??????????????

[lawdog]

Ok, I am really confused... I spent a couple of hours yesterday at the dealer with the Gen Mgr, who is a god friend, trying to locate a truck for me. While looking, I told him I wanted a SLT, but may consider a Laramie. He was strongly encouraging me towards the Laramie because he likes the leather interior better himself. We went out to the lot an checked out a truck with leather (1500), and I IMMEDIATELY noticed a WEIRD feeling compared to the cloth... . No not that kind of feeling... . The leather seats had a shorter seat botom by about 1-2". It felt more like the back seat bottom length when compared to the SLT with cloth... . Has anyhbody ever noticed that before?????? Just sort of strange... .....

 

[lawdog]

I also was shown that the 2003's do not have a door key lock cylinder in the passenger door handle..... That was weird too. I do not know if that has been addressed or not, but I had never heard of that. . They said ALL DC vehicles they di that to save $$$$

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Lawdog, I never noticed the seat cushion length thing myself. I like my leather seats just fine. As far as leather goes, the Laramie is *NOT* required to get the leather. I purposely went non-Laramie because I wanted leather without the suede leather inserts.



Yes any truck with keyless entry does not have the tumbler on the passenger side. . .



Vaughn

 

[lawdog]

I do not know for sure if the truck was a LAramie or a SLT with leather, but the shorter seat definantly was different (uncomfortable) to me. I did not really want leather to begin with, but We are doing a locater to find a truck for me, and 3500QC SB HO Auto Black 4x4 are slim in a 400 mile radius... ... . We found a few, but they are ALL sports, which I guess I will be stuck with, or drop to a 2500... . NAAAA... Just waiting for my friend to buy my 2000 next week before the dealer goes and gets one... He already said he will spring me one of his rental cars until the trade can be done.....

 

[davidclark]

Maybe the seats were adjusted very differently in the two trucks you compared. I know I can get some funky feeling seat shapes by messing with all the switches...

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by lawdog

I also was shown that the 2003's do not have a door key lock cylinder in the passenger door handle..... That was weird too. I do not know if that has been addressed or not, but I had never heard of that. . They said ALL DC vehicles they di that to save $$$$

It comes with the passenger side key lock unless you get keyless entry from the factory. My truck didn't come with keyless but I installed it with a kit from Dodge ($99 and $35 for dealer to prog comp. )

 

[BillGotthelf]

The seat bottoms in my 2003 Laramie are 2" shorter than my 99 SLT.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

I installed it with a kit from Dodge ($99 and $35 for dealer to prog comp. )

That doesn't sound like a bad deal. Is that their regular price or with a discount? I bought my wife a remote starter with remote openers for $175 installed for her Blazer. I figured I might get that for my Ram if it works good for her.



We've had 14 Mercedes over the years - all diesels - and it seems that every newer one had something made cheaper than the previous one. Little things here and there to save money. I think its this company's way of doing things.



Blake

 

[Prairie Dog]

That was a regular price Blake. I had to install the module but it was very easy (comes with directions). If someone wanted to add the factory security system then this would also be a good time for that as it plugs in to the back of the gage cluster just like the keyless does. I suspect the dealer would program both for that original $35.

 

[Blakers]

Any idea what the security system costs? Is it a good system? I get a pretty good discount at our Dodge dealer so that should help.

 

[Briman]

I wish the Laramie seats were a bit longer under the legs. I think it would make for a more comfortable seat.

 

[lawdog]

Kind of a cheesy way to save money... shorten up the seat bottom to use less leather... . I am glad I will be getting the cloth now

 

[Dean Upson]

I think the size of the leather and cloth seats on the 03's are the same.



Dean

 

[Rosco]

Dean is right. my 03 Q/C SLT had leather and my current 03 regular cab is premium cloth and they both have the same "short" seat bottom.



Personally, I prefer the cloth seat because it grabs your butt better so you don't slide forward. The leather looks nice but from a practicality standpoint I need cloth. With leather I was forever repositioning myself while snowplowing because every time the truck came to a quick stop in the snow pile I would slide forward.



On my 2001 the seat bottom went all the way to my knee's. I miss that seat.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have short legs and have had leather on the last 2 trucks so I really like the Laramie package. It is all a matter of individual tastes. You either like leather or you don''t .



Dean

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by Dean Upson

I have short legs and have had leather on the last 2 trucks so I really like the Laramie package. It is all a matter of individual tastes. You either like leather or you don''t .



Dean

Personally, I'd rather have had the cloth but couldn't get the heated seats without the leather.



Solution: the fabric covers from MOPAR. They protect the leather from scratches (puppy toe nails) and come off easily for washing.