Why does Dodge have such a bad rep?

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Dodge Rams are built in Mexico. Fords and GM's are built by disgruntled Union workers. When Toyota and Nissan and maybe Honda wake up and start producing large pick ups with strong diesel engines they could put Dodge, Ford and GM out of business. GM is headed for Bankruptcy with Ford not far behind according to the Wall Street types. Until then we have our choice of Junk, Junk or Junk.

 

[LWDUPPONG]

I've been a Dodge fan for a long time. I own a 75 2wd s-box and 2 Ramchargers in addition to my 03 Ram CTD. I do a lot of traveling for work and see certain areas of NoDak that are definitely GM, others that are Ford and others that are Dodge. I see a lot more older Dodges on the road than the others. Not saying they are less of a truck but if you go to a salvage yard you won't find as many older Dodges as you do Ford or GM from my experience. When you do the majority of the Dodges have given every ounce of life they have to give and you won't find many usable parts on them other than drive-train parts. I've seen more 70's and 80's Dodges dragging stock trailers around than the same era GMs or Fords.

 

[Grizzly]

The only complaint i have i forgot to mention is that the bed is too easy to ding up. Sheetmetal is very thin and dont ever strap anything to the top rails of the bed. You will be left with a washboard.

Furd. Chevy and Toyota use the same gauge sheet metal as Dodge.

 

[AKaiser]

They took the mediocre GM Allison design and improved it! It's called reverse engineering!

No, it's called industrial espionage. #@$%! (that's French for "spying. ") In my world, that's crooked.

 

[BHolm]

No, it's called industrial espionage. #@$%! (that's French for "spying. ") In my world, that's crooked.

Car companies do this sort of thing all the time. GM finally got the ride and handling of its small cars right by reverse engineering the suspension bushings on a VW Jetta



Besides, that isn't very efficient espionage if it took 7 years to copy a transmission that came out in 2001

 

[AKaiser]

Car companies do this sort of thing all the time. GM finally got the ride and handling of its small cars right by reverse engineering the suspension bushings on a VW Jetta



Besides, that isn't very efficient espionage if it took 7 years to copy a transmission that came out in 2001

Are you sure the AS68RC is that new? Besides, it would help to have a market, which the Chassis and Cab models gave it, at least in the US. Most countries outside the US use manual trannies on everything. My little Ford Ranger (more like "beater") here at "work" in Iraq has a 2. 9 L diesel (atmospheric pressure, unfortunately) and a 5sp manual.

 

[hwebster]

Why Dodge?

When I considered my first truck I looked around at what was on the road, what was in the show room and what the consumer reports said. Then I looked at who was driving what. If you want to see someone who is hard on a truck, look at the pro rodeo circuit.



Those guys put on more miles in a season than most people do in a year. In '93 the truck of choice was the CTD. I bought my '93 sight unseen, last one available and never looked back.



Now I'm driving an '08 6. 7. I never even considered Ford (over my dead body) or GM Comfortable but can't stand the diesel... I'd decided to go bigger and take care of the girl. '93 went for 400,000+ until Jr. totaled it.



So I am sorry to say that I bought the truck on pure emotion. Frankly Chrysler can go to &%$(% :-laf but you gotta love that Cummins... Cheers

 

[Grizzly]

When I considered my first truck I looked around at what was on the road, what was in the show room and what the consumer reports said. Then I looked at who was driving what. If you want to see someone who is hard on a truck, look at the pro rodeo circuit.



Those guys put on more miles in a season than most people do in a year. In '93 the truck of choice was the CTD. I bought my '93 sight unseen, last one available and never looked back.



Now I'm driving an '08 6. 7. I never even considered Ford (over my dead body) or GM Comfortable but can't stand the diesel... I'd decided to go bigger and take care of the girl. '93 went for 400,000+ until Jr. totaled it.



So I am sorry to say that I bought the truck on pure emotion. Frankly Chrysler can go to &%$(% :-laf but you gotta love that Cummins... Cheers

I agree with you on the Cummins, it may be the best engine ever made, but Dodge is also a very good truck. In the 10 years and the many miles I had my 95 Dodge/Cummins it was never in the shop except for one wheel alignment and recalls. So far my 05 has never been in the shop, except for free oil changes under the dealer's 7 year agreement. I don't believe anyone can say that about Furd and Chevy.

 

[hwebster]

Well my '93 RIP:{ was a good old sort of a truck, not as comfortable as a GM/Ford but had miles of power and not a lot of trouble. The trouble I have with Chrysler and Specifically CRYsler Canada is that they refuse to honor the warranty on my US bought truck. . Theres the Bad Rep. . Gangsters use the same tactics Buy from US or Else. .



Hey Chrysler Canada... Wake the *^%&* Up. I'll spend my HARD EARNED cash where the BLEEP I choose. You can't compete, Shut Down... . At least deal with your customers and get rid of that Firewall you call a Customer Service Line...

 

[ScottLauer]

Part of the reason Ford sells the most is fleet sales. You can also get the Ford chassis in many more configurations than anybody else, including really, really stripped down which keeps cost low for fleet buyers. Unless the quality is truely deplorable, they buy the cheapest.

Thats no joke. My work truck is an 07 F-150 ext(whatever the base model is now) cab Shortbox with a 4. 6 and manual windows and locks. The radio is only a radio:{ . I was actually impressed when I saw that I got air conditioning and an automatic! Thats one luxury I could have done without but you probably can't get a 4. 6 with a manual. Oh and the cheapest most Pain-in-the-butt toolboxes Rawson-Koenig ever cobbled together and had the nerve to call decent toolboxes!

 

[SSell]

My last 3 vehicles: 95 Dodge 1/2 ton

96 Dodge 3/4 ton CTD 4x4

05 Dodge 1ton CTD 4x4.

Still owe $12K on the 05, it has had 3x the repairs & problems than the other 2 did (combined) & I've only put 30,000 miles on it. If our camper didnt require it, I'd be looking at the toyos or ferds about now.....

 

[courierdog]

Here is Alberta, the company trucks are mostly Fords with a few Chevs while the vast majority of the Owner/Operator trucks are Dodge/Cummins. It sort of says it all, when it is company politics the safe decision is Ford, BUT IF it is your own money on the line then you will buy the Dodge/Cummins. Nuff Said!!

 

[AABEN]

I have never had any problem with dodge dealers are any car or truck !! I had one new 1977 ford f150 got sick of it in 32000 was glad to unload it!!!

 

[PKnight]

Any where you go most of the owner/operator trucks are Dodges. Fleet pricing is not common for Dodges, therefore Fords can be bought at lower prices. With the reputation thing, it is the envious Ford guys that are critical of Dodge. They feel a need to defend their Fords by criticizing Dodge, making them feel better about their poor decision making.

 

[JDiepstra]

Dodge Rams are built in Mexico. Fords and GM's are built by disgruntled Union workers. When Toyota and Nissan and maybe Honda wake up and start producing large pick ups with strong diesel engines they could put Dodge, Ford and GM out of business. GM is headed for Bankruptcy with Ford not far behind according to the Wall Street types. Until then we have our choice of Junk, Junk or Junk.

I am pretty sure they have already been through bankrupcy. That is how they have been able to do so much restructuring. And these idiots still can't make it work. Somebody confirm or refute?

 

[rbattelle]

I am pretty sure they have already been through bankrupcy. That is how they have been able to do so much restructuring. And these idiots still can't make it work. Somebody confirm or refute?

GM, as a corporate entity, has never gone bankrupt. However, many of their suppliers have, generally as a result of bad practices by GM.



They have come very close to bankruptcy twice (at least).



Ryan

 

[MisterScott]

I have owned Ford's and Chevy's. Chevy's squeek and rattle after 12 months. Their half tons, especially, are truck-light's. I had a Ford F-250 crew (2000) cab v-10 and it was a good truck, though the brakes sucked and it had a lot of rust. I also owned a F-150, Silverado (1998), Cheyenne (1996), Avalanche (2004) and now a 2007. 5 Dodge. The Dodge is the best truck I have ever owned so far... . The interiors are not as nice and Ford and Chevy but they do everything I need. I do not have a squeek to speak of after 12 months of ownership. I have had the teething problems that many have experienced with 07. 5's. I wish the AC was much stronger, I wish the mileage was better and I wish the bed was stronger (especially the upper rails). Other than that, no real complaints.

 

[hwebster]

Dodge's Rep

Well Guys, overall I have to admit it is the best truck going. The issue is still the fact that Chrysler (and most other multinationals) have other priorities and have forgotten that their existence is CUSTOMER based.



I cornered the Cummins team at the Farm Progress Show yesterday and asked them about the mileage and other BS. Their answer was that they have NOTHING to do with the unit after it's built. They can't even scope the engine! In the past I went to Cummins if I had a specific concern about the engine. Now it's all the Dodge Dealership...



I don't know about you, but when someone takes my choices away - I - A) Don't trust em, and B)Will find another way.

 

[EBung]

I dont think Dodge has a bad rep at all. You just alot of times find "bandwagon" type people that dont know why but have to hate something so 90% of those people will pick Dodge to hate because it is the underdog. I for one almost always take the the underdog in this case underdog meaning smallest of the big 3. I've also found that most Dale jr fans hate Dodges.

 

[MA2LA]

I've also found that most Dale jr fans hate Dodges.

Well I'm deffinaly not a normal guy so I guess i'm in the minority and not part of the JR fans who hate everything but chevy and JR