6-speed or auto....Need to chose SOON

[rmcnamee]

Need some opinions adn FAST

Here's the deal. I've been waiting for the dealer to find me a 3500 Quad/short Laramie 4x4 HO/48RE for about 4 weeks now and it has been one heck of an ordeal. First, they thought they could find one in NJ the way I wanted, but couldn't find one. Next they located one in upstate NY, so I gave them a deposit and they worked out a deal with the general manager of the NY dealership and arranged a swap. However, when my dealer's flatbed arrived at the NY dealership, the owner wouldn't allow them to take the truck. Turns out, he (the owner) sold the truck the day before to his close friend and refused to honor the prior agreement his dealership had with my dealer. In an effort to try and "fix" this problem, my dealer offered to locate another truck, but if they couldn't, they would try to "hot" order me an '04 (which I am reluctant to get because of the new emissions changes that are planned). Either way, they would sell the truck for invoice, plus all of the current incentives and rebates.



Well, after looking for a few days, they found a few trucks that meet my requirements, however most are between 500 and 800 miles away and the dealer isn't real excited about having to swap with a dealer so far away. I can't say I blame him.



So here is my dilemma. I took some time today and searched the inventories of a few local dealers and found (2) 2500 Quad/short 4x4 SLTs on a local lot (not my dealer, but real close). While neither is a 3500 or a Laramie like I originally wanted, they both are well-outfitted HOs, with (1) being a 6-speed and (1) being a 48RE. Both are outfitted almost exactly the same (the auto has 2-tone paint and the plow prep package, which is only a skid plate on the diesels and the 6-speed truck does not).



With all of this being said, should I:

1. Get the 6-speed?

2. Get the auto?

3. Order an '04 and deal with the new emission equipment?

4. Make the dealer get exactly what I originally wanted?



Thanks,

Ryan



P. S. : I do some light "city" driving and a moderate amount of highway driving and I use my trucks for snow plowing and this new Ram would be no exception.

 

[smartineau]

I really like my 6-speed, today I put in Redline MTL and my Fast- Coolers. I like my 6-speed even more now.



Transmission choice that is up to you.



You said you wanted a Laramie, hold out and find what you want. You are about o plunk down $35,000 or so, get what you want.



If they do an order put it in writing that if it has the EGR too bad and walk.



good luck



steve

 

[DocDetonancour]

Am I mistaken that the trucks built prior to Jan. 04 will have the same emmissions plumbing as the 03????????????

 

[rmcnamee]

Not sure Doc DeTon. I was told by another dealer that the 2004 trucks will have the new emissions equipment. Unfortunately, he did not specify which 2004 (early or late model year) trucks with have them.



Ryan

 

[radar doctor]

Same info

I would also like to know about the emmisions on the o4/Will they stay off untill Jan 03????

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Jan 1, 2004 for the egr system. Maybe the dealer will cut the price some to move an existing unit. . . I'd get the 6 speed unless you can't or hate shifting and are in traffic all the time. Costs less to upgrade the 6 speed stuff (clutch) if you add a bunch of power. Autos seem to absorb money quickly. . .

 

[nickleinonen]

january 01, 2004 is when the egr system is suppose to be added. i plan on ordering my 2004 in about 30-40 days [in late june, early july. hoping for a late aug. delievery date ]

 

[Task125]

I would order one,and get everything you want. as for to shift or not to shift,this is my 3rd dodge diesel other two were autos. I love my 6sp. feels like a truck + exhaust brake is covered by dodge.

 

[Dean Upson]

I would order an '04 and get just what I want. I really like the 6 speed for towing and enjoy shifting through the gears anytime I drive.



Dean

 

[krabman]

I love the 6 speed but if you dont like shifting you wont be happy. I think this one is a no brainer. Order and wait a little or travel long distance to get the truck you want right away. I can say from personal experiance, IMO always get the truck you want, if you dont you will regret it for the entire time you own the one that wasnt right. If I were you I would just buy directly from the far away dealer that has the truck you want. You gave your local guy a shot, he wasnt able to help. He shouldnt expect any more from you. I went 500 to get mine, If it had been further it wouldnt have bothered me, that drive home was pure joy.

 

[CATCRACKER]

firts of all 6 speed is misleading b/c i only use five gears unless needed. My 6speed just put down 296hp to the wheels you will loose more than that with an auto. 6speed seem to be bullet proof and now seem to be holding 350hp to the wheels with no problem. :--) one other thing longevity,longevity!!!!!!! Plus when people ride with you and they hear the cummins while you are going through the gears they will tell you that "this is their first time to ride in a tractor truck" My buddies call my truck "the dump truck" i think mostly b/c of the way it feels ripping through the gears and how tall it is.

 

[WyoJim]

Hey CATCRACKER... How do your passengers say it sounds when you are ripping through the gears while you watch an automatic's tail gate pulling away from you?

 

[rmcnamee]

THANKS ALL!!! It's done

Thanks everyone for your replies. I went to my dealer today and told the salesman, general manager and manager that we were gonna find a truck today or the deal was off.



As I stated before, I've been thinking about the 6-speed and when I got to the dealer, I decided to take a 2500 SLT HO/6-speed 4x4 out for one last test drive before committing to either transmission choice. Well, I'm glad I took another test drive with the manual. I love the sound of the motor when running through the gears. Plus, I feel more confident with the manual because it is a riven transmission, where as the auto, who knows what will happen with Dodge's past diesel/auto track record. I also figured I could get the BD short shift kit, which would make shifting that much nicer. Basically, when I got back from the test drive, I was completely sold on the 6-shooter!



The salesman and I sat down in the back room, logged onto his locator computer, found a few trucks here and there, then we found the ONE and here she is:



1. 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 SWB

2. HO/6-speed

3. Laramie package

4. Heated seats

5. Patriot Blue monotone (originally wanted 2-tone, but my buddy runs a hot rod body shop and will apply the silver and paint my fender flares silver for about $750- dealer wanted $600 just for the lower paint and it probably wouldn't come out as nice)

6. Dark slate leather interior

7. Towing package

8. Limited-slip rear diff

9. 3. 73:1 gears

10. 17x8 Steel, chrome clad wheels (originally wanted the aluminum wheels, but I can always get them used later off eBay or if a fellow TDR member is looking to sell theirs)

11. Trailer tow mirrors

12. Off road/on road tires

13. Bedliner

14. Front hood shield



MSRP: $43,150

Invoice: $38,458

Price: $39,058 ($600 over invoice)

Rebates: $2,000 (not factored into the purchase price- will be used as a portion of my down payment)

Trade: $23,000 (2001 2500 Quad CTD/auto 4x4 SLT w/ 31,500 miles- no extras. Galves.com books the truck at $21,900)



All in all, it doesn't seem to be a bad deal to me. Honestly, I could care less if the dealer is charging $600 over invoice. Atleast I'm getting the truck that meets almost every one of my original requirements, without having to order a 2004, wait atleast 6 weeks to get it and worst of all, possibly get the new emissions equipment. Aside from the 2-tone paint and aluminum wheels, the only other thing the truck doesn't have that I originally wanted is the snow plow prep package. This is no big deal because it's only a transfer case skid plate on the diesel trucks. I can make one for less than the package costs.



Thanks again everyone!

Ryan

 

[Dean Upson]

Ryan,



The truck sounds like a beauty and pretty much paints the picture you had. The missing items that you mentioned are pretty minor. Congratulations and good luck.



Dean

 

[Steve M]

My favorite color! There's a Patriot Blue 3500 SO/5spd 4. 10 QC LB SLT with a good selection of options sitting on our local lot. I've been by to see it several times and drove it twice. If I could get it without taking a beating, it would be home tonight. I traded my '01. 5 for a nice truck but the Patriot Blue 3500 is the gal that I wanted. Sounds like you made a good deal! They have to eat too! But it'll be balony and cheese on your deal!

 

[rmcnamee]

Thanks Dean. Sounds like it'll be really nice.



Ryan

 

[CATCRACKER]

As for me looking at an automatics tailgate, that is fine i will behind the auto picking up all of those hundred dollar bills the auto transmission will be gushing out of the back I have been the auto way with Dodge (99CTD) before will not go there again it cost me to much! The main reason i sold my truck was b/c the transmission kept messing up and i and my wife did not want to spend 4000 more on just a transmission. It would not even hold an EZ in stock form. why drop $4000 in a transmission by that time i will be at over 500 ponies with a clutch that will hold the world!(thanks southbend) I will say this ATS transmission's rock the house! Speed demons beware the 6speeders are hard to race with.



MY LAST POINT, LOOK AT HOW FAST A 6 SPEED CTD WILL RESALE!

 

[Task125]

What dealer did you use? Tallys in pt. pleasant sold me mine at invoice.

 

[DPKetchum]

MY two cents that don't count. GET A LONG BED! Shortbeds will hurt in the future on resale also.

 

[CATCRACKER]

most people have shortbeds.



demand invoice i got mine 300 under invoice they can go invoice without a problem. $600 over that is 900 more than i paid and that is and ez box and leveling kit