinder VM Motori engine, and now with the V6 3.0L OM642 Mercedes Benz engine.

man... where do you get those engine codes?  i thought i was an enthusiast, and i don't know of many actual names of the engines, nor do i desire to remember any of them.  ;D ;D ;)

Lol. I dunno.  I've kind of always known many of the engine codes for vehicles that I am interested in.  Variants of the OM642 are in the E-Class, M-Class, GL-Class, S-Class.
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2013, 10:19:23 am »
Not saying a commercial van should look sexy, but this thing makes the Sprinter look like a dew covered Jag E-Type.......yuck.....
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Offline redman

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2013, 10:22:53 am »
Quote from: mixmanmash on October 17, 2013, 09:42:59 am
Quote from: redman on October 17, 2013, 08:08:37 am
This van looks very user friendly and finally a van in N.A. with a small diesel would put it on top of my buy list for a working box with wheels that I could walk up upright  in/out of.  :cheers:

Where have you been for the last few years?  The Sprinter has offered a small diesel for years, starting with the 2.8L 4 Cylinder VM Motori engine, and now with the V6 3.0L OM642 Mercedes Benz engine.

I stand corrected. Must have blanked out for a while, but I'm reloaded on coffee now. Thanks
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Offline WRX_Pilot

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2013, 10:30:22 am »
Front wheel drive?  I dunno how well that will hold up in the winter with a nice heavy load in the back...
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2013, 10:34:21 am »
Quote from: WRX_Pilot on October 17, 2013, 10:30:22 am
Front wheel drive?  I dunno how well that will hold up in the winter with a nice heavy load in the back...

Oh come on, we have all been told that RWD is the devil and you will have a flaming crash into a school bus full of blind orphans backing a rwd out of the garage when its snowing........  ;D
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Offline mixmanmash

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2013, 10:41:00 am »
Quote from: Fobroader on October 17, 2013, 10:34:21 am
Quote from: WRX_Pilot on October 17, 2013, 10:30:22 am
Front wheel drive?  I dunno how well that will hold up in the winter with a nice heavy load in the back...

Oh come on, we have all been told that RWD is the devil and you will have a flaming crash into a school bus full of blind orphans backing a rwd out of the garage when its snowing........  ;D

Exactly.  FWD is where it's at yo. ;)
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Offline PJAvenger

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2013, 11:26:41 am »
I'm sure these will show up as airport shuttles very soon, what with those 4 cyl diesels and low loading floor.  Just don't look one in the eye, or you may turn to stone.
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Offline Just_A_Fan

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2013, 11:32:44 am »
So you can stand up straight in the 5'5" version and the 6'4" version?  Go figure    ;D

Seriously though, what is the difference between the "cutaway" and "chassis cab" versions?
« Last Edit: October 17, 2013, 11:36:44 am by Just_A_Fan »
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Offline JacobBlack

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2013, 12:04:18 pm »
I'm like 4'7" tall!
The difference is that the chassis cub has a full cab at the front (with four "walls") and the cutaway has an open back of the cockpit.
So the chassis cab will be good for say a flat-bed truck, but a cutaway is good for an RV or a motorhome type set up. You'd put swivel seats in the cutaway and build a motorhome rig on the back.
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2013, 12:10:48 pm »
That's a pretty positive review. Good for Chrysler.

Don't mention the war

I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.  :rofl2:

Another great review Jacob! :thumbup:
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Offline Blueprint

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2013, 12:12:32 pm »
This is wayyy better-looking than the GM vans our shop guys have (big black front end, fiberglass roof extension - now THAT'S ugly, and I keep hitting my head climbing in those). For service techs who use vans as mobile shops, it's all about the room, roof height and ease of use. Our fleet managers will flock to these, especially if the pricing is lower than the Sprinter, as it probably is.

A QC company already has distribution rights on the Westfalia version, and their demo is a lwb with the diesel. They're reporting fuel economy in the 8's !!
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: First Drive: 2014 Ram ProMaster
« Reply #19 on: October 17, 2013, 12:14:00 pm »
Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on October 17, 2013, 12:10:48 pm
That's a pretty positive review. Good for Chrysler.

Don't mention the war

I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.  :rofl2:

Another great review Jacob! :thumbup:

I just got that, BWAHAHAHA

"Basil: Is there something wrong?
Elder Herr: Will you stop talking about the war?
Basil: Me! You started it!
Elder Herr: We did not start it!
Basil: Yes you did — you invaded Poland."

 :rofl2:
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