Hemi
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From:
RE: Hemi
Nobody can convince you to buy a Dodge if you don't feel comfortable with the product,
Joined: Oct 2004
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RE: Hemi
I used to own a '97 Club Cab Laramie...now I own a '03 Hemi Laramie...the difference is night and day...I LOVE my HEMI! Better truck all the way around, plus it has all the things that were lacking in my '97 and it was loaded as well!
Amateur
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 29
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From:
RE: Hemi
I just bought a '04 Dodge 1500 QC 4x4 w/Hemi this past weekend. This is also my first truck. I'd been looking into getting a Nissan Titan all year long but the Crew Cabs are outrageously priced. I went to the local Dodge dealer after my wife visited them to ask about some warranty work for her car...she saw a Titan there, so I went there the next day.
Instead of looking at the Titan they had there, I saw that they had two 2 '04 QCs, both red and both marked -$10K from MSRP. I took one for a test drive and ended up purchasing it after about 2 hours of paperwork and waiting.
I LOVE it. One thing I'm gonna have to get used to is fuel consumption, even after a history of owning thirsty sportscars. I've seen in these forums that people are having a hard time getting even close to 15mpg. Well, I'm currently getting 17.2 (per the truck's computer)...granted, it may be off a bit, but the dealership gave me a full tank of gas (which is nothing to sneeze at, especially since this truck has a HUGE tank and taking into account the current pricing of gasoline, which is right at $2/gal here). I'm not even at 1/4th tank and i've gone 255 miles. I'm not nursing the Hemi but I certainly don't have my foot buried all the time either. I just have to get used to $50 fill-ups...that's gonna have my wife cussing like a pirate, but she'll get over it.
I've not found anything to dislike about this truck yet. Comparing it to the Titan, which I took on a long test drive, the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive. The Titan seems to have a tad bit more backseat room, but since I'm only carrying children, that's no real big deal...I'm sure a few big beefy adults will fit back there fine. The Dodge is easier to park, it seems. I usually get into tight spaces on the first shot. I've got radio functions on the steering wheel, which I don't think the Titan had (I could be wrong though). Dial placement is great. The Dodge has no daytime running lights or an automatic light setting (minor annoyance). The 5-sp tranny is GREAT! I've passed people in top gear and the tranny doesn't drop down a gear (must be due to good gearing selection and gobs of torque).
I'm just waiting for the first snow now...should be coming in the next 4 or so weeks. One reason I wanted a truck is because my days driving AWD 2+2 cars (owned a 91 Eagle Talon) are over but I couldn't stand driving our Honda Accord in the snow. I really wanted a full-time AWD truck but it seems that full-time AWD only came with the 4.7L Ram (or am I wrong?). I think I'm gonna be happy with my Dodge in the nasty weather....
A pic:
http://www.unixfool.com/images/dodge/1500-SLT.JPG
Running boards (the chrome piped ones) will come after taxes are filed. I've ordered the non-slip bed liner and teflon coating. I'm happy with the rims/tires...18" rims just mean more expensive tires for me and the current rims look beefy enough. About the only other thing I'd like is the race-like gas tank door.
I didn't test drive the 4.7L but I think if I had driven both, I'd have opted for the Hemi anyways....it has HUGE cajones.
Instead of looking at the Titan they had there, I saw that they had two 2 '04 QCs, both red and both marked -$10K from MSRP. I took one for a test drive and ended up purchasing it after about 2 hours of paperwork and waiting.
I LOVE it. One thing I'm gonna have to get used to is fuel consumption, even after a history of owning thirsty sportscars. I've seen in these forums that people are having a hard time getting even close to 15mpg. Well, I'm currently getting 17.2 (per the truck's computer)...granted, it may be off a bit, but the dealership gave me a full tank of gas (which is nothing to sneeze at, especially since this truck has a HUGE tank and taking into account the current pricing of gasoline, which is right at $2/gal here). I'm not even at 1/4th tank and i've gone 255 miles. I'm not nursing the Hemi but I certainly don't have my foot buried all the time either. I just have to get used to $50 fill-ups...that's gonna have my wife cussing like a pirate, but she'll get over it.
I've not found anything to dislike about this truck yet. Comparing it to the Titan, which I took on a long test drive, the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive. The Titan seems to have a tad bit more backseat room, but since I'm only carrying children, that's no real big deal...I'm sure a few big beefy adults will fit back there fine. The Dodge is easier to park, it seems. I usually get into tight spaces on the first shot. I've got radio functions on the steering wheel, which I don't think the Titan had (I could be wrong though). Dial placement is great. The Dodge has no daytime running lights or an automatic light setting (minor annoyance). The 5-sp tranny is GREAT! I've passed people in top gear and the tranny doesn't drop down a gear (must be due to good gearing selection and gobs of torque).
I'm just waiting for the first snow now...should be coming in the next 4 or so weeks. One reason I wanted a truck is because my days driving AWD 2+2 cars (owned a 91 Eagle Talon) are over but I couldn't stand driving our Honda Accord in the snow. I really wanted a full-time AWD truck but it seems that full-time AWD only came with the 4.7L Ram (or am I wrong?). I think I'm gonna be happy with my Dodge in the nasty weather....
A pic:
http://www.unixfool.com/images/dodge/1500-SLT.JPG
Running boards (the chrome piped ones) will come after taxes are filed. I've ordered the non-slip bed liner and teflon coating. I'm happy with the rims/tires...18" rims just mean more expensive tires for me and the current rims look beefy enough. About the only other thing I'd like is the race-like gas tank door.
I didn't test drive the 4.7L but I think if I had driven both, I'd have opted for the Hemi anyways....it has HUGE cajones.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 679
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From: New Castle Delaware
RE: Hemi
I have an 04 4x4 quad 4 Hemi,I tow a 21 foot boat with a 454 chevy I/O It weighs around 3500 lbs It has a loadrite trailer with dual wheels and it weighs about a ton. Pulling it on the highway doiing around 60 to 65 I get 13.4 mpg.
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 310
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From:
RE: Hemi
ORIGINAL: unixfool
the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive.
the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: Hemi
The titan has over 6 inches of more leg room in the rear, more headroom by a few inches as well.
The Titan is a bigger truck inside. The exterior its a little smaller than the Dodge. The bed length is I think 1 ft shorted I believe. The Titan has controls on the steering wheel. The CC cab can be had for 25k. Which is cheaper than most cc trucks. That is for a nicely packaged one. Titan also has a 5spd tranny.
The Titan is a bigger truck inside. The exterior its a little smaller than the Dodge. The bed length is I think 1 ft shorted I believe. The Titan has controls on the steering wheel. The CC cab can be had for 25k. Which is cheaper than most cc trucks. That is for a nicely packaged one. Titan also has a 5spd tranny.
ORIGINAL: unixfool
I just bought a '04 Dodge 1500 QC 4x4 w/Hemi this past weekend. This is also my first truck. I'd been looking into getting a Nissan Titan all year long but the Crew Cabs are outrageously priced. I went to the local Dodge dealer after my wife visited them to ask about some warranty work for her car...she saw a Titan there, so I went there the next day.
Instead of looking at the Titan they had there, I saw that they had two 2 '04 QCs, both red and both marked -$10K from MSRP. I took one for a test drive and ended up purchasing it after about 2 hours of paperwork and waiting.
I LOVE it. One thing I'm gonna have to get used to is fuel consumption, even after a history of owning thirsty sportscars. I've seen in these forums that people are having a hard time getting even close to 15mpg. Well, I'm currently getting 17.2 (per the truck's computer)...granted, it may be off a bit, but the dealership gave me a full tank of gas (which is nothing to sneeze at, especially since this truck has a HUGE tank and taking into account the current pricing of gasoline, which is right at $2/gal here). I'm not even at 1/4th tank and i've gone 255 miles. I'm not nursing the Hemi but I certainly don't have my foot buried all the time either. I just have to get used to $50 fill-ups...that's gonna have my wife cussing like a pirate, but she'll get over it.
I've not found anything to dislike about this truck yet. Comparing it to the Titan, which I took on a long test drive, the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive. The Titan seems to have a tad bit more backseat room, but since I'm only carrying children, that's no real big deal...I'm sure a few big beefy adults will fit back there fine. The Dodge is easier to park, it seems. I usually get into tight spaces on the first shot. I've got radio functions on the steering wheel, which I don't think the Titan had (I could be wrong though). Dial placement is great. The Dodge has no daytime running lights or an automatic light setting (minor annoyance). The 5-sp tranny is GREAT! I've passed people in top gear and the tranny doesn't drop down a gear (must be due to good gearing selection and gobs of torque).
I'm just waiting for the first snow now...should be coming in the next 4 or so weeks. One reason I wanted a truck is because my days driving AWD 2+2 cars (owned a 91 Eagle Talon) are over but I couldn't stand driving our Honda Accord in the snow. I really wanted a full-time AWD truck but it seems that full-time AWD only came with the 4.7L Ram (or am I wrong?). I think I'm gonna be happy with my Dodge in the nasty weather....
A pic:
http://www.unixfool.com/images/dodge/1500-SLT.JPG
Running boards (the chrome piped ones) will come after taxes are filed. I've ordered the non-slip bed liner and teflon coating. I'm happy with the rims/tires...18" rims just mean more expensive tires for me and the current rims look beefy enough. About the only other thing I'd like is the race-like gas tank door.
I didn't test drive the 4.7L but I think if I had driven both, I'd have opted for the Hemi anyways....it has HUGE cajones.
I just bought a '04 Dodge 1500 QC 4x4 w/Hemi this past weekend. This is also my first truck. I'd been looking into getting a Nissan Titan all year long but the Crew Cabs are outrageously priced. I went to the local Dodge dealer after my wife visited them to ask about some warranty work for her car...she saw a Titan there, so I went there the next day.
Instead of looking at the Titan they had there, I saw that they had two 2 '04 QCs, both red and both marked -$10K from MSRP. I took one for a test drive and ended up purchasing it after about 2 hours of paperwork and waiting.
I LOVE it. One thing I'm gonna have to get used to is fuel consumption, even after a history of owning thirsty sportscars. I've seen in these forums that people are having a hard time getting even close to 15mpg. Well, I'm currently getting 17.2 (per the truck's computer)...granted, it may be off a bit, but the dealership gave me a full tank of gas (which is nothing to sneeze at, especially since this truck has a HUGE tank and taking into account the current pricing of gasoline, which is right at $2/gal here). I'm not even at 1/4th tank and i've gone 255 miles. I'm not nursing the Hemi but I certainly don't have my foot buried all the time either. I just have to get used to $50 fill-ups...that's gonna have my wife cussing like a pirate, but she'll get over it.
I've not found anything to dislike about this truck yet. Comparing it to the Titan, which I took on a long test drive, the Titan isn't quite as big but its throttle is definitely more sensitive. The Titan seems to have a tad bit more backseat room, but since I'm only carrying children, that's no real big deal...I'm sure a few big beefy adults will fit back there fine. The Dodge is easier to park, it seems. I usually get into tight spaces on the first shot. I've got radio functions on the steering wheel, which I don't think the Titan had (I could be wrong though). Dial placement is great. The Dodge has no daytime running lights or an automatic light setting (minor annoyance). The 5-sp tranny is GREAT! I've passed people in top gear and the tranny doesn't drop down a gear (must be due to good gearing selection and gobs of torque).
I'm just waiting for the first snow now...should be coming in the next 4 or so weeks. One reason I wanted a truck is because my days driving AWD 2+2 cars (owned a 91 Eagle Talon) are over but I couldn't stand driving our Honda Accord in the snow. I really wanted a full-time AWD truck but it seems that full-time AWD only came with the 4.7L Ram (or am I wrong?). I think I'm gonna be happy with my Dodge in the nasty weather....
A pic:
http://www.unixfool.com/images/dodge/1500-SLT.JPG
Running boards (the chrome piped ones) will come after taxes are filed. I've ordered the non-slip bed liner and teflon coating. I'm happy with the rims/tires...18" rims just mean more expensive tires for me and the current rims look beefy enough. About the only other thing I'd like is the race-like gas tank door.
I didn't test drive the 4.7L but I think if I had driven both, I'd have opted for the Hemi anyways....it has HUGE cajones.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,136
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From:
RE: Hemi
The titan is also the ugliest truck on the road, as is the entire nissan line, doesn't handle as good as the Ram, can't out accelerate my Ram (special thanks to the 2 titan owners who were willing to try), and definitely would not look as good as my Ram towing my classic Dodge to the drag strip.
As far as the titantalk forum, everyone who owns a Ram should visit at least once just for laughs. But hey thanks for coming by and setting us straight.[sm=smiley21.gif]
As far as the titantalk forum, everyone who owns a Ram should visit at least once just for laughs. But hey thanks for coming by and setting us straight.[sm=smiley21.gif]
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
RE: Hemi
I got a 2003 2500 Ram with the HEMI, and I tow a 4,000# (empty) gooseneck horse trailer. I can tell you this truck has no problem towing my trailer. If you want to do some really serious towing, consider a 3500 dually with a diesel. Test drive a few and you'll see that the dodge is king.
Professional
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 214
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From:
RE: Hemi
I purchased my 04 QC 4X4 Hemi to tow my boat. My Suburban had 285,000 miles and was too tired to handle the load. I'm impressed so far with the towing ability. Granted I'm only towing approx 5500 lbs (Deck Boat) which seem to catch a lot of air, but the Hemi has no problems. The Tow/Haul mode seems to make the difference. To be honest the Hemi exceeded my expectations for towing. My sons Silverado rides smoother, but doesn't come close to the power of the Dodge. The price became the final decision. 10K cheaper than the best price I could get from Chevy/Ford.
Amateur
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 29
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From:
RE: Hemi
ORIGINAL: mopartodd
The titan is also the ugliest truck on the road, as is the entire nissan line, doesn't handle as good as the Ram, can't out accelerate my Ram (special thanks to the 2 titan owners who were willing to try), and definitely would not look as good as my Ram towing my classic Dodge to the drag strip.
As far as the titantalk forum, everyone who owns a Ram should visit at least once just for laughs. But hey thanks for coming by and setting us straight.[sm=smiley21.gif]
The titan is also the ugliest truck on the road, as is the entire nissan line, doesn't handle as good as the Ram, can't out accelerate my Ram (special thanks to the 2 titan owners who were willing to try), and definitely would not look as good as my Ram towing my classic Dodge to the drag strip.
As far as the titantalk forum, everyone who owns a Ram should visit at least once just for laughs. But hey thanks for coming by and setting us straight.[sm=smiley21.gif]
Judging a vehicle on looks is just a waste of time. One person may think its ugly and another may think its gorgeous. Where's the debating fun in haggling on looks?
I actually think I may have been happier with the Titan but 1) couldn't put up with the salesmen not wanting to bargain, even at the end of the selling year, 2) got the Ram for 25K when it was stickered at 35K. Looks didn't factor in at all...if I wanted that, I'd have not looked at trucks in the first place. IMO, the Titan handled better, and from what I gathered from my test drive comparisons, both accelerate the same. Comparing two vehicles takes more than just stoplight racing or even drag racing. Consider the gearing, rims and tires, transmissions, weight, etc.
I own the Ram and love it. I've been to the Titan forums and still visit from time to time. Every group of people have their tools, but I see no problem with visiting and even comparing other trucks and truck forums
I love my Ram. I also like other trucks, cars, and bikes. I just look at things a bit more objectively than some. If I'm gonna bash anything, it's because I've facts to back it up or just plain pissed because something broke when it shouldn't have or isn't working like it should.
There's nothing wrong with objective comparisons.