Howdy Y'all,
Firstime poster, Loooooongtime reader.
I traded in my new Navigator with all the circus bells and whistles because I was buying a new house and needed to show less debt (monthlys were 800+) and got a simple, safe car to haul the baby in. The Lexus handles like an F1 racer but is severly lacking in get-up-and-go and, of course, I can't haul diddly.
My friend KP turned me on to Dodge and as it turns out all his friends drive them and even his dad has an SRT-10. I am smitten with it's looks and handling and power but because I don't race I am wondering if it is really worth the extra 20Gs for my purposes (ie. Family taxi, fence hauling, motorcycle trailering, daily commuting, and stop light drag racing oh man that turns me on (Shhhh...keep the secret my sweet!)). So here's the deal;
I want the SRT in red or black with the tonneau cover. Obvious power and handling aside, the Daytona is a comparable truck as far as utility is concerned and at less than 30 grand, a bargain. The Daytona has a softer ride, Ok maneuverability, better gas milage, cool looks, great workhorse of an engine. Downsides are in-cabin noise, poor visibility due to the high spoiler, and it's not an SRT. The SRT is quieter, faster, smoother but "feels" every bump and has suede leather that would show where every popsicle and drool ball landed: Ahhh, the marks of fatherhood.
Q: Without resorting to violence or fires or begging, Please to be giving me valid reasons for going with the SRT that will help me to convince the wife that this is a good thing for us. Any stories of persons who use the truck as I will that love it would be helpful. OR if you are a Ram Daytona person and think I'm not seeing the forrest for the trees, let me know!

CanynroChris

ps. During my test drive of the SRT, an F150 blew past me at a light doing 50 in a 35 zone. I caught him from a dead stop in less than 1/8 of a mile but let him go watching the black smoke billowing from his exhaust as I turned into the dealership. I can't seem to stop smiling...

 

For a practical truck, the SRT-10 is not the best choice. Plus if you have the $$ (which it sounda like you do) buy the standard hemi and put on a supercharger and all the go-fast-goodies. Not to mention the possible jump in insurance premiums for having a V10 sport truck.

 

Totally agree with FatherKind. The SRT-10 is my dream truck, but I don't have any kids.

You should consider the high end (Big Horn, Laramie, etc.) Hemi Ram with a dark-colored interior. If you bolt on all the go fast goodies like supercharger, headers, exhaust, etc you'll be very happy with the power but you'll still be a sleeper and will have saved at least $10K.

Hard to turn away from that 10-banger though. Forget the Daytona.

JMHO

 

Thanks Papa-K, Hemi-C, et.al,
Your information is very helpful.

CC

 

And why forget the Daytona?

 

get a SRT-10 quad cab, you can tow, and do the quater mile in under 15 seconds xD

 

if you have the money to get the SRT-10 and only need 2wd...get it. I dont know if the daytona is avail with 4x4 but i personally think its very ugly...esp with that ugly decal and wing on the rear.

also...dont be worried about messing up the interior of the SRT-10. if anything....leather is better/easier to clean than cloth. The daytona is only avail with the cloth.

I have the laramie 1500 with leather/suede inserts and i just got the suede treated again when i took delivery to make sure it doesnt stain.

If i didnt need 4x4 (awd) i would have bough the SRT-10. it was only 3 grand more than my truck after i loaded my 1500 up. but to me 2wd is only good 4-5 months out of the year.

 

Thank you. Daytona does come in 4x4. We get winters in DC but a 4x4 comes in handy only 4 or 5 times a season and that's probably stretching it. Thanks for your opinion on the decal and wing, SRT is a bit more polished in my opinion and although I could make a Ram into a street rod, it would take time and money where as I could pay money and have the power now (with room to upgrade galore). But the stain guard is a good idea and one that the wife will understand. Please, someone tell me the seats are already stainguarded. Tell me what my wife would understand about the truck to make her say yes and so I can post a pic of my new beauty next monday. Me, I'm convinced but what about the SRT would make sence to her?

Canynrochris

 

Okay, tell her this:

"Honey, if I own ANYTHING with a 10-cylinder engine in it, my ***** will instantly grow proportionately."

Make sure to say it with a straight face.

 

Done and Done!

CC