If I could get a good deal on a used 2004, or stretch my budget a little and get a 2005, what would you guys suggest?

Other than the extra power of the 2005 CTD, are there any other substantial differences? I think the last time the 2500 was redesigned was in 2003 - were most of the bugs worked out by the time the 2004's were released?

Lastly - I'm also split on whether I want to get a manual tranny or automatic - I've always driven automatics, but I find myself wishing I had a manual sometimes - I think it would be a little more fun to drive, but I'm afraid it may be a pain in the butt a lot of the time. For any of you who drive manuals – do you wish you had an automatic instead? Is one much better or worse as far as reliability?

Id really appreciate anyone’s input. Thanks!
Adam

 

i drive a manual and ****in love it!!! it keeps you involved in the driving experience and i love droppin the cluth when i get it to 2500-3000rpm, ****in blast[sm=burnout.gif]. it can be a pain in stop and go but overall i wouldnt go back to automatic, i love drivin this manual. just my 2 cents....

 

the only difference between the 04's and 05's with the Cummins is just a software update on the computer. mine is a 04.5, 13,800 miles on it and enjoying every mile.

if I had to do anything different with my truck I would have asked for the 3.73 geared rear axel over the 4.10's. the 4.10's do have great acceleration, plus it gives you 2000 more pounds worth of load that can be carried. but I'm getting about 2-3 fewer miles to the gallon over the 3.73's. but my mileage isnt bad, if I'm easy on the throttle I can keep it in the 18's. but if I'm looking for mad smoke to **** off the ricers it'll drop quickly to the 15's.

if you can get on 04 for cheap then go for it. the one thing I dislike about the 05's is on the intercoller the end caps are plastic instead of being metal. the metal can withstand loads of boost where as the plastic caps will blow off anywhere from 40-50 psi. Ive seen my boost guage shoot to 35 psi on many occasions and I dont have a box.

I have a 6spd in mine and love it. it's fun going through the gears, but the throw is quite long so you might want to get used to rowing a boat the 04's used the New Venture NV5600 tranny's where as the 05's have the GETRAG G56. the NV5600 is a tried and tested tranny and gave alot of good use, the new G56 is still untested, but we should know how it works out before too long.

on the automatic side, if the engine is an 04 model the auto tranny is the 47RE tranny. 04.5 and up is the 48RE. the only difference between the two are the clutch packs. the 48RE is a bit more stout to handle the torque comeing off these engines.

if your into performance, the auto is good, but the power overhead is rather limited. 400 hp and 700 tq is about all the 48RE can handle stock, but there are mods out to help the performance. as for the manual, 800 lb-ft is all the stock clutch can handle. but there are people who have changed that out and the bell houseing on the NV5600 and are putting well over 1200 lb-ft through that tranny with no problems.

I have quite a few chevy and ford kills, but at the same time Ive been owned a few times as well, but they had boxes, where I dont. Ive done a few things to my turbo to make it scream to the point where when people hear it begin to spool up they just back off. rather funny to watch

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys! Exactly the input I'm looking for. I'm definitely still leaning toward a manual, but it seems that they are a little harder to come buy.

Drew - you mentioned on the '05's that the end-caps are plastic - could they be replaced with metals ones if I wanted?

 

if you get a 04 with the NV5600....have fun. Blowing the trans i mean. Like drew said, upgrades handle a feed of 1200 plus. The G56 doesn't have much information publicly known yet, but I'm sure somebody over at Spike TV will fix that pretty son.

 

you would have to change out the entire intercooler