(Full Disclosure: This drive was done at the annual Washington Automotive Press Association “WAPA Rally” where 150 automotive journalists scramble around all day spending about 15 minutes with each car. It’s a lot of fun! #waparally)
Mount up!
Climbing up into the jacked up Rebel isn’t easy, but good things are supposed to be a little more challenging right? You don’t get that ground clearance without working for it pansy! And the Rebel has plenty of that, sitting way up above the mere mortal vehicles below, its bright red paint ensuring that you don’t miss it in the Bob Evans parking lot. Before you get in the saddle, you notice that it’s also not hard to notice what brand it is, with large badging matching the large truck its glued to.
Once in place behind the gigantic steering wheel, the rest is pretty typical MOPAR content inside. The U-connect screen looks like the one in my Grand Cherokee, which is easy to use and better than a lot of systems I have had the pleasure, or pain, of experiencing. Look around and there is room for a cowboy sized party up in there, just keep your boots off the leather ladies. We all know they’ll be up in the air anyway, amirite!?! Sorry. The inside generally befits the $50,000 sticker price, so let’s just dial the chrome knob over to “D” and move on.
Only you don’t actually go anywhere, Chrysler has been through the ringer on transmission dials recently and selecting “D” actually doesn’t do anything. I actually managed to get out of the truck, check the muddiness factor (spoiler alert, it’s pretty muddy, sorry FCA) and get back in while leaving it in Drive. Oops. But, from all the recalls and paranoia about the vehicles moving unintentionally, the big Ram obediently just sat there and waited, likely rolling it’s eyes at my ineptitude.
Lets go muddin!
So, once you put your foot on the gas, the big ole engine gets to work moving the Rebe…wait, pop the hood a moment… that’s a God damn V6!
Commies were here. That’s the only explanation; although it could have been the Italians!
What I assumed was a Hemi-powered Raptor fighter is really a sheep in wolf’s clothing. But, as you saw in the video, it works pretty well on a construction site, its red paint looking good with mud splatter. How well it would do through some more serious slop is for another time.
Should I buy one?
No, not equipped like this. For fifty large, you need a V8, pure and simple. It’s just science. Redneck science, but still science nevertheless. The math makes sense too, you can switch from the puny 3.6L V6 engine (that delivers a minuscule delivers 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque) to the manly 5.7L HEMI V8 with a more adequate 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torques for just $1150. Chump change, check the box you wuss.
Wait, the Raptor starts at $48,325 and has more power?
Get that instead.
Rebellion over.
Bonus Pics
