325/600 @ 1100 mi ==> the good, bad and ugly

[FJfonda]

Well,

Just cranked over 1100 mi on the new ride. Quick update



Good:

- Very quiet

- Fit and finish is excellent

- Ride/ handling is very good

- Power is strong enough to keep me out of BOMB's for while.

- Auto is trying to figure out how to make me happy... is it adaptive? Seems so. . or I am.

- A. R. E. Cap is perfect

- MPG so far is 14-14. 5 => this is on winterized fuel. My goal is 18 not towing..... might still make it with reg fuel and break in.

- Wife is very happy

Bad:

- Found clear coat build up on roof and overspray on bumper

- Luverne running boards aren't as sturdy as I hoped

- Blow by oil smell in cab-gotta BOMB the hose

- Headlights aren't as good as my '99 sport conversions

- Unlocked TC slips more that I would expect

Ugly:

- Some adolescent on steroids backed into me at 500mi and under a week old. He acted like I shouldn't be upset about the damage... go figure.

 

[Huntercrg]

I have 1360 miles on mine, mpg 11 to 14, seems to have some ruff spots on the bumpers won`t shine up like it should. Paint seems prone to rock chips. The 48re shifts real smooth. Really like the interior cloth dark grey. The 600 has pleanty of go, wants you get to 1600rpms. Get lots of comments on the looks of the truck it turns some heads, usually ferd owners. Hunter

 

[swexlin]

The 600 has pleanty of go, wants you get to 1600rpms. Get lots of comments on the looks of the truck it turns some heads, usually ferd owners.

Had mine four days. Can't comment on the rest, but the above definitely is true. Had it out on its first real high-speed driving today. This beast is fast - faster than my V10 was. 70 before you know it. I actually had it up to 90, and it was still accelerating. Too fast for me, though.



Looks? It DOES get the compliments.

 

[ttreibel]

Check out this thread about blow-by

http://www.nwbombers.com/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=20;t=5826





Fog lights help for night driving if you don't already have them.



Knock on wood but mine has 23K and no dents or dings and only a few scratches.

 

[EEngel]

Mileage

Still on #1 (blended) here.



First tank 16. 7mpg

second 16. 3mpg

third 16. 9mpg



All hand calculated. I have 1300 miles on it so far, almost all highway @ 70-75mph.

 

[GTani]

Picked up my truck Wednesday and have few complaints.

The CTD picks up revs fast but seems to flatten out quickly and I need to shift quicker than my Ford. I think my Ford(92 IDI,banks turbo and exhaust) will pull it for the first 3 gears and then the Dodge will pull away. Probably my shifting the new truck has something to do with it. I have 4:11's in both trucks but going to 315 tires will help the Dodge stay in the lower gears longer. JMHO.

 

[GFritsch]

GTani--I drive Fords at work. I agree, the usable RPM range is shorter on the Dodge. The six speed means even more shifting. I've read where some go directly from 2nd to 4th. Normally you will want to start out in 2nd.



My five speed pulled harder at the higher RPM ranges after it was broke in.



Enjoy your new truck

 

[GTani]

GFritch,I will give that a try. This truck has so much low end I'm not always sure what gear I'm in. Still on the learning curve. It was so much simpler in my 83 Ford diesel with a 4 speed,granny low. The ZF 5 speed was a huge improvement in the 92. I think this transmission is better than the 92 for sure. I just got to remember to not put it in 6th gear, thinking I"m in reverse.

 

[rbattelle]

All that horsepower is going to make it rev fast! That's why I'd be happy if I could get a fuel box that would drop my horsepower to 250 and raise my torque to 650.



At first, shifting my truck felt like driving a rowboat (what with all the gear shifting). One year later, I'm so used to it that it doesn't bother me.