I am almost afraid to buy a Dodge

[rrl989]

Mr. V,



I would love to see DC lose another potential customer. I too, was always a GM person. Went with a Dodge in 98, pretty sure I will never go Dodge again. Had a new chevy Duramax / Allison on order, but recently backed out as I'm still better off keeping the Dodge ($$$$). I love my Cummins, TDR, and Geno's. Three things I was going to give up, couldn't do it.



Seems as if everyone wants to see the 300HP / 520 torque Chevy/Izuzu Diesel fail, and the automatic transmission that will take it, don't think it will. Nice to have that kind of power and still be under warranty.



Either way, you can probably get a great deal on a Ram. The dealer cost on the Chevy truck I had on order was almost 40K.



Good Luck,



Ron

 

[WCrovo]

Get what you like. I like my Dodge. I've had 2 CTD's and no steering or suspension problems. My truck fits like a glove.

 

[JMoglia]

Well have you heard enough yet ? here some more for you,my buddy has a choker 4 WD 1ton dually all kinds of mods,grant you it runs hard but before mods it saw a lot of rack time,i'm on my second dodge cummins no problems and I have used each of them for work as a matter of fact they have both been verrry custom and heavy at G. V. W the only thing is brakes mainly because I drive it like a car,we have enjoyed both of these trucks so much we even use them for vacations and week-end cruising. all kidding aside if you like the look and the cummins go for it just keep an eye on everything and do your maintence,well thats my 2 cents worth,good luck with your dodge/cummins

Joe Moglia

 

[WestTN]

Steering box

If you are afraid to buy a odge because of the steering box, you might enjoy knowing it is made by the same company that makes the Chevy steering box. You may have heard it called the 'Delphi' box.



My ETH/DEE drives like a dream. NO slack in the steering at all. But, if there was I would adjust it. Get a service manual and read, read, read.....

 

[MR V]

Everyone, thank you for your input and comments. I have read every post at least twice. This afternoon I went out and ordered a 2002. See my signature below. The dealer says about 6-8 weeks.

 

[HEYBOSS]

Congratulations

Originally posted by MR V

Everyone, thank you for your input and comments. I have read every post at least twice. This afternoon I went out and ordered a 2002. See my signature below. The dealer says about 6-8 weeks.

MR V; Congratulations on your choice of truck

Now the worst is those 6-8 weeks of waiting.



Hope you enjoy it in years to come, you'll never look back,

Good choice and good luck.



As said by Batman, Watch out for BOMBIdis, it's contageous

 

[Keith Eilers]

Echoing a number of replies above, there are not a lot of problems with The Dodge/Cummins truck. Among 3 in my family at large (four if you count the V10), none have had steering problems. My 99 has no problems at all though only at 25K.



And now for the possibly contraversial stuff: When I was in the market for a full size pickup, the only manufacturer I ruled out for sure was GM. This was based on nearly 20 years of driving various company pool and rental vehicles. Most of the problems I encountered with those vehicles were with GM products. A few major problems, many minor problems, especially with electrical components. Based on this experience, I have the strong opinion that GM products are of lesser quality than the other 2 US based majors. If only Toyota would figure out how to build a true full size pickup, but that is a different topic.



GM's success over the years has nothing to do with making quality products, but rather with people's tendency to stick with what they know. GM's loyal following is real but not rational, kind of like drinking american budwieser, not a very good beer, but I won't convince anyone of that who has grown up drinking budwieser or whose friends all drink budwieser. Now Czech budwieser, there's a good beer.



Whether trucks, or beer, or whatever, we should buy the one that we are happiest with no matter the reason, quality, loyalty, image, credit card freebies, etc. . Global competition is a wonderful thing.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

good post

Kieth,



AMEN!!!

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Moderators,



Please delete Morphious's post ASAP... ... .

 

[Mr. Brewski]

YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION MR V!!!!!



I still am a die hard Cheby fan, Cheby made some classic gassers, they all ride great and look good. My resume' includes



1978 GMC short wide 4X4 stroker 383 - toy truck

1983 S10 LB 2wd 283 V8 TH350

1982 K-5 6. 2 Banks Sidwinder - The original trailer hauler

1989 K2500 Siverado - Great truck - wouldnt get out of its own way.



When I bought my DC I told everyone I was buying the cummins, not the truck around it. . It only took about a week to fully apprciate the rest of the truck. While it might not ride as nice as the K2500, or get down the strip in the 14's like the S10, it would pull both of them backwards put together (and not break!).



BTW - My DC has 47K miles on it - consistantly get 19+ mpg - will blow my fathers '97 2wd Vortec 454 into the weeds under load (probably unloaded too) - and only has had the pinion seal and rear yoke replaced under warranty.



I LOVE THIS TRUCK! and I bet you'll love yours too.....



Good Luck & Have Fun!

 

[Pit Bull]

My 2 cents from a guy that has been looking at the Cummins Dodge for over a year. I have not owned a big 3 vehicle for over 25 years. I've owned Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, Acura. You get the drift. BUT I will be buying a Cummins Dodge. Don't get me wrong I am not real happy about the fact that the Cummins comes with the Dodge from a quality standpoint. But I am pleased from a looks standpoint. It's the total package. Last December I bought a new Toyota Tundra, perfect 1/2 ton truck, hell it is the Lexus of pickup trucks. Same V-8 that they put in the big Lexus SUV. this thing runs and looks good and I get 17 mpg around town and 21 mpg on the highway on regular unleaded. But it does not sound like a Cummins and it does not have the emotional attachment that the Big Dodge Cummins brings to the table. So I will be buying one. I guess what I am trying to get across is that if a truck is just transportation to you go buy anything, like JD Powers says "there all about the same anymore". But if your like most of the members on this list that look at their trucks as more than transportation, you better buy the Dodge Cummins or you won't be happy in the long run.

Dennis

 

[TMc]

Mr V.

Congrats. on the new truck !! A little advice when you do get it which helped me when I first bought mine in 96, Grease the front end as soon as you get it home and all the u-joints (driveshaft), unless of course they totally eliminated all the zerks for 2002. This has helped my front end last 100k without incident. They come pretty dry from the factory.

 

[Steve Roseman]

Congrats Mr. V on the truck you ordered. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy my old 95. The Duramax is a nice truck and Isuzu has been using that motor in Europe for quite some time, but it just can't match that big rig feeling. 1,100 pounds of straight six under the hood is awsome.

 

[Pit Bull]

It's to bad that Toyota doesn't make a 1 ton with a Cummins. Then you could get a quality, trouble free truck with a great diesel engine. Plus like the Toyota Tundra, it would be made in America not Mexico!!!

 

[Great White]

I have had 4x4's for years so steering issues are nothing new with straight axle in front. The best recomendation I've yet to see was the guy who said "The Dodge is just a Toyota on steriods!"

I cannot pry the keys away from the wife who said "Why would you want a diesel truck with ALL THOSE GEARS to shift thru?!"

So just go ahead and get a duramax and we'll watch for you on the side of the road!

Rich

 

[SEmerson]

After reading this post I checked out the duramax site. You think we talk about problems???? You better look at their site. I saw only problem post. and small talk. No great storys or bombing sucsesses to speak of. I was a chevy person all my life but after looking into diesels I felt the cummins was the only choice. I have 15,000 miles on mine with no problems and LOVE it.