3G vs 2G--check me out here...

[geusterman]

One more thing--I promised to follow-up on mileage issues. Just back from Oregon coast trip with BigFoot and 10 mpg. Went to see Piers (and met ol one pipe Fletcher there from Stanwood with his 95 drag truck--way cool!), cleaned both sensors and did boost leak check. Truck has 18K on it and always 14mpg since new. Took the EZ off after dyno--hp good (about 39 from the EZ) thinking it time to rattle dealer's cage. Made a run to NW Snowmobile show in Puyallup and back right at 16. Now, I am a bit anal here, same pump and right to overflow/breather in pipe each time. Was that the EZ or the sensors. Piers says sensors. Put EZ back on and try. I will if I keep it. But friends are getting real 18 plus mpg right out of box with new common rail. So not convinced I will see the good mileage especially with GV and stuff.



Really thinking about ordering a new ST with the auto. At 53 the shifting is uh... . getting old. geusterman

 

[Moterhead]

And there's a $2500 rebate on new '04 thru the end of the CY.

 

[Hohn]

George:



You can't much compared the mileage of your '02 to a 3rd gen truck because you have SO many add-ons to your '02 that all affect mileage in some way, large or small. Your GV is probably the biggest one.



What it boils down to is this: if you want a nice 3rd gen, your going to have to pay for it. And it won't be cheap, considering all the money you have put into your '02.



Only YOU can decide if the price of admission is worth your while to step up to the nice 3rd Gen.



In MY case, it would clearly NOT be worth it to upgrade. Trading up to a 3rd Gen would cost me about $12K or more. I only have about $1500 in Upgrades. More upgrades means more lost money.



When I bought my truck, both the '02s and the '03s were on dealer lots. What swayed me in favor of the second Gen was this:

-- Aftermarket is already estabilished for 24V.

-- lots more engine compartment room on the 2nd Gen.

-- MUCH CHEAPER to get the leftover '02 (almost $10K)

-- The truck had been built as is for quite a while, so I figure I won't have to deal with teething problems. As a result, I have a block that is improved, a decent lift pump, the latest design VP44, and a great all-around truck.



As you can tell, I bought my truck with BOMBs in mind, so my situation might be different than yours.





Here's something that I don't yet understand. If you knew that you didn't want to shift a manual, or that you would be bothered by loud engine noise, or that you needed four roll-up windows, or that you wanted a smoother ride, or that you needed a one-ton SRW... . Then *why* did you buy the '02 Dodge? Did you not test-drive it? Did you not know about each of the things I mentioned above (which I believe you cite as reasons for a possible upgrade)?



George, please don't take this as a flame or an insult. I am just curious as to what your thought process was in buying the '02.



If you find you can't live with the decision to buy the '02, no biggie. Cut your losses, buy the '04 and go be happy. I would just hate for you to find out down the road that there was some other Dodge quirk that you absolutely had to escape from, and were willing to pay thousands of dollars to get into the next-greatest-thing.



Yes, some things about my truck are annoying (but I can't think of any off-hand). But I have to live with them for many years. They are the consequences of my decision to buy this truck. So far, so good.



Justin

 

[tcourse]

Geusterman,

If you decide to trade I miught be interested in your Kelderman.

I live in the Federal Way area.

Terry

 

[FATCAT]

Keep it!

Keep your old (yeah right, an '02 is old) truck. Pay it off and get a new one around 2007/2008 when the G4 or G5 trucks start coming out.



That will be about the earliest I'll be able to start looking for a new truck (maybe 2009). Hopfully there will be 5500's available at that point. I know I'll be driving around with a "home-made" truck bed at that point, if the frame holds up.



Your just gonna loose money buying a new one now.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Answering two points:

The '04 is nicer to drive everyday, especially the brakes and "tightness" of handling. Not that the 97 is bad. . .



Aftermarket is not yet saturated with stuff for the 3rd gen, but there is a lot of stuff out there. I previewed the situation in TDR39. It was very convenient for me that Diesel Dynamics has developed a rather full line up of high quality stuff, and they are local for me. A bit of shopping there satisfied my urges on a number of fronts, and resulted in a very nice package, refined far better than what a typical bomber could do even a couple years ago. Meaning that I would not avoid a 2004 because of fear that the aftermarket is not up to speed.

 

[geusterman]

Justin--I just wanted a simple Cummins (ST) for years but as time has gone by I would rather jump in the 98 Jetta TDI or wife's Pilot than fire up the beast. Might be an age thing. In order to keep from buying a new Passat diesel for my main ride a switch to an 04 SLT would make it a daily driver because it is friendlier. I love trucks and prefer to drive them.



The 02 shifts like butter, now gets 18 mpg, driveline smooth as glass, air ride sweet and GV makes it quiet on the road. It is a great truck and what a hassle to change it out especially risking a problem truck for the new one. This one is utterly problem free.



I have an invoice deal near home for an 04 and need to run the sale of the 02 through the dealer for sales tax credit so need to move it fast. Like to sell it complete. I want to sell off the upgrades so somebody who needs a GV should come by and we will swap drivelines and $2500. The Kelderman/compressor can be swapped out for $700. Trade me tires and $1850 for silver wheeled Ricksons and 245 Michelins. Going aluminum 19. 5's on new one. All accessories have about 9K on them. PM me for any interest here. This is hard! geusterman