Ep 208: Listeners’ Favorite Model Names, 2025 Ram 1500 Deep Dive

Tom Appel opened the show by surprising Jill Ciminillo with a bonus recording-day treat: Funyuns. After determining that there is, in fact, very little actual onion in Funyuns, Tom and Jill turned their attention to automotive matters.
Tom read through a list of listener-submitted favorite model names, including picks from regular contributors, among them Damon Bell, Sam Fiorani, and Brendan Appel.
Jill then shared her impressions of the updated-for-2025 Ram 1500 pickup truck. Jill was generally impressed by the new truck, but had some reservations regarding the new $90,000 Tungsten trim level.
In the second segment Tim Esterdahl of Pickup Truck + SUV Talk joined the show to expand on the Ram 1500 conversation. Tim talked about Ram’s move away from the popular Hemi V8 engine to the new Hurricane 6-cylinder powerplant. Tim believes most shoppers will be well served by the new Ram engine lineup. Listen in for complete details.
In the last segment Jill is subjected to Tom’s “Turbo or No Turbo” quiz, which featured an Indian-food bonus question.
Jill is a syndicated automotive writer, currently serving as the managing editor for Pickup Truck + SUV Talk and co-hosts two podcasts: the Consumer Guide Automotive Car Stuff Podcast and the Pickup Truck + SUV Talk Podcast.
website: www.pickuptrucktalk.com
twitter/instagram: @jillciminillo
twitter/instagram: @girlinthetrunk
tiktok: @jillciminillo