Duramax draws Dodge owners like flies

[jsimpson]

Ever since I've been driving my brother's new Duramax, I've been amazed at how many fellow Dodge owners are drawn to it. The usual comment is something like, "my Dodge has a great engine, but the truck has all sorts of problems, so I've been watching the new Chevy with an eye to trading when the time comes. "

So far, the 2002 Duramax is noisier in the cabin than I expected (and noisier than the 2001, I believe). The parking brake pedal looks like iot will catch you in the shin every time you get in but it hasn't yet. The paint is a bit dimply for my taste. The shift lever is hard to shift - wife doesn't like it. The frame stares out at you unless you cover it with running boards. A five footer has a REAL hard time getting in it. I haven't pulled with it yet, but with nothing but five bales of hay in the back, it's a REAL hot rod. I can't say enough about the Allison transmission. That transmission is reason enough to buy one, and apparently it's the reason a lot of Dodge and Ford owners are buying them. Man I'd love to have that transmission in my Dodge, or a Cummins in a new Chevy! The only remaining question is pulling power. We shall see! Oh yeah; the air will freeze you in a couple of short minutes, and the seats are out of this world! Comfortable, and they have power lumbar AND power side bolsters! Leg room front and back is fantastic - I had to move the seat UP to get to the pedals and I'm a six footer! The back seats are leather, not vinyl, too! So far, it's going to be a little rough going back to my Dodge when I have to turn the Duramax over to my brother - bbut time will tell!

 

[LBTRS]

there is a traitor among us

Just giving you a hard time



I'll bet this is going to be linked to on the chevy duramax forum. I will admit, I saw a HD Silverado with the Duramax driving around town the other day and it was a sweet looking truck.

 

[Steve M]

I have to admit the new Silverado is a good looking truck. I'm confident the Isuzu V8 will be a good pickup truck engine. I like the thought of a quieter diesel for the long hauls and the Allison has a fan club reputation like the Cummins. The one thing that's missing with the Chevy Duramax is character. Like a pretty gal with no personality. What's the point?

I like to "like" my truck like a pal I work with every day and take on trips when vacation time is here. The growling of the "engine with attitude" along with the good looks of the Dodge and the comfort it provides my 6'2" frame makes me proud to be seen in it. What does the Chevy offer other than an Allison? Another aluminum head motor from Japan. How "in vogue".

 

[jsimpson]

No, it doesn't have character. As a matter of fact, as a styling statement, it's plain vanilla. But the performance, comfort, and crew cab come awfully close to making up for it! Right now, I'd have a hard time taking a new Dodge over the D/M. Not that I could afford either: my 94 is going to have to last a long LONG time!

 

[LBTRS]

"long long time"

jsimpson,



Since you need your truck to "last a long long time" I think you were smart to trade a few creature comforts of the Chevy for the proven long lasting Cummins engine. That is the exact reason I chose the Dodge over the Chevy. My last Chevy pickup (350 gasser) needed two engines in the first 52,000 miles. So this time I went with a 400,000 mile motor. Plain and simple, Cummins sold me on the truck, the truck didn't sell me on the engine.

 

[WCrovo]

I gotta chime in here. 1st of all that isn't the only thing that draws flies. I find the sound of my pack mule to be Zen like on the open road while towing to the max. I say get the Chevy/Ford if the Dodge had to many problems. I find the Dodge to be as well engineered as any thing I have owned and superior to most. This has been said before but I didn't buy my truck to hot rod, but if I changed my mind for a few bucks I could make it scream. I am allergic to autos so the allison isn't a factor. I know sounds like I'm defending my mule and maybe I am but shes been good to me. The others deisel trucks out ther are good just not good enough. Just kidd'n(kinda). .

 

[TxDieselKid]

everytime I see one it's going the other way so I never get to race it.....

I love Chevys. My old 1500 was WAY more comfy then my Dodge. But they can't make a diesel to save their life. Of course I bought the Dodge because of the Cummins. I also like the look of the Chevy 2500 4x4, just not too wild about the DRW. Got to admit that it looks better then the new Dodge 1500!



AJB

 

[cbconway]

I bought the Cummins & at the time didn't care whose truck it was in. But I was pleasantly surprized by the Dodge. I've grown to love it.

 

[BFC]

Duramax draws Dodge owners like flies

We all know what draws flies too!



Glenn

 

[drawson]

I like the chevy duramax truck and there owners alot











They think they have the most powerful diesel made







At least until they meet Eat'M'Up





Then they say she smoke too much.



HM maybe it time for the new DD Donnelly camshaft

 

[Pit Bull]

Personality goes a long way

Kinda like comparing a pig (Duramax) and a dog (Dodge Cummins). I'll eat a pig but I won't eat a dog. Why because a dog has personality and Personality goes a long way. I know I know you saw the same movie

 

[Skunk]

If Chevy had stuck with the cast iron heads they would have swayed a few more people over to their side, as the Izuzu medium duty trucks have had good success with that package. But leave it to Chevy to put an aluminum timebomb in an otherwise decent engine.



Who said that those who don't read about history are doomed to repeat it?



Anyway, the Silverado looks good - in my rear view mirror.

 

[Champane Flight]

Too much

There is such a thing to me as "too much". The Duramax is one of them. Too much computer,too much to go wrong,too much technology,and too much quiet. We will see. Still have not seen too much power. And it costs too much money!!!!!

 

[jsimpson]

None if the big three know how to make a pickup diesel; that's why they all source them out. Dodge buys Cummins engines, Chevy-GMC buys Isuzu engines, and Ford buys IH-Navistar engines. Quiet? Maybe the 2001, but my brother's 2002 isn't quiet, and the sound deadening is VERY thin. As for truck quality, anything I've owned from GM has always been top quality, except their home-grown (Oldsmobile gas-engine-derived) diesle engines. I'd take a Cummins powered GM product any day over my Dodges. Dodges suffer from tiny weak brakes and ancient transmission technology that's been band-aided too long. I avoided the auto transmission with my latest Dodge, but the fifth gear is a problem waiting for me down the road! I know it's too much to ask, but I'd sure like a Cummins powered Chevy with an Allison, Ford brakes, those unbelieveably adjustable and comfortable seats Chevy seats, Chevy dash, and Dodge styling! Maybe we could throw in Toyota dependability?

 

[Riflesmith]

I can't wait to encounter one. I have not seen hardly any in my area. The ones I have been around have either been parked or idling at a fuel station. I would dearly love to have one try to pass me out on the open road.

 

[BFC]

Can't wait now!

The Comp is in. Duraluminum/Pherd season is open!!!!!!



Glenn

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I drove a couple of DuraMax equipped trucks and went ahead and bought my second Dodge RAM Cummins. I even had my wife with me on one of the Duramax test drives.



She likes my Dodge RAM.



The Dodge dealers cannot keep the RAM Cummins trucks here in NW Arkansas. They all have a waiting list for used RAM Cummins trucks too. As soon as I said "Yes" to the sales manager's deal, three sales people started calling their customer waiting list. One guy showed up before I even had the papers signed to buy my trade.



My 5 Star Dealer said they have 28 Cummins equipped trucks on order.



My 5 Star Dealer has a great service department too!



People may be flocking to the DuraMax, but they are still buying the Dodge RAM Cummins trucks around here!

 

[TxDieselKid]

Too much...I agree...

Originally posted by Champane Flight

There is such a thing to me as "too much". The Duramax is one of them. Too much computer,too much to go wrong,too much technology,and too much quiet. We will see. Still have not seen too much power. And it costs too much money!!!!!

How about too much engine... as in clinders... . V8 insted of I6



AJB

 

[MABurns]

The reason you only see them at the fuel pump is because of the 26 gallon tank. I drive a Chevy HD Durmax/Allison combo at work and love it except for the itty bitty thing they call a fuel tank. Crew cab short bed and best they can do is 26 gal, after market already has a 45 gallon replacement so I know there is room.

 

[DiTrani]

I sat at a light next to a D-Max the other day (while in the _quiet_ Honda minivan) and rolled down the window to hear. More mellow than a CTD, but not what I'd call quiet. I do think it's a good looking truck.



I too am curious about the choice to go with Al heads. I'm sure with good metallurgy and proper casting/machining it can be done well, but I don't see the rewards (small with a diesel) stacking up to the risks. Marketing to the techno/neo-philes?



When I first decided on a Dodge/CTD I thought I'd be forced to live with a crap truck to get the best engine, but after lots of research I don't think I'm any worse off than the GM and Ford guys. Maybe better off