2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Drove an '03 today and....

[cosborne]

Well I need some reassurance or maybe just some other thoughts. First, my converter clutches are slipping and the transmission needs help very soon. A call in to Clint at ATS verified my new improved transmission and converter will set me back about 4k. So, I have 122k on my truck that I owe about 12k on. After the thought of a new transmission for 4k into an already 5 year old truck I got to thinking that maybe it was time to visit the dealership. I drove both the 03 Hemi and the Cummins, and I gotta say, neither one gave me that WOW I have to own this truck. The diesel was an auto with the 48RE, the hemi was a 5 speed. The sales guy left rubber at a stop sign just outside the dealership with the hemi, turned to me and said "I'll bet your already thinking "make me a deal"!". I said, well not really... you see I have no reason to leave each stop sign spinning the tires.

The Cummins just felt "heavy". Granted, it did not have any mods yet, but still, the 305 HP just didn't grab me, and all I have is an EZ is my truck, but mine feels zippy. Am I out of my mind? For an extra $200 month I could have an 03, for 6 or so years of course.

There was nothing that grabbed me about the new ones. Yea, the rear stoage is neat, the flip up center console is neat, white gauges... neat, the cigarette lighter in the console and the towing mirrors... all neat. 35k neat? This has been a difficult decision, I have never made a 4k repair before, but in the back of my head I keep thinking "what will be next"? I'm not worried about the motor, its the rest of the truck that has 120k miles on it. So I do the transmission and drive it till the wheels fall off? I love my truck... a bunch... I have a lot of hard work in it... but new sure is "neat".



Any thoughts guys? What would you do? :-{}

 

[bighammer]

I've really enjoyed mine, but if you are satisfied with how yours runs, and the backseat space, you might be better to stick with it.



Steering and brakes on the 03 seem WAY better than my 94. I needed a quad anyway, so I jumped.

 

[illflem]

I'd love to have an '03, about three years from now when they go for $15k.

Keep your old truck, after the transmission there is very little to go wrong that will come anywhere near $4k.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I'm going through similar feelings as you are. I just had $2200 worth of work put into mine. The gear case seal (the one behind the gear case) was leaking pretty bad and the rear axle seals were leaking and oiled the rear brakes. I test drove an '03 while I was there. I owe around 9k on my loan and figured the truck was worth around 15k. It was tempting, I guess what saved me was they didn't have a 3500 qc short bed on the lot. I agree, the new features are "neat" especially the dual climate control which I would really make use of. My wife likes it around 9000 degrees in the truck. I have decided to hold off as stated above and save more $ for a down payment. And as Bill stated, in a few years the '03's will be much more affordable. I enjoy what I have and it does everything I need. I ended up trading in the wifes car as it was worth around 3k and needed 2k of work done on it. It made more sense to take care of her situation than my temptations. To each his own. She loves her slightly used Saturn V6.

 

[cosborne]

Ahhhh... Now I remember why I joined this group!! Because you guys are just great! Everybody has their own unique perspectives on life and enjoying it. We all try and do the right thing as we make monetary decisions then sit back and hope they were the right ones!

I really feel that I am money ahead by having the transmission done now, I just needed a different perspective. I just played the new lift pump game so that should be good for a bit as well. After the transmission gets done (making the trip over to Denver July 1st) I can get back to thinking about fun stuff, like injectors!

Our trucks truly become a part of each of us... and I never considered going to the competition (PS or Isuzu/Duramax)... though each of them has issues with one thing or another... .



I'll keep fixing mine knowing that is has been tested and abused by the most important person... me!



Thanks again

 

[truckstom]

I just had my transmission DTT'd. It's like a new truck. Feels like a LOT more power, and I don't have to start over bombing a new one. Not to mention the increase in payments... . just my thoughts...

 

[ProspectorTim]

I've been sitting on that fence too. I'll admit, I haven't *driven* a new truck, but from what I've seen and read about them, I think I like my 99 better (body style, interior) than ANY of the new trucks. I figure a new DTT transmission/ torque converter/exhaust brake, etc will be a lot cheaper than a new truck. Besides, if I buy a new truck I'll STILL need the upgrades!



I think I'll hang on to this '99 for a while. Hopefully the transmission will hang on until I can actually afford the upgrades.

 

[jtwcummins]

03 nice truck, but not that nice.

Went thru the same decision process with my 97. Drove the Hemi and Cummins, okay but not that much better. Sales guy was bragging about how quiet the new Cummins was, no fun stopping beside someone on their cel and watching windows go up. A quiet diesel, what's next?



I looked at what was not right with the 97, the brakes and steering. I did the EGR complete front upgrade for brakes and replaced all the hardware and shoes on rear drums. Very good brakes, no pull at all though the rears still don't adjust properly. Next fall the EGR rear disks go on.



Did the steering, changed box to an AGR variable box and added Lukes Link, borenson shaft and the brace. No problem with steering. Replaced the trailing arms in front with Rancho heavy stock height replacemants. Now have very solid, non wandering steering.



Did Banks power pack and e-brake with the ATS exhaust manifold. Like having a whole new truck with a little over 4k invested. The transmission is next, then injectors. Will have almost 9k invested but it's worth it. A new fully loaded cummins Ram is 44k and the HO is not available in Calif.



The 97 has 65,000 miles on it and I love the way it drives and now how it runs. Since it is not even broken in it should go 4 or 5 more years. Bought it new and the best part is the title in my desk drawer. Besides if the GUV has his way a new RAM will be way over a grand for registration in Calif

 

[wyosteve]

co- you made the right decision. I too was on the fence a few months ago. My 01 has over 90k on it so I thought maybe I should trade while it still had some value. Drove several 03's and had the same impression as you. Nice enough, but not a big enough difference to justify the cost difference, plus the the money it would have cost for sales tax, extra insurance, registration and accessories. My 01 w/ EZ puts out more torque than the 03 and I don't need the rear seat for passengers. So, I will spend a little as needed to make repairs on the 01. Plus, the 03's have been cheapened too much in my opinion, i. e. no rear fender liners, no hood insulation, no underhood light, no vanity mirror lights, etc. Just my . 02.

 

[cosborne]

I still can't get over some of the salesman at these dealerships. They really do a great job of "selling" things that you don't even need, but you end up thinking that you do. He called me back the other day and asked what my thoughts were. I explained to him that there were not enough reasons to buy new right now, he then went into this speech about how much more of a truck the hemi was than mine!! I told him that I wasn't impressed with it... he then told me to bring my truck down and we would go race side by side Who are these guys? I felt like it was a him vs. me showdown. These guys need to ride in a truly modified diesel because I don't think they get it.

 

[jtwcummins]

All true. No color choices for the heavy duty trucks either. First year of a new vehicle is not really a good one to spend so much money on. Have a boarder with an 03 1500, nice but my seats are more comfortable and if I want white face gauges the aftermarket has them.



4 real doors would be nice but 90% of the time the backseat is for stuff. Grandkids are limber enough to climb in back without a problem.

besides I tell myself "it's the title stupid"

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by cosborne

I still can't get over some of the salesman at these dealerships. They really do a great job of "selling" things that you don't even need, but you end up thinking that you do. He called me back the other day and asked what my thoughts were. I explained to him that there were not enough reasons to buy new right now, he then went into this speech about how much more of a truck the hemi was than mine!! I told him that I wasn't impressed with it... he then told me to bring my truck down and we would go race side by side Who are these guys? I felt like it was a him vs. me showdown. These guys need to ride in a truly modified diesel because I don't think they get it.

Let's hook this one up. Tell him that if he wins, you will buy the Hemi at sticker price. If you win, he gives you the Hemi free and clear.



We can put DDIII's and number of other discrete little things in your truck in about three hours. I am sure that we can find some loaners to get you done up for the day.



After he finds his way out of the black cloud, you can ask him if he's sure that's got a Hemi in it.

 

[greyghost]

Originally posted by sticks

Let's hook this one up. Tell him that if he wins, you will buy the Hemi at sticker price. If you win, he gives you the Hemi free and clear.



We can put DDIII's and number of other discrete little things in your truck in about three hours. I am sure that we can find some loaners to get you done up for the day.



After he finds his way out of the black cloud, you can ask him if he's sure that's got a Hemi in it.

I'm there, you can use the Comp.



A guy a work his buddy bought one. I was givin the guy an interview, he brough up the Hemi vs Diesel bs ( I think he was trying to win some points) anyway, next thing were spooling up at the end of the parking lot. He got me off the line but I got him by half a lenght before we had to shut them down (maybe 300 yards and its hard to row that thing and keep up with an auto, man I'd hate to go against a diesel auto).

 

[1sand0s]

Originally posted by sticks

Let's hook this one up. Tell him that if he wins, you will buy the Hemi at sticker price. If you win, he gives you the Hemi free and clear.



We can put DDIII's and number of other discrete little things in your truck in about three hours. I am sure that we can find some loaners to get you done up for the day.



After he finds his way out of the black cloud, you can ask him if he's sure that's got a Hemi in it.

ROFLMAO!!!!



Now that is what I call a good plan.

Telling a car salesman who behaves like this to put his money where his mouth is is a great way to shut him up.



Or you could deal with him as I have started to deal with telemarketers... ... ...

ask them to hold on a moment

put down the phone

hang the phone up 3 minutes later after it starts to go beep beep beep

 

[cosborne]

Thanks again for the words of wisdom!

Made one final trip to Powell this past weekend, tempting fate, to see if the transmission was really bad in my truck. That would be a big YEP. Almost didn't get the boat up the launch ramp at Bullfrog... I never had smelled a burning transmission before... but I have now. It slowed to a crawl, I mean barely moving at all, and I was turning about 1500 rpm The ramp is about 1/4 mile or so and about 14% grade and the boat and tralier come in about 5500 lbs. Needless to say, the wife is now convinced that the new transmission will be worth every penny. I ended up having to leave the boat at the marina storage facility cuz there was no way I could bring it home 220 miles.

So, the boat was left in Utah, we did make it home ok, the truck has an appointment at ATS July 1st in Denver, and I will continue to fix my truck and BOMB away



And maybe in a couple years look for a nicely cared for used '03 and start all over againOo.



After I get the transmission fixed, I'll be calling on y'all to help me put my "saleman" in his place too

 

[greyghost]

After that new trans, it looks like you'll be able to take care of that Salesman all by yourself (your sig said so). Throw some injectors in that I-6 and kick some tail.



Garrett



PS ATS is full of really nice stuff, be careful, ground zero for the BOMBING virus.

 

[Blakers]

I was sorta in your situation - but not by choice After my 95 got totaled in April I had to make a decision right away as I needed something to drive to work (100 miles round trip a day), and it had to be dependable and not expensive to run. And I didn't want to downgrade myself to something that didn't have a Cummins in it.



So I bought a new 03 and I really love it. But I really loved my 95 too! It was like new inside and out and had a less-than-a-year-old Goerend Brothers transmission. I would never have given that truck up for an 03 and more payments by choice.



If the rest of your truck's in good shape and it's not rusting away, I would keep it.



Blake