Duramax draws Dodge owners like flies

[Texas Diesel]

Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me. GM will NEVER get the chance to burn me again. Those who like the maxi pad sooooo much, go buy one and have a nice trip. Perhaps someone with a CTD will give you a ride when your shiny new GM needs it's monthly visit with MR Goodwrench. I've had 5 new Dodge trucks (personally) in a row and a PSD work truck and the Dodges are the best built out there. They are not perfect but atleast they are fixable, more than I can say for my old GMC (get my chain). Brag about the maxipad AFTER it has been tested in the real world. I really hate reading reviews from "experts" who were wined and dined by GM for writing a favorable review. For me there are consumer diesels, PSD and aluminum japanese junk and true diesels, Cummins, Cat etc. BTW, I love the 85% plastic construction of the new gm avalanche. I decided to "change" when I had a gm so I started buying Dodge. Wonder if they are gonna change "like a (c)rock" to "like a Pepsi bottle".

 

[MABurns]

Hey Texas Diesel



Your talking smack about GM quality and your replacing more seals than the South Pole! Must be a lot of oil on the road between between Marble Falls and Lampasas. Don't get burned... ... what's up with the tailshaft seal?

 

[Texas Diesel]

Just figured I would stir the pot! I'm talking *experience* about the legendary lack of gm quality. About the only thing that didnt get replaced/revised/updated on my gm was the drive shaft. However, the drive shaft didnt get much use... But the parking brake sure did. Like they say, "like a rock". As long as I left it parked "like a rock" it didnt break. Had it 13 months and mr goodwrench had it more than I did, most of the time waiting on (backordered) parts. If I tried to post what was wrong with my gm I would need wrist braces. I'm not ashamed of or going to deny any problems with my Dodge, they are listed for all to see. Perhaps Dodge is totally junk but after owning a *new* gm my Dodge seems to be made in heaven. The ratio of problems compared to my gm is about 1:15.

PS, we wish the best to ALL of NY this season, we know it will be a difficult Christmas. Remember this: A Texan is kicking towel head a$$ for you!!

 

[kcjayco]

Test drove a Dmax and the new 1500 Dodge. The Chevy is ok, but it seems to have wind noise and the top sounds like tinfoil with side wind. The Dodge seems like a Mercedes with a pickup bed on back. I was really impressed with the way it handles and rides. I think the German engineering is really showing up in this thing. Just my oppinion. I would not however have a V8 Diesel no matter what it was in. I bought the Dodge and the engine as a combination. I liked the pickup and the engine. I do not think GM is going to desisn a pickup for an inline six, that's why the V8. It doesn't appear from looking at the front end of a GM it would support a Cummins.

 

[RottnDogue]

Originally posted by BFC





We all know what draws flies too!



Glenn

Aint that the Truth



Darren

 

[MABurns]

Texas Diesel,



Yep lots of Texans kickin A#$ right now, or will be.



I just left Ft Hood this summer and 2200 of my closest friends are going to spend Christmas in the dessert I on the other hand get to spend it in NY... ... . I wish I was still in 1st Cav!!!!



I'm sure we all wish them the best.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Champane Flight got it right..

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!!!!!

I like the new GMC and Chevy HD pickups. I've test

driven them and I don't have any desire to get rid

of my Dodge for one.



Imagine how much fun it will be working under the

hood on that Duramax all crammed in there,

and when you finally get to what it is that broke

or needs attention, imagine the suprise you will

get when you go to GM for parts! I'm talking

out of warranty scenerio here. I bought an

oil filter for my 2001 Yukon XL (Vortec 8100 big

block) and it cost $11. 17! I can't wait

till I can find another place to buy that filter;

it is a PF454 in case anyone knows a good way to

cross-reference with Wix or Purolator. I have yet

to find another company besides GM/AC that makes

one for the Vortec 8100.



The other thing that turns me off from the Duramax

is sticker shock! I am not paying

$10,000 more for a truck with and engine that has

not yet proven itself.



-Chris

 

[jsimpson]

Brand loyalty will make sense to me when Mother MOPAR starts sending me a monthly check. But since in real life it actually goes the other way around, I go with whatever's best at the time. For a used truck, that's a Dodge - and I drive used trucks. If I could afford a new truck, I would not be at all surprised to find a Duramax in my driveway. My GMC 6. 2 was an excellent truck with a worthless engine, but I can't sit here and claim that my Cummins is trouble free either. With only 93,000 miles, it badly needs a rear seal and has already been through an injection pump. Those two repairs alone cost ten times what I spent maintaining my Park Avenue over 150,000 miles! Kids trash talk the competition to whatever their dads drive, and when they grow up, they treash-talk the competition to whatever they drive. Live is too short for such nonsense - I appreciate all of what's out there. I ride a Harley and appreciate Gold Wings and all of the Harley lookalikes. I drive a Dodge and appreciate Duramaxes and Powerstrokes. I ride an Arabian and appreciate Paso Finos and quarter horses. I use an IH Cub Cadet and appreciate John Deeres. I'm not about to shut out the fun of two thirds of the world's brands just to be loyal to the third that I own, and whose management could care less if I live or die. Like I said, life is just to short for such nonsense!

 

[cbconway]

Originally posted by Texas Diesel

Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me. GM will NEVER get the chance to burn me again...

Same here!



'73 Vega - Aluminum engine (no liners) fails at 65K.

'78 Impala - T200 transmission (the plastic one) blows at 35K.

GM told me to get lost. So I did.



Never again!

 

[JConley]

Texas Diesel wrote... . The ratio of problems compared to my gm is about 1:15.



My repair ration is 1:20. My ram has seen the dealer for 2 repairs in 90K miles, and the 95 Chevy Z71 I owned had 40 line item repairs in 73K miles. For those on the Gm board reading this, I can provide the vin numbers and the documentation to back this up

 

[jsimpson]

My goal now is to make my 94 RAM3500 as nice as my brother's new Duramax. I figure that'll take a few steps:

1. Upgrade my rear brakes to disks.

2. Find a split bench or bucket seats as nice as his that I can make fit.

3. Replace the grille and bumper with aftermarket clean-looking stuff.

4. Do the fifth gear nut conversion.

5. Add a 230 hp plate and a 4" exhaust.

6. Get a crew cab conversion done.

7. Get ALCOA wheels.

Uh oh; it still won't be 4WD; Start over:

Sell the truck; and buy a 4WD 94 3500, single cab 5speed, the go back to step 1.

 

[JStemann]

I probably would have bought a Dura. The dealer didn't feel like making the deal. I drove down the road and found my new Cummins waiting at the Dodge dealer.



I have always owned Chevy/GMC, I was a little concerned about the new Chevy because it is so new. Also, didn't like the way the frame hangs down so far on the Chevy, looks like it'd get high centered pretty easy. The few thousand $ price dif. made my choice for me.



jeff

 

[jsimpson]

If it were me, I'd a done the same thing. But the Dodge is too noisy for my brother. We shopped and got a $45,000+ sticker Chevy for $39,000. BUT, it took ELEVEN MONTHS to come in! Good thing my brother wasn't in a hurry! Those frame rails will be covered by running boards: it's hard to believe Chevy doesn't hide them with standard running boards!

 

[WCrovo]

The Dodge is the hardest working mule of the bunch. PERIOD The V8 diesel never has been nor will it ever be the work platform of the I-6. A customer was in my shop this evening. He was traveling thru SLC from Alaska. He had a commercial fishing boat with 2 Cummins 5. 9's. He had Cat V8's prior but switched to Cummins when the Cats were shot. He said the Cats were OK but when he puts the throttle down the the boat , and he made his hand look like it was pushing a throttle lever away from him, with a big smile he said it just goes. They are 315HP I think. I know the feeling. When I load my mule and put the hammer down she acts like my JR Terrier, willing and able. After visiting the Cummins engine factory this year I will wager that you won't be treated like I was at Navistar or Isuzu engine plants. I could give a rats rump about Dodge. I owe them no loyalty but I love their truck. I also didn't buy my truck cause they were nice to me in Columbus IN. , but their tude is as great as ther motor, the guys at Cummins Bear and John were an example of why the Cummins is what it is. The best. Why do you think God has a CTD? If I had all the money in the world I would still choose the CTD. As far as problems go my GM trucks were rattle traps. I could not stand to be in them.

 

[mike r]

I can't believe this

This is sad state we're in when a soft ride and one more gear in the transmission sells you a truck. GM's sales pitch with that new truck was IT CAN TOW 12,500 LBS. Great . Anyone that can read knows the 2500 with the 4. 10's and towing package in auto will tow 11,400 and put in the 5-speed and it goes clear up tp 13,500 lbs. Where's the great advantage to this overpriced foreign designed pop can. That low rider frame is another issue. EVERY ONE of the trucks I've seen that get hit from behind buckle under the rear of the cab and distroy the bed and cab along with the frame and there's guys out there straightening and reselling them. That's the most strained piece of the frame! It seems as though some of the guys looking to buy a Durapuke need a car and not a truck!

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by jsimpson

My goal now is to make my 94 RAM3500 as nice as my brother's new Duramax. I figure that'll take a few steps:

1. Upgrade my rear brakes to disks.

2. Find a split bench or bucket seats as nice as his that I can make fit.

3. Replace the grille and bumper with aftermarket clean-looking stuff.

4. Do the fifth gear nut conversion.

5. Add a 230 hp plate and a 4" exhaust.

6. Get a crew cab conversion done.

7. Get ALCOA wheels.

Uh oh; it still won't be 4WD; Start over:

Sell the truck; and buy a 4WD 94 3500, single cab 5speed, the go back to step 1.

JSimpson

I'll help you work this out Remember me we use to talk on the Tundra Solutions forum. While I had a Tundra it is not a Dodge CTD, kinda like comparing a toy to a truck I got rid of the Tundra and got a late model CTD, see Sig. Now J here is the deal, sell your Tundra and sell your 2wd 94 3500, and buy a new or late model 3500 4x4 CTD and then you will be happy.

 

[Bob W]

My family has owned Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, Dodge, Plymouth, Datsun, Subaru, Toyota and Honda. I've come to the conclusion that the GM Research and Development motto is: Let's sell it and see what happens. The Jap cars rotted away leaving a still good engine and drivetrain. (especially the Subaru. ) The MOPAR products aren't perfect, but I'll take one before a GM; and jsimpson, as for comparing a '94 truck to a 2001. Why waste your time?

 

[jsimpson]

Can't, Latimer; it's my WIFE'S Tundra! She won't part with it; she took it instead of a C-5!

Why, Bob? Because that's what I'm driving. And yes, we did drive 2001 RAM's before buying, and liked the Chevy a LOT better in every respect! He's not going to tow with it anyway. He bought a diesel for the fuel mileage, weight, and strength. He WAS driving a 4WD Mazda MVP! I think it'll do him just fine, and it would do me just fine too, if I could afford one!!! As M dependability, my 70 Corvette is strong as an ox, my wife's 78 Vette runs better and faster than anything but a new Vette, and our last GM sedan went 153,000 trouble-free miles before we gave it to charity. It was too good a car to sell for we could have got for it with that kind of mileage. The only GM product I've had in 45 years of driving that I could classify as a bad buy was a 6. 2 GMC diesel, and that includes dozens of Corvairs! On the other hand, I've owned only four Chrysler products if you include the 392 hemi with 4:71 blower in my boat, and the 727 Torqueflite behind the 327-375hp in my MGTF, and the two Cummins powered trucks probably have given me more trouble than all of my other vehicles combined - blown AC compressor, bad ball joints at low miles, bad 518 transmission at low miles, rebuilt injection pump at low miles, constant brake problems, ABS that wouldn't work, dead factory radios, bad fan bearing at low miles, leaking rear seal at low miles, bad u-joints, bad center bearing, leaking AC evaporator, many bad headlight switches, busted transmission cooling line, bad fifth gear synchronizer, rotted bed, cracked tailgate, corner windows that don't seal well, leaky headlight assemblies, and the list goes on. Strange isn't it? In over forty five years of driving, and having owned over 70 vehicles, my worst problems have been with MOPARS! But guess what, I'm not alone! If Chrysler products were as good as the brand-loyal fans say they are and if GM products were as bad as Chysler brand loyalty folks say they are, then the big three would have Chrysler at the top of the heap and GM at the bottom of the heap!

But it's not that way is it? And it never has been.

Like I've said before, I choose to drive RAMs for my own reasons, but it doesn't blind me to the merits of other brands.

 

[DRR-24V]

Allison Transmissions ?

I have always had Chevy trucks (gas) Three buddys of mine bought the Duramax. They are pretty, but soft sprung. Chevy has done something to the Allison trans, all 3 have been in the shop for dropping out of O/D going down the road. Engines buzz and it slows down. They can not seem to get it fixed. I'll keep my Dodge thanks.

 

[DieselBuzz]

Wow, Let's hear it for free market competition to drive all of these companies on to make a better product to win your hearts and money. My two cents.

Art