From a visual standpoint 2nd gen will always be my favorite. But you have to understand the direction dodge is trying to go. Instead of the square, boxy trucks of the past companies are trying to make them more aerodynamic. There's countless posts on this site about people complaining about gas mileage and ways to get mpg improvements. Dodge is trying to help by making a more aerodynamic truck. Ford tried with there rounded f-150's in the mid and late 90's and, by ford's standpoint, they didn't sell well. So they went back to a more boxy shape you see in the current f-150's. Chevy did the same thing. Went from a more rounded truck in the mid and late 90's to a more squared off one currently. Boxy with sharp lines seems to be more liked by the buyers. Dodge tried once in the past to make a very rounded and aerodynamic car with the intrepid and it didn't sell as they had hoped. So they scrapped it, then went the other direction with chrysler and came out with the 300. Which is one of, if not, there best selling car ever. It depends on what the buyers want. We'll hate the styling of a more aerodynamic truck then complain when boxy ones get horrible gas mileage. It depends on what you want in a truck.

 

People are just stupid and buy trucks when they don't need them. If you buy a ****ing truck just to go driving around town because you think they look nice then you can't ****ing complain when they get crappy mileage. They're heavy and they're powerful and they're meant for pulling and hauling and that power comes at the expense of fuel.

I can't stand how much people complain about gas mileage on this site or anywhere honestly. Just sell the truck to somebody who deserves it.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with trying to tweaka couple mpg out of it. that is fine. But when people's first (and sometimes only) post on this forum is "well I just bought this 2500 5.9 V8 quad cab long bed, but I only get 12 mpg and this just won't do, can someone point me in the direction of some really cheap and easy bolt on mods, like throttle body spacers?"
Meanwhile 12 mpg is awesome for the above mentioned truck...

If you can't afford to buy gas buy a small car as well and just drive the truck when you NEED it.

 

Yeah,I knew what I was getting into before I got my truck. I did a lot of research and had some family members with Dodges so I knew the mpg's were definitely going to be lacking. Although I wish it did get 20+mpg, it is my favorite looking truck, is plenty powerful,and it is a blast to drive, so I'm not complaining about my current 12-14mpg. That's why I mainly drive my t-bird on my 80 mile per day round trip to work and school and drive the truck on weekends or whenever. If my t-bird dies, or when I save up some money, I'll probably buy another car that gets decent mileage, that way I save a little money at the pump and keep the miles fairly low on the truck.

About the 09's:
I don't care for the way they look that much. I think the 2nd gen's look the best and I like the 3rd gen's a lot too. My next truck will probably be a 3rd Gen with a Hemi or possibly an SRT-10 if I can get a good deal on one. However, I do like the research and everything that dodge seems to be putting into the performance of the new Hemi's and their other engines, so I would probably be led to buy one just because of that, and I'm sure that the styling will probably grow on me once they are out and we get to see all of the different colors and such. Also, a 1500 with a CTD would be awesome, so we'll have to wait and see what happens with these.

 

I kinda like the front end of the new 09's but I am definently not a big fan of the "tall" sides of the new trucks these days, its like a big wall of dentable/scratchable/bendable thin metal going practically all the way to the ground, these new trucks from any manufacturer will never be a practical off-roader, how can they? 4th gen 0 | 2nd gen +1

 

Looks like a Ford Dodge love child, but I like it.

I think they should have rode the bottom of the window sills up at an angle towards the rear.

I think the 2nd gen looks good, but I don't think it's a great looking rig now, it did, but it'd dated now. 3rd's look great minus the '06's... I'm I alone on this statement?

 

There is no offroad potential in that truck what so ever. Look at the suspension. Look at the axels, or lack their of. I don't think that truck could even hold up to offroad tires, let alone offroad. There's no wheel wells either. if that truck flexed at all it would destroy the fenders. Hell being a construction worker I woulnd't even want that truck for fear i'd break it on the job site.

 

Heres what you do guys.... Buy + rip body off + put ur 2nd gen body on = The Perfect Truck!!!

 

Yeah that's looks queer. I like my II generation ram as well, but even that is a bit curvy. I just love my brothers '95 F-350, god that thing is just a fricken man's truck. Big ****in square body style, with the giant 7.5L gas engine, uhhh thing is just so badass. She's all black, with sick chrome features, limo tint all around, HID's...ahh thing is just a man's truck. Girls get a little afraid of it, but who gives a ****?! Thing is just so pretty and clean, yet could towe anything around. Ford did a good job on those damn trucks. I love my II Gen Ram, and I don't mean the III's...but yeah, these have gone another step further from badass, more looks like a titan

 

I think it's a sweet a$$ truck, but I wouldn't be able to treat it like a truck. They're getting so freakin' much like luxury vehicles that I would be treating it like a nice SUV or something. I wouldn't mind having my '01 for fun and having a new one to keep stock and use for a DD. It just gets too expensive to use your toy for a DD...only IMO.

 

I like it!
That color scheme in that pic makes it look worse imo.
As for the coil rear, it should have the same payload
and this isn'tthe 2500,it's not suposed to pull construction
equipment. So the smother ride will be a good thing.
I can't wait topick upa 2010 with a diesel in 4-6 years..