Drove A '03 Tonight

[Evan A. Beck]

Just got home from the local Dodge dealer after driving a '03 3500... Man, these new rigs are sweeeeeeeet... Love the interior... Can't wait to order a '04!!!

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I drove one too... ... ... Home from work.

 

[lschultz]

Evan you have been bitten. It want be long before you have that 2003

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I have got the new truck bug reeeeeal bad... Its going to be tough to hold out until the '04s are available to order.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I think the new truck payment is enough to make anyone hold off for a while. $700 bucks for each truck. I am glad that the Cummins will last for a few years. I cant aford to have a new truck for about five more years. Then they (DC) might have a 4500 or 5500 out on the market.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Evan,



I haven't driven an '03 yet but I did hear the ISBe run in a 2nd Gen. Ram that Cummins had at Muncie over the summer. I could have cried when I heard how quiet it is How do you like the noise level (or lack thereof?)



Paul

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Paul, I really like how quiet the new trucks are. At first, I was a little leary of this "quiet diesel" trend, but now I realize it is truly a great thing. I took a lengthy test drive with the sales girl, and was able to talk with her without having to battle the noise from the engine. As I was leaving the dealership in my truck, I discovered what a dinosaur my '01 really is, even though it is a great truck! Steering, suspension, and just the general ride quality are much improved in the '03. But I gotta say, I really do like how quiet this thing is. It's got a real nice tone to it... Real smooth, quiet idle, but growls when you push on the go pedal. Power was very impressive. Felt liek an honest 275-280 right to the ground.



After driving my truck for 100,000+ miles with a Psychotty and a 4" straight exhaust, I am ready for something a little more mellow. Don't get me wrong, I love the way my '01 sounds, but it's time for something a little quieter.



So I definately see an early '04 in my future... A 3500 4x2 QC, in Flame Red. I can't wait!!! It's nickname will be "Quiet Riot. " BOMBS AWAY!!!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I hear ya Evan, these new 03s are rubbing off on me and I am getting the bug too. I do love my current truck and it has held up very well with what it's been dealt, but it feels dated compared to the new rigs. I don't feel I can afford one right now but I can certainly see a late '03 in my future!



There is a HO 3500 SRW 4x4 shorty on the lot here, I think I'll take it for a spin! It is what I want except I want a 2-wheel drive.



Vaughn

 

[Benson]

Me too, I drove a 3500 2WD yesterday for the first time. I'm thinking of going with an Auto. Love the 6 speed but I'm gettin' lazy. The '03 was noticably quieter inside and I liked that. Makes a difference in fatigue on a long drive.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The frames on these trucks are supposedly the strongest in the industry. I did a little impromptu experiment which has me believing this is true.



I jumped up on the rear bumper of a longbed Quadcab truck, stood on the edge of it and jumped up and down, HARD. I'm average size (165lb) but I was able to rock it good and there was NO movement of the bed relative to the cab. By that, I mean no more than 1-2 millimeters. The entire truck yawed to my jumping motion. Sure I looked like a fool, but it was a good "test" in my book.



I then tried it on my shortbed truck, there was a lot of frame flex. I would say there was an easy 1/3" movement of the bed relative to the cab, much much more than the new truck. The bumper felt "soft" and had more give under my weight.



I've been having fun going online and "building" a truck, 3500 QC SB 4x2, ETH, SLT with the goodies I want:



Limited Slip

Premium Cloth seats (Taupe)

Security Group

Trailer Tow

Airdam & Fog Lights

Auto-dim Mirror (the Travel computer/Temp/Compass now standard on SLT, very cool)

Leather-wrap wheel

Flat folding storage

Rear slider.



I was planning leather for sure but after sitting in a Laramie last night I came away disappointed. The seats felt too hard and flat.



What color? I love Patriot Blue over silver, but it's a high-maintenance color. I think I'll go back to the same scheme as my '98: White over Driftwood (Silver).



Vaughn

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

MN,

I love being able to hear over the engine idle. I hate to hear her run away from me. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner. DD will be playing with this one as soon as I have the $$$$$$

 

[Chipstien]

Vaughn, The leather always is hard at first. Took about 10,000 mile to break-in the seats. I will say this... the chevy leather buckets are reeeaaaly comfortable. However this is the only thing better than the dodges. I really need to get down to the dealer and look at the '03.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Chipstien, you may have a good point about leather "breakin. " Although I don't see it feeling as good as my '98's leather and especially the nicer leather of the 2000-02 trucks. I was wanting leather 'cause I miss my '98 and couldn't afford it on my '01.



Vaughn

 

[jmeehan]

I had a chance to look at the '03's myself. I'm surprised at how quickly the new truck grew on me. I really liked what I saw, and didn't hear. The salesman said the ISBe engine is 80% quieter then the ISB. If I could justify it I'd be ordering one up right now.

There will probably be some deals on '02's and used 2nd genners out there.

 

[lawdog1]

Anybody driven a '03 2500 and 3500 4x4, back to back or in sucession in an attempt to compare comfort and ride difference. Info. I have checked out indicates that the '03 3500 has the old '02 2500 "Camper Package" springs and that the '03 2500 is softer sprung and you can't get the "Camper Package" on the '03 2500. I am curious about the impressions of owners or test drivers of both platforms. With about a $600 price difference between the two, kind of leaves one in a quandry, big or biggest?



With similar engines and drivetrains between the two (outside of the 10. 5 vs. 11. 5 inch ring gear) I would imagine the fuel economy would be similar. Maybe just a ride sacrifice and insurance expense difference between the two? Anybody towed anything big, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 lbs. with a new 2500 4x4? How was it, do you wish you had gotten the 3500? Please let me know your thoughts, I am not in a location where I can go drive one of these new beasts and put it through its paces.

 

[DiTrani]

2500 or 3500

With the relatively small price diff and the SRW option on the 3500, I wouldn't ever consider a 2500 now.



I plan on celebrating my truck's 2nd birthday (about this time next year) by ordering an '04 3500 SRW. I love my '02, but I'd order a very different truck if I had to do it over. My '04 will look like this:



Red 3500, SRW, QC, short-bed, 4x4, auto, LT package (or equiv. ), tow, and all HD options available.



The 'red' is for the wife - hopefully the shorter, quieter auto in her favorite color will be something she'll feel better about driving. She won't even sit behind the wheel of the current beast. Most of the time that's just fine by me, but sometimes it's just bloody inconvenient.

 

[Big MAK]

Yeah; the quietness grows on you.



At last wkends MWTDR gathering I took a picture of the whole gang standing in front of my new 2500 talking... while it was running. No one was yelling either.



The seats are downright awesome. I think they'll match the Chevy's once the leather softens a little more.



Besides; kind of a kick to rib the chevy and ford guys about their noisy trucks!

 

[lawdog1]

A good objective Magazine Test...or am I biased?

For any of you guys getting any lip from buddies with GM or Ford products about the new Dodge or just weighing whether or not to "roger up" for a new Dodge, here is a good review of the 2003 Dodge HD's. The test folks drive the Dodges (in various environments, even while towing the competition on a big gooseneck) and then compare towing, engines, payload, etc. between GM and Ford. Big surprise the new Dodge came out on top! Article even has some decent pictures, it is a good read, enjoy.



http://auto123.sympatico.ca/roadtest/view.spy?make=Dodge&artid=3435&pg=1

 

[Casey Balvert]

Great article, especially if you have one.



Cheers, Casey

 

[skorski]

new 03 can't see

I haven't driven the new truck yet but I have sat in several. I like the truck but I can't see over the hood to judge either left or right fenders feels like i'm sitting in a hole. I am 5'11 and have no broblem with my 95 Is it just me or does anyone else have the same feeling 95 ex cab 4x4 tuned by diesel dynamics 266 hp 660 torque Suncoast pro loc tc and vb bd torque loc prime loc fuel filter relocation kn air filter removed muff. all gages. 171,000 mi and climbing