anyone regret going 3rd gen?

[JMichelson]

98 12 Valve to 06

I went from a 98 12 valve auto, to a 06 six speed. Both were quad cab long boxes. I get a tear in my eye everytime I hear the honest clatter of a 12 valve, other than that, the 06 is a far better truck in everyway. I had some mild work done on the 98 (267hp 630 torque on a dyno, BD transmission). The 06 with the six speed will run away from the 98 towing my trailer, and gets about 2-mpg better mileage while doing it. Driving wise and comfort wise the 06 wins hands down. Looks wise too me,it's a toss up, both trucks look good. I haven't had to do any work on the 06 other than routine maintenance (oil and fuel filter changes), oil change about the same, fuel filter easier on the 06. All in all I love the 06. It's the first truck I have owned that I didn't have any buyers remorse when I got it home. Jeff

 

[rwitt]

Just last week I sold the '02 and bought the '07 in my signature. Mostly for the dually to carry the camper but with the factory rebate and employee pricing I get, it was time. Plus I wanted the 5. 9. It is so quiet compared to my old truck and more comfortable. I will miss the '02 though.....

Rich

 

[WStrmiska]

Can't compare before or after 2004. 5 trucks as this is the only diesel I have owned and hopefully will be my last. IMO this is a great truck especially what I use it for. Can't compare it to my 1975 Chevy pickup that I bought new and still have,now that wouldn't be fair would it.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Forrest,



You are right, the 3rd Gens have no soul. I don't regret buying an '05 but look at my sig. If you want my advice, buy the new truck, but also KEEP the 94!! Good Luck!!!



Paul

 

[Forrest Nearing]

mine's a 98 quad/short 4x4 w/ a lot of time and money in it... I know I won't get all of it out of it, but I'd like to get some of it if I'm going to have a new truck. even if it means getting into a less expensive single cab 12v to play with on the side

 

[SLightfoot]

I just switched from a '99 to my '07 about a month or so ago.



Someone already put it best with "the third gen's have no soul". Boy are they right. (I really don't think it helps that all the interior styling is squared edges and flat - very cold and lack character)



It's hard to put my finger on it really, but my 07 has nice creature comforts, infinitely quieter, better brakes and better steering. Overall, there is no question it's a more "refined" truck.



That being said, I really miss my 99 at times. Even though the new trucks are built to look and feel bigger, there is a certain masculinity in the 2nd gens that is almost completely lost on the 3rd gens, especially the later 3rd gens.



It's nice to hear that 2nd gen rattle to let pedestrians know you're there. The gorilla-like grunt it had when put under a heavy load up a long hill.

The doors felt like they were actually truck doors too.



So, I guess it's a wash. Pro's and Con's to both. If I had my way, I would have kept my 99 and the 07 at the same time, but that wasn't a practical solution for me.



I'd say if you have a 2nd gen that is running fine - keep it.



Shawn

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I'd say if you have a 2nd gen that is running fine - keep it.

well, again, I need a long bed for work, and the incentives to buy a new one (company buys it for me, pays maintanence, fuel, insurance, etc. ) are too great... that's the only reason I would make the move

 

[AMink]

I miss the ease of tinkering with my 97 and sounds it made. It wasn't a real powerhouse, so in that respect, the 06 walks all over it. I was hoping to keep the 97 and get rid of the Expedition, but that plan didn't fly. All that being said, I really like the 06. It pulls the trailer infinitely better, though I could have dropped a bunch of $$ into the 12 valver and had the same results, with cash left over. I do think the seats in the 97 were more comfortable. Of course, we had 125,000 miles to get to know each other!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

that's another thing I noticed... it was hard to get comfortable in the new truck

 

[geusterman]

I thought we were past this... ha! When my wife said she did not want to go anywhere anymore in the 02 (3rd Cummins I owned) because too noisy and rough riding... that did it. I had hoped to grow old and be buried in my 02 (last of the 2nd gen on the lots). It was a tractor (6spd) and you don't wack your head on the roof getting in as my new friends continue to do hopping in the passenger side (it is a mini-van with a Cummins). I loved the simplicity even of the 24 valve.



That said: I would not go back now. This truck has been tricked enough to have a soul and is a sweet ride for those long trips with the camper. Plus the grand kids can shoot gophers out the back windows. Now that's a plus.

George

 

[Regcabguy]

3rd.gen.

I really love the enhanced steering,braking,smooth idle,and creature comforts that my '07 has over my '99 which I dumped a fortune into trying to make up for D/C's engineering shortcomings in these areas. Mileage is 10-15% poorer and power is badly in need of a Smarty. I had the "53" in the '99 and don't miss that monkey on my back. The original block went@ 17,500 miles. Fit and finish on this Saltillo built truck is very good as was my '99.

 

[pwr2tow]

I've owned two 3rd generation dodge cummins and one 2nd genertion dodge cummins. The 3rd gereration dodge cummins is by far the best and keep getting better. Guess one day I'll have to see how the 4th generation is doing but it won't be until I'am sure there as good or better than the 3rd gens.

 

[Okie-Go]

I had a 98 2500, an 01 2500 and now an 06 drw. They just keep getting better!

 

[bighornram]

I completely regret giving up my 2002 for my 05'. I have my 05' set up exactly the same as my 02 was. On long steep pulls I can tell the difference a little bit and going from 2500 to 3500 SRW doesn't seem to have made any difference in the way it holds my fifth wheel. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the road.

 

[Grizzly]

No regrets here. My 05 is much improved from my 95, which was already great. I love the extra power, roomier Quad Cab. tow mirrors and many other features over the 95.

 

[bighammer]

If only I could have 2 lo in my 03

 

[MickeyMiller]

BIGHAMMER,



Dynatrac locking hub kit = 2 WD Low when the hubs are unlocked!

 

[ronman]

Forrest,



You are right, the 3rd Gens have no soul... .

Paul

I don't agree with that entirely... 3Gen's may not have as 'much' soul as the 2Gen's, but they have waayyy more than a Ford! I went from a

'98 12V which I loved to a 2006 Ford SD Diesel and 15 mos later back to Dodge in an '06. I like the 3Gen about as much as my 2Gen, but in different ways. I like the quiet CTD, the refined creature comforts and better brakes and handling, but I'm not all that crazy about the interior styling or MPG's. That said, the 3Gen is far and above better than the Ford which was so numb and unresponsive in just about every way, that I could not stand it any more, not to mention absolutely atrocious fuel economy. The Ford, now that's a truck with no soul. The 3Gen is maybe not James Brown, but it's got soul!

 

[Sasquatch]

Just bought a new, flaming red, 6. 7, dually, 4x4 with the six-speed auto transmission.

Went to the dealership to a buy another 2500, and grab the last of the 5. 9 engines, which were being heavily discounted.

I've put a quarter-million miles on my '97, and dropped at least $25,000 into her in the form of "power-enhancements," toys (GPS was pretty new in '97), and accessories.

When I finished with the pump and transmission (ATS) the engine of the '97 was putting down almost 500 hp at the rears, and I actually broke an input shaft (thanks ATS, for making that right!), and I'm now ready for a truck that has "adequate power," comfort, and reliability.

The test drive of the new '07 ruined me. I walked back into the sales office, like a zombie, sat my butt down, and said, "That's the truck I want: Write it up. "

Comfort. Quiet. Amazing acceleration (and I KNOW acceleration), great handling, wonderful exhaust brake, great transmission with cool-as-hell trick "manual shift" option -- everything I've wanted in a truck (and have had to add on in the past).

This 3500 simply points, tracks, rides, and cruises like a dream. My '97 darted around like a pirhanna in a goldfish bowl: Got used to it, but this truck drives as well as my wife's Toyota Sequoia, and that's saying something for a big, heavy truck.

I'm guessing that I'll pay a fuel premium, but my '97 never got the mileage that some claimed: I was happy with 15 mpg, because my truck was always loaded down with tools, racks, topper, brush-guards, winches, etc.

This truck won't need power enhancements: As I said, earlier, it has power to spare.

I loved my '97 and, as others have pointed out, it was fun to "work on," including valve-jobs, fluids changes, and what have you. This truck is an engineering marvel, and I won't be tinkering with its Space-Shuttle telemetry, but -- here's the thing -- I'm ready to just drive the truck and use it as a work/towing platform. My "tinkering" and "uprating" days are over with.

I live in the most mountainous region of the most mountainous state, and my test drive of 20 miles put this 3500 through two 3,000 ft climbs (in the span of 18 horizontal miles, once, and 3. 1 miles next) -- the truck soars, even in this thin air.

I loved my '97, but, I've got a new "trophy wife".

 

[Sasquatch]

Another thought, for all of you agonizing over the 10% fuel-premium we're going to pay to satisfy the Al Gore "Inconvenient Truth" (EPA mandated crap) crowd: at $3. 00 per gallon, the fuel premium might cost new-truck owners several hundred dollars per year over what the old 12 valves delivered. But, on the other hand, the new trucks come with a "free" exhaust brake that would cost better than $1200 to purchase and install ourselves (dealers get $1800).

I'm going to do the inevitable installs: Mud flaps; Line-x; maybe a clear protective plastic "bra" (stone chips on Hwy 82 like being sand-blasted in a wind tunnel); brush guard and winch -- but that's it.

I feel like I'm already $20,000 ahead of the curve, considering my past attempt to make my old ride feel the way this one does, fresh out-of-the-box.