Friday, July 07, 2006
Well, truck it
This is basically the truck I drive now, a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, four-door, silver. Mine is 4WD and has running boards. I love it. It's the closest thing to the Cowboy Cadillac I always wanted.When I bought it, I said I'd drive it until Bird graduated college. And I meant it. That's still two years away.
But dang it. Dr. ER's hip situation -- she fell and broke it while taking pictures of Christmas lights on Christmas night -- is taking its sweet time resolving itself. She is healing, but slowly -- and she can barely stand to ride in my ol' rough-riding Dodge.
So, I need to know from y'all who know: What is the smoothest-riding pickup? I'm on the verge of trading. But for what?
I hear the Honda Ridgeline is a smooooth ride. My neck's not so red that I won't drive a Honda.
What do y'all think?
--ER
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Okay, I know nothing about trucks, but would it be cheaper to junk the factory shocks and put in better ones? Or maybe put in an air-ride seat for her?
That being said, I think the Honda Ridgeline looks pretty cool.
That being said, I think the Honda Ridgeline looks pretty cool.
Good point, D.Dad.
I put better shocks on the Dodge last summer. It's always gonna be rough 'cause it's 4WD, I guess. And I don't need a 4WD. Sigh. But I sure do like havin' it.
I thought about an air-ride seat. No idea how much that would cost. And it would probably make it harder to trade later on.
AND, I'd sort of liek to have a car for a change -- but then I'd have to get a junk pickup -- 'cause I just ain't gonna be without a dang truck.
I put better shocks on the Dodge last summer. It's always gonna be rough 'cause it's 4WD, I guess. And I don't need a 4WD. Sigh. But I sure do like havin' it.
I thought about an air-ride seat. No idea how much that would cost. And it would probably make it harder to trade later on.
AND, I'd sort of liek to have a car for a change -- but then I'd have to get a junk pickup -- 'cause I just ain't gonna be without a dang truck.
Crap. Hadn't thought of that.
Bird's car is on the curb now for the summer. That leaves just one more place for another vehicle -- unless, ahem, I actually arranged the garage so we could park something in it.
SUBURBS SUCK.
Bird's car is on the curb now for the summer. That leaves just one more place for another vehicle -- unless, ahem, I actually arranged the garage so we could park something in it.
SUBURBS SUCK.
Does Dr. E.R. have a vehicle as well? And if so, how does she do riding in it? Would it be possible for you to use it when the two of you travel together and keep your truck?
I have considered the Honda truck myself, seeing as how I'll only own Hondas and I rejoiced mightily when they came out with the Ridgeline. However, I will continue to drive my 11-year-old Civic until it dies and/or I have the income to purchase another vehicle. (Keeping my fingers crossed that increased income comes before deceased car.)
I have considered the Honda truck myself, seeing as how I'll only own Hondas and I rejoiced mightily when they came out with the Ridgeline. However, I will continue to drive my 11-year-old Civic until it dies and/or I have the income to purchase another vehicle. (Keeping my fingers crossed that increased income comes before deceased car.)
Dr. ER does have a car. For road trips, I prefer to drive, and I prefer to drive a truck. I feel toooo low to the ground to feel safe in a car.
If you live in the suburbs and work as a writer what do you need a 4WD truck for? Surely something smaller and more fuel-efficient makes better sense for getting the groceries home or going on road-trips?
Or do you actually need to shift a dozen bales of hay around at a time?? :)
Yours sincerely
Perplexed Brit
(Driving a Ford Fiesta which comfortably gets 300 miles out of 9.5 gallons of gas.)
Or do you actually need to shift a dozen bales of hay around at a time?? :)
Yours sincerely
Perplexed Brit
(Driving a Ford Fiesta which comfortably gets 300 miles out of 9.5 gallons of gas.)
"My neck's not so red that I won't drive a Honda."
you know as well as i do that there's no such thing as an "american-made" car anymore! my first new car was a saturn, and, at the time, it was the most american-made car on the market, at 97%. but that percentage has, predictbly, come down since. so don't get hung-up on the japanese name. i've owned a few hondas in my time, and i can tekll you, they make a very good vehicle.
liam's got a point, however....
KEvron, who believes there is only one sin: conspicuous consumption.
you know as well as i do that there's no such thing as an "american-made" car anymore! my first new car was a saturn, and, at the time, it was the most american-made car on the market, at 97%. but that percentage has, predictbly, come down since. so don't get hung-up on the japanese name. i've owned a few hondas in my time, and i can tekll you, they make a very good vehicle.
liam's got a point, however....
KEvron, who believes there is only one sin: conspicuous consumption.
I know, Kev.
And Laim does have a point. It's mostly safety -- and almost mostly because I'm a farm kid and I just can't stand not to have a pickup truck.
And Laim does have a point. It's mostly safety -- and almost mostly because I'm a farm kid and I just can't stand not to have a pickup truck.
Most Hondas are made in the U.S. now, surprisingly, so you might want to say that it's increasingly hard to find a Japanese car that's actually made in Japan these days.
I'm just not sure how much of a "comfort" gain you'll make trading one truck for another, though.
I'm just not sure how much of a "comfort" gain you'll make trading one truck for another, though.
Pain and love versus macho and ego! A truck is a truck. If you soften the ride you make the truck unstable. Thus all the damn roll-overs based on poor physics of trucks known as SUVs. So if you find a soft ride truck you will have a car masquerading as a truck.
Then you won't have a truck.
Don't feel safe? Go check the actual stats on deaths in crashes and single car accidents. Then go buy a volvo. Oh what a minute, it might not be safe to drive that home to Western Arkhoma. OK, Merc still make its Marqui in 2006 (last year they will be available though), get one of those. Hell buy their cop car version if it will support your truck ego. Buy the way, what do you think that rough ride is doing to YOUR innards.
Then you won't have a truck.
Don't feel safe? Go check the actual stats on deaths in crashes and single car accidents. Then go buy a volvo. Oh what a minute, it might not be safe to drive that home to Western Arkhoma. OK, Merc still make its Marqui in 2006 (last year they will be available though), get one of those. Hell buy their cop car version if it will support your truck ego. Buy the way, what do you think that rough ride is doing to YOUR innards.
# posted by 
: 8:11 PM
: 8:11 PM
Um, stats have zilch to do with what I was talking about. I don't *feel* safe riding low in a car.
Maybe it is macho and ego. Eh. But I drove those damn Ford Ranger trucklets for 10 fricking years, cramming all 6-foot-4-inches and 250-plus pounds of me into the damn things -- because that's all I could afford. I like driving a full-size truck. It's my single biggest indulgence -- and I pay for it in gasoline taxes.
Maybe it is macho and ego. Eh. But I drove those damn Ford Ranger trucklets for 10 fricking years, cramming all 6-foot-4-inches and 250-plus pounds of me into the damn things -- because that's all I could afford. I like driving a full-size truck. It's my single biggest indulgence -- and I pay for it in gasoline taxes.
Chevy ext cab 2wd is the best truck ride I've ever seen. Right now they have a 0 down, 0%, 72 month pay plan. Most are 20-23,000.00 if you don't go crazy on options. Course if you try to trade they'll skin you alive.
If I could afford it I'd buy your dodge so you would come see me more often. ha
If I could afford it I'd buy your dodge so you would come see me more often. ha
# posted by : 1:38 AM
: 1:38 AM
There ought to be a special category in the Darwin Awards for those otherwise rational people who make decisions like this based on how safe it makes them feel rather than how safe they actually are!
But you make sound as if I am being irrational. I am not.
Sometimes, it is more important for me to feel safe than to be safe, therefore I make decisions like "I will drive to D.C." rather than "I will fly" fly because I would rather feel safe on the ground for 1,400(?) miles than to feel scared shitless on a plane for a few hours.
I freely admit that that strain of emotion helps explain American politics in general, and especially since 9/11. Anyone who makes us feel safe is a shoo-in.
Sometimes, it is more important for me to feel safe than to be safe, therefore I make decisions like "I will drive to D.C." rather than "I will fly" fly because I would rather feel safe on the ground for 1,400(?) miles than to feel scared shitless on a plane for a few hours.
I freely admit that that strain of emotion helps explain American politics in general, and especially since 9/11. Anyone who makes us feel safe is a shoo-in.
Yep they're selling "protection" to us alright. Trouble is they can't deliver.
By the way the type of axles have shit to do with rollovers. It is tires, suspension, and the center of gravity that matter.
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By the way the type of axles have shit to do with rollovers. It is tires, suspension, and the center of gravity that matter.
# posted by : 12:26 AM
: 12:26 AM << Home
