Finish Lines
There's something undeniably appealing about climbing into the tall saddle of one of these pickups and feeling all those eager ponies waiting for a kick from your spur. The sport-pickup genre is still new enough that there's a high "What the--?" factor whenever you blow past an unsuspecting sport-sedan driver.
If the thought of doing so brings a wry smile to your lips, we unhesitatingly recommend the Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi. The Chevy Silverado SS has a slender edge in outright go-and-stop performance, and its all-wheel-drive system certainly adds points if you live in the Snowbelt, but its archaic cabin and rough-edged reflexes leave us cold--especially in view of its lofty $40-large sticker. For cash like that, there are many far more appealing vehicular alternatives.
The Ram Hemi is a savvy execution of the sport-truck concept. Take a stylish, sophisticated pickup, add a throbbing V-8 and athletic rubber, and keep the price where sport-pickup supporters (read: young guys) can actually join in. Our nicely optioned Ram Hemi (at under $28K) should wear a "V" for "value." Keep your pencil away from the options boxes, and you can even enjoy Ram Hemi power for considerably less than that.
Hey, you gotta smile when you can play the horses without losing your shirt.
Ford's New Harley
Ford is retiring its current F-150-based Harley-Davidson Edition pickup, but the Harley nameplate will return for '04 on Ford's all-new Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models. The limited-edition 4x4 (just 8000 will be built for '04) will feature such extras as 18-inch forged-aluminum wheels, chrome tubular step bars, leather captain's chairs with embossed Harley-Davidson logos, and lots of unique exterior-styling cues. Base sticker will start at just over $40,000. Get yours fast: The first 1000 buyers who opt for the Halloween-like black-and-competition-orange paint scheme will be entered into a drawing to win a custom-painted '04 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.