Mad as Jello, and I'm not going to take it anymore!

[Ol'TrailDog]

Howdy TDR,

Following is a copy of an email I just sent my dealer. If others are of the same opinion, perhpas DC is listening. Thank you



Howdy Charley,



I am writing this to let you know how unhappy I am with Diamler Chrysler (DC), and more specifically Dodge. Up front let me say this has absolutely nothing to do with the service I have received at Yellowstone Country Motors. You, Marcus, and Manny have treated me very, very good and that is why I came back to do business with you this year.



My beef is with DC and I hope you will forward this email up the line because I am convinced by reading posts in several Dodge/ Cummins websites that I am not the only one dissatisfied with the treatment we, as customers, have been receiving. As you are well aware, Dodge hit on a winning combination when they teamed up with Cummins to blow the doors off the light truck market with the introduction of the Dodge Ram CTD. Perhaps, this partnership has been too successful. DC’s handling of the 2004. 5 has been unacceptable, even arrogant.



Do you think we believe the assembly line has truck parts scattered on the floor and folks are scratching their heads trying to figure out just how to put the “600” and Ram together. Nope, undoubtedly the specs and design of the 04. 5 have been known to DC for a substantial period of time. Yet the dealers and customers are kept in the dark. Last month it was announced DC would make an announcement concerning the 04. 5 on December 10, 2003. I have waited patiently for the touted announcement for naught. On the 7th, or there about, there was a flurry of press releases. Unfortunately, these were mere fluff and contained nothing substantive. To put it straight, we want to know what changes have been made.



DC, not Cummins, has refused to let customers know what the specifications for the “600” Cummins are. For some arrogant reason we, the customers, are not entitled to know what the difference are between the 04 and the 04. 5 CTD so that we can make an informed purchasing decision. Many of the folks participating in the Dodge CTD forums are loyal, even fanatic, fans of the truck forged by the Dodge/Cummins partnership. Some are faithful long-term owners. Others are repeat customers. I have ordered my third Dodge CTD. We do not deserve to be treated like, pardon my French, crap. Candidly, DC, your behavior leaves me no choice but to play hardball when I go to pick up my new pickup on 12/25. I will keep my options open.



Sincerely yours,

Rob

 

[XcumminsX]

i agree with you 100%. BUT i think DC is not releasing its info on the 600 because of chevy. The duramax has been posted to have 590 remember what ford did. they set it at 550 but then when cummins came they raised it to 560. I think DC doesnt want this to happen again.

 

[lil red cummins]

can you imagine if DC announced the new engine 2 months ago, and that it would not be available for order until 12-10-2003(arbitrary date). --- they would probably have had NO sales from the date of announcement, and had a lot of inventory to get rid of. yes this is theoretical but it makes more sense as a manufacturer, to keep sales going.



do i regret ordering my truck maybe only 1 to 2 weeks too soon????



no. as has been stated by others, i was very happy with what i ordered at that time and i will be very happy with it when i get it, assuming no problems.



with all of the announced "boxes" coming out soon, i will more than make up the HP. also this water/meth system looks extremely positive.



no regrets



jim

 

[curatchko]

Said it before and I'll say it again... . 20 horse and 45 torque? Big friggen deal... .



Mostly smoke, mirrors and PR. I just bought an 04 and have no regrets.



It's the same engine, same truck, same everything. So who cares.

 

[Mingoglia]

Reminds me of when the ETH was released...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Traildog, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it because from what I understand there will be little or no incentives on the Cummins 600 Rams come January. And the power difference can easily be made up with a box for a lot less $$$ than the lost incentives (if the rumor is indeed true).



We still don't know what sort of emissions equipment will come on the 2004. 5 trucks. Maybe it will have more sensors besides the catalytic converter or soot trap or whatever comes on it. The nice thing about the 2004s is you're not facing any unknowns.



I wouldn't really rake D/C through the coals, I wouldn't expect them to divulge information before they felt the time was right and like others say, why would they basically cut their own throat with sales with a premature announcement?



Vaughn

 

[Hunter1]

I would say, you can't look back unless you want to unhappy :-(



If you only look forward you will be a happy man!



Hunter1

 

[Casey Balvert]

Maybe there is something about the 600 that DC DOESN'T want you to know. Many predators dangle something appealing in order to attract prey. Then they bite you.



I won't forget the introduction of the "quieter, more economical and more powerful" 24 valve in January of 98.



Then, I just might be wrong.

 

[JDinNY]

I'm not unhappy.

I love my truck and I'm glad I didn't wait.

 

[Dean Upson]

Then again, you might just be right, Casey. It's happened before



Dean

 

[TboneMan]

Come on guys...



Do you send an email to Intel when they release the latest and fastest processor JUST after you buy a computer?



Do you send your dinner back at a restaurant after you see the guy at the next table has something better?



I agree with Vaughn MacKenzie, you can't stop selling a product just because you will be introducing something better in the future.



Progress must move foward.



You bought a truck to perform a specific function. Does the truck no longer fulfill that function just because a new model comes out? NO! If that were true, you'd still be waiting or you would have found a different option.



It all about being human and living in a capitalistic society. Advancement promotes demand, then competition, and then further advancement and so on.



This is way we are not still using spears to hunt for our food and stones for tools.



Be thankful we have the best engine on the market (at this time) and make plans (and save your $$) to upgrade when you can.



Until then enjoy your truck and use it for what you bought it for.

 

[Dean Upson]

Right on TboneMan . Pretty dumb business to let the competition know what you are doing.

It is impossible to keep up with technology today. I would not trade my '03 even for an 04. 5. I know what I have and I am very satisified with it and I could give a rat's whisker about the "increased horsepower and torque.

I am happy where I am and plan to keep this truck until at least 2010 when the 1000 hp/1000# torque engine with the built in engine brake and the 20 speed auto comes out .



Dean

 

[RobbieH]

I'm with Vaughn. I doubt that I would be able to buy a '600' for what I paid for my "puny" HO. If I ever feel jealous, I just remind myself that my truck does everything I need, and remind myself how cheap I got mine (relatively).

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Sorry folks,



However, as indicated in the first post I was willing to let them play their roper doper routine until the 10th. The press releases around the 7th , i. e. pulling the mine truck, contained NOTHING substantive and that we didn't already know. Except you can use the "600" to pull mine trucks, an application I doubt if one customer is going to do.



All I am asking is for the information so that customers can make an informed purchase. Without playing head or marketing games, e. g. the fear, uncertainty, and doubt of the dreaded EGR. Call it EGR FUD







I went down this road with my 98. Fortunately, I considered the 12v to be better than the first run 24v. And I was very happy. However, if we are talking no-egr, no-cat, a 5" exhaust, a new exhaust manifold

(have you seen how they put a right angle down turn in the 03s just to acommodate Dodge's new improved cramped bay. With 30% less room. How many of you consider that an improvement?), redesigned turbo, and something called "exhaust brake ready. To me these are significant improvements WITHOUT changing the overall beauty of the 03 engine. Besides, I could then get the molten red which they would let me order before . Also, it seems to me there is some rumblings about offering the 7/100 again (like my 02) instead of the 7/70.



Fortunately, I do have options. I can walk away. I can order a 04. 5. Or I can look for a 2001. 5 3500 (love them 4 wheel disc brakes). Heck, I've even checked the ads for a 12v 3500. Or I can be content with the 04. Guess I can play games too.



Finally, I will order the truck before 1/05 when the incentives are still in place with one of those customer plans which protects the incentives.



Sorry, but when I shell out 31K for a truck I want the most bang for my buck.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Sigh,... . perhaps being stuck here fortyone miles from town without a vehicle since 10/10 has made me a little crazy. Nothing to do but ski, beat my border collies, eat my cooking, and rant on the TDR... . sigh.

 

[RobbieH]

Dude, all CTD trucks have 7/100. My '03 does, so would your '04.



And I didn't have to shell out $31k. That's why I'm so happy. I got my dang near totally loaded 4x2 SLT QC for $26,135. I don't think I'd be able to do that for a long time with the 600.

 

[boonsur]

DON'T BUY THE 600!!!

Next year they'll have a 620.....

 

[RobertBolinger]

I think that the seat of the pants difference between the 2004 & 2004½ will probably not be much. When I originally started looking (this time around, I have been "looking" on and off since 1995) I was content with the 2004. I delayed making a decision, and ended up being right in the time when they quit taking orders, so now I'm in the queue to get a 2004½-when is the problem.



BTW, although the mine truck trick is way cool, I'm under no illusions that a Ford or Chevy 4x4 dually with positraction can't do the same thing with probably any of the engines (gas or diesel) available in the 1 tons.

 

[Dean Upson]

Rant on, Brother Ol' TD , we all do from time to time. I think you will be plenty happy with your truck if it is the "obsolete '04". There has been remarkably few complaints about our G3's compared to the competition. Just enjoy and take it easy on your puppies . Happy motoring.



Dean

 

[rbattelle]

I think what we're all talking about here is basically "market timing". I do it whenever I think about upgrading my computer. The paradox is this: you know there will always be a new future engine with more torque/horsepower than the one that's available now. Perhaps You could wait 10 years for camless engines with 1000 ft-lb and no emissions equipment to come out; you've got to draw the line somewhere and just say "the current engine has the best capability/price/features options for me and I'll be happy with it". Each of us must draw that line for himself. For me, it was at the 2003 model, for my own specific reasons. I don't regret not waiting. To each his own.