RE: Review old vs. new
OFF TOPIC ALERT!
...I'm considering an F250 with 5.4L and 3.73 for my next truck. 2700pm on the flats and 4200rpm on the uphills...not a problem.:B
OK Steve, buy a Ford - great trucks. Get 3.73s, good choice. But the 5.4L :E ????? Are you crazy ???? :S That thing will be sluggish empty!
I drive an 05 Expedition with the 3V 5.4L (Police Pkg) and 3.55s (no 6 speed auto mind you), and it's a dog. It gets left in the dust by our V6 Chargers and V6 Impala. The Crown Vics leave it in the dust too.
At least get the V10 buddy! I think the 5.4L will be a mistake. What's the reasoning?
I have shared the same concerns with him as well. If he just has to buy a Ford, he should at least get the v10. The 5.4L in a big heavy F250 is going to be a disappointment IMO.
RE: Invited for a Dodge Ride and Drive on Sunday
Interesting write up.
Having a truck that wouldn't start as part of a ride and drive program is absolutely ridiculous. You were very fair in your write up, but that shows a lack of preparation on the dealer's part. Not a good way to advertise your product. :S
SurveyorJP...this wasn't the actual "ride and drive" rather it was the the "invite only" exclusive event. Friend of a friend kind of thing. The Ride and drive for the Dealers isn't until next weekend. I should have taken a photo of the trucks that were set aside for this. Bascially, they were behind the dealership in the prep lot, not where customers go.
I suspect that someone before us left something on inside the truck b/c you could hear the truck warming something up to start but not even a click when you turned the key. Honestly, I didn't see it as a big deal but i was a tad disappointed b/c that was the only crew cab short bed they had and i wanted to drive that truck.
I see. Still, not a good way to advertise your product. I sure hope they have all trucks properly checked out before next weekend.
Still waiting for my local dealer to get any of them in so I can check them out.
I firmly believe, last months Ram sales numbers dipped substantially due to lack of 2010 HD Rams available at the dealers nationwide. I have read where some dealers have waiting lists of folks ready to buy, if they would just get the trucks delivered!
RE: Invited for a Dodge Ride and Drive on Sunday
Interesting write up.
Having a truck that wouldn't start as part of a ride and drive program is absolutely ridiculous. You were very fair in your write up, but that shows a lack of preparation on the dealer's part. Not a good way to advertise your product. :S
And Hannibal, the Challenger is built by Canadian labor, not Mexican.
Wow, $50,000 for a new diesel pickup?!! I guess I'll never get to own another new one. I couldn't afford the one I bought in the fall of 02 for $32,000 (after EP and other discounts). That one has been a good one too. I just looked in it today, over 100,000 miles on the odometer and the Cummins and 47RE have been flawless. Only thing my buddy had to do is the front ball joints at 95,000 miles.
I'll get me a 2010 Ram HD, in about 2020 I guess! :B
RE: New Ford or New Chevy
Not being a diesel expert and thinking I wanted one I started asking questions about three months before I intended to purchase. I discounted Dodge because of conversations with Diesel technicians and the heavy black smoke. I drove the Ford F250 Power Stroke and the GMC & Chevy 25ooHD Duramax/Allison. I liked the GM product better and the Chevy dealer made me the best deal so I now have a Chevy. They are all probably good but I preferred the GM D/A. Don’t let your political emotions get in the way of a good decision.
Yep, I agree you are no diesel expert. Nor am I, though.
However, I question the expertise of those Diesel mechanics you had conversations with. Anybody who knows anything about diesel engines knows that Cummins makes likely the best put in a pickup.
Black smoke? :h
They only do that if the owner hot rods them with aftermarket stuff.
RE: Powerstroke
Since Fords will be utilizing the Cummins turbodiesel engine in a couple years......it's all going to be a moot point.
Not going to happen. Ford has developed it's own motor 6.7L
Skid Row is bored. He is just trying to create controversy where there is none with outrageous false claims. Ignore him.
RE: Dodge Boys....
gcloss, you need to have a competent dealer or mechanic check out that car. The only recent Dodge vehicle that has a history of brakes wearing quickly that I know of are some of the early Charger police cars. And those wore quickly because Dodge wanted maximum stopping power and used softer brake pads. They have since went to a different pad material that lasts longer.
Your car has some type of problem unique to your individual vehicle, not the Sebring line. 3 sets of brakes in 18,000 is unheard of. Get somebody to look at it who knows what they are doing.
RE: New Ford or New Chevy
I say drive all 3...Chevy, Ford and the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino-formerly Dodge...pick the one you like.
Chevy? Oh yeah, you mean the truck built by OGM.
Obama Government Motors.
If you are going to be a sarcastic fella, at least be consistent.
Fiat isn't even a majority owner of Dodge/Ram, but they are running the joint.
GM IS majority owned by the gov't, so OGM it is.
Now then back to topic of the OP, like others have said drive all 3. I notice you have already discounted Ram, but you might want to rethink that. The 2010 Ram heavy duties are very nice!! Then again, so is your 06!! I would keep what you got if I were in your shoes.
RE: New Mahindra Pickup truck poor crash test scores...
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 received the 5 star crash rating from the NHTSA.
http://reedbrothersdodge.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/2009-dodge-ram-1500-nhtsa-crash-test/
RE: still broke down
Seems the 6.4 is following proudly in the footsteps of the 6.0 PSD! :(
What road is that?? The most popular diesel engine??
The bright-yellow citrus fruit under the hood, of course!
Gotta say, that was kind of funny.
RR, I've been reading some of your recent posts, and I gotta say, you've been taking some of this 6.0L PSD bashing rather well. Must be the Christmas spirit in you!!
:W
And likewise, I hope you will note I have been doing my best to stay out of it! :B
I have noticed you are keeping a modest profile rather than jumping in every thread....I am kind of in the middle of kicking a 19 year dipping habit right now so the little things kind of set me off.
6.0 bashing...bahhumbug.
Good luck with the battle! Stay strong and fight the temptations!!
:)
RE: still broke down
Seems the 6.4 is following proudly in the footsteps of the 6.0 PSD! :(
What road is that?? The most popular diesel engine??
The bright-yellow citrus fruit under the hood, of course!
Gotta say, that was kind of funny.
RR, I've been reading some of your recent posts, and I gotta say, you've been taking some of this 6.0L PSD bashing rather well. Must be the Christmas spirit in you!!
:W
And likewise, I hope you will note I have been doing my best to stay out of it! :B
To the OP, keep your chin up and keep us posted on the progress of your repairs. If done correctly, I'm quite sure your truck will be better than before, maybe better than it was new. I know dumping it sounds tempting, and Dodge or GM could certainly use the sales, but you will likely take a bath in lost depreciation. Good luck and keep us posted!
RE: Inexperience, 4WD, driving + icy roads
Without out a doubt, 4x4 is superior to 2 wheel drive in low traction situations.
However, not all owners/operators of 4x4 vehicles are superior drivers than drivers of 2wd vehicles.
Folk with poor driving habits are not limited to any geographic region, and are not limited to 4x4 or 2wd.
RE: f450 cruise recall, fluids bad
Personally, I would have another dealer examine your truck. The dealer you describe doesn't sound trustworthy to me. Always two sides to the story though.
RE: Dodge Boys....
CR isn't the only reviewing agency give Chrysler less than stellar ratings on initial and over all quality folks. IIRC JD Power also was less than beaming in areas. I know it is easy to pile on CR and rightly so, but in this case it is supported by other agencies. I am sure Surveyor will be along shortly with links to Allpar to show Chrysler's quality tops all though. :)
Actually, I have some links that show JD Powers actually awarding Chrysler for quality, including giving the 2006 Chrysler/Dodge minivans an award for most reliable minivan over 3 years. I'll be glad to post them, and other factual posts about actual quality, not that it will curtail your negativity towards Chrysler any.
And I never said Chrysler quality tops all, far from it. I have however stated that quality is improving and has steadily been improving since the Daimler era ended. It will still take a few years for that to become fully evident though as these vehicles are still outnumbered by the lesser quality models built during the Daimler era. And most quality issues are interior related (and rightly so), not mechanical.
RE: Dodge Boys....
It might be just ME, but the flameing of Chrysler/Dodge in this post mostly comes from ones that own a vehicle made by a foreign owned company.Chrysler is now foreign owned :)
No it isn't. It is ran by Fiat, but not majority owned by them, yet.
RE: running furnace while traveling
Someone please enlighten me, why would someone use four times as much propane while moving than while sitting still?
The only reason I can see, is the fact that you are hitting your RV with a 60 mph constant wind. The way some are poorly insulated, this can translate into more propane usage to keep the inside warm due to losing heat thru the cracks.
I actually did one time stop about 20 miles prior to my destination to turn on the furnace. It was cold out, and when we arrived the interior was nice and warm. It was nice!
RE: MAX TRAILER WEIGHT TO PULL WITH A DODGE 2500
Door tags are a fed requirement for a reason. Makes it simple for weights enforcement for all the differnt vehicles on the road.
I've also been a owner and operator "legally" combined commercially at 26k to 32k+ with LTL trucks and equipment trailers. My first new interent audit was over 30 years ago.
Most Rvers have a problem of understanding how or even if GVWR is used and how GAWR come to play for carrying payloads, especialy a GN or 5th wheel that sets over the trucks rear axle.
Found this on a tractor (ag tractors) forum when a poster wanted to know what CHIP or CA DOT enforced for his 3500 DRW pulling his tractor on a GN trailer. The answer from CHIP was:
" 3. Q - Can I declare an operating weight higher than my vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)?
A- Yes, but only if you are declaring the weight of your vehicle in combination with a towed vehicle and its load (the Combined Gross Weight). NOTE: A declared Combined Gross Weight does not authorize a truck without another vehicle in tow to exceed the truck's authorized axle weight limits."
According to CA poster CHIP says the authorized axle weight limits comes from the door tag.
So what you are saying is, that a truck can legally haul more than its GVWR as long as its GAWR are not exceeded, correct?
And, the GAWR numbers are indeed a legal limit, correct? And if so, is this a Federal limit or state by state?
I was referring to the GVWR on the sticker having no legal ramifications in my earlier post. The GAWR are a different matter.
RE: Mexican plant set to build Ford's new diesel engine
My next truck will more than likely be a 5.4L F250. Built in Kentucky by Americans working under a reasonable contract between UAW and Ford making a decent wage. I've been disheartened for a while now about Dodge moving their manufacturing facilities to Mexico. Good neighbors but we need to keep our wages at home.
You'd be afraid to eat if you knew just how many additives in our food comes from China.
You should really consider the v10. The 5.4 is going to disappoint you in the big heavy F250 I'm afraid.
And I share your resentment about Dodge/Ram and their current manufacturing locations. Two large empty shells now exist where once a pair of bustling factories thrived just to my North in Fenton Missouri. Those plants had been running for decades, now shuttered. They built the Ram 1500 (even some of the 09 versions) and the Dodge/Chrysler minivans.
There are two reasons, however, that I will continue to support Dodge/Ram/Chrysler/Jeep in the future. Reason number one, I still have close family and friends that need Chrysler to do well so that their retirement benefits continue. And by the way, those benefits have been whittled away considerably recently. Reason number 2, the Dodge/Chrysler vehicles have treated me so well with dependable, reliable service that I have no reason to switch. If that starts to change in the future, I will indeed jump ship.
I do think that some Ram 1500s are still built up in Warren Michigan. That's where my old Ram was born! :W
