Yep, I've always liked the classic RCLB pick up. Nice truck.
Silvy WT and LT RC 8 test drives - "Aesthetics uber alles?"
As some might have remembered from "The Aesthetics of the K2x Regular Cab" thread I started, I have more than a healthy love of the traditional two door pickup.
The K2's clean cut creases and square jaw combine with a tall, flat hood matching the height of the bed almost make it 'retro' to me - very 1973 in my eyes.
In my pantheon of automotive awesomeness, 2 door pickups are up there with the ponycars. I think the two door is just that cool.
I negotiate some inner-city belly of the beast tight twists and turns and garage entrance angles as sharp as the K2's looks. I thought I could only make it work with the RC 6.5.
I went to the local yokel, only blocks from my house to made sure I could pull the RC 8 into the garage space. Got a WT1 convenience package 2wd and 262 V6.
I got in on the passenger side so he could pull out of the tight lot. I have to say I was a little shocked at the dearth of legroom - but the seat was pushed up somewhat.
After life in the Dodge RC6.3 it felt significantly more cramped. I had an '09 Silvy that was totaled that I replaced with the Ram. It's a stripper and I'm growing tired of rolling up windows and unbuckling, then lifting up the center armrest to bow over and unlock the passenger door.
In any case, I was surprised at how well I got the RC 8 in the garage - even from the bad angle, with relative ease.
Also surprised by how luxurious the WT1 felt in relative terms. Quiet and refined as a mouse and it didn't look that spartan considering its bottom rung status - this one had the power windows and mirrors.
On the short trip around a few blocks, it felt amazingly eager kicking down and leaped ahead. Engine exhaust sounded pretty good too and zero problems with the rough and starved out idle that could be felt in driver's seat of my '09 LS 293 V8. I didn't think the throttle was hesitant - but wasn't going much past 35 on Irving Park - Bungalow belt of NW side.
After that confirmation, took a trip way down south - to the 'dixie' of Chicagoland in Frankfort, IL Phillips mega dealer. Inside of the 'showroom' had no cars, just a g*ddamn beehive of working stiffs of every stripe haggling. Literally no cars in there.
Took a trip in this black beauty. V8 and 3.42 axle.
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Angle of the picture doesn't do it justice at all. This one had the technical marvel of the backup camera in the LT convenience package. Gives it a top-o-the-line posh feeling, but I found myself looking out the window backing anyway. And with the bed you can see right where the back ends - no problem with walls, but of course for low slung cars behind you it's a giant leap for mankind in the parallel parking game. You could come within an inch tapping someone - it endows the RC 8 with a secret weapon for parking.
Funny what everyone says about torque management - because when I had the chance of a stoplight, I stomped on it and the rearend stepped out to the side and both rear tires lit up. My Ram will not burn any rubber at all if the traction control is on. This with recently added 4.10 gears and tru-trac locking diff.
After driving a RAM ST for five years, The LT was like stepping far, far into the future. Nice leather wheel and hoity toity driver info center. Noticed the LT puts the PRNDM letters horizontal in smaller font and the WT had larger vertically stacked gear letters.
I had taken all my junk out of the Ram - and the foam rubber cushions in the box that turn it into a mini camper special. I was open to signing off a small monthly share of the next half a decade of my probable continued employment.
But I really must say I missed the space behind the Ram seat - in a sense maybe even the 'idea' of some space behind. I probably wasn't driving any closer to the wheel - I remember being able to lock my elbows with hands on the Silvy's steering wheel if I scrunched my shoulders. You can sit bolt upright and have copious legroom - but of course not if you tip the seat back a bit - it was almost more clumsy negotiating this with the electric seatback recliner than a manual one. I've always thought you only need the seat bottom to be electric anyway.
I balked.
To me a RC Silvy = Camaro... but with cheap insurance, no flagrant cop baiting and the added attraction of all these great things you can do with the bed. Then of course the off roading, curb hopping, speed jump defying ride height and pure brawn.
But I could not pull the trigger. Not sure if I thought the room was an excuse to have second thoughts or cold feet. I'm still warm to the idea. I also considered that it felt as if the Silvy instrument panel and dash were closer, but the wheel was about as far away from chest as in the Dodge. But it plainly doesn't have that vast feeling the Ram cab has.
Yet the salesman did not throw me off the trail of the RC when he showed me a double cab either. I was amazed at how vestigial the back seat was. Those pancake flat back rests and headrests. Seemed more cramped in back than my dad's '98 GMT400 EC 6.5. I did have front seatback pushed pretty far back though. But even with it moved up, room is still awful. I thought these had progressed more. No wonder the Crews took over.
It struck me that they should just make a really tight two person jumpseat - or maybe just one really good middle seat set staggered behind back and in the middle. Then they combine the DC and RC into one thing.
Other thing is the double cab completely loses the 'Camaro' aspect for me - not made better by the clunky looking new outside door handles. Then you get another ten inches of wheelbase over the RC 8 and two feet over the RC 6.5. I'm already dragging the back tires over sidewalk corners in certain situations. Couldn't imagine doing that less if I had another two feet of wheelbase to fight. I don't want to replace the Ram just to have power windows - oh and a real paint color other than contractor special white. In fact the Silvy/Sierra I consider the best lookers by a mile. To me the Ram has always been about the engine, and looks seemed ungainly to me.
I think I might try a blood red 4wd LT V6 RC 8 not far from Hillary Clinton's ancestral home - just to either confirm I need the space or confirm my driving position really isn't any different than the Ram. I think I could live without the Ram cab shelf if I at least don't feel my driver position is cramped in a 19 foot long conveyance.
One last question for horse trading experts: Got a 'private offer' voucher from Chevy for $1500. Says it can be combined with 'most other offers' - it turns into a pumpkin Dec 8th. Is the kind of thing dealers would have already factored into 'internet pricing'?
The K2's clean cut creases and square jaw combine with a tall, flat hood matching the height of the bed almost make it 'retro' to me - very 1973 in my eyes.
In my pantheon of automotive awesomeness, 2 door pickups are up there with the ponycars. I think the two door is just that cool.
I negotiate some inner-city belly of the beast tight twists and turns and garage entrance angles as sharp as the K2's looks. I thought I could only make it work with the RC 6.5.
I went to the local yokel, only blocks from my house to made sure I could pull the RC 8 into the garage space. Got a WT1 convenience package 2wd and 262 V6.
I got in on the passenger side so he could pull out of the tight lot. I have to say I was a little shocked at the dearth of legroom - but the seat was pushed up somewhat.
After life in the Dodge RC6.3 it felt significantly more cramped. I had an '09 Silvy that was totaled that I replaced with the Ram. It's a stripper and I'm growing tired of rolling up windows and unbuckling, then lifting up the center armrest to bow over and unlock the passenger door.
In any case, I was surprised at how well I got the RC 8 in the garage - even from the bad angle, with relative ease.
Also surprised by how luxurious the WT1 felt in relative terms. Quiet and refined as a mouse and it didn't look that spartan considering its bottom rung status - this one had the power windows and mirrors.
On the short trip around a few blocks, it felt amazingly eager kicking down and leaped ahead. Engine exhaust sounded pretty good too and zero problems with the rough and starved out idle that could be felt in driver's seat of my '09 LS 293 V8. I didn't think the throttle was hesitant - but wasn't going much past 35 on Irving Park - Bungalow belt of NW side.
After that confirmation, took a trip way down south - to the 'dixie' of Chicagoland in Frankfort, IL Phillips mega dealer. Inside of the 'showroom' had no cars, just a g*ddamn beehive of working stiffs of every stripe haggling. Literally no cars in there.
Took a trip in this black beauty. V8 and 3.42 axle.
Angle of the picture doesn't do it justice at all. This one had the technical marvel of the backup camera in the LT convenience package. Gives it a top-o-the-line posh feeling, but I found myself looking out the window backing anyway. And with the bed you can see right where the back ends - no problem with walls, but of course for low slung cars behind you it's a giant leap for mankind in the parallel parking game. You could come within an inch tapping someone - it endows the RC 8 with a secret weapon for parking.
Funny what everyone says about torque management - because when I had the chance of a stoplight, I stomped on it and the rearend stepped out to the side and both rear tires lit up. My Ram will not burn any rubber at all if the traction control is on. This with recently added 4.10 gears and tru-trac locking diff.
After driving a RAM ST for five years, The LT was like stepping far, far into the future. Nice leather wheel and hoity toity driver info center. Noticed the LT puts the PRNDM letters horizontal in smaller font and the WT had larger vertically stacked gear letters.
I had taken all my junk out of the Ram - and the foam rubber cushions in the box that turn it into a mini camper special. I was open to signing off a small monthly share of the next half a decade of my probable continued employment.
But I really must say I missed the space behind the Ram seat - in a sense maybe even the 'idea' of some space behind. I probably wasn't driving any closer to the wheel - I remember being able to lock my elbows with hands on the Silvy's steering wheel if I scrunched my shoulders. You can sit bolt upright and have copious legroom - but of course not if you tip the seat back a bit - it was almost more clumsy negotiating this with the electric seatback recliner than a manual one. I've always thought you only need the seat bottom to be electric anyway.
I balked.
To me a RC Silvy = Camaro... but with cheap insurance, no flagrant cop baiting and the added attraction of all these great things you can do with the bed. Then of course the off roading, curb hopping, speed jump defying ride height and pure brawn.
But I could not pull the trigger. Not sure if I thought the room was an excuse to have second thoughts or cold feet. I'm still warm to the idea. I also considered that it felt as if the Silvy instrument panel and dash were closer, but the wheel was about as far away from chest as in the Dodge. But it plainly doesn't have that vast feeling the Ram cab has.
Yet the salesman did not throw me off the trail of the RC when he showed me a double cab either. I was amazed at how vestigial the back seat was. Those pancake flat back rests and headrests. Seemed more cramped in back than my dad's '98 GMT400 EC 6.5. I did have front seatback pushed pretty far back though. But even with it moved up, room is still awful. I thought these had progressed more. No wonder the Crews took over.
It struck me that they should just make a really tight two person jumpseat - or maybe just one really good middle seat set staggered behind back and in the middle. Then they combine the DC and RC into one thing.
Other thing is the double cab completely loses the 'Camaro' aspect for me - not made better by the clunky looking new outside door handles. Then you get another ten inches of wheelbase over the RC 8 and two feet over the RC 6.5. I'm already dragging the back tires over sidewalk corners in certain situations. Couldn't imagine doing that less if I had another two feet of wheelbase to fight. I don't want to replace the Ram just to have power windows - oh and a real paint color other than contractor special white. In fact the Silvy/Sierra I consider the best lookers by a mile. To me the Ram has always been about the engine, and looks seemed ungainly to me.
I think I might try a blood red 4wd LT V6 RC 8 not far from Hillary Clinton's ancestral home - just to either confirm I need the space or confirm my driving position really isn't any different than the Ram. I think I could live without the Ram cab shelf if I at least don't feel my driver position is cramped in a 19 foot long conveyance.
One last question for horse trading experts: Got a 'private offer' voucher from Chevy for $1500. Says it can be combined with 'most other offers' - it turns into a pumpkin Dec 8th. Is the kind of thing dealers would have already factored into 'internet pricing'?
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Thanks for the responses. I really hate to say it, but I'm tempted to look at the '15 Ford. Ironically it has a 4" shorter wheelbase this year and is therefore likely worse in backseat storage than the current one. For reasons I can't explain the the '14 Ford 150 - even with the STX package - doesn't have that certain something.
cc1999 - good observation about the front seats getting thicker and thicker and then they don't go as far back - and also shave precious inches off the rear legroom in the DC.
A DC would fit in my garage - with a scant 10 inches to spare (230" and 20 ft/240" garage - glad I got the extra long garage). DC's actually only 6" longer than the RC 8, but has ten inches longer wheelbase.
But I just can't convince myself that a DC 6.5 has that "Camaro" quality. Maybe it's just growing up in the late 70's when the whole 4x4 thing was really taking off, the ultimate badass machine was one of these...
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The RC costs about $3000 less on a trim to trim basis than a DC or CC so you can get more options for the same money. IMO you can drive a harder bargain withe RC because everyone wants the CC now - and end 'o year deal played a huge part in my looking around the past few weeks.
One other thing regarding Ram: If you are going for a jacked up look, you're already halfway there with the Silvy. Just level the front a little. Rams sit significantly lower on their springs - especially in back. Now is 'wheel gap' good or bad? I'd say good if you want the 4wd look, bad if you want the street machine look.
I think I could live without throwing things behind the seat, but I don't want a claustrophobic feeling especially on long vacation trips with a (potentially at least) slide in camper - which is part of why I'm looking at 8ft beds.
cc1999 - good observation about the front seats getting thicker and thicker and then they don't go as far back - and also shave precious inches off the rear legroom in the DC.
A DC would fit in my garage - with a scant 10 inches to spare (230" and 20 ft/240" garage - glad I got the extra long garage). DC's actually only 6" longer than the RC 8, but has ten inches longer wheelbase.
But I just can't convince myself that a DC 6.5 has that "Camaro" quality. Maybe it's just growing up in the late 70's when the whole 4x4 thing was really taking off, the ultimate badass machine was one of these...
The RC costs about $3000 less on a trim to trim basis than a DC or CC so you can get more options for the same money. IMO you can drive a harder bargain withe RC because everyone wants the CC now - and end 'o year deal played a huge part in my looking around the past few weeks.
One other thing regarding Ram: If you are going for a jacked up look, you're already halfway there with the Silvy. Just level the front a little. Rams sit significantly lower on their springs - especially in back. Now is 'wheel gap' good or bad? I'd say good if you want the 4wd look, bad if you want the street machine look.
I think I could live without throwing things behind the seat, but I don't want a claustrophobic feeling especially on long vacation trips with a (potentially at least) slide in camper - which is part of why I'm looking at 8ft beds.
CC 5.8 and DC 6.5 are the same 230" length and 143.5" wb, but the CC 6.5 RC 6.5 and RC 8 are all unique.
I think the driver legroom is about the same as Ram but the passenger is surprisingly cramped? Why? Wonder if it has to do with front diff?
I think I've eliminated the possibility of 8ft. The RC 6.5 is only about 17ft long - basically just a regular car length. The RC 8 had the backup cam and I kept thinking I won't need it if I have a 17ft truck instead of a 19ft one. I've still got to parallel park. Been reading up on slide ins and you can do an 8ft in a 6ft if it's not too heavy and you tie it down well.
I've narrowed it down to one possibility. Going to ask for 33% off the sticker.
I tried to get myself to like a DC, but thing about the RC is its almost like a brand new 'vintage' or classic. In RC6.5 form, I would put them on par with a Mustang or Camaro. Just entirely different animal than the DC - and $3000 cheaper. Add the $3000 or so less for rwd than 4wd - then factor in the 'close out' year end deals. Their are still a number of RCs left even in December while '14 CCs are all sold out - and suddenly I'm paying the same Actual Transaction Price as the MSRP on something like this.
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