Just curious on what peoples thoughts are on this, I had an 01 for 7 years and did quite a bit of work to it. I read about how great the common rails were and i was looking for a crew cab truck and thought why not give it a try. Just want to take a poll here to see wheather people regret going to a 3rd gen or if they have no regrets at all. I will say the 3rd gen rode and handle nicely, but the CR motor was a little disapointing to me.

 

I had a 01 and then bought a 03 when my auto tranny went out at 24k. Owned the 3rd gen for 3.5 years 6 speed h.o.. sold it and went to a 97. sold that and went to a 96. sold that and converted a F350(never again)

I should have kept the 01!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

yeah, i have a 93 still, had an 01, an 06 and then a 96. 01 was my favorite by far with the 96 on its heels. Do you like your F350 conversion?

 

Had an '01 fully loaded Sport but need more room in the back for car seats so we stepped up to an '03.

Things I don't like about the '03:

Seats, have leather seats in both trucks. The '01 was WAY more comfortable and front and back seats were both leather. The '03s heated seats don't get anywhere near as hot, they aren't as comfortable, not as "cushy" as the '01, and the back seat isn't really leather.

Turning radius, the '01 turned MUCH sharper than the '03. Both were longbox extended cab duallys. The '01 actually always surprised me how sharp it could turn.

Tranny, my '01 was an auto, the '03 is a 6spd and I hate it. VERY clunky to shift.

Mirrors, the tow/flip mirrors on the '03 are better than what came stock on my '01 but I replaced the factory mirrors on the '01 with **** power/heated/extendable mirrors and really miss them now.

Things I like,

Motor, The CR is MUCH quieter, more powerful and I'm not waiting for a VE to crap out. Turbo spools faster. Also WAY easier to bleed the injectors, just crank the engine...

Fuel economy, I could never get very good milage with the '01, the '03 does much better.

Cab, the backseat is much roomier(although they still could have made it a bit bigger).

Tie downs in the box are very handy.

WAY better trac bar setup in the '03, I actually upgraded the trac bar in the '01 to the 3rd gen setup.

I had 3.55s for gears in the '01 and it never seemed like enough when towing yet the 4.10s in my '03 quickly run out of RPM on the highway when running empty, I'm guessing 3.73s would be just right.

 

I had a nicely modded 97 3/4T 5spd 3,54 2wd and this 03 concurrently for about 10 months and I'd trade off, towing and driving to work. The 97 would run cirles around the 03 in town (the 5spd 3.54 was way better for street fun) but the stock 03 would tow uphills darn near as good as the modded 97 - mostly cuz of the 4.10s. But with similar mods as the 97 (towing turbo, 4" exh, bhafs and a programmer) on the 03... the 03 is in a way higher league for towing. The CR breathes much better (lower egt) at high rpm, allowing more fuel and more usable towing power. I wouldn't go back! Craig

 

I've never owned a 3rd gen, but have driven a few of them here and there. Just a comment: those "firm" seats in the 3rd gen should be a blessing in disguise over the "softer" 2nd gen seats. Long term seat comfort on long trips and correct support for backs and posture does not typically equal a soft, comfortable (intially nice feeling) seat. We had a Grand Marquis growing up that had seats softer than couch pillows - and after 100 miles at the wheel, my legs would be numb. I would far rather have good support than a nice, pillowly feel.

Now that said, my 2000 Accord has firm bucket seats that are the wrong shape for me - they are ideal for someone about 5'8". I'm 6'1" and they seem to hit me in all the wrong places on a long drive, and they lack about 1.5" of Fore-aft travel for my legs. It will be one of the reasons for trading it off at around 200k, for sure.

 

I agree that a firm seat is better but for some reason something in my 3rd gens seat is hitting my just below the small of my back and its REALLY annoying.

Twice a year I have a 16 hr day doing grass cutting about a 3 hour drive from my home. It has mulitple sites so I drive 3 hours, mow for 3, drive for an hour mow for 3, drive for an hour mow for a few and then 3 more home. With the seats in the 2nd gen I could crank the seat heater on and get some releif between tractor sessions. With the 3rd gen I barely feel the seat heater and when I get out of the truck after 3 hours my back is all stiff.

 

Where's the 3rd gen back to 2nd gen selection??? I went from my 04.5 to my 98!!!

 

On the fence.

I loved my '01. Had it built just how I wanted it. 550hp. Still got great fuel mileage and loved the way it sounded with a larger charger. Also loved the 5-speed. Put alot of money into it to get things how I liked it, but it was done.

Got an offer I couldn't refuse, more than it was worth by about $2k. So it was sold. Bought an '03 QC auto.

Now I have to start all over agian. Granted it won't take as much to get to the same hp level, but tell that to my wife. Things are already at around the 450hp mark, but there are so much electronics that can go bad it seems like 2 steps forward and 1 step back all the time.

Give me another year and some more $$ and it will be easier to answer.

 

I bought my 03 and loved it especially with the 6speed but then got the 98 and for some reason I like it better except for the auto tranny. I dont have any complaints about the seat in my 03 but my 98 is more comfortable on a 16hr drive. I love the power of the cr right out of the box.

 

That would be " I want my 2nd Gen back"

Same as going back to a 2nd gen even if its a different one.

Good info guys, i like hearing everyones opions.
I am curious about how many people that currently own 3rd gens have owned 2nd gens or even 1st gens previously.

 

I started out with a 1st gen, 1991 Club Cab 4X4, but needed more power, AC and a bigger cab, bought the '01 and stock it had more power than my modded '91. I liked the '91 for its simplicity and reliability but it was a rough ride and my loads kept getting bigger thus needing more power. I liked the looks of the old body style as well but for looks the 2nd gen is still my favorite.

I started with Dodges when I was 16, my dad got a '86 Ramcharger, shortly thereafter I bought a '73 Club Cab Short Box 4x4, then an '85 3/4ton 4X4 and then moved into the Diesels.

 

The best of both worlds. Drive both.

 

have 2 01s only thing ever needed was a trac bar and 1 set of ball joints
have an 03-05 both blend doors quit or fell off 03 needed new ball joints, power windows quit, lost power steering pump, dash cracked on passengers side at air bag, lost hyroboost abs control module and the 3erd gens have junk for in bed tie downs the 01s you can put quite a load on them.05 seems to be doing better

which one do i like best... the 01 my .02

 

all i miss the is simplicity of the injectors and fueling system