Motor Trend Diesel Comparison

[swexlin]

Well, we got dissed again. Got my new MT today, and they compared the Big 3 diesels. Out beloved CTD came in third. Basically, they didn't care for the 48RE, or the rough ride. The PSD came in first. They loved the "extra horsepower" over the Cummins. I said What? They're both rated at 325. Then I looked in the specs - said 305 for our Dodge, but 600 lb ft. So, they got it wrong, or the tested a 555 truck, and didn't know it.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by swexlin

Well, we got dissed again. Got my new MT today, and they compared the Big 3 diesels. Out beloved CTD came in third. Basically, they didn't care for the 48RE, or the rough ride.

Rough ride my skinny white a$$! This truck rides better than any car I've owned with the exception of a 1969 Marquis Brougham, which I owned in the mid-1980s.

 

[BVol]

Does anyone think Ford's ride will improve or get rougher now that the '05s have coils instead of leaves up front?! I never take writer's opinions too seriously, things like "harsh ride" and "loud interior" are relative to the individual. What some short fat guy says about comfort will differ from what a tall thin guy says and someone who normally drives a BMW sedan is going to have a different impression of a pick up than you or I. Some folks make their purchase based solely on resale value. I say,... . test drive all 3 and get what YOU like

 

[swexlin]

This dually rides better than my F350 PSD. Of course, it was a shortbed, so that's part of it.

 

[swexlin]

I just amazes me that these professional journalists never get their facts right.



Let's see how they like their Duramax when it needs injectors.

 

[GFritsch]

Part of the power feeling has to do with the long break in period of a real medium duty engine. The Cummins is tight for the first 10k or so. It would be interesting to see the comparo at 150k when the Cummins is actually stronger than new, and the others are worn out--if running at all.



The goobs from Motor Trend should stick to their lousy reviews of mini-vans and econo-box cars.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by swexlin

Basically, they didn't care for the 48RE, or the rough ride. The PSD came in first. They loved the "extra horsepower" over the Cummins.

Mistakes in the horsepower figures aside, what exactly does a difference of 20 hp feel like, anyway? Did they list 0-60 times for the trucks?

 

[swexlin]

Yes, the Dodge was second fastest to 60, behind the Ford. And I'm sure that's because of the Torqueshift vs. 48 RE. The GM was last.

 

[GFritsch]

Letting Motor Trend, etc dictate a diesel pickup purchase is like letting "Martha Stewart Living" be the determining factor on which hammer drill to buy... ... .

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[Jeff H]

I bet Dodge does not spend any money advertising in Motor Trend. So it don't pay for MT to like the Dodge. See this in other Magazines also.

 

[klenger]

$$$ talks.

 

[Dane]

Motor Trend has always been a pansy a$$ publication, and has gotten so bad in the last year I don't bother to read their mag or watch the TV show.



I doubt anyone on the staff has towed anything larger than a tent trailer, so understanding what makes a good diesel truck is beyond their comprehension imo.

 

[SGibson]

motor trend is just so much fluff, I put some value in car&drivers opinion,It's written by engineers and racers, the articles are useally well written and have some bite. Until the other guys go w/a inline 6 itsa apples versas oranges thing to me anyway, I know the bean counters in detroit don't feel that way, but I can be that smug, compare all the cupholders you want but under the hood? itsa foregone conclusion, until caterpillar becomes involved then maybe there will be something more to compare other than they both burn diesel,maybe. Did m/t deduct points for the chevys sheer ugliness?

 

[swexlin]

It was just interesting that they basically gave the Dodge high praise in the text part of the article, with the exception of the ride, and basically slammed the Duramax, then put the Dodge in third?

 

[amillstream]

Originally posted by swexlin

Well, we got dissed again. Got my new MT today, and they compared the Big 3 diesels. Out beloved CTD came in third. Basically, they didn't care for the 48RE, or the rough ride. The PSD came in first. They loved the "extra horsepower" over the Cummins. I said What? They're both rated at 325. Then I looked in the specs - said 305 for our Dodge, but 600 lb ft. So, they got it wrong, or the tested a 555 truck, and didn't know it.

Someone should call the guy and make sure he actually drove the trucks before he wrote that article. Or a least find out what he was smokin', because whatever he was smoking must have been some real good stuff.

 

[Bertram65]

I think Motor Trend is one of the better auto rags, not that any of them are much good. The article was interesting because they actually tested the trucks towing a 8500 lb boat up a 1% and 3% grade, the Duramax, Cummins and Powerstroke were close on the 1%, the Ford beat them them both on the 1%, badly on the 3%. The way they measured the performance was kind of cool, they had the trucks towing 8500 lbs at 55mph and then floored it to see how much g force (being set back in the seat) each would generate, they were close on the 1% but on the 3% the Ford beat the Dodge and Duramax by 100%, twice the acceleration. The Chevy and Ford were crew cabs, the Dodge quad cab, they all had 3. 73s, 4X4s, all pretty close on weight. I would still take the Dodge over the other two, but apparently when the 6L is running right it has some serious power.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I had a Dmax for three years. This Dodge does not have a rough ride... period.

 

[MFetzer]

I have had the all and would never give up my CTD. The power is there the ride is good and the truck is made for working. Those others are fine for driving to the office and then pulling a boat or trailer once a month. I work my truck like a truck. I pull 10k+ every other day and spend about as much time off pavement as I do on. I think that Dodge is the last real working man's truck. I don't think the writers look at it that way. They want a car like ride in a truck. Car like ride equals car like results. The others are nice but when it comes to working out of a truck GO DODGE.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

Whoaaaa!! Wasn't the Dodge HD Motor Trend's 2003 TRUCK OF THE YEAR when it was compared against ALL trucks? Looks to me like MT have a reliability problem in their testing.

 

[Bertram65]

I think thier primary reason for picking the Ford as number one was because it pulled the best, that was the basis for the comparison, pulling power it was not a usual Motor Trend comparison. The Dodge and Chevy were about equal but the Chevy rode better empty.