We've been waiting 20 years for a worthy follow-up to the 2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10, one of our all-time favorite pickups, and it's finally here, so forgive us if we're a bit giddy at the Ram 1500's new Rumble Bee lineup. The trucks include a range of performance models from the 395-horsepower Rumble Bee to the 470-hp 392 model, but the main attraction is the Rumble Bee SRT, a 777-hp pickup running on a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi.The Dodge Ram SRT-10 scores some extra cool points for its 10-cylinder Viper engine, but powerplant technology has come a long way in the last two decades. This supercharged Hemi aims to do everything the Viper engine could do, and more. The only question is whether it is worth the upgrade, or if we're past the point of diminishing returns. Let's compare and contrast and find out. The Rumble Bee Carries The Viper Spirit Into A New Era Ram There's a certain spirit of excess in both the V10-powered SRT-10 and the new Rumble Bees. The word Stellantis has been using in press material is "unnecessary," and we say yes, absolutely, that's the whole point.We've actually taken a few looks back at the SRT-10 over the years. What can we say, we love this truck, and will take any opportunity to hype it up. One of the coolest things about the SRT-10 is that it's still a competitive street truck 20 years later, actually outpacing the 392 Rumble Bee in terms of raw horsepower.The SRT-10's engine came straight out of a Dodge Viper, but with a new oil pan, throttle linkage, and a high-flow exhaust manifold. The SRT-10 could hit peak torque at just 1,500 rpm, and it fed all that power to the rear wheels through a Tremec six-speed manual transmission.For its time, the Ram SRT-10 was the world's fastest production pickup, and Ram built the truck to handle all that power with upgraded brakes, Bilstein shocks, and a Dana 60 rear axle. The SRT-10 Still Competes With The Rumble Bee Stellantis In terms of pure performance numbers, the 2006 Ram SRT-10 actually sits comfortably beside the 392, which is really impressive for a truck that's old enough to vote.The SRT-10 boasts a little extra horsepower on the 392, and, in its Regular Cab variant, clears 60 mph a quarter of a second quicker than the 2027 model, although the four-door model comes out slightly behind, and the 392 is a little quicker at the quarter mile.As for the 2027 SRT, it's got 177 horsepower on the SRT-10, and nearly two full seconds on the four-door's 0-60 takeoff, courtesy of a supercharged V8 engine. The SRT-10 Vs. The Rumble Bee SRT RamThere's an attention to detail that makes the new SRT a worthy successor. Stellantis did more than simply plug a heftier engine into a 1500 to produce the Rumble Bee. The team also shaved an incredible 13 inches of dead weight off the wheelbase, right behind the B-pillar, in order to achieve a more compact, rigid chassis, allowing for a Quad Cab/short bed configuration with a more rigid, responsive feel.Comparing physical dimensions between the two trucks, here's how the new SRT contrasts with a Regular Cab SRT-10:A 2.0-inch difference in wheel width might not sound like much, but it adds up to a full 4.0-inch difference across two tires. These are the widest tires the company has offered in a production vehicle since the Dodge Viper, with its big fat 13-inch-wide rubber in the back.The SRT-10 is rear-wheel drive, for that classic muscle-car feel, but the Rumble Bee's active four-wheel drive system offers the best of both worlds, with a button right next to the console shifter that disconnects the front axle for rear-drive action. The Rumble Bee's Designers Went Above And Beyond t2004_059When it comes to aesthetics, the difference between an SRT-10 and a Rumble Bee may be down to personal preference, but we think this is one of the best-looking trucks we've seen in years.t2004_009Every inch of the Rumble Bee has been considered in creating an "unapologetically evil-looking" street truck, from the aggressive grille to the vents to the optional decals and color choices.2004 dodge ram srt-10 rear redThe new SRT echoes the classic with its understated rear spoiler and wide stance, but feels wholly modern in its realization, with crisp line work and sleek headlights. It's a rare truck that might just make everybody happy, whether your tastes run modern or retro. It's A Good Time To Be A Street Truck Fan StellantisThe Rumble Bee goes on sale later this year, while the 392 and the SRT are promised for early 2027. If you just can't wait, well, you couldn't ask for a better time to buy an SRT-10. These trucks hold their value fairly well 20 years in, and while they're not the rarest Dodges ever created. But, the automaker only built 10,046 in total from 2004 to 2006. But it's not impossible to find a good deal. We were able to turn up the following listings on the CarBuzz Marketplace A 30,440-mile 2005 SRT-10 is selling for $32,995 in California. A 100,110-mile 2005 SRT-10 is selling for $26,995 in Michigan. A 38,159-mile 2005 SRT-10 is selling for $41,900 in Florida. A 49,607-mile 2005 SRT-10 is selling for $44,900 in New Jersey. A 78,088-mile 2006 SRT-10 is selling for $33,995 in Florida. A 77,921-mile 2005 SRT-10 selling for $32,999 in Texas. The cheapest model we can find is a 126,822-mile 2005 SRT-10 selling for $22,995 in California. Remember that these listings are only provided to give you an example of what's available. There's no telling what will be listed by the time you're ready to buy, and in your area. Make sure to run a search for yourself when you're ready to shop around.It's not so hard to find a good deal on an SRT-10 for under $27,000, but low-mileage listings usually sell for at least $32,000. Our advice, if you're buying something to keep, would be to budget anywhere from $30,000 to $35,000, and look for something with well under 100,000 miles on the odometer. The Rumble Bee SRT Might Be The Better Truck, But It's (Probably) Not The Better Deal Ram The cheapest SRT-10s first hit the market at around $45,795, so inflation has actually taken a bigger bite out of the truck's value than has depreciation.As for the upcoming Rumble Bee pickups, Stellantis has yet to even hint at a potential price range. We wouldn't expect the SRT model to drive off the lot for anything less than $100,000, though. So, while the new pickup may have the SRT-10 beat on pure performance specs, a used SRT-10 will almost certainly deliver more horsepower per dollar, and will certainly outgun the base Rumble Bee and the 392 at a five-figure price difference.Sources: Stellantis
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