hooh boy, I've got OPINIONS!
You might not likey, but you axed.
No way in heck would I even consider an 03 over a clean 01. 5. I prefer the sheetmetal, interior, mechnical injectors, manly rattle, and just about everything else on a 2G better than the 3G.
I've warmed up to the sheetmetal a bit, but still prefer the 2G. The interior and instrument/control panel of a 3g just plain SUCKS. Granted it's not a dumb as a Chevvie--the late 2g's is about perfect. Good ole simple mechanical injectors-cheap (relatively), effective, proven, unFordlike, noisey. I've seen quite a bit of consternation among the membership here about bad sounds/vibes from the "quiet one". There's the unfilled rearend roar, the buzzy/droning exhaust, the steering column tilt lever.
The only thing I've seen better is the unBOMBed HP numbers.
But why would anybody drive an unBOMBed Cummins?
Save yourself a ton of money and buy an EZ or equivalent fueling/timing box. Even if you go nuts and need a 5000 dollar aftermarket transmission you'll still be happier in the longrun. MOF if you've read about transmission mods here, you see that everybody agrees that the transmission should be the first thing done with a 47re truck. Yes the 48re is upggraded, but is going to drive like a transmission built for your needs?
A newer truck also makes you much more subject to the almighty DC gods for parts and services they haven't released to the aftermarket yet. I found this out when trying to buy bearings for my 2000--this year. I asked the dodge store for a ball joint boot and found out that they come with the ball joint and the ball joint only comes with a CONTROL ARM. outrageous.
You know what you have. You'll miss it when it's gone. (isn't that a song?)
36k?, yep better get rid of that puny old truck, probably won't make 75k, and the paint is already fading, and look at that ding in the box.
I bought mine with 47k, now have 86k, and fully intend to put over 300k on it and go to at least to 500hp. I'm actually planning on buying another truck. It'll be 4x4, LB, 2500, 2g-duh, and 12-valves! Then I'll have a play truck and will reduce the miles I put on the more civilized 400hp rig-otherwise I'd tell you that I'll be putting 500k or more on this one.
All vehicles break and wear. It costs MUCH more when you wear on new trucks than old trucks. How much value will your 01 lose over the next 12 months? How much value would an 03 lose over the same period? And would you incur debt doing the upgrade? If so you are only compounding the loss of value situation.
OTOH, it's folks who make trades like this that provide us LONG HAULERS into some nice trucks.
whoops I got long-winded.
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
