Who has been making the decisions at Dodge?

[67guzzler]

I understand Carl. One thing with DC and the trucks -- they're very conservative. They take more chances with the cars. I think it's too much revenue / profit at risk to make a rash move. They don't need the bad PR of ending up on the front pages of auto / truck / hauling magazines because they have a problem with frames bending (just an extreme example). I also think they have to look at the $ and ¢ before they make a move. To undertake an expensive configuration for a few just to say they can or are willing is what I think got some of the other brands into trouble. One thing about Dodge is that they seem to know their market.



Think about it -- They never lost sight of the fact that the CTD was the calling card. They never figured that the rest of the truck could be a piece of crap. They knew that the rest of the truck had to measure up and starting with the 2nd gen (no offense 1st genners) they came up with a truck that was ahead of it's time in styling (set the standard -- look at all the imitators) and value. Despite the naysayers, the truck HOLDS UP WELL. I rode in a 2004 Ford F250 Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4 PowerStroke. The truck felt very LOOSE. That's all I can say as I can't describe it better. I couldn't wait to get back into my "tight as a drum" feeling Dodge.



What's the point of all this? I dunno. I got lost somewhere. All I know is that Dodge is trying and came out with the first Mega Cab. Let's see what configurations they build out of it. Who knows? Maybe they'll extend the frame and have an 8' box back there. That would make a VERY long truck tho.

 

[LDobie]

Well said again Jay, the great thread continues. The '94s were certainly revolutionary, I had a '94 2WD regular cab shorty, which was a phenomenal truck, sold her at about 195K mi. Comparing the '94 Ram to the '93 Chevy at my old hardware store and its night and day. DC brought around car like interior fit and finish and put to rest the theory that "it's a truck, its supposed to be crude and tough. "



6 2 how did you manage to get a B. S. in M. E. with only taking 1 English class?? Wow, thinking back now, I had 2 core English classes the 1st year, then I took a 3 -1 credit sequence in poetry/lit. Then add in all the other L. A. courses and not to mention the insane Lab reports, good writing skills were essential!!



Good writing ability sure helps when IM'ing with the ladies or writing them notes or emails... :-laf

 

[KennethS]

I have been Involved with Chrysler since 1972

I became a Chrysler Dealer In 1972 leaving Ford Motor Co. working In the assembly plant In Lorain, Ohio. I was there a little over 10 years working In the final garage as a paint Repairman. We work 85 to 95 hours a week. One week I had 105 hours. I said there got to be more to life then this place. So I bought a dealership and started a new life. It was tough going but still lots of hours but I got to see the outside which I liked. Now Ford was good to me and my family which I will never forget. Made lots of good friends which most are gone now. There was not much difference between Ford, GM and Chrysler. They loved to blackmail you, all 3. To get the cars or trucks you could sell they made you take the cars that were hard to sell. They made you pull your hair out. They also wanted to handle your floor plan. That way they could keep you In debt up to your eye balls. They make It hard for you to sleep at night. Chrysler used to see how ugly they could make a car or truck just to **** a fellow off I use to think. I know It has not change much today. I got a chance to sell out and did. Now life Is great. Most dealers If had a chance to sell out and break even would sell In a heart beat.

 

[6 2 Carl]

Everything in automobile life involves compromises.



-Ryan

Of course every decision in life is a compromise in on way or another. That still doesn't mean that I enjoy doing it when spending a large chunk of my money. I guess life would be a lot easier if I just took the salesman word for it, when he tells me I bought the best truck ever.



I do love my truck, I ordered it, and I felt I made very few compromises. I don't need a mega cab, and have no desire to buy one, but I know lots of people who would. I guess I am a little passionate, and want to see Dodge make a truck that will be the "best choice" for any consumer.



Dodge is improving in some ways. This year they allow you to delete the cab lights on a 3500 swr, and give the option of rubber instead of carpet floors. These are two options I would have gotten on my truck if I had the choice. I give credit to Dodge for offering it now, but why wasn't this an option back in 2003? Did Dodge see it as too much of a money loosing risk to offer these options back in 2003?

6 2 how did you manage to get a B. S. in M. E. with only taking 1 English class?? Wow, thinking back now, I had 2 core English classes the 1st year, then I took a 3 -1 credit sequence in poetry/lit. Then add in all the other L. A. courses and not to mention the insane Lab reports, good writing skills were essential!!

I never did fail my English class, I just dropped it a couple of times before I subjected myself to a full semester of the torture. I also had to take other "communication" classes in addition to way too many lab reports as well. I guess my writing skills are good enough to get by. It just frustrates me that so many other things in life are easy for me, but when it comes to writing I have to put a lot of effort into it, just so I don't look like illiterate moron.



Carl

 

[KB0OU]

I have driven all makes and models out there, gassers, 6. 2 diesels, 6. 9 diesels, 7. 3 diesels, and the beloved 5. 9 Cummins "real diesel".

I now have a 1996 Cummins Dodge, It has 392,000 miles plus. Nothing I have driven before even comes close to the quality and reliability of the truck I have now. Sure it is not perfect, I have had to do some repairs and lots of maintenance but I dare any other truck to run beside it for all the miles and abuse I have given this truck and run at the same cost per mile.

By the way this truck has been to Alaska and back many times, from my house that is a 8,000 mile round trip. It always got me back. I know some Fords that cannot say that, I hauled one back from Wasilla, Alaska on my trailer because Ford wanted $10,000. 00 there to replace his "diesel engine". I hauled his Ford to Idaho where he lives.

What a Truck!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rbattelle]

and want to see Dodge make a truck that will be the "best choice" for any consumer.

In my opinion this is absolutely impossible. It'd be like making 1 pair of pants that every man, woman, and child in the country would own and wear exclusively.



-Ryan

 

[Subby]

I agree with 6 2 Carl, Dodge always seems to be years behind the other two when it comes to cab configs, auto trannys, etc. I was always a Ford guy but in July of 01 I bought an 01. 5 LB HO 4X4 6speed extra cab. Great truck in every way but 1-the cab was just too small. The back seat space was much better for storing guns and gear but for people it was cruel. How long had Ford and Chevy offered Crew Cabs? Oh, that's right-a long damn time! A buddy of mine has an 84 Club Cab that is great for up to 6 people. Why didn't Dodge offer this again in 94 when they had to completely retool for the new body anyway? Why did it take Dodge so long to develop an auto that was half decent? From what I can tell, the 48RE seems to be doing pretty good and it only took them from 89 till now to do it. The problem is now the competition has moved on to 5 speeds(from reading on the DS, the Torqshift is actually a 6 speed but the computer never uses more than 5 depending on conditions-who knows if this is true?) and even 6 speeds. I drove an 03 2500 SB HO 4X4 6speed off the lot in August of 02 because the cab was alot better IMO and it has been a great truck. I have changed one ujoint on the rear driveline and at 58000 the drivers side ball joint/ujoint are slightly loose. This truck has pulled my trailers from 5k to 10k lbs all over Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho and spent alot of its life in 4wheel hunting and just plain digging for fun in the mud and snow. I don't plan on ever getting rid of this truck! If I were a auto guy I would have felt like from 89 to 04ish Dodge was basically telling me they didn't care if I bought one of their trucks or not. And now they have come out with a cab that while it's for sure the biggest of the three brands, the lack of a long bed option is starting to remind me of 94. Sometimes it seems there must still be enough diehard Mopar fans somewhere in the company to uphold the apparent Mopar motto-"If Ford and Chevy are doing that, then there is no way we are doing it!" Notice that first there was no extra cab or 4 door(89-92), then we got an extra cab(93-02) but no Crew Cab, then we get a Crew(03-05), sort of, but it's really not there with the other two in legroom. Now the MC comes out and it's way bigger than Ford and Chevy. My 03 will be paid off in three years and I will most likely buy an auto 4door LB 4X4. If I had to make the decision today I would most likely still buy the Dodge because over all I think it is still the best truck. The rumor on the DS is that Ford/International is working on a 6. 4L that Ford wants to restore confidence in their oil burners to make up for the 6. 0L(read some of the posts on the DS about the 6. 0L/Torqshift-yikes). The rumors here say 6. ?L Cummins and probably a LB MC. It may turn out to be a really tough decision. Dodge is so close to offering the whole package but sometimes I wonder if they will ever really get there.



Sorry for the long post-this has been building for many moons. I feel better now.



PS-It's funny how people on the Diesel Stop seem to respect the Cummins in our trucks, most that have driven one agree it's better than the 6. 0L-envy?