Junkyard Exploration

The Dodge Caliber always seemed to have a bit of a reputation as basically being a "meh" car since it comes across as a really cheap vehicle with the build quality and a driving experience to match. A quick internet search of reviews for this vehicle showed a good number of reviews about these cars, the main point in most of them is that they are really good as basic transportation, built for people who may consider them as just appliances - a tool to make everyday life easier, not really made for anyone that really likes driving cars. In 2012 I was looking at replacing my 2004 Honda CRV. During my search, I did try out a 2011 Caliber since I was very intrigued by the low price on the Caliber. While it was OK to drive, I did immediately notice the abundance of hard plastic that was contained in the interior, and the engine noise was quite a bit louder than my CRV. Considering that this would be a vehicle that I would be living with for the good part of a decade, I ...

This (or at least what's left of it) is what I would call a time machine. This Ram hearkens back to a time when trucks were used for one purpose and one purpose only - to work.  When this truck hit the road back in 1982, it was pretty inconceivable to think that a truck would have such "frilly" things like leather seats, power windows or cost more than a well equipped Cadillac.  A truck like this always brings me back to my adolescence, a time when I go visit to the neighbors down some back road bouncing around on a bench seat as big as our back 40, listening to the local country station on a crackly AM radio,  It was a simpler time and to be frank a much more honest time, and trucks like these reflected that - what you see is what you got. This particular Ram was a basic Custom trim level that had (according to the history report) a 3.7 liter slat 6 engine and 2 wheel drive .  As basic as basic can be.  This truck was based o...