New Dodge

[nascar mark]

What do you guys think about the 03 dodge cummins.



Do you think dodge is headed in the right direction with the body style and interior.



The turbo is almost touching the frame. Thats how low it is. The truck is very quiet, it almost dosen't sound like a diesel. Its lost that cummins sound.



It did put out some impressive number when we dyno'd one earlier in the month. 262rwhp and 482ftlbs.



Personally I don't like it. Body of a f-150 :-{} Sound of a car.



mark

 

[Old Smoky]

It looks kind of dopey to me, too much like a Ford. It has lost its "edge. " Even though it's a little too quiet, and has a common rail fuel system that some dislike, the new engine has come a long way. I am not saying that I don't like it; it's just that it may take a while to get used to.



Mike

 

[Philip]

I haven't heard one run yet. The quite part wouldn't bother me to much.



The F150 look I do not like. I am sure the Dodge boys could have come up with something better than to copy the competition.

 

[JFitzgerald]

I heard one of the new engines run (in a 2nd gen test truck) at Muncie in June. It was spooky quiet. I've grown to like the noise of mine and would miss it. New vehicles are going towards insulating the driver from the engine and the road as much as possible. First gens are pretty much the opposite. I want to hear and feel what's going on. I don't see the F150 look in it, it seems like they just smoothed the 2nd gen body and stretched the grill to huge.



Likes about new truck:

4-doors, even though it's not a full crew cab

SRW 3500

NV5600



Likes about my old truck:

simplicity, no electronic control of engine

easy & cheap to BOMB

room to work on engine (not hidden under cowl)

no payments

NP205

not just like everyone else on the road

Even though I sometimes want a new truck, this old truck is so good, I don't need a new one.

 

[AMikonis]

I've gotten to drive a couple, they are really awesome trucks. They steer and handle great. The brakes are incredible. They are way quieter, which doesn't really bother me.



The common rail setup is pretty state of the art. Lot of advantages. They said they got one to start at -40 degrees without plugging it in!



It is a tight fit. The main Cummins engineer said it was a real battle with Dodge. Said it got down to whether to have 6 or 7 ribs on the drive belt.



Styling's been growing on me after spending some time with them, but I think I'll keep my '92 for now!



Andy

 

[Philip]

The common rail setup is pretty state of the art. Lot of advantages. They said they got one to start at -40 degrees without plugging it in!

My first gen does that at -15 to -20. At this temp I have to hold a little throttle for about 30 seconds. Then it holds it own from there. It doesn't get down to -40 here. So that isn't an issue.



P. S I won't go any way up north to check eather one out on this issue eather.

 

[AMikonis]

Ha, yeah, probably not much of an issue with global warming and all. Still, your numbers sound good, I've never gotten either of my trucks to start below +3 F degrees without plugging in...



Anyway, cold starting was just one example, I don't think common rail technology is going away.



It IS pretty amazing how good our first gen trucks are.

 

[Philip]

I don't think common rail technology is going away.

No it won't go away. I'll keep reading up on it as it comes to full maturity.



Sooner or later. I'll have to switch to a newer truck. But it will be a while. I usually keep something long enough to rebuild it at least once. Then wear that rebuild out. I haven't got the first rebuild done on this one yet.

It IS pretty amazing how good our first gen trucks are

Dodge did good on them. They have thier own little bugs that everyone needs to work out. But over all it was built good for the price they were sold for.

 

[skobylenski]

Heard it dragging last weekend... could barely hear the turbo, and not much engine sound beyond what the gassers sounded like :{ . I'll stick with my '92 250



Too bad there weren't any of us dragging at Epping last Sun. Mine isn't quite up to the challenge yet ... yet