Review: Car & Driver Decimates The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thing."
2014 Ram ProMaster 1500 EcoDiesel We sample (and soil) a few new cargo vans and find that none of them offers CB radios. Daniel Pund/Car and Driver
October 2015
The Ram ProMaster is a detestable, shovel-faced thing that appears to have been cobbled together from spare parts. Too harsh? No, not really. The ProMaster itself is an insult. It is the only vehicle in any comparison test in memory to receive zero points in a subjective category from one of our *voters. That would be for its dreadful single-clutch automated-manual transmission. The other voters each gave it one mercy point. Pull out onto a busy road and the vehicle comes to a near stop as the transmission pauses to find the next gear. It’s not just annoying, causing your head to bob fore and aft with every shift, it’s scary. The steering system is loose and numb and connected to a steering wheel that feels only a few degrees from a horizontal orientation. It’s better than the steering in an ex-military Hummer H1 or a Mercedes-Benz G-class, but worse than everything else.
Its 3.0-liter inline-four turbo-diesel makes more power than the Mercedes’ smaller-displacement four, but the ProMaster returns the slowest acceleration in the test by two seconds to 60 mph. This despite being the shortest and lightest of the vans. It also takes the longest distance to stop from 70 mph. It was the loudest van, it was judged to have the worst ride, and its handling properties were bottom rung.
Yes, but as has been mentioned, the Express & Savana dropped their 1500 chassis models. As stated in the article, they were excluded because they are old school vans, not one of the new European style vans.
Let's be fair. The Metris is the smaller MB van, a competitor to the Transit Connect, Ram Promaster City, & Nissan NV200/Chevy Express City. And as a refresher, here are the fullsize Nissan NV1500 & Chevy Express.
That's what bothers me about MotorTrend; it's sheer news. Maybe some people like that, but I prefer the more entertaining, sometimes childish, Car & Driver.
I gave up on car magazines years ago, even the Hot Rod & Car Craft fix-'em-up magazines. If it wasn't for YouTube shows on the Motor Trend channel, I'd be suffering withdrawals.
Re: Review: Car & Driver DECIMATES The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thi
Why do all the modern vans look so dorky? Can't the stylists make them look a little more manly? The functionality of the modern vans is great, and I get that people don't buy them for looks, but come on, they can look a lot better.
Why do all the modern vans look so dorky? Can't the stylists make them look a little more manly? The functionality of the modern vans is great, and I get that people don't buy them for looks, but come on, they can look a lot better.
I'm actually in total disagreement with you. I think Car & Driver articles are excellent. They're witty and sometimes inappropriate, which I like. John Phillips is also an excellent columnist.
Re: Review: Car & Driver DECIMATES The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thi
the USPS Promasters are 3.6L GAS powered with a AUTOMATIC NOT a AUTOMATED MANUAL and will I assume have an interior package fitted all will make the PROMASTER (or any) van a LOT more nice and liveable
can post went with the TRANSITS big and small and DHL is now sporting transits
Re: Review: Car & Driver Decimates The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thi
Why wasn't a Duramax-powered Express provided for the test?
Also, when is GM updating that old cash cow? I know it's still a favorite for chassis cab users, such as ambulance and fire rescue. That doesn't mean can't make a factory high roof model. The Express already has one of the longest wheelbases and the step bumper. Why not refresh the interior and sheet metal, and offer an optional high roof model?
A) Why wasn't a Duramax-powered Express provided for the test?
B) Also, when is GM updating that old cash cow? I know it's still a favorite for chassis cab users, such as ambulance and fire rescue. That doesn't mean can't make a factory high roof model. The Express already has one of the longest wheelbases and the step bumper. Why not refresh the interior and sheet metal, and offer an optional high roof model?
Yes, but as has been mentioned, the Express & Savana dropped their 1500 chassis models. As stated in the article, they were excluded because they are old school vans, not one of the new European style vans.
B) Good question. This will most likely be the last major body for the Express & Savana. They will continue like this until they can't pass crash regs or can't give them away. I like to think that GM would be testing some updates by now & we'd be seeing some camo wearing vans if they had plans to update them.
Re: Review: Car & Driver Decimates The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thi
" automated-manual transmission"
i drove a rental in europe once with one of those transmissions. it was really scary pulling pulling into a intersection with poor visibility and the trans has to think like a old man being asked what to do next
Re: Review: Car & Driver Decimates The Ram ProMaster: "A detestable, shovel-faced thi
This must be one of the sillier threads about one of the silliest Car and Driver articles ever written. The Ram ProMaster is a truck. It is intended to be used by the owners' employees to haul equipment and to make deliveries. Having seen the other European vans that have recently become so popular in North America, I am hard pressed to see how this one is less attractive than any of the others. Truth be told, if you really care about the looks of this truck, then you have way too much time on your hands.
This must be one of the sillier threads about one of the silliest Car and Driver articles ever written. The Ram ProMaster is a truck. It is intended to be used by the owners' employees to haul equipment and to make deliveries. Having seen the other European vans that have recently become so popular in North America, I am hard pressed to see how this one is less attractive than any of the others. Truth be told, if you really care about the looks of this truck, then you have way too much time on your hands.
I agree and do NOT find it UGLY - not pretty but NOT ugly and add in the REASON it is the way it is that is a + for its intended usage
the AMT automated single clutch IS a son of concern for both maintenance AND driver "comfort" but I bet MOST will be pentastar with a hydro-automatic style tranny so BOTH issues are NON applicable
and for USPS
I can understand, RWD is often more solid. I often had to rent a van. A few years ago, it was only Econoline or Savana (Express). It was hard to load stuff in it. Last time I had a Promaster, and that was very user-friendly. FWD and unibody construction really help.
Side-note. If my only experience with GM or Ford would have been with their full-sized van ( not the Transit), I would have a really, really bad impression of GM and Ford. Almost enought to never go to a dealer. The Promaster is just way better.
Now that I have a Grand Caravan (and Stow'n Go), I rarely rent a van for a day or two. But next time, I'll try to have a Transit.
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