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Old 05-08-2004, 02:46 PM   #31
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Well, I couldn't say anything about the light duty trucks, but I've had 2 V-10's. 94, and 97, best trucks I've ever owned. Still driving the 97 with 179k miles. Only repair has been a couple of ball joints wore out. I haul a camper and tow boats. Towing about 120 days a year.
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Old 05-09-2004, 10:04 PM   #32
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I don't think I would do the Dodge thing. Every auto maker makes some junk. I got one of the junk ones. Dodge has poor customer service and over all poor quality.
This is coming from someone that has a 69 dodge charger, 2004 Chrysler T&C LXI, and a 2000 2500 4x4 Ram. I still like mopar notice the DeCon (rat killer), but I have a lot of problems with my truck. My next truck will be a Ford or a I hate to say it Chevy.
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Old 05-10-2004, 09:58 AM   #33
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

If you take care of any dodge, it'll take care of you.
I've had many, and still will buy Mopars, even the new ones.
The quality control issues with the transmissions, motors, electrical systems are really no suprise. GM and Ford have just as much trouble, and an equal amount of lawsuits, safety issues, hidden recalls, out of court settlements, etc... I truly believe that Diamler-Chrysler (before and afterDaimler) has been getting a bad rap unfairly over many years, when the other two of the big three have been lying and baffling us with promises they don't keep either. Anybody remember the GM 700R4 problems? Or Fords '95 3.8L motors...or '84 Escort motors? How about the Taurus/windstar transmissions (AXOD= "Axle Of Death" (now they add an E on the end and that makes it what...better?)? The Bronco II rollover scandal?(this was pre-Exploder/Firestone...) GM's Tech4 motor? GM's 2.8/3.1/3.5/3.8 V6's (with or without the spun main bearings...)? GM's disposable Cavalier 2.0L?
You know this could go on forever. I'll even admit that the 41TE/604 trans is a pile 'o sh!t, and there are many more problems, but every manufacturer out there has problems, not just the big three, either.
We have all been programmed to think that one brand is better than the other, that japanese cars last forever (NOT true...) and your warranty will last forever, too.

Wake up people!
Maintain your trucks and cars well. Listen when they tell you to use specific transmission fluid. Listen when the tell you the grade of the oil. Change your fluids and maintenance items regularly, and even the worst lemons will make you happy. (ok... '80s GM diesel cars are an exception here...)

I had a '97 dodge 2500 Laramie(who the hell is he, anyway...!) SLT, that I thought would last forever. I sold it, when I realized that I couldn't afford to keep dumping money in it. I still liked it though... I was fortunate, and I had kept my '86 D100 in the meantime. Now I drive the '86 every day. It's got over 400K miles witout the motor or trans evr being rebuilt. So there.

One things for sure:
If you Like the look and feel of a Mopar, you will always like it, no matter what faults (which, I may add, are ALWAYS repairable) it has.

Personally, I find Ford's trucks to be the worst at handling and have always had a "vague" handling feel when you drive them. GM's trucks always have had a "small" feel to their interiors. So the last choice (my first choice) is a Dodge, with nice, predictable and firm handling, a spacious interior, and enough balls to get the job done.
Don't bother with the T100 Toy'o'let, either... that's a full size truck? My ass...

Buy a Dodge, because I think other Trucks suck.

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Old 05-10-2004, 07:05 PM   #34
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

I hear that!
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Old 06-12-2004, 09:58 PM   #35
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

you know I have to say something. I've worked on alot of trucks. I have to say ford has got to be the worst truck to work on. My dodge isn't no walk in the park but it isn't so supidly designed truck in the world. it will out pull my budys chevy truck. it will carry more, I've had it loaded to about 13,000 lbs and still pulling away from has truck. never had a porable whit anything on the truck at all drives great. now chevy maks a good truck but the cabs are cramped and the truck are so heavy and I have replaced trannys in them to so no matter what you buy it is all about the way you use it and how much you abuse it. thay are all about the same anymore and they all need to have something down to it sooner or latter.
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Old 06-13-2004, 04:14 PM   #36
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Dodge?? Uuuhhh alright!!

Just an opinion from mee!! I dont dabble much with the gas end of things.. As a Heavy Duty mech, I dont think theres any gas engine since the old school carbe'd GM 350, Ford 302, or the Dodge 318, 360, line of motors that deserve any sort of tried tested and true respect. However my experience deals with the one ton diesel department. (which in my opinion is the only realm of real trucks nowadays) As far as I'm concerned, anything that says 1500 or 150 on the side is as useless as the next. All crap designed to jump over curbs at the golf course, help your buddy move his couch, and have a tailgate party. So for those who say get what you want out of the big three....I agree wholeheartedly.
However.....some insight into the big players... First and formost I am a diehard ford fan and always will be. If you want a real workhorse and your not afraid of a sore back, lousy gas mileage, and having to stay awake and attentative just to steer the thing....Fords will put up with a suprising amount of abuse for those who need the job done. They will however have little problems all the time along the way. Nothing detremental until she's ready to die. Which seems to be a long time to come. Note (worst diesel motor for repairs and performance mods, extremely expensive, horrible fuel milage, however lasts forever if taken care of and makes the best stock power over the long run) Buy it, use it, like it, throw it away!
Dodge......Best diesel engine on the market for durability, power mods, fuel mileage generally all around the best in it's class. Problems with the Bosch rotary fuel pump at a respectively low milage, ends up bieng a $2000 dollar kick in the nuts, but I think its worth it cause by comparison, You can replace all six Injectors with perf. inj. for the price of ONE Ford injector. (theres 8 in a ford) Do the math!!
Interior...Better than Ford and GM....no stupid hump on the passenger side for exhaust down pipe like Ford. More astheticlly pleasing than the GM. Front end.....ABSOLUTE SHIT!! The only heavy duty truck you can buy with coil springs in the front end....build a service truck or an ambulance outta one and prepare to change ball joints on a regular basis for the rest of it's sad and sorry life. Huge weak spot on the dodge. No other problems to list other than that. ( incidently, the automatic trans is actually less problematic in the dodge than both ford and GM combined.)
GM....Shouldn't even bother building trucks for money.... Cast iron block with aluminum heads on a diesel.. Coupled together with GM's patented 'LIVING HEAD GASKET' ya guys...well whatever lives usually dies... Makes good power, but not enough to out pull a ford, and not what a cummins could be with the price of the chev in the first place. Worst ground clearance in its class, no longer comes with a straight axle configuration. Aluminum case for the front diff (get your axle seal installer out and prepare to swear) Lotsa little things to piss you off. ie. door handles breaking off, seat locks for the sliders breking etc. Oh and make sure they throw in a case of door pins when you buy one cause you'll be changing alot of those.
Best thing GM has going for them is a nice ride and a pretty looking extrior. (see you jokers at the course)

Dodge makes a good solid truck.....Not as solid as a Ford in my opinion. However I have to say it would be one hell of a hard decision for me to make if I had to buy one or the other.
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Old 06-14-2004, 07:05 AM   #37
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Spadez-
"Front end.....ABSOLUTE SHIT!! The only heavy duty truck you can buy with coil springs in the front end...."

Would you rather have ford's un-alignable or torch- alignable constantly failing "King pins"???

I had a D300 from 1972 (was a farm truck for years) and yes, the suspension up to '93 was identical. But wait, after abusing this beast for over 30 years, the ball joints are still good, only the centerlink and tie rod ends have ever given me any trouble, and I think bouncing around a field probably is what did those in.

I'm not saying it's the best suspension out there, but it's better than a straight axle!

Other than that, I kind of agree with you, but I'm and avid Anti-ford ford sucks ford hater.

Did you know that all early Ford trucks (and most cars) came with Dodge Brother's motors?
Even Henry Ford knew he couldn't make a truck motor!



Slantsixness
(don't believe me? look it up!)

(I'd also like to say that the Dodge Brother's actually died, before the Dodge company was even bought by Chrysler, let alone building trucks. Dodge was aquired for their motor contributions to Chrysler the "powered by Dodge Brothers" was a FORD token, not Walter Chrysler's. I believe Ford still owns the rights to the phrase "powered by Dodge Brother's Motor")
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Old 06-14-2004, 12:22 PM   #38
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I guess I get to deliver my .02 since the topic has drifted to truck vs truck.

Hands down, ford builds the best light truck anywhere. the 1980-1996 models are proving/have proved to be the most reliable and longest lasting - period. With GM a close second, and dodge not on the map.

and since the topic has drifted to include non-truck hardware also...I may let a few things slip.

hands down, the gen 1 SBC and the ford windsor powerplants have always been the most reliable. It was only relatively recently that 2 separate 'polls', one by Ward Automotive, the other by the SAE, have given the 'best ever' type award to the buick 3.8 (aka 3800) over the SBC. You will note that dodge does not have any motors in the 'top xx best' of anything save the cummins diesel, which they do not even build.

I saw some earlier comments about trannies....and I will say, they are mostly wet. While it is true that other makers have had certain years of certain trannys (fwiw, the 700R4 was fixed by 84 - 20 years ago, and the AXOD's red letter year was 91 - 13 years ago) - all models of all CPD trannies for all years are bad bad bad. Talk to any independant tranny shop and they will tell you that when GM or Ford corrects a model, they still have dodge to keep them in business.

If anyone needs specific examples of the strengths/weaknesses of the big 3, just ask. But suffice to say, since DC owns CPD, it would be in their best interestes to completely abandon the truck business - period and concentrate on automobiles. They have enuf design initiative coming from europe and enuf hardware coming from japan that they really could put out world class vehicles in but a few years. The truck/suv division is just dragging them down (be careful before you reply, YES, the trucks/suvs are profitable, but that business model is dependant on demand staying the same. As fuel becomes more of an issue, as well as emissions this will go away. DC/CPD does not have the resources or buyer support to permit much of a drop in sales, and does not have the cash on hand to offer the incentives GM and ford can. I predict this country will return to emphasis on sedans/wagons and DC/CPD could position itself to be waiting)
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Old 06-15-2004, 08:59 AM   #39
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Now that we've started another hate thread here:

This is the "pro's and Con's of Dodge".

Not the "I hate Dodge" thread.

You Ford and Chevy guys are here just for our amusement.

Thank you for the laughs.

Quaddriver:
"All models of CPD (oh, gee I see you use acronyms... you can't just say Chrysler?) transmisions are bad bad bad?"
"completely abandon the Truck business"


What the F^ck are you smoking?

Dude,
I've got an A904 that has never been rebuilt that's got over 400Kmiles on it. Another, an A727 that's also got over 250K on it. and an A904 in my '69 dart with no rebuild and 170K on it. an A604 that's still purring at 130K....
I do have a bad tranny, too. It's an A540 toyota in my Camry. And it's not cheap, either.

What do you mean, "bad"? My '89 S10 blew the 700R4 at 50K(warranty) and still two more times after that,when it was supposed to be "fixed". I got rid of the wretched pile 'o sh1t. And don't think for a minute that I maintained it poorly or anything.
Wanna talk bad fords? 3.8L Windstar/Taurus? Aerostar transmissions? CrownVic's with no reverse....? How about the Tempo/Topaz/Escort transmissions?
I almost forgot GM's infamous 2.8L V6. What kind of motor lasts until the headgaskets or crank give out at 30K? Then a modified version (87) moved the dipstick tube, and still eats heads... what crap!

It was very nice of you to document and prepare such a lengthy statement about the particular downsides of Diamler Chrysler. If I were your English teacher, I'd give you an "A" for your report.

Maybe if you put that much research into GM and Ford, you wouldn't have this closed mind.

On the other hand, I'm always up for a good laugh.

Thanks,

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Old 06-15-2004, 09:27 AM   #40
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

chevy sucks balls, chevy service suck nuts, kelly chevrolet in phoenixville pa should be burned to the ground.
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Old 06-15-2004, 12:04 PM   #41
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Sasquatch,

You... um, don't like chevy, huh?!


I think that's clear!
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Old 06-15-2004, 06:19 PM   #42
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Sound's like 'slanty' here had a nice tall, frosty glass of 'Carnation instant Bitch' this morning.

PRO'S and CON'S are as what I had stated! As a professional 'FLEET' maintainance mech, I see, with open mind, what I see! So far I have seen verry little trouble with the drive train on Dodge equipment. In fact I like them better than the ford transmissions. The two piece flywheel is a dumb assed idea, and who the hell likes to listen to a fried input shaft bearing??? Have You changed one lately??? Ford F*&%D up. But the front end on a Dodge doesnt stand up for shit......and that is a FACT!!!

DEAL WITH IT!!

Seeing as how were on a rant here, in case you havent noticed there bud, the 'Eliot and Reverse Eliot' straight axle king pin design has been used by more than just Ford one tons, and by the way is RIGHT NOW installed on your nearest 3 ton through biggest possible truck you can find, of AALLLL makes and models, right now and for a model year spanning.....oh I dunno.....the last, what, 50, 60, 70, years, for where ever in the hell you are. That's a guarentee!!! So tell me again how Ford engineered that wrong!!! It's been working since the first truck, and It'll be working for the last one!!!
Oh and by the way, look around......you might notice that most of the large fleets owned by survey, utility, telephone, oil, gas, companies are all Fords......Yah.....theres all to good a reason for it!!!
Who's the one with the closed mind!!! Who cares how good the shit is sitting in your back yard!! That's a little bias no??

Don't forget, I'm th Ford guy who came on the Dodge site to offer some non opinionated advise. I get into a different HD truck every month of all makes. By the way, the reason I came to a Dodge site is to see if anyone else has had the same charachteristic front end problems as I have experienced, and if there was any solutions. Why you ask.........Because I wouldn't mind one as a personal vehicle for myself. I like the truck already.

Have a nice Day.



P.S. A real good friend of mine happens to work for the AMA!! Guess what the make of small vehicle is he tows most with trans problems????????????? CHRYSLER!!!!! Buy a 1999 Caravan!!!
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Old 06-16-2004, 08:55 AM   #43
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Spadez,
I didn't mind or disagree with your comments, save for the front end one, it's Quaddriver's 700R4 comment that set me off. I actually liked my S10 a lot, but he so unabashedly stated they were fixed, and therefore now the best thing since sliced bread.

I've had many dodge Trucks and Vans in service truck fleets for 12 years. Unless the were beaten to death by poor off-road conditions (and 2WD to boot) premature ball-joint failure is uncharacteristic. Mostly, the trucks have always gone 150-200K without any front end trouble, including alignments and tire wear. The trucks ranged from '72-'98 and are 100's 200's 2500's and two 3500 bucket trucks (96 and 98). When I sold the company (retired) in '99. Most of the newer (94-up) are still in service in the new company.

So, either I have had incredible luck, or the trucks just hold up under the abuse of installing and maintaining Satellite communication and cell systems.

as far as "Carnation Instant Bitch", yeah, I didn't want to see quad's post yesterday, kinda set me off. I grumbled at a supplier and two other engineers yesterday for no apparent good reason, too. I must be on the rag....
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Old 06-16-2004, 10:25 AM   #44
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Re: Re: Pros and cons of dodge

How someone gets this:

Quote:
Originally Posted by slantsixness
it's Quaddriver's 700R4 comment that set me off. I actually liked my S10 a lot, but he so unabashedly stated they were fixed, and therefore now the best thing since sliced bread.
from this:

Quote:
Originally Posted by QuadDriver
fwiw, the 700R4 was fixed by 84 - 20 years ago
Is truly an example of the internet miracle.

the pre-85 700 was a 27 spline weakling, the 85-on version 700/4L60/E is a 30 spline version with other enhancements over the years. Prior to 85 failures were common, post 85 they fail with the frequency of any other mainstream tranny. Your 89 blazer is not in the former group, it is in the latter, same as my 91. Mine failed at 157K after 10 years as a rural mail delivery vehicle. It has gone 40K since. I guess there is something to be said for 'when you fix something, fix it right'
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Old 06-16-2004, 01:36 PM   #45
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Re: Pros and cons of dodge

Can't we all just get along?
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