Hey guys...

My name is Erick, and I just joined. I have wanted a diesel for so long, and was a loyal Ford guy, until I did some research and found out about all the problems the 6.0 is having. I don't want any part of that.

A dealer here has a 2005 Ram 2500 Quad Cab diesel w/Laramie package that has every imagineable option you could ever want in a truck. The truck only has 4,000 miles on it. The asking price is $25,995. What do you think of this price? If there is anyone reading this thread that is from the Chicago Burbs and wouldn't mind checking this truck out with me, please let me know! How low do you guys think the dealer will go with a 2003 Corolla LE w/68,000 miles on it? Also, I got rear-ended in November, just got it fixed and got smacked again two days ago right after I got the car repaired. This guy has no Drivers license, and no insurance.

OK, back to the topic at hand here. Does this price seem a bit low to anyone? They gave me a carfax report, and everything "seems" normal. Overall, what types of experiences have you had with your trucks? What do you like/hate? Do you consider your trucks reliable? Do dodge diesels have glowplugs? Would you go back and buy another Ram?

Also, what type of fuel mileage can I expect with this truck? I've heard 15-22mpg. With the rising cost of fuel, its definitley a concern that's on my mind. If I use it as my primary vehicle, driving it around town primarily, (I know that's a bad thing to do with a diesel, but they are so cool!), what can I expect to spend in fuel each week? Would $50/week be too high or too low? This will be my first truck I've ever owned, so naturally that question does come to mind.

I took an 06 for a test drive before I stumbled on this one. I love the roughness of the ride, but when you hit a bump or a pothole, I kinda lost control of the truck. What are your opinions on stability/handling? I must admit that I do like the ride, but that concerns me a tad. Also read in Consumer Reports that 60-0 braking wasn't all that hot, but it got a "good" rating. Your thoughts?

Also, just found out yesterday that they were changing the commission structure at work, and cutting out overtime. That means I take a 20% paycut, which means I might not be able to buy this truck after all. I have to figure in my "new" take home pay, plus all the maintenance costs of the truck, namely fuel. By the way, how much are oil changes for this beast?

Also, I want to mention that though I know diesels are built for rough hauling, highway driving, I hardly do any of that. To be quite honest, I love the sound of the engine, the engine vibrations as you drive/idle at a light, the smoke and the smell. I might be weird, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. Also, I've found that you can chip the engines to get a little extra "umph" out of them, that you can't really do with a gas engine. Not that I will, but knowing its possible is a plus.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Have a fantastic day with your toys....

Erick

 

well for the $ a week on fuel we need to know your total miles driven curently in aweek, then tack on 15 % because you are going to just drive more, trust me. ( cool factor) 50 sounds low for a week, I am closer to 65/ 70 a week. price sounds real good, it is getting close to the end of the month and they always want to sell more vehicles to make their #s look better so you might be able to haggle him a bit, I wouldn't try too much that is a pretty good deal, I missed if it is an auto on a stick??? stick could be a little cheaper but also changes above about fuel, sticks use less...... welcome to the site and I am sure more will chime in about the truck, nice find.

 

Mikmaze:

I would say I drive right now, roughly 150 miles/week. Mainly just to/from work, with some playtime on my day(s) off.

Its an automatic. Tried a stick, and we just don't get along. GDamn clutch!

I just hope I can swing it with the paycut we all recently got....

Thanks for the reply!

Erick

 

I am in the Chicago 'burbs but I am not a diesel expert. Sounds like a decent price though.

 

I can answer a few of your questions-

1. The price seems very good for a loaded Laramie

2. No glow plugs. CTD uses a manifold heater

3. Oil Changes - do it yourself ~$32. Have it done elsewhere, usually $50-90 depending on who does it. My dealer offered me 20 oil changes for $400 when I bought my truck, but I just like doing them myself. Ask your dealer about this, if your not into oil changes.

4. Handling - Its a heavy duty truck. The CTD handles great for what it is. You will get some kick out on rough turns etc, but you learn to expect it. I have driven a 2000 Ford Superduty and 2 3rd gen Dodges, and the Dodge is a much better ride.

5. If you drive 150 city miles a week, expect to use 10-15 gallons a week fuel, which is currently below your estimate of $50 a week. You should figure that you are going to get 12-13mpg in city and 15-16mpg's at 70-75mph highway. If you get better than that, great. If not you won't be disappointed.

6. Braking - It's just a matter of opinion, but the Dodge has huge 4 wheel discs and does a great job of stoppinga big truck. I have never felt out of control in panic braking situations. The only thing funky is that the ABS will kick in sometimes at rough stops, but I have had this happen on almost all vehicles i have owned with ABS.


Hope that all helps.

 

Hey guys:

How are some people able to get 22 mpg on their diesels? That's what attracted me to them in the first place (besides a few other things).

I had a Chevy Colorado that I rented for 2 weeks, and spent about $70, so it gave me a rough idea what to expect with a diesel. But, it would be nice to up it a bit with gas prices these days....

Erick

 

Hey guys:

I truly appreciate all your replies!

Another question popped into my mind. Last summer all of you I'm sure will recall when diesel fuel hit almost $4/gallon. Right now in the Chicago burbs, I've seen it average about $2.69/gallon.

Do you think relief is in sight, or will the prices soar again once summer hits?

Thanks,

Erick

 

Erick, sounds like a good price, but please make sure you can afford it first!!, as it sounds like you don't actually need it as much as just WANT IT, don't get me wrong, any time i can get someone out of a ricer & in a CTD I'm all for it. as far as dependability & repeat buyer, I'm very happy & would never consider anything but a CTD pickup (I've been around trucks all my life & NOBODY builds better engines than Cummins) as for glowplugs, no, these new CTD's use intake grid heaters (they heat the air in the intake, before the cyl.) & work great, I've been down to 0F & fires right up without being plugged in. You shoud average 14-17mpg in town & 17-19mpg highway (if you keep it below 70-75mph) If you're looking for something that drives like you little car, this is not it. yes they do tend to stutter & hop over potholes & bumps, just the nature of the beast, but can be calmed somewhat with GOOD aftermarket shocks. they stop very good for a 7000# truck. Oil changes are considerably more than your car (it holds 3 gallon compared to your 3-5 quarts), but that is offset by the interval (7500mi. interval as compared to your 3000mi.) You say that you do hardly any towing or hauling, so to be honest, you might want to change your mind about this truck, just think it over first. also if you buy it, you WILL start towing something, no question about it, you'll buy a trailer to haul cars, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, or something. just won't be able to stand wasting all that torque. good luck.

 

I agree with all the previous posts. This is my 2nd Cummins (92 was first, owned 8 years, put over 100k in miles, RAN great). I wouldn't own any other type of diesel.
As for mileage, Winter time it goes down a little as some places blend their fuel so it will not gel up (colder climates). I don't think the price will sky rocket like it did but that was mostly because of the hurricane season, I think. I am getting about 18 - 21 right now depending upon how my right foot feels at the time (biggest factor in mileage most of the time). Was getting about 20 - 24 during summer months. They get a little better with the more miles put on them (once broken in, currently have 26k). There are also some mods that you can do to help in getting better mileage. They work for some and others report that they don't work for them, go figure. Once over 70 mph, mpg will drop some from what I have noticed.

I have never really towed anything with the truck. It is just a daily driver that I use both highway and city roads. And they are CORRECT, you will start driving it more as $$ permits because they are such a great rig to drive. My wife's forrester gets 30 mpg but I would rather drive my 7000 pound truck getting 20 mpg any day. I do pay more for $$ but so much better, at least I think.

Hope this helps. I would get it.

 

Where is this truck? I'm in the burbs. I bought mine because I wanted it. It stops great, and gets good milleage if kept under 1800 while accelerating, and under 70 on the highway. Under 65, and it gets great milleage. At 55mph, mine gets 22-23.

If it's close to me or my travels, I can look at it.

 

Hi Erick,

From your posts it sounds to me like you really want a diesel vehicle, but are not sure if you need or can afford a full-sized Cummins Ram. Perhaps you might consider getting an older Ram (mid-90's 12 valve?) and trying it on for size. The price would be more in line with your new pay rate, and they hold their value really well.

The other thing to consider would be getting a diesel Jeep Liberty. That might be more practical for your needs, and they do get around 26mpg on the highway. You would still get that cool diesel smell and sound, without having more truck than you need.

Just a thought!

- Mike

 

These trucks have a personality!!! It's kind of like having a Harley-Davison.

That is why many of us were dissappointed when they quieted the engines down. Can you imagine a Harley with quiet mufflers? It looses its personality. Lots of money spent in making them audible, again.

So many vehicles, today, are bland. They are just transportation units.

Joe F.(Buffalo)

 

Welcome to the forum. I love my truck, and the price seems about right if it is a 4wd, but a bit high for 2wd. You will get better mileage with a 2wd truck, but you may need to evaluate your driving conditions. In Wyoming, I am off road often summer through fall, and need the 4wd often in winter driving conditions. You will find a 2wd is surprisingly helpless in ice or snow and will need a considerable amount of weight on the bed to get traction.

I get great fuel economy with mine, just completing a 2500 mile road trip and averaged 20.4 in with a variety of driving conditions. However, I drive for mileage--no fast starts and I keep my rpm's 2000 or less. Having said that, I believe I may be one of the luck ones for mileage. Others report lower mpg's and similar driving habits.

I drive a truck solely for utility and safety of a large vehicle. Cool for me is a 58 corvette, which I covet, but will probably never own.

Good luck!

 

Hey guys:

Well, there's no deal after all! The price marked in big yellow numbers on the windshield clearly displayed $25,995 for a Diesel Laramie 4X4 with every option imagineable. Yeah, it was a steal. I went to the dealer tonight to do all the paperwork, and they came back with $38,995. The sales guy even told me that $25,995, which it was originally priced at, was a great deal for a diesel. I'm so ******! I wanted that truck! Finally, I thought I'd have the truck of my dreams! They had the nerve to call me a liar, and laughed at me when I told them I wanted to be around $300/month. At the price that was marked on the windshield, I could've easily been at that target monthly payment! I'm so ******! Oh well.

Guys, thanks for all your help. It was awesome to have such friendly advice from all of you. New Dodge Ram 2500 diesels are expensive...$40,000 without power windows or cruise control? No thanks. $46,000 with everything. Clear marketing strategy, I think. So, should I call the dealer back and tell them if they are willing to come down on the price of the truck (a lot), that I would be open to any offers, or should I just forget it?

Erick

 

I would have absolutely nothing more to do with that dealer, there are plenty of others who would love to have your buisness. don't deal with liars. be patient & you will find another. happy hunting