2005 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10

Review

Saying Goodbye to the Nuttiest Pickup Truck Ever Made

What an insane idea! Take a tough as nails load haulin full-size pickup truck, shoehorn in a thunderous 500-horsepower V10 from Americas supercar, the Viper, and go break some land speed records. Some automakers might put together a one-off skunk works project to eek out a few lines from the press, possibly garnering some front page attention, but it had to be Dodge to put it into production.

I tried out the two-door 2004 Ram SRT-10 a few years back, and was not only floored with its ridiculous power off the line but also wowed by how well it hung on around the Chelsea Proving Grounds racecourse. OK, oversteer wasnt too difficult to provoke, but kicking its tail out only made more fun to drive. If kept in check, it could haul around corners with dumbfounding precision and then leave you breathless as it powered down the straights. So how could Dodge make it better? Add four doors.

Well, Im not so sure that increasing the trucks weight with a larger four-door configuration and then only making it available with an automatic makes the SRT-10 Quad Cab a better sport truck, but it certainly is more useful. As of the 2005 model year, the option of four doors has made the SRT-10 a practical family hauler that can actually make the most out of the V10s 525 lb-ft of torque; it can tow thanks to that robust four-speed automatic with overdrive. And by the way, although I tested this truck ages ago as a 2005 model, the 2006 SRT-10 features the revised front end of the new Ram. It will be the most collectible, of course, being that both models are now cancelled and the latest version only ran for a single year.

I have to admit that the slushbox saps a lot of the fun factor out of this super-truck, and despite having a family of five Id probably opt for the sportier two-seat, two-door for the sake of its TREMEC six-speed manual, that is if I was crazy enough to buy into Dodges take on the ultimate pickup. When I first drove the two-door I couldnt help finding myself tapping away on the calculator, awestruck with its amazingly affordable price tag of $45,795. I mean, Id just driven Chevys Silverado SS that looked really nice but didnt really offer much bang for an even higher buck; comparatively the Ram SRT-10 seemed like a steal. By last year (MY 2006) the price had climbed to $48,505 and the new four-door started at $52,710, although there arent any 2007 models shown.

It only makes sense that something this good cant last forever. After all, at the rate that Chrysler Group is losing money lately, about 1.4 billion during the last quarter, somethings got to go. Ford lost its Lightning due to a shortage of development capital, even though there was an outcry from the blue-oval faithful for the 500-horsepower concept unveiled at the 2003 Detroit show, and have you seen an SSR at a Chevy dealership lately? Not likely.

Then again, as cool as the SSR was to retro fans it didnt come close to measuring up to the Ram SRT-10 when it came to performance. The sign NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughn held up after besting the old Ford Lightnings top speed of 147.54 mph to the tune of 154.587 mph in a two-way average says it all... or at least most of it. That day he set a Guinness Record for Worlds Fastest Truck at DaimlerChryslers Chelsea (Michigan) Proving Grounds, where I first tested it, but my guess is that it would win worlds quickest pickup truck to 60 mph or in the quarter mile too, as itll get there in 4.9 to 5.2 seconds, depending on the test results available, and 13.8 seconds respectively. Yeah, thats BMW M3 and Porsche 911 territory. Now that were talking numbers, itll hold on to 0.92 Gs while circling the skid-pad too, thanks to a performance-tuned strut and spring assembly, Bilstein mono-tube shocks and Viper style 22 by 10-inch alloy rims and Pirelli Scorpion P305/40R22 performance tires. How does the larger Quad Cab measure up?

Well, it takes a little longer to sprint to 60 due to its greater mass, but 5.4 seconds is still pretty amazing. Most people who actually plan to use the truck for doing stuff wont mind the small price in performance for the extra seats and cargo room; the Quad Cab stretches the regular SRT-10 from 17 feet, 7 inches to 19 feet, 2 inches overall, giving the latter a smoother ride as well.

This was evident over the rather horrible roads that surround Quebecs Mont-Tremblant racetrack, where I tested the limits of this monster truck. Surprisingly the souped up Ram didnt beat up my undercarriage, but rather it proved to be quite pleasant over rough, uneven pavement. Certainly it wasnt as easy on the derriere as a regular Ram, but it was smoother than the Power Wagon that I drove to this track for a Ferrari event on a separate occasion. Out on the babys butt smooth asphalt of the track, mind you, I might as well have been in a Charger SRT-8.

Yes, this is probably the best track surface in North America, and one of the more entertaining circuits. Ive lauded this racecourse at length in many previous reviews, so Ill leave such gushing for another time and only tell you of my experience with the larger SRT-10. In a word: ASTONISHING! Power comes on so strong when leaving the pits that I ramped up speed too fast, dropping down into the esses much quicker than I had initially intended, at least for my first lap. While the Chrysler 300 SRT8 I tested here on the same day could snake through these turns quicker than the big truck, I was surprised at just how nicely the Ram carved up the turns, saving me from entering the first corner too quickly by oversteering nicely when clipping the inside curb on my way out of the second turn... actually turn 5 on the track.

After a few more laps I got used to the trucks abilities and entered the esses at a more responsible speed, allowing for a better line through turn 4 and cleaner exit out of 5, which set up the short straight and long sweeping, full throttle left bend (turn 6) and cresting right (turn seven) for maximum velocity. Its a rush going through there, as the Gs are so strong that the inherently top-heavy truck feels as though its going to fly off the track, but of course I live to tell that its meaty shoes stuck to the tarmac without even complaining. Again, with each lap I grew more confident of the SRT-10s abilities, pushing it further and further until Id reached my limit of mental adhesion... the truck never reached its limit, mind you.

Turn 8 is about as fun as any corner, anywhere, especially if you disregard exit speed and hand the tail out for maximum effect, which I did the first few times. This, unfortunately, makes for a lousy exit into an uphill straight, although the trucks outlandish output makes up for such mistakes (even purposeful ones) quickly. When I finally got serious about going as fast as I could on the tracks longest straight (OK, theres a slight bend dubbed turn 9 as the straight crests the hill and dips downward), I set up 9 properly, jumped the curb and cleanly headed for the opposite side of the track as I bled the steering out slowly, the Ram executing such apexes perfectly. Again, I couldnt help but giggle like a schoolgirl at what I was doing in a pickup truck.

Turns 10 through 12 are my personal favourites on Tremblant, hard on the brakes after nearing 130 mph and cutting across 10, staying fairly wide to set up 11 (the Gulch) and then powering up a rather steep hill, under a bridge and braking for a tight turn 12, left all the way. Up above the course bends to the right around 13 and 14, the sharpest corner on the circuit that precedes another dramatic elevation change as it straightens out for 15, the final bend before the front straight.

The strange note of the Viper-sourced 8.3-liter V10 echoing off of the surrounding three-foot high curbing and control tower gets the adrenaline pumping even harder, if thats possible, and then its a through turn 1, past the pit exit as turn 2 approaches, down the steep embankment through 3 and into the esses again. Whew!

That was the best time Ive ever had in a pickup truck, even beating some of the fabulous off-road sessions Ive had. Of course, Id like to try the same course in the regular length Ram SRT-10, but none was available for this event. Im sure it would have been even more engaging, what with the manual shifter, lighter weight and shorter wheelbase, as Tremblant makes the Chelsea proving grounds inner track seem like an afterthought.

One of the trucks best attributes is its drivers seat, and I suppose its passengers seat too, although I never took the time to get into it this time around. Its so well bolstered that there was never any concern about staying in place during the more aggressive corners, even when pushing all of its 0.92 G capability. The cabins detailing is almost as enticing to the eyes when inside as the functional hood scoop and Viper-Powered badges are from the outside. This truck is a serious looker.

If you have the chance to buy one, new or used, take it. You wont be sorry, although you might be after spending some downtime behind bars. Oh yeah, its fast enough to get you into plenty of trouble with the long arm of the law, but at least the speed doesnt sneak up on you slowly, unnoticed. Youll be fully aware of just how much space there is between you and all the cars you just left behind at the stoplight, and only fools would consider going head to head for pinks.

If youre interested in all the details, like which features come standard and what options are available, feel free to read my preview of this truck. Right about now I could care less about the audio system and climate control, or whether or not it has an audio jack for my iPod, satellite radio or a six-disc changer. If you care in the slightest about stuff like that, the Ram SRT-10 isnt for you. Really, get a Laramie with navigation and call it a day. This is a truck for those that crave speed, hunger after high-speed stability and just plain like to blow away unsuspecting twits in their 5.0-liter Mustangs at the stoplight. All you need to ask is whether you can handle the power. And dont think Im joking. As fun as it is for those with performance driving experience, itll bite back faster than you can say HOLY $i1+!!! Respect it and youll have the time of your life, dont and itll have yours.

In the end, only Dodge would have the balls to produce a truck like the Ram SRT-10, and then the fortitude to follow it up with a second model, the SRT-10 Quad Cab. Its not like Ford couldnt do it, or even GM, but the fact remains that neither did. Its possible as Chrysler Group continues to lose money that itll be the last time we see something so useless to its bottom line, which would be a shame, but nevertheless we should embrace such mechanical achievements now while theyre here rather than lament that we never owned one when we could have, later in life. I, for one, am thrilled I even got to drive it let alone own it, more than once no less. The Ram SRT-10 is a thrill of a lifetime, and I hate to forecast that I doubt Ill ever be in its equal again. According to Chris at Destination Chrysler, this is the end of the run and there arent many 2006 models left. Are you up for the ride of your life?