Should I buy a 2006 Mega Cab or wait for the 2007?

[SKneeland]

I personally wouldn't want more moving parts in the new VGT turbo, nor the headache of all the fancy ECM add-on programms, along with the EGR and Particulate trap set/up. I would get an '06 while you can, but that's just me. Plus I'm not a fan of the smaller badges on the door now.



-Ryan

VGT is the future, i wish they had developed something sooner.

as far as all the other emission stuff, im sure it will end up in the scrap heap behind my shop when i sell my 01... .

 

[lawdog]

6. 7 scheduled for 01-01-07 as 2007. 5 model... Emissions... Hmmmm6 sensors in Exhaust alone. . prob won't be too big of scrap pile or truck wont run... From what Ive been hearing Basically Mods will be next to impossible with new emissions without blowing codes like crazy. . even air filter change could throw codes... ... . From what I hear.....

 

[olznut]

I would assume yes, the Aisin trannies we had in our Isuzu trucks did.

 

[Double J]

I jumped on an 06 myself, the long track record of the 5. 9L was enough to make me squeeze the trigger v/s waiting on the 6. 7L.

 

[EMD-Run8]

I'm still not getting the deal with the Aisin & 68RE. Why two different automatics?

 

[rashwor]

My thoughts.

On the Allison vs the 68RE I suspect it will be a power ratings thing. Different transmission = different power rating.



I am happy with my 5. 9. The 6. 7 will probably be pretty cool. Since it is cummins, I would expect it to be pretty reliable right out of the gate, as for our application, they all have been thus far.



I plan to stick with my 5. 9 for as long as I can. For me, it is an emissions thing. I remember back in the late '70s when they started putting EGR and Cats on gas engines. Many problems to start with on some early models. Some due to trying to cheap out on materials and workmanship, some due to bad engineering.



For an idea of what is facing you on the 6. 7s, talk to people running VW TDIs. They already have most of the emissions stuff that the 6. 7s will have. There are ways around some of it, but not all of it. There will be many more sensors than we have on the 5. 9 to attempt to fool and get around; especially when it comes to exhaust.



I plan for my Cat to come off and the muffler to be replaced with a straight through flow apparatus of some sort (muffler / resonator). I can do this without worrying about setting a code or fooling a sensor.



I expect that others have hit the nail on the head. The 6. 7s will not be out until mid year, at the last minute. DC has never implemented emissions prior to the last second. I don't expect this to be an exception.



I think the 6. 7s will be a good solid reliable engine even in the beginning. I just would not want to have to deal with all of the emissions crud.



Just my $0. 02.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I pulled trigger on 2006

I went ahead an purchased a 3500 DRW 2006 and don't regret it a minute. I am adding PacBrake Tuesday and 70-100 gallon transfer tank in about a month. My 48re has done well. With the EZ that adds about 65 horses I can pull the hills I need to at the speed limit. I don't think you can get any better. My rig in signature. :-laf

 

[CUMMINZ]

One other thing... . I am sure there are advantages to a six speed auto. I would say that the spread of gear changes when I am pulling with my 4 speed 48re are just fine. The only problem I see with the 48re is that reverse is not low enough. That is when I use low 4x4 to back into the areas I need it.

 

[betterthanstock]

One more thing to consider about the 07. .

It will likely be a few (4-6) thousand more expensive, and the first 60,000 buyers will get a federal credit for a "clean diesel" (just like the hybrids)... . Or so the rumors say.....

 

[mlewis73]

All this talk about emissions...



HOW MUCH CLEANER CAN WE GET!?!?!?!?



I sold my '91 F-350 a couple months ago. That truck had a NICE, stinky exhaust smell that we associate with diesel trucks. I liked it, but the EPA doesn't.



The new Ram I'm driving has virtually NO exhaust odor. I can breathe deeply standing near the exhaust pipe and have no problems.



How much cleaner can we realistically get?

 

[DDeputy]

Ok here are my thoughts on this subject... We will not be in a position to buy the "wife's" new megacab until late this winter, therefore the 2 choices are clear,wait for 07 and a considerable list of unknowns or go for the 06. 5 and try to get it built this side of 07! There are several things I would like to see changed on the 06 but the question is will they change and when and at what sacrafice? ie 10,000 new parameters in the ECM. I have an 05 for a work truck and even without upgrades I love the added power and overall inprovments from my 98. 5. Spending 50K of one's hard earned money requires alittle thought and planning and after following every threat that even mentions 07 plus any other source on the subject, I'am 90% on the 06. 5 idea unless some pretty good stuff comes up. I suggest following tommygun's remarks as one of your sources as he is one of the few dealers that I know of that even has a clue as to what DC is upto. Sorry a little windy but we have been looking into this for a long time.

 

[EMD-Run8]

I'm thinking that since the engine has already been in service more than a year, that it's gonna be a pretty solid piece. What I've been reading indicates that the 6. 7 will begin to show up by September. Is that how ya'll are reading it?

 

[DDeputy]

Ok here are my thoughts on this subject... We will not be in a position to buy the "wife's" new megacab until late this winter, therefore the 2 choices are clear,wait for 07 and a considerable list of unknowns or go for the 06. 5 and try to get it built this side of 07! There are several things I would like to see changed on the 06 but the question is will they change and when and at what sacrafice? ie 10,000 new parameters in the ECM. There is no doubt in my mind that Cummins and DC will end up with another great product with the 6. 7 and which ever transmission they end up with but as always it will take some time and real world use to work out the bugs. I have an 05 for a work truck and even without upgrades I love the added power and overall inprovments from my 98. 5. Spending 50K of one's hard earned money requires alittle thought and planning and after following every threat that even mentions 07 plus any other source on the subject, I'am 90% on the 06. 5 idea unless some pretty good stuff comes up. I suggest following tommygun's remarks as one of your sources as he is one of the few dealers that I know of that even has a clue as to what DC is upto. Sorry a little windy but we have been looking into this for a long time and we want to make the best decision we can.

 

[DDeputy]

Ok here are my thoughts on this subject... We will not be in a position to buy the "wife's" new megacab until late this winter, therefore the 2 choices are clear,wait for 07 and a considerable list of unknowns or go for the 06. 5 and try to get it built this side of 07! There are several things I would like to see changed on the 06 but the question is will they change and when and at what sacrafice? ie 10,000 new parameters in the ECM. There is no doubt in my mind that Cummins and DC will end up with another great product with the 6. 7 and which ever transmission they end up with but as always it will take some time and real world use to work out the bugs. I have an 05 for a work truck and even without upgrades I love the added power and overall improvments from my 98. 5. Spending 50K of one's hard earned money requires alittle thought and planning and after following every thread that even mentions 07 plus any other source on the subject, I'am 90% on the 06. 5 idea unless some pretty good stuff comes up. I suggest following tommygun's remarks as one of your sources as he is one of the few dealers that I know of that even has a clue as to what DC is upto. Sorry a little windy but we have been looking into this for a long time and we want to make the best decision we can.

 

[DDeputy]

Sorry for all the duplicaton

 

[blake underwood]

When do the 07 2500/3500 model trucks come out? I think the 07 3500HD's are out?

 

[FATCAT]

Here is my opinion (and we all know what opinions are worth), by the Devil you know, not the Devil you don't.

The 3rd gen quirks have just about all been discovered and corrected. Also, there is plenty of upgrade stuff available for the 5. 9, there will probably be nothing for the 6. 7 for a long time ... if ever. Plus, why spend an additional 5 - 7K over what you would pay this year.

My advice ... make it happen NOW while there are big incentives and low financing.



As for me, I'd love a new truck, but Dodge doesn't make a 5500 and my pending divorce is keeping me from buying anything right now. They should and put the ISC in the 4500/5500 class ... just makes sence, the ISC is already approved for 2007 from what I have heard.

Good Luck ... and don't wait too long.

 

[Bob Wagner]

we were lucky enough to get a tour of the cummins mid range plant while we were in Columbus (thanks justin)



That 6. 7 engine is really a piece of art. Very impressive from all angles.



No doubt the 6. 7 will #ad

 

[SConklin]

Here is my opinion (and we all know what opinions are worth), by the Devil you know, not the Devil you don't.
The 3rd gen quirks have just about all been discovered and corrected. Also, there is plenty of upgrade stuff available for the 5. 9, there will probably be nothing for the 6. 7 for a long time ... if ever. Plus, why spend an additional 5 - 7K over what you would pay this year.
My advice ... make it happen NOW while there are big incentives and low financing.

As for me, I'd love a new truck, but Dodge doesn't make a 5500 and my pending divorce is keeping me from buying anything right now. They should and put the ISC in the 4500/5500 class ... just makes sence, the ISC is already approved for 2007 from what I have heard.
Good Luck ... and don't wait too long.

Nothing for the 6. 7 for a long time? Come on now... be realistic. Why WOULDN'T there be stuff for it immediately? Look how quickly TST got on the ball for the CP3's. As for the emissions stuff... the duramax and powerstroke have been using this crap for years... and they seem to have plenty of aftermarket for them. With enough ingenuity, anything can be bypassed or disabled. I'm sure the good folks at TST, Edge, etc are already thinking of ways to work around this stuff. As for pricing? I doubt it'll be much higher. Again, the other manufactures have to meet the same requirements, and if Dodge can't stay competitive in pricing and the others can with the same emissions requirements, then there's seriously something wrong. I highly doubt that'll be the case. Also... the 5. 9 can't exist as an option past 2006 - it doesn't meet emissions, and whether dodge says it'll stay in the 2500s or not, it has to go. I think Dodge is bluffing with their low power estimates, and not saying anything about the regular 2500/3500 engines yet.
BUT... can't argue with the incentives and financing though.

 

[FATCAT]

Nothing for the 6. 7 for a long time? Come on now... be realistic. Why WOULDN'T there be stuff for it immediately? Look how quickly TST got on the ball for the CP3's. As for the emissions stuff... the duramax and powerstroke have been using this crap for years... and they seem to have plenty of aftermarket for them. With enough ingenuity, anything can be bypassed or disabled. I'm sure the good folks at TST, Edge, etc are already thinking of ways to work around this stuff. As for pricing? I doubt it'll be much higher. Again, the other manufactures have to meet the same requirements, and if Dodge can't stay competitive in pricing and the others can with the same emissions requirements, then there's seriously something wrong. I highly doubt that'll be the case. Also... the 5. 9 can't exist as an option past 2006 - it doesn't meet emissions, and whether dodge says it'll stay in the 2500s or not, it has to go. I think Dodge is bluffing with their low power estimates, and not saying anything about the regular 2500/3500 engines yet.

BUT... can't argue with the incentives and financing though.

The new diesels will be quite different fromt he current ones, plus the states will be taking a VERY CLOSE LOOK at 2007 diesel vehicles during inspections AND the new software will be able to detect ANY tampering of the systems. Probably requiring passwords and serial # when new parts are replaced or when maintenance is performed. AND, they will be looking for the SLIGHTEST thing out of place ... any weird parameter in the computer's ECM or other sensors so they can zap you with a warranty cancellation.