'05 vs '06 changes (good & bad)

[Deezal Man]

Regarding the interior:

Discounting the obvious size advantange of the mega cab, does anyone have feedback on the new interior? Specifically compared against the 2nd gen or previous 3rd gen interior? I'm having a really hard time adjusting to the mini-van like dash layout. .



Exterior:

The only real change here seems to be the headlights. I certainly hope they work better, because I'm not liking the bug look.



Why I'm asking:

I want a new truck, and now I wish I would have bought an '05. Which of course is going to be difficult to come across at this point. . due to the configuration I would be after. Hence my questions, as I try to convince myself that I could grow to like the '06 changes. If these trucks didn't cost, +40K. . I guess it would't be such a big deal. .

 

[ohnoitsyu]

I had the option of getting a nearly identical 05 for a couple hundred cheaper. After seeing a bunch of the 06 trucks on the road, the styling of the 03-05 trucks looks so dated. I think the 06 trucks look so much better. That's my opinion, anyway.



Oh and if you drive them back to back, you'll find that the 06 drives much more quietly thanks to additional measures taken to reduce interior noise.

 

[RankRam]

The headlights are still growing on me as far as the look goes.



I will say that the light that they emit is without a doubt much better than my 05 was!

 

[Tinman]

I just got an 06. Can't compare to the 05 but here are my observations



Headlights are ugly. Supposedly work better. Apparently, you can get Mopar replacement reflector assembly that is black not chrome. This should look better???



Interior is OK but the center mounted radio climate controls require a long reach. I don't really like that. The faux wood grain in terrible. I'll be looking for a replacement (maybe the Sport panels will do). Other than that I like it OK. I'm also wondering where I gonna put all the gauges I want.



Seats aren't a comfortable as the 01 but not bad.



Overall, the truck is awesome. Most of the changes from 05 to 06 are small and cosmetic. I bought it for the engine and trans not the dash panel or headlight. I have to admit, it would be interesting to compare a 05 and 06 side by side.

 

[JonathanBurk]

I had an '02, an '03, an '04, and an '06, so I think I can very well compare the differences to ya.



As for noise, '06 blows my others out of the water simply for the sound deadening. Early 3rd gens are windy, '06 is super quiet. For this alone I am glad I bought an '06, it's that good. Just shut the doors and you can hear the air tight seal.



Interior styling... '06 has nasty light grey, I don't like it. I do like the dash design better, more pockets, more roomy feeling. Don't like the wood trim.



Seating... '06 seats stain easier, but the fabric wears better. Should last longer from what I'm seeing. For short trips the '05- seems to be a little more comfortable, but for long trips the '06 has been better. I frequently drive to the Gulf, about 360 miles one way. Several times a month. The previous trucks would give me butt sores after a while and I'd have to shift. With the '06 I've never had to shift my butt, and I've gone the whole trip without stopping once. I hate the wood trim.



Headlights... I didn't like them at first, but now I wonder why they weren't like this in the first place. The Rams have a sleek rounded look, yet they put rectangle lights in the front? The '02-'05 looks odd now that I've noticed this, '06 definitely goes with the curves of the truck better, even if some people think they are huge. I've gotten several compliments from non-Dodge people that said they like the '06 headlights better than my previous Dodge's... again, that would be 3 others. LOL So I'll take those unbiased opinions over people who own Dodges... including my own opinion. I hate the wood trim.



So that's my . 02



Oh, and did I mention I hate the wood trim?

 

[ckusy]

I bought an 06 mega-cab Laramie 3500 4x4 auto. Prior to this I had an 03 2x2 auto. I really did like the front end on my 03 but I'll get use to the 06 front end. I'ts hard to believe how well this vehicle rides for a 4x4 3500,a little chop on wash boards but on the open road I'ts great. I'ts much quieter on the road then my 03 which had a soft swishing noise from outside, never could find out what the problem was. 06 quieter at idle also. The interior is ok by me although certainly different. All in all I really, really like this vehicle. Get the exhaust brake if you order I'ts great.

 

[HNelson]

The 06's are an improvement from the 05's, and a giant leap ahead of the 2G's.



At first I thought the 06 dash looked cheaper, but as I started to ignore the ugly fake wood I decide that except for the wood the 06 was a better looking dash. Seats seem comfortable so far, but I haven't had a trip in my 06 yet. The 05 seats were a tremendous improvement over the 02 seats. I could hardly stand to sit in the 02 for 8 hours.



I like the light grey more than the black of the 05. Cooler after sitting in the parking lot and it doesn't show dust and gravel nearly as bad. I've had the truck all of 4 days and the floormats still look clean. I couldn't keep the 05 looking clean for more than 30 seconds. I liked the 05 cupholders better than the 06's (the floor mounted ones that come with manual trucks). Radio has a jack for auxilary input now, that's a cool feature I'll probably never use. And I believe the alignment specs have been updated for 06 as well... so probably less chance of death wobble from the factory.



Definite improvements in the wind noise department... but not that much better than my 05 after I had the 06 door seals installed on it.



The headlights are better, both high and low beams.



Still getting used to the G56 over the NV5600. Once I adapt to the gear ratios and shift action it'll be ok.

 

[opjohnny]

The 06 I looked at has a different leading edge door seal and foam stuffed if the front fender. It also had a seal in between the front and back doors. No wonder the o6's are so much quieter. Wanted to add that the bottom of the doors had additional seals as well. This is compared to my 4. 5.

 

[JFaulkner]

I will say that the light that they emit is without a doubt much better than my 05 was!

That doesn't really take that much, I might tape a Mag light to my fender to help. :-laf

 

[michaelRitz]

my opinion: 2003-2005 Dodge= best looking pickups ever by any brand

I am a full blown Dodge guy but the megas are ugly but slowly growing on me but it dont really matter because I have my 05 quad swb, wont need another payment for many of years once this one is paid for

 

[RankRam]

That doesn't really take that much, I might tape a Mag light to my fender to help. :-laf

It's more like two Mag Lights on each fender now! :-laf

 

[d.miner]

I traded my 02 HO 6spd that I was very happy with for a new 06.



I wouldn't go back now.



Nice ride, quiet, good power.



Nothing wrong with the 02, this one's just a lot more refined. I guess I'm getting old !



Good luck to you,



Dan

 

[Sandyneck]

Had my 06 3500 SRW 4x4 QC G56 SLT for about 4 months now. Came from a chevy 2500 gasser, and I can say I'm very happy with the Dodge so far. Have 8500 miles on her and have been been getting an avg. of 18mpg. I've noticed the overhead mpg is off by about 1. 5 mpg low as I hand calc the milage. I've upgraded the stereo and speakers, and added the typical guages, AFE Stage II and MBRP muffler. So far real happy with the Truck.

 

[evldsl]

I had an '02, an '03, an '04, and an '06, so I think I can very well compare the differences to ya.



As for noise, '06 blows my others out of the water simply for the sound deadening. Early 3rd gens are windy, '06 is super quiet. For this alone I am glad I bought an '06, it's that good. Just shut the doors and you can hear the air tight seal.



Interior styling... '06 has nasty light grey, I don't like it. I do like the dash design better, more pockets, more roomy feeling. Don't like the wood trim.



Seating... '06 seats stain easier, but the fabric wears better. Should last longer from what I'm seeing. For short trips the '05- seems to be a little more comfortable, but for long trips the '06 has been better. I frequently drive to the Gulf, about 360 miles one way. Several times a month. The previous trucks would give me butt sores after a while and I'd have to shift. With the '06 I've never had to shift my butt, and I've gone the whole trip without stopping once. I hate the wood trim.



Headlights... I didn't like them at first, but now I wonder why they weren't like this in the first place. The Rams have a sleek rounded look, yet they put rectangle lights in the front? The '02-'05 looks odd now that I've noticed this, '06 definitely goes with the curves of the truck better, even if some people think they are huge. I've gotten several compliments from non-Dodge people that said they like the '06 headlights better than my previous Dodge's... again, that would be 3 others. LOL So I'll take those unbiased opinions over people who own Dodges... including my own opinion. I hate the wood trim.



So that's my . 02



Oh, and did I mention I hate the wood trim?

:-laf Oh did I mention I hate the wood trim also and I have a 2004. 5 :-laf

 

[Sled Dog]

my opinion: 2003-2005 Dodge= best looking pickups ever by any brand

I am a full blown Dodge guy but the megas are ugly but slowly growing on me but it dont really matter because I have my 05 quad swb, wont need another payment for many of years once this one is paid for

Round Eye



Bug Eye

 

[Big_Horn]

During my test drive on my 06 CTD, the dealer spoke of changes in the steering box. He mentioned that there is a entirely new box, improving feeling, handling, and turning radius. Not really sure if its true, I have yet to fine any info on the comparison between the two years.



In my opinion, the cup holders for the manual blow as well as the wood grain dash benzel. I checked out the graphite benzel that the sport model comes with and that’s worse.



I am finding hard to find locations for CB, brake controller and other add-ons where as the 05 might have better locations.



Overall I would pick the 06 over the 05 for the simple fact that its brand new.

 

[nickleinonen]

Apparently, you can get Mopar replacement reflector assembly that is black not chrome. This should look better???

i have seen pictures of that for the 06's... looks real slick on a black or graphite color truck. . don't know how it would look on colors though??? [i want something similar for my 04 but can't find a good deal and ebay is scary]

 

[madmax4688]

Coming from a 99 to an 06 heres my . 02 Waaayyy more power! tow haul & O. D. off. fog lights stay in the "on" position when you turn the parking lights back on. CARGO LIGHT HAS ITS OWN SWITCH!!!! And indicator. Power rear window. Center counsol kicks A** with three cup holders. My wife and kids cant hear me leave at 6:00am anymore and my neighbors dont know my trucks running. no more wait to start light during the day. Thats the pro's for 06.



Heres the con's. Key with remote sucks, seats stain just by looking at them, reverse horn honking thing, no place to mount garage door opener like my 99, windshield wipers seem to be in the way of seeing the nose, turning down fan shuts fan off, stock stereo sucks... ... . oh wait thats still the same, sorry.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I like the fake wood on the dash, the thing I hate however is the aweful looking seat upholstery, It looks like something that comes on the ST work truck!!!

 

[Jeepr]

In January I went on a search for an '05. I didn't like the 06 headlights or interior. I wanted a Laramie and liked the suede of the 05, and didn't care for the woodgrain or cheaper looking (in my opinion) dash. Still very happy with my decision.