USA or Mexican 2006 does it matter?

[TMoe]

I have a few questions on a new 2006. Did the test drive and all I can say is wow. I can't believe how tight the steering is almost like a car. I was going to test drive the Duramax, after all my 2001 issues, but I like this truck so much I don't need to.



Should I get a USA or Mexican truck? I like to support USA but white truck I drove was Mexican like my 2001. The dealer has several of both.



How does the E-brake work for AT? I am getting AT and love the E brake on my 2001 6 speed.



Local dealer is offering $11,500 off any diesel. Is that as good as it gets or should I shop around? I only got $6000 off my 2001 but had to add thousands in aftermarket parts so I want as much off as possible to lessen the pain when I sell it.



Anyway, Dodge seems to have done a great job in upgrading the front end for the diesel. At least as new.



Thanks

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Based upon similar questions and polls on differences in build quality of USA vs Mexico built trucks - at least in earlier years - go with the Mexico built one - sorry to say, they seem to put more pride and workmanship into their assembly lines.



My '02 is a Mexican built truck, and I was (and am!) fully impressed with the overall detailing...

 

[byoslandry]

USA or Mexican

TMoe

Both my 04 and 06 were made in Mexico. I didn't know Dodge assembled trucks in USA.

My exhaust brake in my 06 CTD auto does great. I use it in town as well, but it really performs with my 32' 5th wheeler coming down those mountains. Just keep the rpm within the 2500 to 3000 rpm range for maximum slow down power and out of Overdrive.

 

[Eric_77]

Both of my extended cab trucks were made in Mexico the regular cab in St. Louis. At the time that is where the lines were set Reg cab= US; extended cab =Mexico have they changed that?



FYI build quality between the trucks seems about the same but the 92 paint job sucked and peeled in about 6 years.

 

[Grizzly]

My 95 and 05 Dodge's were built in Mexico. Mexico built are better in almost every way. When I ordered my 05 I told the dealer that if the new truck didn't come out of Mexico, I wouldn't except it. I hate to see our USA workmanship be inferior, but I'll take the better built truck any day.

 

[Regcabguy]

Mexican windshield=distortion.

My '99 was built in Mexico and the only mexican component complaint was the original windshield. Borderline funhouse. Due to a crack had a new American made one installed and voila,no more distortion. After numerous Baja trips,still no rattles or squeaks. I've got an '07 on order but no vin# assigned yet. It's a reg. cab and a visit this morning to my local dealer showed no pattern to where these vehicles are assembled. The majority of them seemed to come out of Saltillo though.

 

[06Dually]

It seems as if the ones made in Mexico have a superior paint job (something about epa reg's). Found this on another forum.

 

[Dieselnut59]

It seems as if the ones made in Mexico have a superior paint job (something about epa reg's). Found this on another forum.

I think that is the case, especially after '03. My '03 was recalled while in shipment. I bought it new, but it had been factory re-painted. It is a Mexican built truck (Heck, the ones built in THIS country are probably Mexican built too!) The paint (white) has been fine.

My '96 extended cab was made in USA. Fit and finish on both trucks is fine. No mechanical issues at all with the '03. Just the dowel pin and 5th gear issue with the '96 (which now has 205,000 miles).

Bought both trucks new.

'98 work truck is Mexican built. No problems with it either, except dowel pin. Fit/finish and mechanical all seems comparable between usa/mexico built ones.

 

[rjohnson916]

Got an '05 built in Mexico, no complaints. I originally wanted an American/ truck. Those that know me, know how patriotic I am. I thought I was buying an American truck, I looked in the door and found out otherwise and was a little upset. I had just paid $37,000 for a new truck and found out after the fact it wasn't American made. Long and short I can't complain about this truck, it's been better and more reliable than both Toyota Tacoma's I had previously.



-Ryan

 

[skipro3]

I agree that a Mexican made truck is probably better, I don't agree that it's the American worker at fault. U. S. business management is at fault. Middle managers trying to boost their pay-for-performance bonuses and upper management also making bad production line decisions is affecting the product but not the bottom line.

In my own working life, I KNOW I could do better if I didn't have to go through my layers of management in order to make changes for improvements. I've learned to not ask the incompentant morons and suffer the consaquences if they don't like what I've done to help things along.

 

[Edgemann55]

I agree that a Mexican made truck is probably better, I don't agree that it's the American worker at fault. U. S. business management is at fault. Middle managers trying to boost their pay-for-performance bonuses and upper management also making bad production line decisions is affecting the product but not the bottom line.

In my own working life, I KNOW I could do better if I didn't have to go through my layers of management in order to make changes for improvements. I've learned to not ask the incompentant morons and suffer the consaquences if they don't like what I've done to help things along.

Man you hit the nail right on the head!!The above reasons are why I took a early retirement after 25 years the last 10 or so doing less productive work and more scratching my head every time I saw anything from management. As far as my 2005 Mexico built truck-31,000 happy trouble free miles so far. Fit and finish are great,no rattles and so far the paint has held up really well.

 

[TMoe]

First VIN digit 1 USA 3 Mexico

The 2006 and 2007 quad cab 4x4 diesels are being built in Fenton, Missouri and Saltillo, Mexico. I am finding as many or more from USA, first digit 1, than Mexico. The Dodge website has all the dealers inventory with photos and sticker. Dave Smith has almost all Fenton trucks even the 2007 inventory. I thought there would be more out there. I am not going to worry about it and will by a USA truck. Thanks to the person who mentioned Woodhouse Chrysler in Blair NE. They have offered me 14,000 off 2006 sticker. I think I will get a Laramie with that discount.

 

[Buffalo]

The story I heard when I bought my '03 was that, in the Mexico plant, they could afford to have more inspectors, due to the lower wages, & a lot of visual scrutiny was put on their products. They didn't want to develop a reputation for building inferior products so, they watched what they built, more closely.



How true that is, I really don't know but, it does make some sense.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[tandersen]

All three of my Dodges were built in Mexico. No complaints here. Also the jake-brake with the automatic works great.

 

[Pawpaw]

I thought all of the diesels (3rd Gen, at least) were built in Mexico.



There was word that DC was going to gear up to build some in St Louis, but it doesn't seem enough time has passed yet for that.



Someone straighten me out, please.



Bob

 

[dalexander]

I looked at Dave Smith and Carson Dodge where I ordered mine. I looks like all 3500's are being built in Mexico. Out of 300 in inventory between both dealers all Mexico. 2500 seems to be Half and Half Carson Dodge had 60 USA and 23 Mexico, Dave smith had about 50-50.

 

[JMoberly]

My truck was St. Louis built and its a great truck so far at 16k. I ordered it and time from order placed to delivery was 3 weeks. Can't beat that turn around time.

 

[Grizzly]

My truck was St. Louis built and its a great truck so far at 16k. I ordered it and time from order placed to delivery was 3 weeks. Can't beat that turn around time.

Tell us again how your St. Louis truck is doing when you run out of warranty.