Chrysler groups say that the 5.7 Hemi V-8 in there full size Dodge Ram from model year 2003 has sold more than 300,000 vehicles to date. In vehicles offering the Hemi, the take rate is 46%, thus Nov sales are also up 3% from last year. What vehicles? Derango 54% . Ram 46% . Magnum R/T and the 300 at 43% each. And the Grand Cherokee at 29% . The Magnum and Grand Cherokee have the system that shuts off 4 of the 8 cylinders to save fuel when not needed. Next spring the 6.1 Liter 425 HP Hemi will be in the 2005, 300c SRT8 So while the present Hemi has 340 Hp at 390 # of torque, the 6.1 at 425 Hp, will have 420 # torque. The 6.1 will not offer the piston shut down mode. Ken

 

Haven't figured out the appeal of these Hemi's, other than nostalgia. The wife has the 5.7 and it is horrible for pulling and fuel mileage is even worse. But runnin down the highway empty, hold on, it's like a rocket in between fuel stops.

 

Kind of along the same subject... my wife and I were on vacation back in July of this year and ran across a couple of SRT 8's at the Doubletree Hotel in Durango CO. They had manufacturer plates on them and the guys driving them were VERY secretive about them. I tried to talk to them a little but you could tell they really didn’t want to talk about them.

Or maybe they just didn’t want to talk to me???? Nah that couldn’t be it. Must have been the cars.



Here are a few pictures we stole while they weren’t looking. Be sure and take note of the HUGE 24" wheels that they are riding on! Also look at the thing hanging from the window of one of them. Couldn't tell what that was but I'm sure someone here will know.



























Britt

 

the thing on the window is a key box. You see them on car lots all the time. Carry one key (to the keybox) and you drive any car on the lot.

Tad

 

no it's not a key box. it is some type of measuring device. look a little bit closer. i got a real close look at it but still couldn't figure it out. it had some type of wire connected to a computer control unit mounted to the windshield of the car.

these weren't cars off of some lot somewhere. they were direct from the manufacturer being tested.



britt

 

Look at my sig. I'm happy! It tows our 5th wheel like a champ and 17hwy, 15~ suburban, 9~ towing. What a shame my '03 was a lemon.

 

That box is either a deer whistle or one of the old drive-in movie speakers.

 

Just wait until Chrysler starts putting the new V-8 Cummins in the 300C's, with manuals and tiny rear-ends. I predict it, mon...

 

with front ends like those I would think the people that are used to parking by brail would have to change their style....
Nothing gets me wound up more than sitting in the van and being constantly bumped when the guy behind or in front is trying to park.

 

Parking by brail ... That describes my dad perfectly. He ALWAYS "nudges" the car in front of him.

I'll have to let him know what he's "doing."

Parking by Brail

Chris

 

no offense intended, but if you really thought that was a lock box you need to get out more

 

I saw the same things on an '04 Ram back in '02. They are temperature and humidity sensors that are tied into a laptop computer that moniters ALL functions of the vehicle they are test driving.
Tom

 

that sounds about right.

there was a large computer display suction cupped to the windshield of all the cars they were testing. i wish i could have gotten a picture of those also.

anyway the cars were pretty cool.


britt