first off i just want to say ... i'm sorry

i used to be a part of this forum months back and participated in alot of anti-diesel (gasser) threads.

my dad just turned in his gas-powered OBS chevy in for recall/bodywork...
the salesman that sold him his truck gave us a rental today, and i can say i have fallen in love with the damn thing... lol

its a 2005, 2wd, ally auto, dmax, with a dump bed. this truck is awesome.

i was so skeptical of the thought of having a diesel under the hood, the thing runs great, we just happened to decide to pick up a load of 4 tons of gravel (in the dump bed)... the truck rocked it out like it was nothing, up and down hills, here and there, everywhere.

i can't necessarily justify the $7800 option the "heavy duty power package" was, but... the engine and tranny combo is hard to beat. really.

i've been in a ford, didn't really care for how loud it was compared to how much power it had (from the outside) but that was a 7.3L... the cummins is still a damn beast, but again, a dated design and an 1100lb block aren't too appealing to me.... along with the noise, although the newer years have improved greatly.

this dmax starts quickly (even cold) and runs like a dream... ALMOST as quiet as a gasser... not obnoxius and annoying like i used to see them.

anywho, just my $.02... don't know if anyone cares... jake

Careful, you might become addicted. Who needs to justify the price, and that price is the MSRP price without the HD power package and discount. Just buy one and enjoy it.

I can justify the Dmax for myself as a daily driver. It will haul tools and what not for work, and pull the occasional trailer but that’s it. Moreover, if the Dmax doesn't work out for me I'm going back to a carb.

Jake, sometimes things just have to be experienced to be believed.
7800.00? as the option for both yes, but compare a comparably equipped 8.1 ally to a DMX ally and they are not that far apart.

And besides.... it is absolutely ludicrous to think we can add 140+ RWHP for a grand!

In a gasser to get an extra 140 RWHP.... bring out the big wallet!

Actually the Heavy Duty Power Package is effectively $6900 or less. They give you $1000 discount on it. If you get the upscale trim, it's even cheaper as the standard automatic lowers the Allison option. Plus the HDPP comes with the G80 locking rear axle.

Actually the Heavy Duty Power Package is effectively $6900 or less. They give you $1000 discount on it. If you get the upscale trim, it's even cheaper as the standard automatic lowers the Allison option. Plus the HDPP comes with the G80 locking rear axle.

To bad they are getting rid of the $1000 dollar discount next year:mad:

William

Once you go Duramax you don't go back....

Once you go Duramax you don't go back.... Ditto :ro) :ro) :ro) :ro)

alright, i guess i mis-read the sticker, it does have all those goodies AND the $1000 discount... i'm just still amazed by the price, that's all. I honestly don't think they'res that much money in that engine, and if there is, that explains why gm is in the billions of dollars of debt, and is now "junk bond" status.

i've been in some rip snortin' big-blocks and they scared the holy **** out of me, but that dmax is QUITE impressive...

i'd like to go out and "Borrow" someone's programmer and give that oil burner a kick in the ass... lol :joke:

now is trying to convice the old man to buy one... cuz i can't afford it. lmao

and just to comment, there is nothing wrong with the big-block, nothing at all... 8 liters of gasoline fury is hard to beat, even you oil burners will have to admit that.

anywho, just my $.02... feel free to comment

and just to comment, there is nothing wrong with the big-block, nothing at all... 8 liters of gasoline fury is hard to beat, even you oil burners will have to admit that.

The 8.1 is a good motor, it just isn't a duramax. I test drove one before I bought my truck, I probably would have bought it if it hadn't been blue. My buddy bought it and we have raced several times. His truck runs good, it just can't come anywhere close to keeping up with me. And of course the fact that I drive with my foot to the floor and get 13.5 mpg, he drives with his foot to the floor and gets 6. It's a good motor though, if it's what you want then get it...

One thing the 8.1 does have is smoothness. And the 'right now' power that no turbo engine has from off idle.

But, once the turbo comes on..... the balance of power shifts

One thing the 8.1 does have is smoothness. And the 'right now' power that no turbo engine has from off idle.

But, once the turbo comes on..... the balance of power shifts

The 'right now' power is the only thing I think I'll miss about my old gas truck. I guess I'll get used to it though.

now this is dumb, but ...

my dad's buddy bought an 8.1L /ally ... if he "torques it up" ... that damn truck will walk sideways all over the road...

the dmax ... at least this behemoth... won't even turn them over... but it scoots to illegal speeds with ease.

the dmax is awesome but it has a very narrow "powerband" ... that just from my observed driving.

The LLY Dmaxes (2004.5-2005) have "defueling" in first gear. They don't launch hard stock. In 5 minutes I can take any LLY and make it spin the tires all the way down the street, and outrun an SS Silverado.

Indeed the Duramax costs a lot more to make as does the Allison.

The Dmax is 32 valve aluminum head with 23,000 PSI common rail injection. It has a Variable Vane turbocharger, huge intercooler, dual batteries, etc, etc. The Allison is a medium duty truck transmission that makes the regular automatic look like a toy.

Is it worth $7k extra?

That is hard to say, but the best indicator is that there are lots of folk buying them, and the resale is fairly high.

Indeed the Duramax costs a lot more to make as does the Allison.

The Dmax is 32 valve aluminum head with 23,000 PSI common rail injection. It has a Variable Vane turbocharger, huge intercooler, dual batteries, etc, etc. The Allison is a medium duty truck transmission that makes the regular automatic look like a toy.

Is it worth $7k extra?

That is hard to say, but the best indicator is that there are lots of folk buying them, and the resale is fairly high.

Pat shouldn't u be out buying the new truck ):h

Pat shouldn't u be out buying the new truck ):h

Yeah, in about an hour I'm going to look over the paperwork.

PS - THANKS!! :cool: They dropped $1500 off their "best deal" with the code.

$$$$$$$$$ that's what we want to hear.

i heard about the "defueling" in first gear in 4 lo, but this truck is 2wd... and if you torque it up it stalls just a bit past 2000 and the whole truck twists up like a pretzel and the turbocharger is boosting like crazy... it wants to turn them, you can feel it but maybe its too heavy ?

and i'm half tempted to go borrow the neighbor's programmer :D probly wouldn't work, its vin specific i heard...

Don;t go tearing up all the streets in my old kneck of the woods.

Yes, as everyone has posted, the lly is configured to not go WOT in first gear. Drop a programmer on it and it will roast the tires without a problem!

i drive new 05 duramax's all the time and have never had trouble roasting the tires. hold the break, push the accelerator. when the tach reaches 2000, get ready to go sideways.

well i got a dumptruck sideways... lmfao

i was over at a buddy's house and he was watering his newly seeded yard and he sprayed the road down in front of his house with water... i rolled thru it, brake, stomped the fuel petal... and sideways and smoking she went... lol not bad i guess

another Q ...

about what is the stock boost pressure on the dmax ? that turbo whines and whistles quite a bit, so i would expect it to be up there a bit ...

i just took the truck down to the gravel pit today to get a load of #57...

i told the guy running the loader to fill it up and that he did ... the truck weighed in at 8700lb with a driver, passenger and about 25 gallons of fuel (est)... we left the scale at 16,200lbs. and let me just say, holy ****.

i flipped it in tow/haul ... that truck ate it up. i can honestly say i've never been in a vehicle that heavy with that much power left. granted it won't roast 'em off...but it pulled hills and ran 65+ up on the highway no problem :D dmax ROCKS!!!