Why Does Everyone Dog Dodge!

[KBennett]

I'm a happy Dodge customer!

I used to be one of the ones that made fun of the Dodges until my dad bought a '97 CTD in '99 after test driving the 6. 2 Chevy and a 7. 3 Ford. He always made fun of anything that GM didn't make and I can't blame him because of their superior product in the 50's and 60's when he was growing up. That changed for all American made vehicles in the 70's and 80's when the American automakers were cranking out junk. We would make fun of foreign cars but eventually I bought a Nissan P/U and he bought a Suzuki Samauri before buying the Dodge in '97 to tow a trailer. The Suzuki changed his mind about foreign cars. My Nissan turned out to be the best vehicle I ever owned and I purchased a Pathfinder and a Tacoma after that but when it came time to pull a trailer I went to my first Dodge. The point of my long reply is that we all are prejudice against one maker or another. Some of us have been burned by these companies. I owned a '85 Grand Am that was a piece of junk but the '92 Saturn I replaced it with was a good vehicle. My garage currently has a '04 Dodge Ram CTD, '96 Pontiac Transport, '73 Firebird Formula, and a '68 GTO. I have not had the Dodge long enough to test the longevity but if it's anything like my Dad's it will run forever.

Consider me a convert and I will spread the good news about the Dodge Ram CTD

 

[Trizae]

My Grandfather started our dealership in 1950, My family has blend HEMI orange every since,,, through the 70's gas crisis,, through the K Cars and Caravans, and of course,, Through 21 years of what we now refer to as "ole square trucks" to what we now affectional refer to as "Damn Near Chrysler",,,, I am one of the few people,, "maybe not few in this group,,, but in the grand spectrum very few" people that display a pentastar just as proudly as i do the big blue C. I love the cummins engine,,,,,, if the cummins was only offered in a ford or chevy,,,, i'd be drving a supercharged 03 HEMI,,, Given Dodge is all i've every know, i've had plenty of friend with off brands,,,, but i've always had a Jeep that would go where they couldn't, a Ram that pull what they couldn't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and when the mustang and camaro boy's whould get roudy,,,, we'll there is a '94 Viper RT/10 and a 96 Viper GTS in our showroom,,,,,,, always avaible to provide all the attitude adjustment they can handle.



MOPAR of NO CAR,,,,,,,,,,,,,, bottom line

 

[Tony T.]

This is the first Dodge I have ever owned, and so far I am very happy with it. I admit that what sold me was the CTD, or other wise I would not have considered it, but I have not had any complaints with the Mopar aspect of it either. It's been a good one so far, time will tell. I do believe you can get a good one or bad one in any vehicle you choose. I've had good and bad Chevys and good and bad Ford's. The last Chevy Z71 I bought new it was in and out of the shop for warranty work several times for mostly small stuff nothing major until 27,000 miles when I had problems with the transmission. So far have 11,800 miles on the CTD and it's only been in one time for a pinion seal seepage "no big deal". I catch the kidding out at work about buying a Dodge. One of the guy's (Chevy person) I work with every day kids me the most saying Tony's lost his mine buying a Dodge, you just have to take them with a grain of salt, if they think there getting to you then they will just keep sticking it in deeper. Now that same guy would be cussing Chevy if he would have got a lemon. So I do believe that the CTD is the superior engine over the others, Cummins has proved it to me over the years. I do have several people come up to me asking me how I like the Cummins and Dodge truck considering one for themselves and I reply " no complaints". I believe a lot of them want one, but are afraid that they would be kidded about it. There good trucks in my opinion.

 

[CPG]

Come to think of it, when I'm pulling my 26' fiver in the mountains with my old "93" CTD, I do not have many other brand trucks this age passing me up hill pulling theirs. This must tell something alone.





Chuck Goode

 

[shendren]

bought my used 96 dodge ctd. first american produced vechicle. there is a huge difference in the quality in this vs my hondas/toyotas... ..... my truck is a cummins wrapped in a piece of crap... ..... i do like the engine though... i can't wait til nissan can ship me a big truck with a diesel.....

 

[KBennett]

That's not really fair compairing an 8 year old vehicle to a Toyota. I had a Toyota before this truck this 2004 and the quality is comparable. I think the 4X4 system on the Toyota was better but the fit and finish is about the same. But if Toyota made a strong diesel I would have bought it.

 

[yogibear]

I remember some time back someone making a post on here that if toys or pi$$on made a diesel, it might make a good vibrator.

 

[Badunit]

Dodge does seem to get the short end of the stick a lot. Even Consumer Reports, which should have an unbiased view, gives them a hard time. I used to believe their car/light truck reviews and ratings until I read their reviews of 1/2 ton pickups. The more car-like trucks got rave reviews and high ratings, the more truck-like trucks (Dodge) got poor reviews and poor ratings. Even when they have something nice to say about Dodge in their review, the "shaded circle" ratings for that particular category are poorer than the others even though the others got blasted in the reviews. I can understand their liking a truck to have car-like qualities, since car ratings are their specialty, but the rest of it leaves me shaking my head.



The 4x4 magazines also seem to be against Dodge. With rare exception Dodge comes in last in any head-to-head testing they do. They may mention Dodge's strengths in the text but it doesn't seem to transfer to their numerical ratings. I guess they know what side their bread is buttered on and don't want to bite the hand that feeds them (I hope you don't mind a mixed metaphor).



I don't get ragged very often personally but I sure read enough of it in the various pickup truck forums. I see it mostly from the Ford owners. They seem to be so enamored by Ford. In their opinion, Ford can do no wrong even when they have problem after problem after problem with their trucks (especially engine related). They seem to blindly believe that "most trucks sold" equals "best trucks on the market". From my experience, Ford may have a spiel that "Quality is Job #1" but they treat their customers like #2 (if you get my drift).



Whenever I do get ragged for owning a Dodge I just tell them it's the best truck I've ever owned and tell them why I picked it over Chevy and Ford and Toyota (all of which I looked at prior to buying). There usually isn't a come-back.

 

[shendren]

no, i was comparing all of my toyotas and hondas that are OLDER than my p. o. s. dodge... ... .



i have NOT had any of these problems with my toyotas or hondas. remember, i don't haul anything with my dodge. the dodge has less miles!!



steering stabilizer

intermediate steering shaft

electrical/tps

doors whistling

track bars

brakes pulling

od light won't come on

light switch getting hot



and the list goes on... ... ... ... ... .

 

[amsoilman]

shendren



If you're not happy with your Dodge, sounds like you better get back to a Toyota, and leave the POS Dodge!

 

[shendren]

i will as soon as i can get one with a diesel. like i said, maybe you missed it. i like my cummins. i am very dissapointed in the dodge quality and attention to detail.

 

[Joe G.]

I have had very good service from my '95 Dodge. The only thing I have had that is on shendren's list is a bad TPS. That was under warrantee. I still have the original rotors which are still smooth and within run out specs with my dial indicator. The truck stops quickly in a straight line. No suspension parts have been changed except shocks. The alignment is just fine. No pulling to one side or the other. Tire wear is good. No rattles. Body parts fit is excellent. Interior is still in great shape. Everything works fine except for the ABS/brake light.



There was a slight pull to the right. I changed to Michelin tires and the pull went away.



The only time the truck was in an alignment shop turned out to be a problem with a tire belt.



I have overhauled the trans. That was because of an error on my part attempting to install a shift kit.



Two right axle rear seals have failed.



I hit a deer which caused $1500 damage.



The right front axle U-joint get bad so I changed it.



I did the driver's seat fix. It didn't need it but I like the extra thickness of the seat.



I don't hear well so I have to rely on others to tell me about noise. There is no wind noise at all. If the engine is not working hard it is very quiet. The Cummins does bark when it's working, but when it's loafing along it's quieter than the 350 in my son-in-law's POS Yukon.



I have modified the truck for better performance and some other things.



Three sets of brake pads so far. Two sets of rear brake shoes. The original shoes were replaced under warrantee when the first axle seal failed.



All recalls have been done by the local Dodge dealer. Excellent work.



I do my own regular service and repair.



The only vehicle I have ever had that I liked better was a '53 Caddy convertable.



My truck has 228K miles on it.

 

[JTBMC]

I love my Dodge trucks, they are tough, solid & dependable vehicles. During the hunting seasons I gurantee I have pulled more Chevys & Fords out the woods, than Dodges, and there are a lot of Dodge trucks here in my part of Gods country. The Only negitive I have to say about my 99 is the lift pump issue.

I have a 1987 Dodge Ram Charger 4X4 W/ a 318 Auto and 3. 55 gears 100,000 miles and has never been in the shop for any problems period. Of course I've done brake & front wheel bearings & basic tune ups but that was just preventative mantiance.

My 99 Dodge Cummins 4X4 W/ 150,000 plus miles has recieved many personalized upgrades at my choice that my Ram Charger never got but

TJ

 

[dahowerig]

here is the secret and a little known fact about chevy owners. when you purchase a chevy, you get a free chevy tattoo. they have an artist right there on site. its sad, but true. thats why they get all bitter that they have that on them for life and that they would feel terrible driving around a dodge with a bowtie tattooed on their a==. there u have it. i spoiled their fun.

 

[Tony T.]

Each year there are cost cuts on any of the auto/truck makers,usually small stuff that adds up to millions of dollars. I compared some interior stuff of my 03 Dodge to my 2000 Chevy and some stuff I kinda miss that I had on the Chevy compared to what I have on the Dodge now and some stuff on my Dodge I have now that the Chevy did'nt come with. Although I did'nt buy the top of the line Dodge truck with all the bell's & whistles. Did'nt really need them. I do feel the quality is still comparable though.

 

[College Cummins]

Your Dodge is a heavy duty vehicle that was not really made with fit and finish in mind. This is not a utilitarian vehicle, it is a work horse, plain and simple. If you want the ride of an import, by all means, go buy an import. Dodge had a saying back in the day, that they were work trucks, and I belive that that holds true to today. An import diesel, I don't think so. I wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole. Yes, the D-max is maybe an exception, but I am not, nor will I ever purchase one of those. If you want an import go buy a Shivvy. James

 

[WadePatton]

apples and oranges

Not fair comparing a domestic to a true import from developed nations. They're just built better. When they build the "imports" here the quality goes down some.



And a few of each make/model/style are going to be worse than the general lot.



Mine is a DANDY. Even the puller, which has had a rough life is a fine automobile. I'm keeping an eye out for a third one... 2G's FOREVER!!!



FOLKS DOG DODGE, usually because they're driving something else. It's like rooting for the home team--you take a general dislike for the "opposition". And fear of the unknown--what? different? must be bad.



As I have said many times, Cummins brought me to Dodge, and I'm quite pleased with the Dodge part.

 

[JoshPeters]

Re: apples and oranges

I agree fully Wade. I work on Mercedes-Benz. The ML is built right here in the US. The quality is terrible. People claim it was just poorly designed. I don't agree. They take that same ML, build it in Germany, Modify the engine and we see vertually no problems. Quality control..... It's a great thing!



Josh

Originally posted by WadePatton

Not fair comparing a domestic to a true import from developed nations. They're just built better. When they build the "imports" here the quality goes down some.



And a few of each make/model/style are going to be worse than the general lot.



Mine is a DANDY. Even the puller, which has had a rough life is a fine automobile. I'm keeping an eye out for a third one... 2G's FOREVER!!!



FOLKS DOG DODGE, usually because they're driving something else. It's like rooting for the home team--you take a general dislike for the "opposition". And fear of the unknown--what? different? must be bad.



As I have said many times, Cummins brought me to Dodge, and I'm quite pleased with the Dodge part.

 

[shendren]

then why can't we make 'em like they do?... ... . (don't need to answer that)... ... . i own both import and the dodge. the hondas are driven harder, longer, and hold up better. so why did the camry become the best selling car in the us? cause it's made better than the taurus... ... ... .

 

[dpuckett]

I, too, have taken quite a lot of ribbing, inpart because I refuse to drive anything with less than 150K miles; just cant seem to afford anythign with fewer miles; partly because i like the inline 6. MOst who dog the Dodge/ CTD either (A) dont like the noise, (B) believe that 8 cylinders MUST be better than 6, or (C) have never driven one. After I get intercooled, I'll run against any local V8, gas or diesel, with 15K behind each of them. . 83 mph empty 1/4, 53mph pulling a 40ft G-N flatbed. Try that with a 350 or 454!!! ANd still get in the mid teens for mpgs towing, low 20s empty.



Daniel

PS- I'd rather have this I-6 than ANY V8; this is the best pickup engine in history, bar none!!