To trade or not to trade

[Paulsdodge]

Okay I have found a deal on a new truck ( I think) and I want everyone's thoughts on what I should do,

I have found a new 2003 Light almond Larimine 2500 with the HO diesel and a six speed. It has nearly all the whistles and bells, even down to an alarm system, dual power seats, leather, and AM FM CD cassette. The total list price is just shy of 39,000. Now since I already own a 2001 Ram 2500 HO I qualify for a 500. 00 rebate plus the 4500 dollar rebate that is being advertised. And since I have bought many new vehicles at my Dodge dealership, I should be able to get this truck for 3 percent below invoice plus all rebates. Looks like it will be around 29,500 minus the trade. The trade should be about 21,000, so for a difference of 8500 difference. What do you guys think? should I do it? Will I regret going from a 2001 to a 2003? Is there anything any of you can think of I need to look for when I test drive it? Please let me know Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Moterhead]

Sounds like a great deal to me!!!



Are you sure about the $500 rebate? I'm going from an '03 to an '04 and all I'm getting is the $2500. I went to dodge.com and see the $500 Customer Loyalty rebate button on the Special Offers section, but it's disabled. WOn't click up. Did your dealer tell you that you were eligible for it? My '04 will be in this week, so really would like to know. Guess I shouldn't be greedy. When I ordered my truck, the rebate was only $1,000, so the price has gone down $1,500 (rebate went up to $2,500). Still it would be better to get the Customer Loyalty $500 than not.



My opinion, is go for it. For $8500 you go from a truck with 24,000 miles on it to a new truck. Just that is a deal.

JOIBBO!

 

[Vatsa]

I just traded my 2001 2500, with only 36,000 miles, and only got 17,500 for it. I was in a hurry and got a good deal on the new truck so I did it anyway. They would not give me the 500. 00 owner loyalty either.



Bottom line though is that if you can get 21K for a 2001 you should jump all over it. That is a retail price and usually dealers will only give wholesale.

 

[Paulsdodge]

500 Chrysler loyalaty rebate

I went and test drove the truck today, that thing sure is quiet! I'm not so sure I like that aspect or not, and I also found one other thing I didn't care for, no under hood light nor visor lights. Other than that I liked the truck. It seemed to ride somewhat softer and more controlled. My dealer said I was eligible for the extra 500 rebate as per the website, and the trade is 21,000. My truck has 22,000 miles as of now. So after tax and license trade and rebates looks like my truck and about 7500 dollars difference. I am going to sleep on it tonight.

 

[XcumminsX]

Do what i did.

-ask your girlfriend/wife

-ask your kids/friends

-ask your co-workers



I did this and suprisingly everyone said to do it. I had a 1988 ford f-150 solid dana 60 axle swap lifted 13 inches 42 inch tires, bla bla bla. It was my baby. It was very hard to let go because that was my first truck and i had so much fun and so many memories, it also made me very popular with ALL of the ladies in my high school.



I got 14000 dollars for that truck and my list price was 40000 and i said do me 24000 out the door and it all happen so i did it. Sit with them and when you get mad/undecided the first time just get up and pretend your gonna walk and i bet they will stop you just like they stopped me and did exactly what i wanted to sell the truck.



Id say do it the 2003/2004's are a major improvement from what i have read, and heard

 

[klenger]

If you don't take the deal, I will.

 

[Steve M]

Put some earplugs in and drive your 2001 at all speeds you normally drive. Feel for all vibrations it makes minus the noise. Once you get warmed up to your new 2003, you'll notice the vibration is there but not the noise. This makes the vibration seem way out of place and abnormal. Especially at 2100rpm. Perception is the key player here.

I still miss my '01. I thought it was a beautiful truck. I've had my '03 for close to a year and I'm just now getting the feelings for it that I had for the '01. But with the '03 there's no injection pump concerns like I had with the VP44. You'll really like the sharp turning of the rack n pinion steering if it's a 2X4. The gages are great night and day. There are alot of things you'll pick up on as you drive it daily that you'll like. Including the 7/70k drive-train warranty along with the 100k engine warranty.

I took my wife for a ride in an '03 and she said buy it. I almost jerked a tear when I left the '01 there. It'll probably always be my favorite. But the '03 was a step up and is winning me over.

Pics in reader's rigs.

 

[DocDetonancour]

What $500

What does it take to get the customer thing? I have an 02 Liberty and sold my 96 Ram? Also I would be interested in the 03 Larimie if it's a 4 x 4. thanks, Doc

 

[MMeier]

21k on a 3 yr. old trade , better get that in writing !!!!

 

[HEYBOSS]

I was in the same boat and can jump from my 2001 with 42k to and 03 or 04 for 10k. Now that's not a bad deal an 04 with all options you can get with it but... ... ... ... ... that's OK if you're not going to Bomb or add accessories which I have around $8,000 in mine. Now I'm looking 10k trade up + $2300 tax and regst fees + another $8000 for accessories/bombs, that's $20,300 not counting financing fees, higher insurance and tax fees. In my case the 2001 is paid for and I'll dump another 5k in goodies and still be ahead of the game, something to kick around.



Good luck with your decision.

 

[Moterhead]

Re: What $500

Originally posted by Doc DeTon

What does it take to get the customer thing? I have an 02 Liberty and sold my 96 Ram? Also I would be interested in the 03 Larimie if it's a 4 x 4. thanks, Doc

I just got an email from a buddy who is pretty high up engineer at DC. He got me the employee price on my '04. I asked him to check out the $500 thing. He talked to the "Ram Incentive Specialist" at DC. According to her, $2500 is the current rebate. The Loyalty program ended in August. If your dealer gives it to you, that's great! I spoke with my dealer yesterday. My truck is supposed to be in any day. Left Saltillo on the 21st. I asked him about the Loyalty $500. Said he'd have to look it up, didn't know offhand. I hope you get it. Hope I do also!

 

[JerryTurbo]

Trade in??????

I'm thinking of trading also but love stands in the way. My baby is a 2000, 2500 slt. stock. My Michelins have 202K on them and right now I'm in Ada, OK. waiting to pick up a load of trailers to be taken back to Ohio. My baby while coming back from LA my odometer went over 500,000 miles.



:-{} wife & I

 

[wyosteve]

My . 02. If you can trade for what you say you can, run and do it. @#%&^* dealers around here want from 14k to 16k for me to trade on an 03!! They're insane! I'd trade in a minute if I could do it for 10k BTW I have 98k on mine.

 

[HEYBOSS]

You guys are nuts, (no insult intended) Why in the world would you want to trade a beautiful running truck with all the goodies you've put in it that still drives circles around the 03-04 stock truck and full of vibration issues, just look at all the posts with all the problems? Plus do all the math and really see how much that truck will cost you when it's all said and done.





On the other hand I think I'm going to local dealer this weekend and road test the 03 and, who knows if it's vibration free may be I'll drive it home

 

[ImagesThatSing]

That sounds like a great deal for your trade. We traded our 99 adn got $20500, It had 31K miles, and and ebrake, 2 new redtops, nerf bars, a pace edwards rollnlock, and with the adds we got about what the blue book said we would for the trade in.