ST owner regrets?

[JRihani]

Are there any ST owners out there that are regetting not moving to the SLT? I have owned several vehicles with "power nothing" and have always enjoyed the manual feel of operating the vehicle. The price difference between basically identical trucks (one ST and one SLT) only looks like about $1,800. The plan would be to run the truck until the wheels fall off, so I'm not so concerned with resale value.



I guess what I'm looking for are any subjective observations regarding the ST. One of the articles in the latest TDR issue gives some good insight into the author's decisions during the option phase of buying his truck.



One specific question: will 265/70R17 tires fit on the steel rims that come with the ST? I remember reading that the steel rims are narrower than the aluminum.



Thanks for any feedback/impressions.



I wish I had more to "contribute" to the TDR membership, but I am still in the question asking phase. Hopefully eventual truck ownership will give me the chance to "give back".

 

[VStahl]

the 265/70/17 is the size that comes on the truck I believe, I know it is for the slt.



One big advantage to the slt over not is with 4 doors, rolling the back two windows down is alot easier with a switch than crawling around the truck.



all the advatages would come down to personal preference.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by JRihani

Are there any ST owners out there that are regetting not moving to the SLT? I have owned several vehicles with "power nothing" and have always enjoyed the manual feel of operating the vehicle. The price difference between basically identical trucks (one ST and one SLT) only looks like about $1,800. The plan would be to run the truck until the wheels fall off, so I'm not so concerned with resale value.

I think you said it yourself with the $1800 difference. That's only 3 or 4 extra payments for features you will enjoy until the wheels fall off. I never used to worry about power windows and door locks--until I bought an F-150 XLT and got spoiled on the power features. My first new vehicle was the 2500 I bought last July, and I've already started wondering if I should have jumped up to the Laramie. I'm not much on pleather or heated seats, but the other features would be nice to have.



I'd say definitely get at least the SLT, with this caveat:



If you use it as a work truck the vinyl seats and wash & wear advantage with vinyl floors might be better in the long run. Hose it out and keep on trucking. Other than that I doubt you would ever regret getting and SLT or Laramie, especially if there are going to be any of those fine creatures we call females in the cab.

 

[JRihani]

Thanks for the input guys. Yes, I'm lucky enough to be married to one of those fine creatures we call females! LOL



You are right about the SLT, I guess I just have to drop my long-held desire for the bare bones (this was mostly formulated pre-marriage!)



The tires on the ST are 245's, so if I got the SLT that would be one less thing I'd have to worry about upgrading.



Again, thanks for the input!

 

[klenger]

Having manual locks on a four door anything is a royal PITA if anyone else ever rides with you. The next time you go somewhere, you have to go around and lock all the doors. I would not even think about an ST for a personal truck. If it was a company truck that others would use, then it makes sense.

 

[DPelletier]

I know how you feel, I have long resisted the urge to be assimilated into the lap of luxury when I buy a vehicle, but its a losing battle and I give up! I noticed that on the new truck there wasn't even AC listed as an option. After checking, I found out why, because EVERY truck DC makes comes with AC standard. I still remember buying work trucks that didn't come with rear bumpers!

Anyway, there is some good rationale for the ST mainly: less crap to break down and easier to keep clean. BUT, even though I intend on keeping my truck forever (I always INTEND on keeping it forever, but they usually last 3 years ), on the slight chance that I will sell it or trade it in, its not worth the gamble. Very hard to sell an ST unless its just a work truck or C&C.

Besides, truth be told, I enjoy some of the crap. Just don't tell anybody.



Dave

 

[Bertram65]

I like the simplicity of the ST. The cloth seats which are an option are pretty nice and very rugged in the ST, they are a different material than the SLT, I also realy like the rubber floor. The only thing I wish it had is the power door locks. I also like the black trim on the front bumper as oposed to the body color, it has chrome front and rear bumpers standard. The 265/70/17 came standard on my truck as well being a 3500 SRW.

 

[jungledave]

It only takes one time of trying to talk to someone outside the pasenger side of the truck to really appreciate power windows or having to unlock the drivers door and reaching around to unlock the rear doorto apreciate power.

 

[FATCAT]

Go with a ST

Originally posted by jungledave

It only takes one time of trying to talk to someone outside the pasenger side of the truck to really appreciate power windows or having to unlock the drivers door and reaching around to unlock the rear doorto apreciate power.

It also takes only one time for the power windows/locks to stop working and the huge expense to fix them for you to wish you ordered the ST.



Power anything STINKS ... it always breaks and is a huge expense to fix. So, for your extra $1800, plan on paying that again to fix the window, locks and cleaning the carpets when crap get on it.



KISS ... Keep It Simple Stupid



Just get cloth seats and A/C ... thats all you need.

 

[wyosteve]

Not wanting to start anything, but I've had power locks and windows in every vehicle of mine since a 1976 Pontiac, including 5 Dodge Cummins. I NEVER have had a problem with any of them. Maybe back in the 50's or 60's era they were more touchy, but not now. I would never be without them.

 

[NSperduto]

Well, it depends, if it's awork truck that other people use, you may want to go bare bones. If it's yours, I'd say at least SLT.



My wife (before she was my wife) her first new car was an 84 Honda Accord, manual windows, manual locks and not even a passenger side mirror. When I met her I hated driving the car and wondered how she could drive. Well, she drove it until 2000 when we got her a van with the nice trimmings. Now she says if she knew how nice all the accessories were, she would have gotten them originally. Now we both hate driving that Honda, although we still have it with 198k.

go for the extra couple things, you won't regret it.

Nick

 

[FATCAT]

The only car that had electric windows/locks that has NOT broken down that I own is my 2003 Jetta ... and I'm waiting for the problems to start with that. I couldn't get the Jetta with manual anything.



Every other vehicle I have ever owned/driven that had electric locks/windows have all broken on me.

1996 Subaru

1988 Chevy 3/4 truck

1990 Crown Victoria

1977 Chrysler Cordoba (with Carinthian leather)

1973 Buick Skylark



Go ahead, get the power stuff ... just remember what 'ol FATCAT said when it all goes bad.



We can hardly get into my wife's Subaru these days if it is locked, we just mainly leave it unlocked and the rear window up.

 

[JRihani]

The passenger's side window issue is the one thing I forgot about. I'm 6'5", and in my 97 Jeep Cherokee (with power nothing) I could roll all four windows up and down and unlock all the doors while sitting in the driver's seat. Well, I hadn't really thought about the significant width difference between a Cherokee and a Ram! I will most likely be unable to manually roll the windows up and down from a seated position!



Again, thanks for all of the valuable feedback. I too love the rubber floor. Anyone at the TDR do a spray-on treatment on their floor? I remember an old issue where someone stripped the interior, Rhino-lined the entire passenger compartment, and put everything back in. Seems like you would lose some sound deadening, but I love the idea!



I'm still counting down to when I give Tomeygun a call, but I can't thank everyone enough for their input.

 

[WCoberly]

Just one more vote for the ST.



If you have dogs that ride inside the cab, as I do, the rubber floor is much easier to keep clean. I only have about 30k on my 03 ST, but have never accidentally had the keys locked inside by the auto-locks.....

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by WCoberly

If you have dogs that ride inside the cab, as I do, the rubber floor is much easier to keep clean. I only have about 30k on my 03 ST, but have never accidentally had the keys locked inside by the auto-locks.....

No doubt about it, dogs are tough on trucks. I put down two dogs about a year ago and no dogs have been in my truck to date. In my F-150 XLT the hair was the worst to deal with, and I still haven't gotten it all out of the seats. But I learned to toss a bed spread (one that will fit in the washer) over the seats and that helps a lot. Another dog/truck problem is their feet will wear out the seats regardless of what they are made of. And I haven't even gotten to window slime, yet! All things considered, though I still prefer cloth seats and have grown too comfortable with power windows and door locks to go back. Keep this in mind: If you do a lot of traveling spin up a truck that fits that lifestyle. You can always scrub the carpet and seats weekly if you have to. But if you are travelling in an uncomfortable truck your trip will be hell on earth.

 

[Steve M]

Power locks and windows, cruise control, trip computer, cloth seats and carpet, CD stereo, chrome grill, power heated mirrors, center seat storage and I'm sure I'm forgetting some, are worth the $1,800 spread over 6yrs. I also haven't had any trouble with any of these options on any of my vehicles. My '94 Ford was an XL. I don't miss not having the options I have now.

If anything has shown to be a weak spot in all of my Mopar vehicles, it's been the a/c evaporator.

FWIW, I'm an elevator mechanic. My truck gets dirty and smells like oil and sweat. But I'm comfortable and cool listening to the CD stereo with the better acoustics of carpet and cloth on my way to and from work and between jobs.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

My 97 is an ST but I bought most of the options like cruise/tilt, carpet. Saved about $1200 after adding options. Not worth it. The truck is wide and it is a pita to roll down/up the passenger window, lock doors, etc. Since the Ram power windows have proven reliable, go ahead with the SLT. Resale is thousands higher, important if the truck is wrecked, etc. My 04 is an SLT and I am totally spoiled now, and wouldn't consider another ST as a personal truck. 17" tires are expensive and hard to find now (Dodge hasn't been using them long enough for a good aftermarket response); the SLT steel wheels are 8" wide (vs. 7. 5" on ST) and SLT has the 265 tires you want.

 

[EMD-Run8]

My ST has cloth seats and carpet. Vinyl floors would have been OK but this is the way the truck came and I bought off the lot so... ... Anyway, everyone here has made very accurate points about the price difference, door locks and windows but it doesn't bother me at all. I wanted an ST trimmed truck-----no regrets! My wife's Odyssey has all the stuff and driving it makes me feel lazy in a strange way ya know? With all the power this and remote that these days it's kinda refreshing to roll down my own window and shift my own gears. Oh! And let's not even get into remote locks/alarm!! Those @*#^ key fobs will only take so many hits it seems. And strangely it seems to chap my butt that I have to unlock the Honda with the key when the key fob doesn't work but all the unlocking of doors and rolling down windows in my truck never bothers me in the least. Why is that? Oh well, ST all the way. I love mine!

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

I had an 01 ST and had a laod of fun getting the interior the way I wanted it. If I had to do it all over again I'd get a ST again with the convienance group. Thats how I order the service vans for field techs at work... ... . Cloth seats,power windows & locks and cruise. Vinyl floors and straight paint is they way to go on a work truck ! As far as the cloth seats , most guy's carry a cover for those really grubby times,as very cold and hot temps make the cloth worth all the trouble. My . 02

 

[jungledave]

Originally posted by FATCAT

It also takes only one time for the power windows/locks to stop working and the huge expense to fix them for you to wish you ordered the ST.



Power anything STINKS ... it always breaks and is a huge expense to fix. So, for your extra $1800, plan on paying that again to fix the window, locks and cleaning the carpets when crap get on it.



KISS ... Keep It Simple Stupid



Just get cloth seats and A/C ... thats all you need.

My jeep , a chrysler product, has 170,000 miles on it and many have been spent on mountain roads here in Colorado. All my power mindows and locks still work fine. There are lock knobs on all doors on my 04 with or without power and if one of my window motors or swithches goes out I will fix it my self. At least I have the confidence and mechanical ability to fix it myself if it breaks.