I’ve always associated vans with leisure, such as traveling with my family on a cross-country road trip or watching a movie in a tricked-out conversion special. Lucky me. Some people out there actually use them to work. Plumbers, cable installers, audio/video specialists — they all need something in which to transport the tools and supplies of their trades. Ram Trucks recently announced the minimum amount they’ll need to pay for the ProMaster City to carry their gear and their businesses forward: $24,125*.
That amount buys a two-seat Tradesman Cargo van. Stepping up to a Tradesman SLT increases the price to $25,650*. Cargo models contain an interior volume of 131.7 cubic feet. A 48.4-inch span between the rear wheel wells is partially to thank for that, as is an interior roof height of 51.8 inches and an above-wheel-well expanse of 60.4 inches. “The rear of the Ram ProMaster City is fitted with 60/40 split rear doors. Using lessons learned from European customers, the larger door swings open toward the traffic (driver) side of the van, making it easy to quickly access larger cargo items and not block the path to the curbside of the van.”
The five-seat ProMaster City Wagon with rear and side windows goes for $25,125*. Its SLT variant is available for $26,650*. Both offerings include a three-passenger second row that splits 60/40. Each section can be folded and tumbled forward to free up space for things such as giant, custom-made cakes.
All ProMaster City vans are built in Bursa, Turkey and are equipped with the 2.4-liter Tigershark I4 and its 178 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. That output is routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Ram covers the powertrain with a five-year/100,000-mile warranty. The EPA gives the vehicle ratings of 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. Other ratings include 1,883 pounds for payload and 2,000 for towing.
Click the first link below for information about how Ram Commercial and the new ProMaster City vans will help professionals get their work done.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
