One day I was followed home by a guy who just purchased a new '04 Dodge 2500 auto short bed. He was happy of his new truck and wanted to know if mine was lifted. I told him no and we talked a little about how good the Cummins is and he told me how hes going to get a new exhaust. Well a few months or so go by, and since I pass his home everyday, I just happened to notice the Dodge was gone and in its place was a brand new GMC, of course with the Duramax. So I just got the chance to stop by and ask whats up. You can only guess what he told me. He was very unhappy of the LACK of power and there was a very bad vibration that couldnt be resolved. Actually I found it funny that I knew every reason for his problems. I guess this site is good for something. He said it was low on power and had a friend with another Cummins drive it to compare. After that he got an Edge chip. Said it woke up a lot but still was not fast by any means. He previously had a Powerstroke and said it had goobs of power but the tranny was becoming a problem so he got the Dodge. Said the Dodge was no comparison while towing on hills either. The Powerstroke was way better. Then his milage dropped from 19 or so to 15 or so for no reason. 10 while towing. He also broke the seat right after getting it but the dealer fixed that. His other big problem was the vibration. I filled him in on the notorious driveline vibration issue since '02. He said he had it to the dealer numerous times for the vibration but the dealer finally concluded that it was all in his head. He even took the mechanic out for a drive and said cant you feel the dash vibrating or you butt vibrating and he said NO! Also said it was slow and stunk of oil after the oil change. Dealer said his Ford would do that, too. He said no it didnt and they argued. Then I told him about the oil smell issue, too. After all his complaints and returned visits to service the dealer could or would not help him resolve anything but the seat. I know where he bought it and that dealer, to say the least, SUCKS. They are no good! I refused to go or buy from there ever. I will drive an hour out of my way to the other dealer to get anything. So he told the dealer if they couldnt make it right he was going to get rid of it. Well now he owns a STOCK Duramax that he says will walk away from his chipped Cummins. Sad! I truely feel he was detured from enjoying a great truck by the ignorance of the dealer. I wonder how many times this has happened.

 

That's pretty sad.

 

I guess I'm just suprised at how little this individual actually test-drove his truck prior to purchasing it. I know today that modern diesels aren't slow, but after a while, for crying out loud, why not decide what you really want!! If you want a sports car don't buy a 7000lb truck, Physics working against you is a bad place to start!

What I mean by test drive is to really DRIVE the truck well. Not around the block, more like 15-20 miles in many different conditions. It should take 45 minuites or more, and you will get at least some feel for how it really will be. That said, it helps to compare more than one truck, I try to drive two or three that are as close to what I would like as possible. Fact is, different tucks feel and drive differently, even if they are equipped the same. Then I woud objectively compare other brands as well.

Souds like this guy lost his shirt--how much did he loose in resale in all this?

 

Hey, those other brands gotta stay in business too and somebody has to buy that stuff. Better him than me. Too bad about the problems though, been there done that with a Toyota truck and a Dodge Stratus. Took a loss on both of them just to get rid of them.
Go back and visit in a few years and see how that little super V8 is doing. I have an idea his opinion may change again.

 

Ford dealer employee bought a Ford "Super Doodie" Power?Stroke Harley edition to the Harley dealer yesterday.

Truck looked pretty.
When he popped the hood, I asked him "Is there an engine somewhere under all that plumbing?"
He proudly replied "Yeah, And it puts out 580 foot pounds of torque."
My reply, "Oh that's all?,....the Dodge puts out 600 with only 6 cylinders, and I can see it to work on it".
Looked like I busted his balloon.

 

I thought I heard a loud "POP".

 

The notorious vibration started in '02? That's a new one on me. The new body style and new chassis and AAM axles started in '03. I'll have to go check out the 2nd gen forums for vibration problems.
What's the fix for the vibration? The aluminum driveshafts didn't fix it. Driveline angles don't fix it. Re-balanced driveshafts don't fix it. Now DC thinks it's a harmonic vibration. Mine did it with the motor off at 67mph.
I fixed mine. For some reason that upsets you. Now your neighbor fixed his and he's also happy. For some reason that upsets you too. Why?

 

Same here, a co worker bought the 05 Harley Edition Power stroke with the 6.0. It sure did look pretty. I then I quitely thought to myself "That's three 6.0's here and my only Cummins, one of them will surely break down sometime." That makes it four people I know and that have 6.0's and think each they are great and they have had no problems with them. Two actually tow heavy every once in a while. I am just waiting tic, tic, tic,....

James

 

Some people are never happy. Fast is a relative term. The Duramax or the Powerstroke isn't fast, they both shut down around 95mph. I have been up to 110mph in my Cummins. So to me the Cummins is 'faster'. The Duramax and Powerstroke maybe faster off the line, but in high gear high speed roll ons they aren't.

MikeyB

 

now you should go smoke him with your cummins.

 

If I want "Fast" I'll buy a Crotch-Rocket.
I bough mine for reliability & easy of maintenance.....and it's a Dodge

 

I've got fast - 1973 Dodge Charger 383 CID
I bought also for reliability and easy maintence and there are ALL Mopar/Cummins Products!

Oh Yea... I do have a crotch rocket for the summer...

 

Well I certainly hope that the 6.0 I met last night in town was putting his foot down. We were cruising at around 40 mph and he was gonna show me the way.. Sorry, stay back there...LOL... I didn't think I could keep up with what I had..

 

You know, it's the exact same dealer repair attitude, and DC's 'cheaper' engineering that makes me refuse to buy a 3rd gen Dodge truck. DC moves to AAM from Dana for axles, drops the front axle cut out (did that on the last of the '02 Dana's too) and now has an unsolvable driveline vibration.
DC cheapens up the seats so that you now have a bar going right across your butt, and the only way to fix is to re-upholster yourself. The 600 Cummins has a definite fuel mileage problem, and the common rail system has injector problems (like the other Mfg's engines).

DC could care less about the consumer, and is just protecting their bottom line. At least other mfg's are coming out with innovations that consumers WANT with their trucks. DC has their head up their butt, and I predict will be losing market share over the next few model years.
I love my Cummins, it's just too bad it's wrapped up in a Dodge!

Flame away, as you guys are just as die hard as the Ford guys on the other forum.

 

If you want a gasser, buy a D-Max, or a P-Stroke. If you want a real diesel with some torque under 2k rpm's, you know the only option for that. I personally think dodge is EVERY bit as good, and the other 2. I actually like chevy pretty good, i just love my cummins. Have you not seen all the 6.0 powerstroke problems that ford cant resolve??? If you think a little driveline vibration, or some seats are bad, then try out a 6.0l, and see how long that thing lasts you. Im sure youll get wonderful dealer support when they put you in an escort because they are working on your truck every week, and cant figure out why it all of a sudden dies on you while your driving down the road, or has no power when you pull out in front of a big rig. Seriously. I do like dodge, and i am a little brand loyal, but if you think ford is above dodge in customer service, i dont know where you've been looking. I do admit that GM has done a great job of taking care of the D-Max injectors, and warrantying them. I think that was great on there part. I do think it was crappy of dodge to not come out with a better designed lift pump for the 24 valves, and do a recall, but ford has so many problems they CANT fix, that its not funny. Believe what you want, but they all have problems, and i dont think one is that much better than the other. I guess thats why im driving my old mechanical 12 valve. And you better believe im proud of it

Eric