Test Ride=Ordered One

[BillGotthelf]

I have read for months other peoples impressions about the 2003's and I finally broke down and took one for a test drive. No comparison-quieter, nicer ride, better steering and did I say quieter. Make no mistake my 99 rides good (it's not a 4x4) and I love all the noise, while my 96 (4x4) rides like a tank and you sure can tell it's a 3500. The truck I took out was a 6 speed HO SLT 3500 4 door dualie 2wd without many options. Very smooth shift/clutch and I have not driven a stick in many years. 1st gear is to low for everyday driving but it will be good for towing. 2nd gear starts were easy-lots of gear choices once you are moving. Truck had a 4. 10 rear. I managed to get truck out and back without embarassing myself (stick shift). I loved the ride so much I ORDERED ONE!!!! 3500 dualie, 6-speed (want to use an exhaust brake) HO, Laramie, tow package, remote/heated mirrors, tow hooks, white exterior-taupe interior. This is my FIRST stick shift Cummins-getting tired of the auto trans wars. 4-6 weeks I can't wait.

 

[JTCHess]

Bill,

Just confirms my feelings that I had better not test drive one or my 93 is history!!

thanks, John

 

[Dean Upson]

Nice truck! Another '03 dually joins the ranks .



Dean

 

[BillGotthelf]

Dean-didn't need the heated seats. LOL

 

[Dean Upson]

Hey Bill,



Another winter like this one and the glacier will reach you guys in Fla. Those heated seats are one of life's little treasures to this old man. Good luck with your truck. You will love the 6 speed and you should see what kind of a deal you can get from your dealer on a Jacobs brake. They are pretty sweet and they are waranteed.



Dean

 

[BillGotthelf]

Dean how close are you to Washington/Torrington/Litchfield area. My B-in-law works for state. He's plowing his brains out.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill,



Congratulations... did the same thing last Tuesday!!



I punished myself the day before I went by the local Ford dealer and test drove a F350 Crew Cab with the 6. 0L and the 5 speed automatic.



It was an easy decision going with the '03 Dodge HO/48RE!



Bill

 

[CATCRACKER]

welcome to the isbe craze!



check the fluid in your axles I bet they are low fill w/ 75w-90 syn!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

OK, I confess...

As of Monday February 17th 2003 at 2:45pm I am officially on the waiting list for a shiny new 3500 QC 4x2 SWB



It's all your guys' fault, I won't take the blame for doing this!



Vaughn

 

[Dean Upson]

That's great, Vaughn ! Congratulations .



Dean

 

[VietDoc]

Vaughn, tell us more!!

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

As of Monday February 17th 2003 at 2:45pm I am officially on the waiting list for a shiny new 3500 QC 4x2 SWB

It's all your guys' fault, I won't take the blame for doing this!

Vaughn

First, Congrats!! on your truck!! I just posted a reply to you on another thread... . about prices and charges...

Where did you order yours? How great a price did you get??



Still waiting, but I am closer than you doc

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

VietDoc, well I ordered from the closest dealer, Lithia of Tri-Cities.



I don't have my paperwork in front of me but after he priced it out, at "$100 over invoice" the final price he presented me was about $200 LESS than the Invoice price I had printed off from KBB and Chrome. I double and triple-checked the numbers to make sure he didn't miss something but it was all there. For some reason the base price came out quite a bit less, so I wasn't complaining.



Anyway they took a spin in my truck and offered $19,500. Considering I was planning to sell outright for $21,000 I could not do better selling outright considering the tax issue.



I contacted the dealers I was working with and asked about running the private sale through at the dealership like you told me about but unfortunately none of them would agree to it. I didn't want to buy far away from home if I could help it, and I think being a Washington resident it may be more difficult to run a private sale through a dealership anyplace I went.



The combination of getting a price on a '03 that was better than I expected and them offering more than $1000 more than I expected for my truck was enough to seal the deal for me. I can't argue against this plus buying less than 10 miles from home. I know I could have done better if I'd put more into it but I'm happy and that's what counts.



Anyway this is what I ordered:



3500 Quadcab SB 4x2 SLT

HO, 6-speed, 3. 73 LSD

Taupe Leather

Patriot Blue/Silver

Tow pkg

Rear slider

Fog Lights

Security Group

Autodim mirror

Std Michelins on Aluminum wheels

Infinity Stereo w/wheel controls

Rear flat storage floor

Tow hooks

Bodyside molding



I think that's it. . .



Vaughn

 

[VietDoc]

Great Job! You are right you, are the one making the decisions and that close to home is fantastic!!



Con Grats again . . . . now it is wait wait wait. doc

 

[BillGotthelf]

Vaughn-You're old enough to know better. My order was similar but I got the Dualie, Laramie package, White-I tried to get the 6 disc in dash cd changer but they said they are still unavailable. I was told it was cost-$34,200.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

LOL Bill



I just read both Patriot Blue & Silver are on restriction. Being I ordered both of those colors I wonder if I should call my salesman? If I can't have that combo I'll probably do Atlantic Blue.



Vaughn

 

[Chipstien]

Vaughn, congrats to you. How long till your new baby is delivered. What do you mean about the Patriot blue and silver being on restriction. PS. I was serious about the Taurus.