Couple thoughts
1) Uconnect costs $282 plus whatever it costs to have the dealer turn it on - its not a grand. If you paid a grand then you got hosed

2) Having a law that says you must use hands free on a phone does not mean you NEED hands free - it means that you need to stay off the phone while in the truck.

It amuses me to no end that what was considered a luxury for the ultra rich 20 years ago is now a - I'm gonna die if I can't talk to someone on the phone every instant of the day.

 

Trucks don't just come that way. Every one is ordered and configured by the person ordering it, be it from a sold order or the dealer ordering to stock their lot. Whether something comes standard or is an option it is either built into the price all pay or offered as an option where you can get it if you want it. The question still comes down to if customers should have a choice? It can be ordered directly from the factory at a lower cost when the truck is ordered so there is no conspiracy to get the dealers more money.

The next generation of radio units are coming out starting with the 2013 Rams. There are 4 units ranging from AM/FM with no connectivity to High Def and hands free texting. But there will still be the base radio without Bluetooth and that is because some people don't want it and they don't want to pay for it. Putting it in all vehicles and not charging for it, one way or another, is not going to happen with Chrysler or any other manufacturer.

 

Thanks for the confirmation of my search impressions.

I'm in a hands free state, so having bluetooth is kind of a necessity. For me as a physician I have to be available all times, and take phone calls when they come. About 4 years ago i had the ear bluetooth, but have since been spoiled by my cars with built in units.

I added an aftermarket sony to my 2005 and it worked great. I was just surprised when i picked up this 2012 (used...with the right price) that it didn't have it installed.

Either way the functions on the basic radio are pretty limited and for 282 plus programming (332-382 total) i can purchase a Double Din DVD receiver with bluetooth, pandora streaming, etc, and all the wiring and steering wheel control adapter from crutchfield and have much more flexibility and sound.

I'll keep my droid and google maps for navigation...

Sorry to stir up the controversy...

 

I hope you enjoy your truck Dr., no matter what you choose to do about the Bluetooth.

 

I threw out the Grand number because if I were to buy a higher ended radio with the Uconnect it would have been much more expensive that's all.
Listen I have owned a Dodge truck since I was 15. My first new truck cost $15,000.00 No frills. So when I am buying a $40,000 truck you would expect it to come with some of the things my little econo car has in it. Built into the price or not. Yeah some of the old timers don't think you need too talk on the phone while driving, as do I, but I would rather my wife be safer or my kids, as I know they do talk on the phone. I mean just because some people don't use them, does not mean no one else does. I mean if you can get a dealer to do it for around $300.00 would it really cost Ram that much to do it at the manufacturer level. probably not. And yes I remember my first bag phone. Remember those? But time marches on. Someday we will get a call and there will a holographic passenger sitting next to us talking to us. Or we may all have little chips implanted in our heads instead of a phone in our pocket, who knows.....But today a Bluetooth should be standard equipment. Like it or not. Like my little Subaru econo car that cost less than half as much as my truck.
BTW I know that built into the price of my truck were tie rod ends, differential, pinion seals, puddle lamps, paint, Steps, etc. To name a few. All of which failed on my $40,000 truck in under 50,000 miles....But hey. Just sayin'.