Top 10 Things I miss about my '01

[Patriot Diesel]

I agree

Originally posted by JWerkheiser

Only reason I started this thread was to show how happy I was with my new truck, and hopefully get some responses from others that felt the same way. For some reason, many of us are very sensitive about this topic and are reading into it things that aren't. The fact that I don't miss my '01, doesn't say anything negative about it, but rather it says just how good the '03 really is! Depends whether you see the glass half full or half empty. When I followed up by posting 'shortcomings' of my '01, it is an illustration of things that I see as being much improved with the new trucks. Want to know the only reason I traded? 4 full opening doors. All the rest was icing on the cake. I loved my '01 and would have kept it forever if it weren't for the family having to fight the doors all the time.

If I might make a personal comment - lets not let 2G vs 3G happen. I have noticed a few comments here and there on various threads that lead me to believe there might be some things brewing. I just have the feeling that if something went to heck on my truck and I posted it out here, there'd be a few 'I old you so' replies.

I agree... we don't need any "my truck is better than your truck threads"... I have to say... my son is only 6 years old... by the time he is a teenager I will be looking for a bigger cab... I just hope Dodge has one by then...

 

[D808]

That's why I had to buy a 1990 Crew Cab 7. 3 Ford instead of a Dodge CTD. Our teenagers just wouldn't fit in a Club Cab!



Federal Man

 

[Pit Bull]

I have a solution. Take the dog and leave the kids at home. :-laf

 

[pdrew]

Only thing I don't like is the design of doors allowing snow to fall on the seats when opened. Makes for a mess. Our 99,00, and 02 don't have that problem. Otherwise 03 is a big improvement.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The closest parallel *I* can offer, is my own feelings and frequent comments in comparing my new '02 to my previous '91 - I felt absolutely no need to down my old truck, or those still owning the 1st generation trucks. My '91 served me well for nearly 12 years, was dead reliable, and delivered everything I asked of it IN SPADES! I continue to have respect and good feelings for that truck, and those owners STILL driving them, and frequently drop into the 1st generation forums to offer any positive comments I am able. I fully realized then, and now, that the 1st generation trucks were NOT perfect - but dern good - both at the time they were new, and after a few years had passed and newer stuff was on the road.



I realize the newer trucks like my '02 - and no doubt the '03's, are ALSO not perfect - each has and will have their own weaknesses and high-failure issues in various areas - those in my '02 are well known and easily corrected - those in the '03's just have yet to fully surface - it's just the way things are, whether we're talking about DC, GM or Ford...



When I bought the new truck a few months back, I realized the great improvements that had been made in the trucks - but STILL respected and appreciated all the good years the OLD truck had delivered - and what MANY of them are STILL delivering for their current owners - I felt, and feel, NO NEED to gloat about my 2nd generation truck - OR to in ANY way trash or diminish the older trucks OR their owners - rather, *I* feel my NEW truck has BIG shoes to fill - and can only hope it lives up to the expectations it's predecessor already well established!



You fellas with the new trucks have EVERY RIGHT to be happy with your choice and what qualities you bought it for - all the rest of us ask and expect is that you ALSO respect US for our choices, and the MANY reasons we drive what WE do!



Fair enough?

 

[Mathew Clausen]

Back to the original question - things I miss from my '01:



1. A-pillar and windshield. The '03 is leaned back more than I like and kind of puts it close to your head. Livable - but the '01 was better for sure. Blame the styling guys and maybe an urge to gain . 0001 mpg.



2. Throttle (w/6spd anyway). 12v motors were the best, did EXACTLY what your foot told it to do. '01 was decent - pretty much what you told it to do except running for overshooting a bunch if you let it lug to far below idle. The '03 is more gasser like with some strange things that happen when you shift and as your coming to a stop. You do get pretty used to it - but I would prefer the '01 overall. One thing that is better is that it is not as sensitive right at idle - which I think will make it easier in off road bumpy conditions.



3. 3. 73 gears - I don't tow - liked the 3. 54's better with stock tires. I don't really want any taller than the stock size but want a higher ratio which leads me to number 4.



4. 17" wheels - because of the 3. 73 gears I am trying to find taller tires - but because of 17" wheels there are virtually none right now. The bigger brakes are probably better if you are loaded - but again I don't tow or haul much and thought the 01 had great brakes. There will be more 17" available in the next 6 months - but for now it is not good if you want different tires.



5. Sunglass holder. I never would have asked for that - except it was soooo handy on the '01. Not a big deal - but it was nice.



That is all I can think of. This may look bad - but for me the quietness, perfect steering (I have not driven a 2nd get that I thought was good - all are very vague on center), and bigger cab completely overshadow the above listed complaints.



Mathew

 

[Hillbilly Hotrodder]

People and their choices

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

"The folks that are finding faults with the 2003 HD Rams seem to be the ones that don't own one. "



NAHHhh - ya got it all wrong - I read up, and saw what was coming in '03 - coulda easily waited and got one of those if I wanted - but I hurried and bought the '02 I now have to AVOID the '03's! Besides when the lead post in a thread like this starts out by knocking the trucks MOST of us are driving, what do you expect the reaction to be?



Even at THAT, my truck has more electronics than I like - and I dern sure didn't want MORE yet in the '03's. I personally think the 03's are a great choice in a truck - but if 2 identically equipped Dodges were side-by-side, one a '02, the other a '03, I'd STILL take the '02 - it's simply a careful, deliberate personal choice - and my choice doesn't make me any more right than the guy who prefers and buys the '03... And "envy" doesn't even BEGIN to come into the picture - I coulda bought whatever I wanted - and STILL can...



Enjoy yer '03's - their great trucks - and I'll do the same with mine!

That is well said. I also searched out my 02 when I saw what was coming with the new year trucks. We all have our reasons for making the choices that we do. I wanted one when the Cummins first came out in the trucks. It took until now to be able to afford to buy one though. I would rather worry about the known problems of the 02 than the unknown probems of the new 03s. Besides, the 2nd gen trucks are somewhat more primitive than the third, and I'm a more primitive type myself anyway.

 

[hanover]

I have driven a 03 6 speed and liked it alot. I like the looks of the 03 and I think DC is going to sell a bunch of them, but the the other night I had a good reason to have a 2nd gen.

I had a young lady buy me drink and all I had to do leave the bar let her start my truck in the parking lot , seems that she likes the noise of diesel, she even knew it was a cummins. She might not smiled as big if when she started the truck it sounded like a 3rd gen

With a cummins there all great trucksOo.

 

[Casey Balvert]

ALL she wanted to do was start your truck?? Bummer.



Casey

 

[Dean Upson]

Bet you wish you had a stick shift



Dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by Dean Upson

Bet you wish you had a stick shift



Dean

I've got one just thinking about it...

 

[sporter]

I really like the 03's for numerous reasons but I think my next truck will be a real crew cab with four full size doors. I like the way the new CTD sounds but get this---my wife hates it because it no longer sounds like a "REAL CUMMINS" like my straight piped 99. Come to think of it, it does sound like a PSD or a Duramax! Oh well, in a few very short years you 03 guys will be drooling over the new 05 or 06 and wishing you'd waited! Such is planned obsolescence in the automotive industry! Sam

 

[jerryrigg]

Hey there maybe some problems with the 01. 5's but there is going to be problems with the 03's and on also... to each his own

but... ... ...



I love my 01. 5... most importantly I own it, not a bank or finance company!!!!!



You guys can keep your 03's and the payments and that new front end.



-Matt

 

[JWerkheiser]

Payments? What payments?

 

[Dean Upson]

If it's my imagination please forgive me, but it seems that this thread is becomming a pi$$ing contest between members? :-{} :-{}



Dean

 

[JWerkheiser]

I agree - it's gotten way out of control as discussed earlier. I love all the Dodge Cummins trucks, just haven't found anything about the 3G that I don't like yet. A few of the 2G guys took it as a challenge, a we vs. they statement. I don't understand it because I never have felt any competition or animosity towards any other Dodge Cummins trucks or owners. .

 

[D808]

If the Ford and Chevy guys are reading this thread, I'll bet they're laughing there a$$es off at us. We third generation owners are not putting down the second gens. After all, most of us owned one before buying our 2003. All we are saying is that great improvements have been made in the third gens. That should also make the second gen owners proud to be part of the Dodge crowd. If we put down the first, second or third gen CTD's we are crapping in our own lunch kits!!! I learned to drive in my Dad's 1953 Chevy half ton. I loved that truck, but time and progress marches on. Dodge has set a new bench mark with the 2003 third generation CTD. One that will be tough for Ford and Chevy to meet. I seriously doubt that any truck builder will meet Dodge's third generation bench mark before the forth generation Dodge arrives. I believe I speak for all new third generation owners when I say, please don't rain on our parade!!! I personally apologize if I have ever said anything bad about the second gens. The first, second and third generation CTD's are all the greatest trucks ever built. It's just that great improvements have been made with the introduction of the 2003 Dodge CTD. It's competition that drives evolutionary design changes and other improvements that we've seen. That's a fact of life that no one can change. If Dodge didn't do it, they would be eating Ford and Chevy's dust. Dodge produces what will sell and make them money, and from what I've read lately, the third generation is doing just that for them. Because a particular generation CTD may be right for one person, it may not be right for the other. They're all great trucks, it's just that each of us has our own personal preference.



Federal man

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by federalman





Because a particular generation CTD may be right for one person, it may not be right for the other. They're all great trucks, it's just that each of us has our own personal preference.



Federal man

I can agree with that part of your statement