No more Ram

MacLeod

Well Ive done something I never EVER thought I would EVER do. I traded in my Beloved Dodge Ram today. Although she is always in my heart, I just could not justify taking out a loan of $400 a month for at least 3 years (probably 4) on a truck with nearly 90,000 miles on it AND getting 15 mpg.

The 2 cars I wanted was the Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord. The Nissan is the better looking of the 2 but the Honda just oozes quality. Both have just about nearly perfect speaker locations and a supertanker for a trunk.

I couldnt find an Altima in a 5 speed which I desperately wanted plus they couldnt get my payments down to where I needed them ($450 max).

So on a whim, I decided to pop into Economy Honda today and looked around. Found a nice Accord basic model for $21,000. Went and did all the paperwork and they were able to not only get my payments to where I wanted them ($455 actually - its never BELOW your max goal) but also got me a smoking interest rate!! 9%!! Considering my credit and the fact that I was being quoted 16-20% rated from everybody else I feel I got a good deal. So I walked out of there with 1 2007 Honda Accord 5 speed and 4 cyl (34 mpg) for $19800. Gonna go tomorrow and rip out my brand new install out of the truck. Should be fun. Ugh.

Now comes the hard part, having to completely install all my stuff and then re-tune everything. The biggest **** is going to be trying to figure a way around the stock HU. Its part of the dash so you cant remove it. Im either going to run high level inputs to my Alpine 700 via a LLC and hope for low noise or try to install my trusty Alpine 9855 in a cubby hole somewhere. Either way, its gonna be a challenge.

But that cavernous trunk! I finally have room to put things!!

But best of all, 34 miles per gallon!!!! Yippee!! My monthly gas bill should drop from $200+ a month to less than $100! Im stoked.

Forgive the poor lighting - I just got home with the thing.

audiobliss

Sweeeeeeet! I know it'll be a pain having to totally redo all your install, but hopefully it'll be worth it. Congrats on the purchase, Mac! I hope you'll get a lot of pics of the Ram before saying goodbye!

Are you actually going to get 34mpg? Or is that what they have on the sticker?

disneyjoe7

Nice buy it shouldn't give you any problem until you have about 300k miles

MacLeod

I dont think I can take any pics of the Ram, especially with the stereo gutted out of it. It breaks my heart to think of losing her. I had that truck for over 5 years and it was part of me. Ive wanted a Dodge Ram like that since they first came out in 94 and worked my **** off to finally get one. I dont regret my decision to get the Honda as its a great car and it does work MUCH better for me financially but I still feel horrible about losing my baby.

As for the mileage, the sticker says 34 mpg freeway but its been my experience that the stickers are usually about right. Plus, I drive a lot slower in my old age it seems so Im pretty sure Ill get that.

dolfan87

Mac- Congrats brother!! Can you do me a favor and take a close up picture of that factory head unit? Might have some ideas for you.

RuSsMaN

Sweet smart ride! I dig it.

Good choice on the 5spd, more of a drivers car, if you know what I mean.

Cheers,
Russ

Deadof_knight

Hey Dolfan87 a mach 1 sweet I have a 69 ( ok its my wifes Im the mechanic though damnit!)

dolfan87

Deadof_knight wrote:

Hey Dolfan87 a mach 1 sweet I have a 69 ( ok its my wifes Im the mechanic though damnit!)

69 is my favorite year...but my 70 will do. Don't steal Mac's thunder here though...lol.

fireshoes

You mean this isn't about computers? lol

When are you getting the grossly oversized wing installed and some "dubs"?

Congrats!

PolkThug

Work on improving your FICO score! I think my first Bimmer loan was 458 a month.

Anyway, have fun Polking that ride!

Jstas

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Nice buy it shouldn't give you any problem until you have about 300k miles

As long as you spend $600 every 60-70,000 miles to replace the timing belt so the engine doesn't eat itself alive.

Jstas

Dude, don't worry about it, you'll get another truck when you can. Right now, do like PolkThug said and get things straightened out. Get that Accord paid off and work on the rest of your debt. When it's all good as gold again, you'll be able to pick up another Ram that some grandfather somewhere babied like it was his own kid and he'll let it go for a song because he knows you're going to treat it right.

As for the stereo, call up Crutchfield. They might have a bezel that works and will let you throw your aftermarket head unit in there. They have had bezels for alot of stuff I never would have expected. My wife's Taurus had only a tape player and an interface panel in the dash. Everything else was located in the trunk. Tuner, amp, everything in a neat little box buried in the driver's side corner next to the wheel well. The kit cost me $180 bucks and I didn't use half of it but they had it and it worked like a champ!

brettw22

Is that the DX or LX?

I guarantee you won't see 34mpg unless you drive it like a 90 year old and never shift over 1500 RPM's...........My 2001 Accord was rated for 26-32 and I usually always get about 25-27 and only on ONE tank of gas in the last 6 years did I get 30mpg. It's more likely you'll get mid to high 20's, which is still a hell of a lot better than you'd ever get out of the Ram......

When I was getting my car serviced once I saw the new dash config and I ended up calling Honda and complained about them tying both the AC and Radio into the same display. The only real option you have if you want to keep that unit is to get that JVC box that cleans up the signal considerably (forget it's name). I'm not sure about anything other than the EX, but I did like that my factory unit was a 6 in dash CD changer. That was a nice feature that unfortunately got lost once I replaced my deck.

Good luck with it........it should last you a very long time...........

dolfan87

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iKzAFyyAqQn/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=112200&tab=morephotos&pi=1&i=120997862&display=L#Tab

I had to guess on a lot of your options...

ledhed

Congrats on the car. Hopefully you can get better results from a car, I know you said using a truck in car audio is a lot harder to do to get similar results.

brettw22 wrote:

My 2001 Accord was rated for 26-32 and I usually always get about 25-27 and only on ONE tank of gas in the last 6 years did I get 30mpg. It's more likely you'll get mid to high 20's,

I never understood this with Japanese cars. My mother's Buick with a 3.8L V6 consistently gets MPG in the 30s. My Dad gets high 20s from his 'Vette (Of course it is more aerodynamic) yet I only get about 22 in my 3.0L V6 Toyota. It seems it is a huge misconception that imports get better gas mileage than domestics.

brettw22

dolfan87 wrote:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iKzAFyyAqQn/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=112200&tab=morephotos&pi=1&i=120997862&display=L#Tab

I had to guess on a lot of your options...

That kit won't work because the AC and cd/radio are integrated into the same display basically. There's no way to remove just the radio without ultimately axing your AC system......(that kit would work up to 2006 I think......but not the new 2007's)

Fireman32

Congrats on the new ride. I had a Ram once and hated to get rid of it. Let us know how oyu make out with the head unit. I have the same issue with my toyota yaris as it is molded in with the a/c.

danger boy

Congrats on the new ride Aaron. very nice.

[Deleted User]

Yeah, I think you're f'ed on the HU kit. Looks like some custom work is in your future. BTW...F&^$ YOU TRAITOR!:D

dolfan87

brettw22 wrote:

That kit won't work because the AC and cd/radio are integrated into the same display basically. There's no way to remove just the radio without ultimately axing your AC system......(that kit would work up to 2006 I think......but not the new 2007's)

Oh I see. Bummer!!

My apologies.

dolfan87

Ok, I was looking at the pics again, and what about this area?

exalted512

At least its not a civic!

Whats up with this reverse trend lately?

Josh sells his honda to get a ram, aaron sells his ram to get a honda...maybe you guys should have just traded??

Theres no way to integrate a head unit in those cars unless you put it somewhere else...like where dolfan87 suggested, or in the glovebox, or in the center console. Weve even put a guys radio in the trunk, then soldered wires to the connections on the detachable face, and put the face in the front visor.

I would do my best to get your alpine in there...or else youre going to have a pretty good possibility of noise with a h701, loc, and RCAs...Told you you should have got a 360.2...that wouldve solved all your problems

Well, at least someone is having a good day...ive got some serious **** wrong with the truck right now
-Cody

MacLeod

Thanks for all the tips guys.

That pocket under the A/C is the first place I was looking at. Its almost too narrow tho so Im gonna have to see what I can do.

I also thought about the center console. Its the right size and I could mount it in there facing up.

I think I may try to run the stock HU first. A guy on my SQ Team uses an Acura TL with pretty much the same HU and routinely beats the crap out of everybody. However he does have to put his gains on the floor to keep hiss out. If that doesnt work, Ill figure out a way to put it in that front pocket. It has a panel that closes over it so I could have my fancy Alpine in there and close the panel and it would look bone stock.

Thats actually my plan for this install. Other than the Polk/Momo sticker on the back window (which Ill need to get a new one now) nobody will know anything is in there. But I want the trunk to look really sharp. Hopefully something Polk will be proud to see their gear in.

Gonna have to build another sub box too. That trunk is so big tho, I bet I could get one of those DB 212-2's to fit in there just right! Hmm, thats actually not a bad idea. Gonna have to look into that one.

Another thing that wil need to be upgraded that I noticed last night - the battery. 410 CCA! An Optima is in my future I believe.

As for the mileage, Im sure I wont get 34 mpg driving around town, but when I go to these competitions its almost all freeway and I bet I get over 30 for that if I keep it below 70. Thats where the big benefit is. Instead of costing $50 per show in gas alone, I can now get away with $10-15.

And no guilt trips either. I feel bad enough having to give up my beloved Dodge without you yahoos giving me more crap to feel bad about!

Greg Peters

MacLeod wrote:

That pocket under the A/C is the first place I was looking at. Its almost too narrow tho so Im gonna have to see what I can do.

If that doesnt work, Ill figure out a way to put it in that front pocket. It has a panel that closes over it so I could have my fancy Alpine in there and close the panel and it would look bone stock.

That pocket appears to be Double DIN...can Honda set you up with a replacement pocket from the parts counter? If so, you might be able to fab up something using the pocket with some ABS that'll hold the 9855 and your processor in an over/under dual DIN setup to mount behind the flap.

MacLeod wrote:

Gonna have to build another sub box too. That trunk is so big tho, I bet I could get one of those DB 212-2's to fit in there just right! Hmm, thats actually not a bad idea. Gonna have to look into that one.

This seems like a prime opportunity to get an SR subwoofer (or two). I hope the '07 Accord doesn't have a knack for keeping bass in the trunk from getting into the interior. Does it at least have a pass-through or folding rear seat?

PolkThug

MacLeod wrote:

And no guilt trips either. I feel bad enough having to give up my beloved Dodge without you yahoos giving me more crap to feel bad about!

Congrats on getting your nuts snipped. You'll have even more fun when you finally trade this car in for a mini van.

MacLeod

PolkThug wrote:

Congrats on getting your nuts snipped. You'll have even more fun when you finally trade this car in for a mini van.

Just when I thought I couldnt get any lower.

Thats a good idea Greg, I may try that. The rear seats do fold down so theyll let plenty o' bass in the cabin.

It took me 3.5 hours to pull everything out tonight and re-install the old HU and speakers and hook them back up. Im so effing tired right now.

I feel sureal tho. Not only do I not have my beloved truck that has been a part of me for over 5 years but the stereo that I worked my **** off installing and tuning, is gone as well. Dont get me wrong, I love my new Accord, its just I feel "off" or something. Weird.

MacLeod

Jstas wrote:

As long as you spend $600 every 60-70,000 miles to replace the timing belt so the engine doesn't eat itself alive.

Huh?!?!

I trust your word John but Ive never heard anything about Accords having a tendancy to blow timing belts every 60K.

brettw22

How are you not somehow dinged for totally **** with a truck that you were leasing? I thought if it was in the least bit not factory spec, you'd be paying out the nose...........

MacLeod

The way my lease was set up, I have the option to either buy it out or trade it in at any time. So I wasnt turning it back in, I just traded it in and the dealer paid it off.

Gawdamighty, if Id turned that thing in it wouldve cost me $10,000!

disneyjoe7

I thinks is 90k not 60k for timing belt as it was for my 92 Accord. BTW if the timing belt breaks before it's replaced it not cheap too repair as that engine doesn't have clearance for a value to be open and the piston to be TDC. So this can cause piston breakage, value breakage, so on and so on.

brettw22

It is 60k miles.......not 90. Tune up's are 100k, but that's pretty standard on most cars nowadays.....

EDIT: Just called Honda dealership and all teh 4cyl Accords from '03 and up have converted to timing chains, so you're safe on that..............lucky ****.