Dodge Ram fan sets off chain reaction

Las Vegas resident Paris Fish didn't realize he'd be starting a trend when he purchased a 2010 Dodge Ram truck from Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep.

After telling his friend Howard Catherina what a great deal he had received at Chapman by trading in his 2006 Dodge Ram for a newer model, Catherina did the same. Then Catherina's daughter did the same. Then her mother did the same. Then Catherina's neighbors did the same, too.

Five new 2010 Ram trucks later, Chapman salesmen Rick "Cowboy" Maples and Kris Winn became bonded forever with the Fish family and their friends.

"Our relationship with Paris Fish, his family and his friends is exactly what the Chapman buying experience is all about," said General Manager Don Hamrick. "Because Chapman is family-owned and family-friendly, referrals are a large source of customers for us and we treat them like gold."

Fish had previously owned a 2006 Dodge Ram truck and traded it in for a 2010. When he told Catherina about the great deal he had been given, Catherina visited Chapman to investigate his own options for trading in his 2006 Dodge Ram. He was immediately pleased with the dealership's selling approach and its offer. He later drove home a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually 4x4.

His daughter, Melissa Catherina, then traded in her older model Dodge Ram for the 2010 model and later convinced both her mother, Denise Catherina, and her neighbors Jim and Gloria Wickett, to look into buying a 2010 Dodge Ram at the dealership.

"I've worked at auto dealerships before and I'm familiar with their aggressive, high-pressure selling methods," Howard Catherina said. "My experience with Chapman was surprisingly pleasant and they were able to lower my monthly payments and approve a 1.9-percent interest rate."

The 2010 Dodge Ram was awarded the Motor Week Driver's Choice Award for Best Pickup Truck. The 2010 Ram 3500 is available in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. A 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six-cyinder engine is standard and provides 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.

The standard transmission is a six-speed manual with an option for a six-speed automatic. The Cummins comes with a big-riglike exhaust brake that provides additional stability and braking power when towing. The maximum tow rating is in excess of 20,000 pounds. Howard Catherina, who regularly enjoys camping in his trailer and riding quads, said the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 tows his trailer, toy hauler and quads with ease.

The new 2010 Dodge 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models retain their title of best-in-class interior room in the segment and include reclining rear seats. Depending on the features buyers opt for, the Ram can have heated/ventilated front seats, automatic temperature control, memory seats, and high-tech features like navigation, a hard drive for storing music files and Wi-Fi capability. The 2010 Ram made for a comfortable resting space for campers when Howard Catherina took it on a trip this summer.

"I parked it in 115 degree weather, turned the air on full and let it sit there for four hours while a family member who was pregnant could sleep in the back of the truck and stay cool," he said. "The truck never overheated and everything was fine. With other brands you have trouble doing something like that."

The 2010 Dodge Ram has been rated as having the smoothest ride in its class, with its carlike ride and handling. Fluid-filled hydromounts under the cab reduce bounce over rough surfaces. Howard and Melissa Catherina's neighbor, Gloria Wickett, especially loves driving her husband Jim's new Ram.

"We used to have a Chevy truck and that drove like a truck, really bumpy and rough," said Gloria Wickett. "I love riding in his new Ram and try to drive it as much as I can when he's not using it. He drove it up to Reno a few weeks ago and told me the ride was extremely smooth and comfortable."

The 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 earned five stars out of five stars for both driver and front passenger protection in frontal crashes. Safety features include Brake Assist, which applies extra brake power when a panic stop is detected, new pillars designed to limit head impact force, power adjustable pedals to avoid accidents, front-passenger air bags that position and inflate the restraint properly for a belted passenger, while also meeting federal safety requirements for out-of-position, small occupants and rear-facing infant seats and ultrasonic rear parking alert assists that detect stationary objects when reversing.

Fish says the group of new 2010 Dodge Ram owners has been happy to recommend both the truck and Chapman Dodge to their friends and family.

"We're so excited about our trucks and the deals we got that we just want to tell everyone," said Fish. "It's a better engineered vehicle than previous models and Chapman made the buying process pleasant and painless -- not like pulling teeth."

Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep sells and services new and used vehicles and is located on 3175 E. Sahara Ave. Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep can be reached at 800-NewDodge and online at www.LasVegasDodge.com.

In addition to Chapman Dodge, Chapman Chrysler Jeep sells and services the complete line of Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. Located in the Valley Automall, Chapman Chrysler Jeep can be reached at 888-207-1687 or online at
www.ChapmanChryslerJeep.com.