Cummins 6.7

[Robbie Hegwood]

Just took a 07 3500 4x4 CC with a 6.7 cummins and 6 speed auto for a test drive. Very impressive truck with some very useful features. Tow/haul mode with a jake brake. Very functional. When they first brought it around I said there must be a mistake I asked for a diesel. It was as quiet as a gasser. Very impressed, but all this brought on by my ford 6.0 pouring smoke out the exhaust yesterday afternoon. They think it is the EGR cooler failed and dumping antifreeze into the turbo. Who cares... its on its second turbo and tranny with 90k miles. Warranty up at 100k so its time to cut the strings. We'll take our truck for a trade-in look and see if we can meet on the numbers. Salesman said with the 08 coming in daily the have orders to move the 07's. He felt we could deal pretty easily. Never thought I would be a dodge man but who knew. With as much trouble as my 6.0 is having and the 6.4L off to a rocky start I felt it was a safe move. I guess we'll see. Robbie

 

[john_bud]

That should be a good machine. Have you also looked at the Chevy / GMC's?

jb

 

[jcmseven]

Robbie,

The 6.7L is a solid motor which I really like. I do not from whom you have gotten the information about the "rocky start" of the 6.4L Ford, but it is incorrect. Thus far, of all the Ford diesels way back to the non-turbo, pre-PowerStroke days there has not been a light duty truck engine (diesel) from Ford with this few problems in its first few months. Despite all the desires among competitors to the contrary, the service bays remain silent. It is a refined truck with good power and excellent quiet operation. I really like the Dodge Cummins engine, it is nice. The rest of the truck, in my opinion, is not yet at the level of the powerplant, but its getting there. I do not know about where you live, but resale on these Dodges in my area is poor relative to GM and Ford. Just last week, a gentleman offered me exactly what I have in my 2008 SD at the carwash. My washers know him and said he likely meant it. I thought about it, but then said I would get exactly the same thing again, so I did not see much point in that. I like the GM products also. The powertrain is solid and they have good power also. They are quiet and refined on the inside too. My friend has a new GMC 2500 which he really likes. I like it too for its performance but to me it is a really homely truck. That said, it will likely hold its resale better than Dodge. I know since you are having problems with your Ford, you may wish to change brands, but I will tell you they are making a very nice truck right now. Tough to beat and quite a distance ahead of what you are currently driving. As always, drive them and drive them well. Take a stopwatch and time them. Kick the tires. Look underneath at the frame and suspension components and then report back your findings. Since the prices are similar also consider which ones give you the best resale, unless you are one of those million milers.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Robbie,

One more thing: I am not a separatist nor do I wage battle against the global economy every day, but something our recent posts on trucks have not touched upon is where the truck is made. The Dodge truck is made in Mexico with an American engine and a transmission also assembled in Mexico. The Ford product is made in Kentucky (for now) with an engine made in Huntsville, Alabama and a transmission made in Indianapolis, Indiana. According to my spec sheet on my particular truck it was made with 88% American components. The mirrors are made by Schefenaker in Australia (some of the finest) and assorted wiring is made in Honduras. At the time it had the highest domestic parts and labor content of any heavy duty pickup. My understanding was that many GM heavy duty trucks were also assembled in Mexico, but recently the ones I have seen have a "made proudly in Flint, Michigan" sticker on the driver's side door. Don't know if it matters to you, but it mattered to me.

John M

 

[whitetiger]

A very few of the HD GM's that are assembled in Mexico come across the border. Almost all are sold there or are exported to the south. The GM's assembled in Canada are mostly sold in Canada. The GM's sold in this country are almost all assembled here.

 

[MississippiMan]

my dodge was made in missouri

 

[firedog]

My Dodge 2500 (Cummins) was manufactured in Canada.

 

[LarryRB]

Robbie,
One more thing: I am not a separatist nor do I wage battle against the global economy every day, but something our recent posts on trucks have not touched upon is where the truck is made. The Dodge truck is made in Mexico with an American engine and a transmission also assembled in Mexico.
John M

Jcmseven,
Dodge's are made in St Louis, Mexico and Canada, they are not all made in Mexico.. I have a new 6.7 and it was made in Mexico. Been a flawless truck so far. I also take issue with your previous statement that Dodge isn't as good as Ford/GM, but coming... I have friends with new GM's and Ford's and their trucks can't do anymore than mine can, at least matching SRW 1 ton pick-ups.. THeir's don't ride any better, aren't any better in interior and I don't find the Dodge inferior to any as you suggest, Am I hard core Dodge? Yes. Try looking up the match between connecting rods Cummins vs Duramax vs the powerstroke.. Big difference here too,. I'd be foolish to say Dodge is better than the other two, however, I won't accept the other way around because it just isn't a true statement.

 

[cp1969]

The rest of the truck, in my opinion, is not yet at the level of the powerplant, but its getting there.

What parts, in particular, are not up to the Ford/GM standards?

I do not know about where you live, but resale on these Dodges in my area is poor relative to GM and Ford.

That would be interesting to see if Kelly/Edmunds agrees.

Just last week, a gentleman offered me exactly what I have in my 2008 SD at the carwash. My washers know him and said he likely meant it. I thought about it, but then said I would get exactly the same thing again, so I did not see much point in that.

That, too, is interesting. Why would he be willing to pay as much for your used truck as a new one would cost? I can see one point--if you're not afraid of getting a lemon on the next one, you could have erased all the miles off your odometer for free.

 

[MississippiMan]

i truly doubt if an american assembly line worker is better than a mexican one. they receive the same training and use the same robots.