2026 RAM 1500 Black Express

[Blueprint]

A little change from my recent series of hybrids...

This rig is a 4x4 crew cab short bed with the s.o. Hurricane six, a $3,795 option over the base Pentastar. The Limited I tested a couple years ago had the premium-fed h.o. version of that engine, and it was a hoot! But even the standard setup has more torque and hp than the HEMI. Plus, I commuted downtown with this thing for a couple of days and it stayed in the 12's as far as fuel economy goes. And "goes" it does - the s.o. has plenty of power.

Black Express is a dress-up pkg based on the std trim (Tradesman), so you get hard plastic dash and door panels, but evrything still looks nice in there. Advertised "starting at $56,995", my tester sits at $75k.

[GreatBigAbyss]

$75k for essentially a tradesman truck with hard plastics is just insane. 

I'm never going to own a full size truck ever again. 

[Blueprint]

$75k for essentially a tradesman truck with hard plastics is just insane. 

I'm never going to own a full size truck ever again. 

They pay the bills at the "Big 3", and it shows...

Funny thing is - I have to buy reno materials this week (mouldings, electric baseboards, railings, etc.) and nothing fits it the RAM. My CX-90 carried 11 footers inside, and 12 footers leaning on the front right windowsill. The RAM has 7' diagonal max in the bed, and you can't lean MDF on the tailgate or through the rear window, especially if it rains every day like this week.

[GreatBigAbyss]

I'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project. 

It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.