Drove an '04 HO....

[HoleshotHolset]

I went into a Dodge dealership Friday night around 7:15...



Immediately as I pulled up in the VW a salesman was on my trail...



I told him I was just looking and wanted to know if he had a 2500/3500 (SRW), quad cab, 4x4, 6-speed... .



Long story short - they had one... . and I drove it.



OMG!! What a truck. I could not believe how quiet it was... . both at idle and on the freeway. The NV5600 was a bit hard to shift, though... . It was still THE nicest truck I have EVER driven.



I was only there to take a look, but man... did they ever try hard to get me to buy it.



I have messages on my voicemail... . AND the salesman just called me here at work wondering why I didn't show up on Saturday to sign papers.



I thought long and hard about it and came to the conclusion that it's too much bread for me right now. Maybe in a while I'll buy one used with the exact features I want... . this one was a 9. 9 out of 10, though.



I didn't want the electric transfer case... . and this one had steel wheels on it (no Rolling Stones jokes please... . ).



I even considered getting a second job to pay for it... . (still looking into the second job thing... ).



$32,990 out the door... . I thought that was a decent deal... . nothing earth shattering... .



I will own one of the 3rd Gen trucks - it's only a matter of time.....



Matt - still drooling and thinking of ways to come up with the bread.

 

[MO'Donnell]

The 6 speed will get smoother as you get used to it and it breaks in. As for the dial-a-4WD, I went with it because the heated seats were a must-have, and you can only get those in a Larame which means dial-a-drive. No issues with it so far. I understand it's the same t-case with a servo-motor to do the shifting rather than the lever & linkage. Haven't read any complaints about it here.



Start saving your $$$$$$, you will LOVE the truck when you get it!

 

[PLaFrombois]

Matt



Did you stop at Don Miller on E. Wash? They've a 3500 that I'd like, but I don't want the 4. 10's. Salesman is very upset that I haven't dropped everything to come over and take it for a drive.



Paul

 

[Fred Swanson]

Laramie option, and yes the heated seats are worth having. This from someone who lives in Arizona. Nah! It doesn't get cold here. Well when you are used to 100F heat, when its 30F, like this morning, it is Cold.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Hey Paul!

No - I went to the Don Miller on Odana. Let me know if you want to go truck shopping... I already know a few of the tricks they have up their sleeve. Plus I wouldn't mind drooling on a few more 3rd gens!!



The salesman I had was pretty good - borderline of being a bit too pushy. When he called this morning - he tried to talk me out of a diesel. I said: 'NO WAY!'... . I'd rather drive my older diesel truck (or the VW... ) than a brand new (more affordable) gasser.



He then went on to tell me about a beatup looking 2nd gen dually sitting in their used lot. I said that I saw it when I was there and had zero interest in it when compared to the 3rd gen.



I told him that I'd give him a call in a few months - once I straightened out my finances (a. k. a. - win the lottery!!)... . and reminded him that I was only LOOKING at trucks when I was there on Friday night.



When I saw the $500 "dial-a-4x4" option I knew I didn't want it. 1)Its a whole 'nother truck payment... . just for the electirc 4x4 2) I don't mind pulling a lever to keep things more simple... and less expensive in the long run.



I'm still drooling over the 3rd gen trucks - UNREAL how nice they are. And honestly, the truck I drove was well worth the ~$32,990... I just can't justify such a nice, new, expensive truck right now.



Matt

 

[Dean Upson]

Electronic Transfer Case

I love mine and I haven't read anything here in the past year about anyone having any trouble with them. fwiw.



Dean

 

[MCharlebois]

buying new

best way to buy a new truck is over the phone-DUE NOT DRIVE IT

salesman thought i was out of my mind when i said no to a test drive after they knocked 6k off the price Then i drove it--also i know everybody wants the newest blaa blaa--wait until the o5 are coming out and they want to get rid of the 04!!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Especially since everything after '04. 5 will have the 325/600 engine in it..... the standard HO will be a thing of the past.



IF/When I ever get a 3rd Gen - I doubt I'll buy new. I can't get over the initial depreciation... . besides I could get someone's old 3500 SRW loaded up just the way I want it for less than a new 2500.



Matt - still drooling over the 3rd gens... .

 

[klenger]

I have self control. I can look at a new truck w/o wanting to buy one. I am good.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Yah, I've been trying to tell ya the 2004 is a great truck! Oo.

The six speed gets a lot easier with a few miles on it.



The 325 engine has a cat and electronic wastegate control. Also up to 3 injection events per firing cycle. Let's see how the aftermarket vendors work with these changes.



My philosophy on buying a new truck may be a bit different--I have to pay for it, not just pay on it each month. With that concept in mind, I don't look to buy every imaginable option, and when the end result is too expensive, not buy anything. I am very happy with mine, with "just" the SLT, tow hitch, and fog lamps--right off the lot. It has the color combination I want, and a good price, about $30K plus tax. Even though it is noise deficient and power deficient compared to Sickly, it is a great truck and gets the vast majority of my driving time.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Joe, great write up on the TDR Home Page!! I would have gladly helped you on the test drives!



Your impression was about the same as mine with the Ford that I tested in early '03 and wrote up in the TDR Issue 40, page 66, titled "Drive Two, Order One".



Bill

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Thanks, Bill

Next time, I'll let you come and drive the Chevy

I still feel slimed from that experience

The Drof wasn't as bad, just made me look like a brainless bubba

 

[klenger]

Joe:



Just read the 04. 5 review on the TDR main page. I am sure that all of your comments are accurate, but the review seemed so lopsided, that it almost read like brand bashing. I'm sure it wasn't intended that way. I suspect that Dodge's market share is going to go way ^ in the next year or so. Maybe stock in Cummins isn't a bad idea. Can't wait to get mine.



What does "pre-equipped for an exhaust brake" mean? Is it the same setup as the 03-04. 0 or did Dodge add some stuff to the stock engine to make for a simplier e-brake installation?



Tx

 

[DocDetonancour]

? for Joe D.

Is your 04 still stock? what, if anything are you modding on the H. P/torque? Thanks, Doc

 

[HoleshotHolset]

... still drooling. :-laf



Darn Dodge/Cummins engineers - why'd they have to go and make such a nice truck??!! This is torture!



I must have some kind of self control - I haven't bought one yet... and have been able to stay away from the dealer since Friday.



Matt

 

[MO'Donnell]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

... still drooling. :-laf



Darn Dodge/Cummins engineers - why'd they have to go and make such a nice truck??!! This is torture!



I must have some kind of self control - I haven't bought one yet... and have been able to stay away from the dealer since Friday.



Matt

Yeah, but I bet you've burned up a few sets of batteries in your calculator since Friday!



I'm sure you will bite the bullet sooner than you think.



An FYI on the used/new debate. Around here, and several other places, the used ones are actually selling for MORE than new ones once you factor in the rebates and getting a good deal (invoice). Also, for some reason there seem to be a LOT of trucks popping up with low miles (<1000, in some cases <100) as "corporate vehicles", and dealers are asking absurd prices for them.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I visited a few of the online sites that offer those neat little JAVA financial calculators... and spent some quality time Friday night crunching the numbers.



It worked out to be like $617/month for 60 months. I think I could get it down to around 4 bills/month for 60 months - but I'd have to sell my soul to the devil (which is not out of the question... ). It was well over $8k in interest... .



I haven't found much of anything in the used market in my immediate area... there's a few trucks down south, though.



I found that between $26k-29k will buy a used '03 with less than 50k on the clock... and loaded up just the way I want. The '04 I drove could have been had for right around $32,990 - it wasn't all that loaded... but had some bells/whistles.



If only I could hit the lottery.....



Matt

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

DC didn't elaborate, or I was under sensory overload and not paying enough attention, on exactly what they did to make the truck more ready for an exhaust brake. As for brand comparisons, I was telling it like I saw/heard/felt. I did not go in nor end up trying to bash brands unfairly. If you try all three under the towing and hauling conditions, probably even driving empty, I believe you will come to the same conclusions. There really are big differences among the 3 brands.



My 2004 is totally stock, except for a few Diesel Dynamics goodies.



As I have said before, anything under 500 hp is stock.

 

[Fireman]

Could exhaust brake ready mean that they will come equiped with a vacuum pump? That would be a good thing.



Fireman

 

[klenger]

That's what I hope it means. Should lower the price of the brake kit.