New '04 Duramax/Allison Owner!

Raven · March 27, 2004

I just picked up my new 2004 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Short Bed in Onyx Black (Dark Charcoal interior) yesterday and am I excited or what?!

The truck is a dream! I got the new LLY Code motor with the 320 HP/590 Ft-Lb Torque specs along with the ultra sweeeeeet Allison Auto. It's loaded with other great goodies and I'll get it all put into my sig soon.

My previous two trucks were 2500 HD Dodge Rams, one of which had the Cummins H.O. with the Six Speed; the last one had the overhyped Hemi and an anemic "5 speed" automatic. Let's just say that they definitely did NOT even come close to what I just bought. It's like night and day!

I'll get some pics as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it was raining out so the nice pics will have to come later!

Mort · March 27, 2004

Congradulations on the new rig. Sounds SWEET. Glad to hear that you are exited I know you will it.

antig24 · March 27, 2004

Congrats on the new truck, sounds like your happy with it

mmayo · March 27, 2004

HendyPhoto · March 28, 2004

Awesome! I wish all hemi owners could read your post! Cant wait to see the pics, I am curious how that interior color looks.

KyleBst264 · March 28, 2004

Congrats on the new truck

Good choice of going from Dodge to GM. You have seen the light my friend.

Stepside Z · March 28, 2004

Congrats on the new truck.

Raven · March 28, 2004

Thanks to all the replies! I had an '02 2500HD Crew Cab Shortbed with the 6.0 that I had traded for the first Ram 2500 HD Quad Cab with the Cummins H.O./Six Speed.

Big mistake #1.

Then, I got sick of shifting the six speed and traded it for the Hemi Automatic 2500 HD.

An even BIGGER mistake #2.

I should have bought the Duramax nearly two years ago when I got rid of my '02!

Anyhow, I absolutely love this truck! Took my son out for a ride this evening in it and he was blown away with it's power, the ride, the comfort (and the nice, quiet lack of engine noise) and all the nice amenities as well as the overall quality.

I can't wait to get the bigger tires on it as well as the other add ons I've got planned for next week!

LikeaRock14 · March 28, 2004

Congrats on the new truck dude! I wish I could have a nice big deisel!

HendyPhoto · March 28, 2004

Be careful, those add-ons REALLY ADD UP!!! LOL But I know you know all about that already!

VegasDude · March 29, 2004

I know the feeling, just got an 04 myself. You will enjoy this truck................................!!!

djp9747 · March 29, 2004

Raven, can I ask you a question off topic. What was the major reason you dropped the 2500 Dodge? Right now, I am looking for a 3/4 ton truck with crew cab, and 4x4 with a Diesel engine. So far, Dodge has been the only one I've found that has been reasonable. I visited a lot of dealers and and found one that had a 2500 SLT version with Crew Cab with 4x4 and the new HO Dodge Cummins motor for $37K MSRP. The only caveat.......it was a manual transmission. Quite honestly, despite my affection for the Chevy's (who are asking in low to mid 40's for a comporable truck), the price difference does catch my attention.

Can you give my your general opinion on the Dodge? Aside from just getting tired of using hte stick shift, was there anything else you didn't like about it. Looking for an unbiased opinion. Thanks for your response.

David

KyleBst264 · March 29, 2004

Because Chevy gives you more truck. You want quality, you got to pay a little more. You get what you pay for.

TROYROBO · March 29, 2004

Raven · March 29, 2004

Because Chevy gives you more truck. You want quality, you got to pay a little more. You get what you pay for.

David, this is the biggest difference between the Dodge and the Chevy: overall truck quality.

Here's a brief summary of my recent experiences with both a Hemi 2500 and a Cummins H.O. 2500. Both were essentially identical trucks other than: the Cummins had the Sport Appearance package along with aluminum wheels (which are NON polished), the Cummins was a six speed manual, the Cummins had the dark interior whereas the Hemi had the Taupe, the Cummins had BF Goodrich tires and the Hemi had Michelins, and the Hemi had roof marker lights. Both were 2500 HD's, Quad Cabs (crew cabs), flat fold load floors, Flame Red in color, had the premium seat package with power driver's seat and mid seat storage compartment, short beds and were bought brand new. Neither truck ever went to the shop for anything other than oil changes. I put about 14500 miles on the Hemi and nearly 10000 on the Cummins and owned both for about 6-7 months.

The Hemi got about 12 mpg around town with a best of 15.2 on a trip to Alabama. The Cummins got around 17 in town and around 20.5 on the highway. Neither one had the 4.10 axle although both did have Anti-spin.

Overall, the Dodge is a cheaper built truck. There are numerous amenities that the Chevy gives you (well, yes, you pay for) that really add to the ownership value in my view. Things like a scan feature on the basic radio/CD, lights on the doors, longer seat cushions (easier on the thighs on the long trips), a bigger rear passenger interior, a better and easier to set up flat surface area in the rear passenger area if you want to haul something. (I hated the metal flat load floor! it was especially harsh to something that might snag or tear easily due to its raised hinges.)

The steel thickness in the fenders/body area is significantly heavier on the Chevy. Just hearing the difference in sound from a stone 'pinging' off of the lower fender when thrown by a tire is huge - the Dodge sounds like you just hit a lunch box and in the Chevy, you don't even know it.

The paint is significantly thicker on a Chevy - the Dodge will scrape and mar much easier.

The dash layout is much easier to read in the Chevy.

The Dodge does win in the interior cubby space contest. I've never seen so many places to hide/tuck stuff away. Between the huge door pockets, upper console, lower front seat area storage compartment and the under rear seat storage area, you could hide a huge amount of crap if you wanted. Of course, getting to it required that you be stopped but still, Dodge DID do this feature right.

The Dodge's front cup holders suck in either truck. On the manual, they are on the floor next to shifter, closer to the passenger side (wtf is that thinking??), and on the automatic, you have to fold down this huge contraption that completely obliterates the floor space (like where my wife likes to store her purse), and that looks like something broke and fell from the lower dash area.

The rear seats are FAR more comfortable in the Chevy and both seat areas are heavier padded as well as covered with a heavier density fabric. (The Dodge 'leather' looks and feels like it came from muskrats.)

The Dodge sits higher and absolutely mandates either steps or running boards for most people. I'm tall (6'1) but my wife who is 5'7 had to use the tubular steps I installed to get in.

The Cummins H.O. is a torque monster and was far and away my first preference in diesels - until I drove the new RPO LLY motor that I bought. Just a comparison of the connecting rods will show you that the Cummins is an 'overbuilt' motor. Unfortunately, the truck it is in will start giving you problems loooooong before the motor will.

I've got friends who have owned the Cummins much longer and they have had lots and lots of problems with their trucks - usually not the motor, just the truck. From brakes to transmissions (a LOT of tranny failures especially in the automatics), to electrical and cooling issues, the problems have been paramount, seeming to come on strongest around 20000 miles or so.

There is a reason that Dodge offers longer warranties - you need them. However, from my limited experiences with them (I also owned a '97 and a '99 1500 Club Cab), they served me well. But - I never kept one for more than a year and always put less than 20000 miles on it before trading or selling it. I was worried about loss of value (and the Dodge value absolutely plummets when you drive it off the lot, regardless which motor it has) and the potential for future problems based upon what I read on the various boards and from experiences other people had who I knew that owned Dodges.

The overall 'feel' of a GM versus a Dodge is enormous. If you get the chance, park them side by side, drive them side by side, and then you will see why you can buy the Dodge cheaper than the Chevy.

The Dodge is simply a much 'cheaper' truck. I always bought them based upon their lower initial acquisition cost but the bottom line is the the Chevy is a better truck and in my view worth the higher price.

Shop around - I paid $38381 for my Duramax (employee discount) not counting rebates and it stickered for $43138. You can find a good buy if you shop.

Good luck!