My Nadia is Just A Trifle Butch

When I heard Dodge was coming out with a 'fuel efficient' Hemi I thought-somebody is having fun with one of history's biggest oxy-morons. Those phrases not only don't play well together-there is no way that they'd even contemplate co-existence but I thought, what the heck; let's check it out! As long as Dodge didn't hire the guy that produced roughly the same thing for GM and Cadillac in the mid 80s-we're fairly safe.

Nadia-yes that's her name (pronounced Nah-ja) and I first met at the local Dodge store. I had my '05 in for her every 2800 mile transfusion and I was bored with entertaining the service writers and just happened to stumble upon this gorgeous Flame Red (now keep in mind, Dodge has produced - as of my latest count - 16 shades of this same color; none of which match my truck)quad cab Big Horn Edition, faux hood scoop sporting Hemi 4 wheel drive. I glanced over my shoulder to see if there was perchance someone walking nearby with a lockbox key but alas, no salesmen in sight. Phew. I peeked in her windows, which with the advent of the new suspension actually required me, at 5'10" to stand on tiptoe to check out the interior. That plus the fact she was sitting on a six inch platform. The interior is the only "blah" thing about this pickup. The grey for 2006 is TOO LIGHT!!! I have cleaned the upholstery twice and only after the second time, finally pulled my blonde head out of my nether regions and scotch-guarded the heck out of her seats and carpets. Yes, Dodge has done it again; put light grey carpet in a 4 wheel drive?!? Dummies. Let the women pick the seat and carpet colors for a change, Mr. Iacocca.

Anyway, more about this truck. Keep in mind- I have a 2005 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee (see review entitled The Rumble Bee Controversy-Begun by "Wannabee" owners). So I was familiar with how the trucks drove, sounded, felt under your bottom-all of it-but did this Quad cab ever send me for a loop. These two trucks couldn't handle more differently. The '06 is heavier, stiffer through corners but definitely more sure-footed than her one year older sister. There is little to no body roll in hard cornering which is saying quite a lot without a load in the bed. The truck is very quick off the line and out of the gate. She doesn't hesitate at all to just jump in if my right foot presses ever so close to that too light grey carpet. Some people think that because she's pickup that everything I just said about this truck-especially with her being a Dodge-is a big, fat hairy lie. Not true-these 345 ponies are always chomping at the bit and begging to go faster!

Nadia is also very roomy. Being a real estate Broker and the owner of my company, it's important to be able to pack my rig with many bodies if necessary. This truck is more than up to the task. I can fit three adults in the backseat and two additional up front with me if I push the "portaoffice" out of the way. Another thing is leg room. When I have the seat adjusted for my driving comfort, my passenger directly behind me need not fold and contort to accommodate. Whomever is in that seat has at least 6 inches to spare. I'm not shy to say that all of my height is in my legs; 45" from hip to floor so the driver's seat is back pretty far! But, I can barely reach the pedals if I power the driver's seat all the way back. Something I discovered while giving Nadi her prescribed weekly detail. Don't try to move these trucks if you don't have the seat in its full, upright position. You could end up with a blemished bumper.

Brakes. Oh, that's what that center pedal is for. Never use it. Seriously, these trucks, although big and heavy, stop on a dime. Anti-locks are great on wet roads. I have never owned anything, and that includes my two Durangos, that I felt safer in more than this truck. There is no lock-up, hesitation or vibration if you have to really stand on them.

Instrumentation. I like the changes Dodge made to the dash also. Some of the indicator lights are difficult to see in the dark in the 2002-2005 models. Dodge moved the cruise control, fog lamp and transmission indicators so they are easier to see. I actually drive my '05 with the steering wheel in an odd position just to make sure I don't miss anything important that big girl might be trying to tell me. I do however take exception with the standard radio this year. I was (lucky?!?) enough to get the Sirius (sp) satellite radio/CD combo but I'll tell you what, the output, reception and quality is NOT there like it is in my Bee and the Bee has a standard single CD- AM/FM Radio-Cassette system that would blow the speakers out of my Quad.

When I first brought the truck home everyone 'oohed and aahed' about the way she looks. There is definitely a huge difference between the full frontal view of the 2005 and 2006 trucks. There is a lot more chrome on the front of this truck than my '05 but Dodge was more concerned when they built the Bees with keeping everything body color clad. Since the Bees only came in two colors; yellow and black; this gets a little boring. But I can say I own one of 5000 built. (I think-I don't remember hearing they built any more).

I also like the change Dodge made to the 5 speed automatic transmission. You don't just push the button on the shifter once to "Tow-Haul-you have an option of going from 5th to 4th instead of 5th to 3rd-a great compliment and safeguard for the engine. I hate going up hills to pass somebody and have the thing gear down so far you're almost revving 4000 rpms at first.

Waiting for me to talk about MDS? I don't have much to say except I think its a phallacy. Yes, I pull about 24-25 straight highway mileage on fairly flat, non-mountainous ground with or without the tailgate in its upright position. Makes no difference and yes, I did the experiment. But around town-this modification that Daimler-Chrysler is so proud of makes no difference. I get the standard 12-14 mpg combined. The thing that probably bothers me the most about this new Hemi is that I don't like hearing the engine shift from 4 cylinders to eight and vice versa. My husband thinks I'm hallucinating but these are MY trucks. I take them on just Mom and Me mini road trips, I've been under both of them, on a creeper, changed their oil when I got tired of paying $29.95 to the dealership, and greased their fittings. I spend at least 3 hours per week per truck keeping up with the crap that gets left behind during the work week. Hubby doesn't know them as intimately as I do. And the shifting noise bugs me. I also highly recommend if you are going to buy one of these pickups-find one with the transfer case shifter mounted on the floor, not our little knob on the dash. I have a really steep, graveled driveway that sports a 45 degree turn at the last section of it and when I turn the knob, there is an approximate 5 second delay before the 4-wheel drive kicks in. Hate it. I like the feel of the truck shifting in-not clicking electronically in. That light on the dash that says 4WD might stop flashing but with my Bee, you can actually feel the truck go into 4 Hi. The knob version-you hope its in 4 Hi. Example-with just 1800 miles on her engine I took this beautiful girl to play in the snow. We got stuck because that light quit flashing and I thought I was ok- I shouldn't have thought, I guess. Had to jack her up, dig all two feet of snow out from under her transfer case and hike out into the woods and dig through more snow to find enough dirt to put under the power tires once the truck did engage the front end. That in itself is a testimony to the power of the Hemi. I was spinning so much I glazed the ice under the snow and couldn't budge.

In closing, I'd like to say on a purely shallow and vane note that the 2006 Ram is definitely a lot easier to dress up. With that massive, vaccuous chrome grille up front, these trucks just beg for more show.

Hope this helps you make a decision. If I have left anything out, feel free to contact me with questions at my email address.

PS: Can you tell that these two pickups are the first brand new trucks I have ever purchased?