I HATE my new '04!!!!

[ACerf]

A better DC

Myself personally, I think DC is better for teaming up with MBZ. As a result they have improved there product. The MBZ are in my opinion some of the finest autos in world. They also make a great Diesel engine, which I am actually surprised they don't use in the trucks. Ford and GM have associated themselves with companies that have had nothing but problems; Saab, Jaguar, Aston Martin, to name a few. And look what DC has done in the short time in NASCAR... . as the King says... "Sweet"! I am sure that DC could care less about most of us, personally I have not found that to be the case. But believe me owning a Ford is an experience from Hell!

And from speaking to folks owning the GM stuff not much better!

I happen to have a great relationship with my local dealer, and I even have the Field Reps cell phone number if I have a problem.

To this I say, DC is the lesser of three evils, or more depending on who you are counting!

 

[DPKetchum]

You have a FIELD REPS cell phone number. I bet we could start a AUCTION for THAT! Oo.

 

[adsharpe]

Regarding "better": It would be interesting to compare complaints registered at the NHTSA since Daimler took over compared to when it was an American company. I don't know that Chrysler ever bought back Dodge pickups from a State agency (Maine) but DC certainly did. Also, the folk at the NHTSA also concluded that owners were dumping Intrepids at an alarming rate due to multiple mechanical problems and it was easier to trade out than try to get repairs.



As an owner of 4 Cherokees, I can definitely comment on the "cheapened" quality of the vehicle overall, comparing '92 up to '01 models. They are famous for the "piston slap" 6 cyl engine which banged so loud that the value of the vehicle was diminished.



In trucks, I had an '01 HO SLT that was ok overall except the paint chipped so bad it looked like a refugee from a tornado at 27k. Additionally, the steering shaft "chunked" in the column. The front end design was such that the vehicle porpoised when traveling fast on undulating Interstates.

In big trucks, I've driven perhaps more than 100 of their Sterlings equipped with the denutted Series 60 Detroit which is assembled in Brazil and rebadged MB in order to take advantage of a loophole given to foreign manufacturers by the EPA. It is exactly as designed - a piece of crap for LTL freight companies. It is interesting just how much "bump steer" is built into the truck and it is work to keep one within ones lane.



I have commented before on how many DC vehicles, including Mitsuibishis that have no paint left on the roof.



As regards Ford trucks: a '93 IDI was without fault, a '97 Powerstroke F-350 was the stoutest engine I've ever had in a pickup and without fault, a 2001 Powerstroke was down on turbo boost (I traded it for the '01 Dodge), and a 2002 Powerstroke CrewCab was only in the shop once for a bad cam sensor.



DC and Ford and GM are in financial difficulty. If they were required to pay up their pension fund arrears, DC and Ford would probably expire. DC loses over 1 BILLION bucks a quarter.



Daimler takes advantage of the Mercedes name recognition (it ain't really much anyone as they are making midget cars just like the Koreans) and sells crap.



I bought the current truck only for the engine. So far, other than a dealership that doesn't give a crap, the truck has performed as expected. I will say this unequivocally about it: it ain't no **** better that the '97 F350 I had and doesn't have as much out of the box power. :--)



You guys out there that love DC are fine with me. But, they have problems, have had problems, and considering how they have shafted their dealers on profits (a dealer here adds $900 per window sticker for crap) they are going to continue to have problems.



References to Ford and GM do not remove the DC difficulties.



My truck ain't me!Oo.

 

[DPKetchum]

Handled Jeep,Dodge,Plymouth etc. I may have missed something but any encounter piston slap in in-line Jeep engines. As durable a engine their every was. Saw a number of loose bearings in steering columns but 99% were under warranty most has less then 10k on them. Saw as many junk front wheel drive Fords and G. M's as I did Chrysler. Most had little or NO maintenance and at 100k were craped out. saw on the road sales folks with Intrepid etc that with some regular maintenance went 200k with nominal repairs. As far as Sterlings my only experiance with them is a friend with 3 Sterling Dual Axel dump trucks. Their Cat powered. He's likes them a lot. They are a quiet diesel also. So I guess Its how you look at it. I would'nt buy one but a Intrepid,Taurus,StarFire Etc. are all kinda cheap built throwaways. The hardest to repair are FORDS. Auto trans etc are nightmares. Re-man or new units or nothing. the G. M. and D. C. a half decent trans man can repair or overhaul. some Ford stuff a real pain. Its from the eyes of the beholder. Don't want a V8 DIESEL>PERIOD>

 

[Bickford]

Well Guys,



I think that many of us bought our trucks for the 100% US made? Cummings engine. To be truthful I didn't know my first 2002 Dodge CTD was made South of the Border. I thought in some small way, I might have been helping our Country. My 2003 Dodge truck has had issues. And no, I can't say that I have driven any of the other brands of new Trucks to compare it to.



I do think that the MB boys feel that our cheap $30,000. 00 to $50. 000. 00 Dodge trucks don't help the bottom line of the overseas Euro counters. How could they? when they offer top end 400 and up plus Horsepower road cars. Some of them being well over two hundred thousand dollars. Can you say Maybach? Our cheap Dodge Trucks are bottom of the barrel money wise comparing only to MB offered low end cheese boxes.

I wish I could say that the Dodge Dealers offer great Service / Parts at a fair price. But it seems we live in a country were most people demand cheap over quality. Note Wally World. Seeing that we import over 50% of our items from China. How long before MB / DC farms out the little things ( like a seventy-five hundred pound Dodge truck) to be made by Chinese slave labor.

Almost rings a distant bell?



As far as the main reason for this reply I hate my 2004. I truly hope its a simple fix. I like to tell my Wife that our 2003 CTD Dodge truck will be just broken in when the Fords and Chevy Trucks are up side down in the Bone Yard, spreading the wealth. That is... allowing / donating parts for the quote still running Trucks. To be the >>> longest running Trucks on the road!



Good Night, God Bless.

Earl

 

[LightmanE300]

Bickson/Earl - the price of our trucks vs mb cars has nothing to do with it. It's all about profit margin compared to volume. If they can sell a ton of our trucks and make a great margin, that's better than selling just a few maybachs.



In any case, taking on Chrysler has been the biggest financial MISTAKE that Daimler-Benz has ever made, and they are very much in the red in that regard. I don't think they can take two steps back and get rid of it, but they sure want to. This call may cost DB's CEO his job. I personally don't think they did enough research before making this decision. Who knows, maybe over there they actually think Chrysler products are quality :-laf I do hope they can turn it around.

 

[ACerf]

Thoughts

I have to say that all of the thoughts I have read over the past couple of days are interesting. And in part to my original comment. Up until the time I purchased my 2003 QC, we had not owned an American car since 1992. Why you may ask! Simply I had two Ford's that left a bad taste in my mouth for anything American, especially a Ford! To this day I would not own a Ford, not just because I think they make a infearer product, but mostly because they are a dishonest and cheating company! I would rather drive a 1966 Fiat, than to drive a Ford, even if they were the only American auto maker. We decided to buy a truck due to the wife and I wanting a Fiver. I have always wanted a truck, but had no real need for one. I did look at the Fords just for comparsion sake, and of course the GM lineup. I think the Dodge just looked meaner and had more road appeal.

Having driven some over the road rigs, the thought of a diesel p/u and it having a Cummins just sounded right to me! I am not sure that the Dodge is any better than the Ford or Chevy. But it can't be any worse! The interior to me, looks better than the other two... the GM looks cheap to me! Aside the fact that I have a California Dodge. I have to say that since we have had the truck this past 6 months it has only gone back to the dealer once and that was for some questions I had, no real problems! I would say that getting back to the American car has been a good experience. Thank you Dodge!

 

[gonzo2]

I love my new 2003! I think we get excellent value!

 

[JPM]

Originally posted by Bickford

Well Guys,



... ... . I wish I could say that the Dodge Dealers offer great Service / Parts at a fair price. But it seems we live in a country were most people demand cheap over quality. Note Wally World. Seeing that we import over 50% of our items from China. How long before MB / DC farms out the little things ( like a seventy-five hundred pound Dodge truck) to be made by Chinese slave labor.

Almost rings a distant bell?... ... ... .

Earl

I think the +50% estimate is low. If we can't get our manufacturing base back, this country is doomed. Sorry about the off topic

 

[DPKetchum]

Wally world sucks. I avoid them when ever possible. All of them and the Home depots etc have put the GOOD smaller business out of business. service is rotten if any at all products are poor and merchandising is poor. I won't buy from Home Depot at ALL and try not to from Walmart. Maybe thats why I try to not purchase G. M. products. I know they all operate kinda the same way but when I handled G. M. They made you feel you were handling shady dealings.

 

[Snellville-Dave]

I guess if I can admit I drove a Simca 1000 (French Chrysler) back in the mid 60's. I'll probably still get a Dodge diesel, when I replace my 2000 Dodge,QC,5. 9 gas,4x4. I usually drive to slow to worry about vibrations anyway.

 

[ACerf]

DC Blues

I was out in the Big Ram yesterday (I was lucky to get the truck away from the wife). I pulled up next to a brand new chevy truck. Man, did that sucker have some orange peel in the paint!

Looking at my truck I can see nothing like that at all in the paint, it looks like it was powdercoated compared to the Chevy. I understand that at the factory it is almost the same process as powdercoating. The paint is also shiner and waxes up very nice. I guess GM puts on lots of paint to cover up mistakes... lol!

 

[dandlwiley]

If this sounds like something someone else posted, please forgive me. Didn't have time to go through the whole thread--slow dial-up connection makes it a pain in the a$$. Our new truck developed a harmonic type vibration last month at a particular speed/rpm--about 2200 rpm I think. We were coming in from deer hunting in eastern Oregon. A Dodge dealer in LaGrande said it might have something to do with the fact that we just filled the tank with winterized diesel and it was OK to drive. Took it to our dealer who has a GREAT Cummins mechanic--he had just talked to a factory rep who had given him the answer. It was the oil dipstick . They fixed it with a small piece of tubber tube. No more noise. It had sounded almost like a diesel rattle--although not very loud. This is the only time the truck has been back to the dealer since 1 August purchase.

 

[98rammer]

my $. 00000001 worth.



a buddy of mine just bought a brand new reg cab F250 4x4 6. 0. with over 2000 miles, it hasn't had any problems whatsoever (that's saying a lot when it comes to this motor). the truck has great power stock. he says his new intake made it a lot better, and the right chip should be in by now. i was reading where a crew cab shorty on the diesel stop was running 14. 5's with a chip so they're doing pretty good. i'd get a ford/powerstroke if i wasn't so inline six, torqued, and tweeked cummins happy.



Tom