Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Hallelujah!Oo.
Picked up my 04 3500 ST 4x4 QC LB DRW HO 6sp LSD in Idiot Blue ($31,198 out the door). Drove from Bozeman to Moran today on a mixture of dry/snow pack/ice (had an hour wait at Island Park will they cleared up a chevy pickup-into-the-rear-end-of-a-semi-flatbed escapade. Initial impressions:
Pros:
Ride is smooth with just enough bounce in the rough spots to let you know you are in a 1 ton.
Steering is wonderful. As someone said else where "Finally a Dodge that goes where you point it, life is good".
Powerful pup, with a sweet power band. Humping over Teton pass was like being in my 12v, and then some.
Radio. There is less static while cruising by powerlines than on 02 or 98 CTDs.
Oh so quiet. Didn't even shut off the power plant at the drive-up window.
Four doors are much nicer than the suicide doors. Full roll down windows in back are like a customer should expect.
6 speed and 3. 73. Wow, the 6 speed seems smoother (less hunt and poke) than my 02. Finally, a truck with the just right gear ratios. My 02 was good too, but I like cruising 70 at 2000 rpms in MT, or 65 at 1900 rpms in WY.
LSD works fine. No, you pot heads, not that kind of LSD.
Lights actually work at night. My 02 had the most pathetic lights of any vehicle I've owned. Well, maybe on par with the '62 VW.
Back seats and more room in back. I do not want a full crew cab.
Seat is more comfortable than 02.
For me, the adjustable steering wheel finally notches at the right spot.
The cruise controls/steering wheel is better than the 03s.
Oh my, what sweet brakes.
Cons::{
Plug ugly compared to GEN 2.
Less room under the hood. I loved the working room on my 98 and 02. Especially when some genius figured out the fuel filter on the 02.
Chinsy Details:
. 01 thinner metal.
No under hood light.
Plastic grill is getting flimsier as the years go by.
Thanks for attempting to put the block heater cord in - I'll fix it so its usable, DOH!
The hood lift mechanism, snicker, snicker.
Why the two-tone interior (taupe roof and upper half of posts) and the dark slate everywhere else?
I liked the lighter grey than then dark slate grey.
Liked the 02 instruments better.
German Engineering? Who fixes a vibration by wrapping a piece of pig-iron around a steering hose? D/C ought to be proud of themselves, NOT.
Door design is a shin banger. Why the curve? No reason not to be straight like previous designs.
Called around BZ for a set of studded snow tires - Ha, ha, ha, boo, hoo, hoo. Guess I'll wait for the Coopers.
In summary, Wow, what an awsome truck. If they only could have made these incredible changes in a GEN 2 body. But then I have to try extra hard to find something to whine about.
After the holiday travels I'll put the Jacobs and gauges in. Probably wait until spring for installing the flatbed so the dogs can be in the topper for the winter.
Picked up my 04 3500 ST 4x4 QC LB DRW HO 6sp LSD in Idiot Blue ($31,198 out the door). Drove from Bozeman to Moran today on a mixture of dry/snow pack/ice (had an hour wait at Island Park will they cleared up a chevy pickup-into-the-rear-end-of-a-semi-flatbed escapade. Initial impressions:
Pros:
Ride is smooth with just enough bounce in the rough spots to let you know you are in a 1 ton.
Steering is wonderful. As someone said else where "Finally a Dodge that goes where you point it, life is good".
Powerful pup, with a sweet power band. Humping over Teton pass was like being in my 12v, and then some.
Radio. There is less static while cruising by powerlines than on 02 or 98 CTDs.
Oh so quiet. Didn't even shut off the power plant at the drive-up window.
Four doors are much nicer than the suicide doors. Full roll down windows in back are like a customer should expect.
6 speed and 3. 73. Wow, the 6 speed seems smoother (less hunt and poke) than my 02. Finally, a truck with the just right gear ratios. My 02 was good too, but I like cruising 70 at 2000 rpms in MT, or 65 at 1900 rpms in WY.
LSD works fine. No, you pot heads, not that kind of LSD.
Lights actually work at night. My 02 had the most pathetic lights of any vehicle I've owned. Well, maybe on par with the '62 VW.
Back seats and more room in back. I do not want a full crew cab.
Seat is more comfortable than 02.
For me, the adjustable steering wheel finally notches at the right spot.
The cruise controls/steering wheel is better than the 03s.
Oh my, what sweet brakes.
Cons::{
Plug ugly compared to GEN 2.
Less room under the hood. I loved the working room on my 98 and 02. Especially when some genius figured out the fuel filter on the 02.
Chinsy Details:
. 01 thinner metal.
No under hood light.
Plastic grill is getting flimsier as the years go by.
Thanks for attempting to put the block heater cord in - I'll fix it so its usable, DOH!
The hood lift mechanism, snicker, snicker.
Why the two-tone interior (taupe roof and upper half of posts) and the dark slate everywhere else?
I liked the lighter grey than then dark slate grey.
Liked the 02 instruments better.
German Engineering? Who fixes a vibration by wrapping a piece of pig-iron around a steering hose? D/C ought to be proud of themselves, NOT.
Door design is a shin banger. Why the curve? No reason not to be straight like previous designs.
Called around BZ for a set of studded snow tires - Ha, ha, ha, boo, hoo, hoo. Guess I'll wait for the Coopers.
In summary, Wow, what an awsome truck. If they only could have made these incredible changes in a GEN 2 body. But then I have to try extra hard to find something to whine about.
After the holiday travels I'll put the Jacobs and gauges in. Probably wait until spring for installing the flatbed so the dogs can be in the topper for the winter.
:{ 
You have a unique opportunity here to "upgrade" to the new 600 OR maybe use the situation to negotiate a better deal on an existing 04'. If you wish, your dealer can do a nation wide search of existing inventory out there and have the one to your liking delivered to your destination. The dealerships here in my area do not have alot of inventory... . but I've been eyeballing a two tone black over gold dually with the King Ranch version -- it's really nice.
