Duramax draws Dodge owners like flies

[RottnDogue]

Originally posted by jsimpson

I just took the D-Max on a 3000 mile trip, and it performed better than I could have imagined! It NEVER downshifted from fifth lockup at 75 mph, no matter what the grade. I would buy one in a minute if I were not retired and broke. But I am, and you know what? My 94 Dodge (paid for) meets my needs just fine!

I bet if my Dad let you take his 01 caddy for a 3K trip you would have enjoyed the ride too. But the caddy would suck if you had to pull a trailer, plow a parking lot, or haul a load of stone... So does that make the Caddy a good truck?

 

[LSMITH]

You guys need to get a grip, reality is just in front of you, reach out and get a little!!! If he likes the Dmax, LET HIM BE!! I drove one and liked it too. I would not buy one, but am open minded enough to see why someone would. Every truck out there has some high points, you just have to be able to see them. If Dodge cannot give me a Cummins and 4 REAL doors when I get a new truck I am going to have no problem buying a different brand. With the current lineup Ford is going to get my money, but I will buy the truck that suits my needs regardless of brand. I need 4 real doors a lot more than the best engine, I will take a truck that fits my needs with a good engine next time. Being brand loyal to the point of refusing to evaluate the competition is just ignorant, and it not being a "real truck" because it is not what you want is flat stupid. Objectivity has escaped some people on this board.

 

[Texas Diesel]

So whats your point??

 

[RottnDogue]

<<<<<<<Being brand loyal to the point of refusing to evaluate the competition is just ignorant, and it not being a "real truck" because it is not what you want is flat stupid. Objectivity has escaped some people on this board. >>>>>>>



I did evaluate it as you put it, and it's a tin can with an aluminum motor (ok just the heads). It rides nice sure... ... I have a very good friend SHE was going to buy a new Dodge truck to pull HER small horse trailer (1 horse other than that she doesn't need a truck at all), I told her to go drive the Chevy that she would buy that after driving it... . Guess what she bought the Chevy, Why? Same reason I knew she would. It rides like a car. Is she going to load it? No. She pulled her trailer with a S-10 previous to her new 1500. All depends on what you want. You want a HD truck buy a Dodge or even a Phord. Comparing a HD Chevy to a HD Dodge is like comparing a ... ... Ah you get the idea.



Darren

 

[DLeach]

I heard this on a post quite some time back and thought it was relivant for this thread. It was to the effect of " I hope this new Duramax is a great truck, not only strong but reliable, that was Ford and Dodge both have to wake up and build even better trucks. " My feeling is this, I live on an island of about 55,000 people, there has to be more diesel trucks per capita than any place i have ever been, lots of fords, lots of dodges and a few chevys. I had a 96 1500 that i loved. I killed that thing, through the sand, mud, pasture, you name it. Thought that i needed something bigger so i went to the Ford dealership and drove some really nice trucks. Power was good, ride was nice, intieror was great,and the price was good too. Well jumped right over to the GMC dealership and test drove a DMax. Power Was Unreal, ride was beautiful,interior was ok,price was ok. I thought that was going to be my new truck. But figured id better go see my friend at the local 5-star. Drove a new dodge, Power was so-so, ride wasnt to bad, interior was ok, price was ok. Why did i buy it?

I have no idea They made me an offer i couldnt refuse. I guess my point of this is sometimes there isnt brand loyalty, there isnt a specific seling point, there is any one reason why a small portion of the public buy a specific brand. Something grabbed them that day and BAM, they are the new owner of a new Truck. Do i regret not buying the Chevy, sure i do, when im at taco bell and i have to shut my motor down. Do I regret not buying a PSD, sure i do, when i need to take a couple guys in my truck. Do i Regret buying a Dodge. No,never, I know this truck was best suited for me. Even though at times i would give my left nut to have my friends truck for a day, i wouldnt trade my truck for the world. Its exactly what i wanted. Hopefully DM will realize that the majority of the public hears about terrible transmission problems, "bad fuel pumps" and different things like that. Maybe one day we can be on the good end of that, "yeah but i hear that transmission is awesome". Until then ill put up with all the other stuff and know in my heart that this truck kicks *ss!!!!!!



Good night that was a long post..... sorry



Aloha

 

[Big MAK]

I'm totally diehard for the Cummins. But unless DamChryCo starts putting more dependable bolt-ons under the hood we're in for trouble. Brakes, steering, a/c, ... Finally dumped my wife's Durango for a Lexus. (gasp) But hey; hasn't broke down yet and when she drops it off for routine maintenance they hand her the keys to a new one for the day; no charge, no questions, and no BS. It's ready when promised. Doesn't matter how many miles the warranty is for -- it's the time and PIA of the darn thing constantly breaking (Durango). The brakes and steering are problematic in my big Dodge too. Love the truck though. But drive a Lexus and you'll know how antilock brakes are supposed to work (compared to the Durango). The big truck's brakes are OK (other then the unexpected pulls and random lane changes).



Took the Lexus to the store last night and put the brakes to the floor on glare ice just to see what would happen. I swear it stopped like it was on concrete. ABS firing like an automatic rifle. The Durango would've been locked up and sideways. And the Lexus brakes don't fail on bumpy roads either. So why can't DamChryCo figure it out? Where's that hotshot German engineering? Sorry folks; this is a touchy subject with me.



Wasted way too much money trying to be Dodge loyal with my wife's car. A smoking, engine failing, transmission going '99 Town and Country Van (dumped at 12000 miles) then a no brakes, differential eating, starts sometimes '00 Durango (dumped at 24000 miles). Back to Toyota (Lexus).



Buy hey... . don't get me wrong. Big Truck = Dodge CTD. But unless the bolt-on stuff gets dependable DamChryCo is going to catch it in the shorts. Doesn't matter how dependable the Cummins engine is; the company will take a beating because of the gasser low quality and cheap bolt-ons damaging the reputation of an otherwise absolute top notch truck (CTD).