I've got an 03 dodge quad cab 3500 4x4, diesel, automatic.

Just for kicks as I've always been a chevy man before this dodge I stopped by the GMC dealer to check out the 05's. He asked if I wanted to drive the 2500 crew cab shortbed diesel/auto I was looking at. Of course I couldn't say no.

I was really impressed with the truck. The seats are so much more comfortable, the radio sounds great, I love the power extended mirrors and dual climate control (the wife is always cold). I really really liked the automatic. On the dodge it feels like a propeller in water until the torque converter locks up at 50mph. This GMC was far better. It actually feels as if the power gets to the ground all the time.

Now, If only I can talk my wife into letting me trade? :)

Hey, didn't you sort of have a suspicion that you might have felt that way even before the test drive? These things are, in general, pretty fine vehicles.. Maybe a few shortcommings but less than the competition.

Keep telling her your hot and turn the heat down, soon she'll be so tired of being cold she will want the "dual zone" HVAC. ):h

Let her drive it, I bet that will help her agree.

Keep telling her your hot and turn the heat down, soon she'll be so tired of being cold she will want the "dual zone" HVAC. ):h

that just might work, that way it's her idea ;)

I really have to say, the duel climate control is the best thing on that truck.

Well, the motor, trans, and all aside. LOL

I traded my 03 Dodge in for one. More because I could not get some problems fixed on the truck than I did not like it. Now that I have been in the GMC for a while I would not want to go back. Truck is more comfortable really like the seats. I do think m 03 Dodge with a 6 speed had more grunt but that may change as the truck breaksin. Regardless it pulls my heaviest loads with no problems.

Keep telling her your hot and turn the heat down, soon she'll be so tired of being cold she will want the "dual zone" HVAC. ):h
Worked for me, that and the heated seats. Anyone want to buy a 2001 F250 PSD?

I traded my 03 Dodge in for one. More because I could not get some problems fixed on the truck than I did not like it.
what kind of problems did you have?

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif Let her drive it, I bet that will help her agree.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/badidea.gif Don't do it ! you will have to Buy two of them, His and Her trucks.
I had a 98 Dodge gas job and it was the worst Rig I have ever owned.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/grd.gif

I traded an 03 Excursion 7.3 for an 04.5 chevy Extcab/sb Lt with all the bells and whistles. The interior is superior to the Ford. My wife loves it. The Duramax is also much faster and less noisy. Go for it

Again it shows just how different the brands are and how each individual relates to certain characteristics of each brand. Notice most often how the GM is said to have cushier seats. That's a good thing. Radio sounds good? That's great too but not ever a reason to choose a big diesel pickup.

Having had both, all I can say is I've been humbled and am pretty gunshy to jump and say any one is loads better than the other.

Dodge's auto does feel like a boat taking off and has a strange way of applying the torque as it locks up. I give GM hands down on the Allison but as long as my auto holds up I can't complain. It's shifts quite nicely just doesn't have a lot of connection in first and second.

Interior appointments? My 04 Dodge is better than my GMC as far as simplicity and performance as advertised. I had a few major issues with my GMC interior... although the seats were cushy.

After four years of Dmax in production I still don't trust it for longevity. I would rather set up an auto in my truck if it goes than jerk around with the Dmax after 100,000 miles. I think it's a time bomb when it gets in that stage.

I have no doubt about the reliablilty issue. I ran Cumminns 210s in my Grand Banks for 3000 hours without trouble. The Detroit Diesel 692s have 1600 hours without a glitch. The auto manufacturers are trying to get a lot of HP out of small blocks. We will see how they last.

Fords and Dodges are in a class of their own. Its real hard to compare one of these with a GM. I'm hooked, you will be too. They are best in class.

I also sold my 2003 Cummins HO 6 speed Dodge for my duramax/auto and I have to say that there are quite a few things I like better about the Chevy. My Dodge was the second Cummins truck I owned and short of all the crap around the Cummins on my 3rd gen truck I was fairly happy. The Cummins motor is a beast, but the rest of the parts were cheap. I had 2 sets of upper and lower balls joints go bad before 36k miles, U joints went at 15k miles, lift pump and 4 injectors at 37k miles, and the list goes on. If Dodge made a strong auto I might have stayed with them, but I wanted an auto and the Allison is the best out there IMO. I hope running a mild HP tune with the Predator will allow many trouble free miles with the Chevy...guess only time will tell. I got this new rig at 0% for 60 months and bought it for cost, so the whole deal was good for me.

Hoot

How can you bank on the new Cummins so soon? Not trying to start any wars because I agree everyone enjoys their brand truck for different reasons. However isn't Cummins running a similar injection system to the DMax? How do you know that motor is dependable? It is new to the market. Just because it says Cummins on the side does not make it as reliable as the old Cummins motor. Just a thought, you never know what will happen long term.

Hoot

How can you bank on the new Cummins so soon? Not trying to start any wars because I agree everyone enjoys their brand truck for different reasons. However isn't Cummins running a similar injection system to the DMax? How do you know that motor is dependable? It is new to the market. Just because it says Cummins on the side does not make it as reliable as the old Cummins motor. Just a thought, you never know what will happen long term.

I'm not banking on it. I had my experience with the Dmax. Remember Dmax is rated for 200,000 miles between major repairs.... Cummins is 350,000.

Will I have injector issues? Who knows. If I do it's a heck of a lot easier to work on that's for sure.

Think your Cummins is gonna go 350,000 without a major repair? Most probably not. You of all people should know that you can't beleive what is advertised. The Dmax a time bomb at 100,000? Why because you replaced a head gasket on yours.....come on man. But why does this all matter to you anyway.....you will have traded and had about 6 new trucks before that cummins ever sees 350,000 miles.