Dodge and Cummins No More????

[Builder]

Who cares if its a QSB6.7 produced in Italy or Mexico ???

I do.

 

[Builder]

Well, that's less dire than the rumor I had heard, which was Fiat was cancelling the Ram line of trucks altogether. Don't remember where I heard it, though, so I can't cite the source.

I'd doubt it. That'd be financial suicide.

If anything, Fiat should cance everything BUT the Ram line of trucks.

It's just about the only thing Dodge sells that makes them money.

 

[Dmace]

It's just about the only thing Dodge sells that makes them money.

Yeah, it can't be the Chargers that every state trooper is driving and that can be seen more than any other full size 4-door sedan in this area, or the Grand Caravan that is in just about every suburb driveway anywhere near me, or the Dakota which is the only mid-size truck still available and selling very well up here in New England...

 

[Builder]

Yeah, it can't be the Chargers that every state trooper is driving and that can be seen more than any other full size 4-door sedan in this area, or the Grand Caravan that is in just about every suburb driveway anywhere near me, or the Dakota which is the only mid-size truck still available and selling very well up here in New England...

OK, maybe you've got a point, but the profit margins on their full size trucks make a lot more money/unit than a mini-van or a charger. It's the same with ford & gm. The big money is in trucks and if any of the big 3 were to stop producing them, they would lose huge profits. I's doubt the Dakota is a big selling vehicle, though.

 

[tommu56]

I don't mean that to imply the rest of the truck is junk, as some might say.
What I mean is that the engine is outstanding and the rest of the truck is average.

So if Cummins was pulled, sales would plummet 50%, simply because their loyal customers buy the Cummins diesel engine first, the rest of the truck is no better than GM or ford.

That ford/cummin's/allison would be sweet

I use to drive an Ford LTS300 with a Detroit/Alison and all the ford dealer and Detroit dealer would blame each other for over heating ford put shutters on radiator and Detroit put fan clutch on so you had too much cooling on none.
We finally put a valve on fan clutch to keep it engaged all the time and had no problems after that.

tom

 

[Builder]

That ford/cummin's/allison would be sweet


tom

I used to think that, too, but I don't any longer.

Better get back on topic.

The best way I can put it is if the Dodge Ram diesel had a 6L powerstroke or a GM 6.5L TD under the hood, sales would drop dramatically.

But since it has a Cummins medium duty rated diesel, sales are still very good. People like overbuilt truck engines so they can brag about them, modify them for excessive power or feel "tougher" than the other guys b/c their engine is found in bigger trucks.


Quick funny story I'll never forget: Back about 6-7 years ago, I organized a "dyno day" on a Ford diesel website. Anyone was invited to bring their Ford diesel and pay to get on the rollers. Some of the Dodge guys found out about this and one decided to show up to crash our "party".
We thought we were hot s___ because we were making 275-300RWHP with our Fords.

Anyway, this guy shows up in a 12V, drives up on the rollers, lights a cigarette, stomps the go pedal and rolls 410RWHP.

A hush fell over the place and all us Ford guys kinda got quiet.

Then he drove his truck off the rollers and out to the street and did a 4WD burnout about 200 feet long as he "waved" goodbye.

It's the Cummins diesel that makes the Dodge truck special and not much else.

 

[ccsial]

It's the Cummins diesel that makes the Dodge truck special and not much else.

I agree with that. I tell everyone I bought a Cummins diesel and it came with a Dodge truck.

 

[RobertN]

It's the Cummins diesel that makes the Dodge truck special and not much else.

I'll reiterate the point I tried to make previously. The Cummins makes the Dodge a pretty good package for that market niche.

GM/Ford, being better nicer ect is more a matter of opinion and personal preferences.

I can see where Dodge was definitely in 3rd in the 70's and 80's. But since the newer Rams came out, the "Big 3" are pretty evenly matched.

This is where, that "IMHO" comes in to play...

 

[ccsial]

I'll reiterate the point I tried to make previously. The Cummins makes the Dodge a pretty good package for that market niche.

GM/Ford, being better nicer ect is more a matter of opinion and personal preferences.

I can see where Dodge was definitely in 3rd in the 70's and 80's. But since the newer Rams came out, the "Big 3" are pretty evenly matched.

This is where, that "IMHO" comes in to play...

I think what you say is true. I think builder is saying much the same thing. If the others are all evenly matched, the Cummins give Dodge the edge. I would have bought which ever truck had the Cummins. They are all fine to me. This again is IMHO since there are Ford, Chevy, and Dodge men who will never agree. Some like blondes, other brunettes, but there are certain features that can trump hair color

 

[Scooby074]

For me, when i think dodge, the first thing that comes to mind is Cummins (and vice versa). Thats GREAT marketing. Its hard to put a value on that kind of brand recognition. I even think Cummins more than Hemi!!

I think Dodge is missing out by not launching the small cummins in the 1500 class pickups. That "image" provided by the cummins history could only help. Plus its a niche that nobody else is capitalizing on (besides Mahindra when they launch later in the year). To add insult, Mahindra has signed up several ex-chrysler dealers to sell their products.

Cummins has said that they intend to offer this V8 to other manufacturers. THis will help the other manufacturers image, while diluting the Dodge Cummins brand.