From CNN Money, an interesting read:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/10/auto...ney_topstories

 

That new GC looks pretty sweet. It's based on the ML chassis/suspension and has the air suspension that lowers 1" on the highway for improved mileage.

 

J.D. Power sent me a survey.

I am waiting on a conclusion to the wrinkled streched seat problem.

 

I've owned a bunch of dodge trucks all the way back from my high school days. I can attest to the poor quality of some of those trucks, but I think sometimes people get quality and reliability confused. Never ever had a reliablilty problem with any of my dodge trucks, but the quality of the fit, finish, and dealers was almost always poor. The reliablity is why I kept going back for more of that **** poor quality. However, that has changed. My 99 QC was and still is an extremely reliable truck, and the factory fit and finish wasn't that bad back in 99. Compared to my 09 CC though it is easy to see how far dodge has come. I've never put much thought or belief into any of the mags that cover autos/trucks. The people that write the articles have their favorites just like you and I do. You'd probably never catch me really playing up a ford, but I'll brag on my dodge any day. My brother drives a 1/2 ton ford and my wifes brother has about 4 1 ton ford crew's. He claims he can't stand dodge trucks, but he bought his son a used dodge cummins so even he too knows what to buy when pulling/towing is really needed. Jeff.

 

I was always a Chevy guy at 16 had a brand new 79 Chevy Van....oh what a good time in life.........give me a minute I am in heaven...okay back to now, I started working at Chrysler and bought a new 85 chevy 4x4 since there was a strike or parts shortage and 4x4 rams were not easy to find and I needed a 4x4 that could plow in a month so i leased a gmc of the lot. It was plain jane 3/4 ton, but was tough, fit finish sucked like any other pickup. They weren't made as a hauler, child hauler, go to the opera vehiclelike they are now. So fit finish was not a big deal. Got my first Dodge Neon for my wife in 95. Ten years after working there being ribbed about buyingnew chevs, went to and 88 GMC, to a 90 Caprice Classic,to the Neon which was fun as hell so fun I bought a 98 Dakota, then traded up to a 2000 Quad Dakota 4x4 loaded, then my favourite so far except for gas mileage a 2003 Durango R/T. When gas hit the roof we traded to a Sebring which was as fast as a Crossfire for sure, 6 speed auto trans. Auto stick, wish it had real wheel though, well it got wrecked so we got a 6 cylinder Charger and then that stupid 09 Truck had to catch our eyes both my wife and I. Luckily a dealer took over the lease on the Charger and sold us a sweet Black Sport 4x4 Crew Cab. running boards, I put a tonneau cover from ebay a Craftec...not bad could be a tad wider but the price was right and its made in USA. Nobody makes em in Canada as far as I could find. So better than Japan or China right? Oh we have a bedrug for it but not a warm enough day since it has velco stickers, need some warmth for them to stick. OH if you buy one just get at least the front mudflaps if you have the 20 inch tires cuz all kinds of stuff is throw up at you. I think it should be a standard item and not and option. They put a plastic strip under the rear quarter panel an a peel off stick on the edge of the bumper to protectthem...just put a mudflap, they look good, have a look

 

That is quite the monologue.

 

I grew up hearing from my father and his brothers, a long line of pickup truck buyers, that Dodge simply wasn't an option. My father and my uncles in there line of work use there trucks for work. My father runs his own factory, one of my uncle is in excavating, and another a mason. I always thought they were brand loyal.

I really got a good deal on my dakota so I went againts the tradition lol.

It seems now that it is common knowledge that when you buy a Dodge Truck, that it comes along with subpar transmissions, front end components like balljoints and power steering racks, AC compressors, valve ticks and other various issues, right from the get go.

Its sad really. I have put 3 power steering racks in my dakota and it has 35,000 miles. A quick google search and I see I am not along, both rams and dakotas have had alot of reported steering issues since the switch to rack and pinion. I also seem to have some front end issues that may or may not relate to the steering.

I have a valve or lifter tick that seems to come and go.

I have a 6-speed manual tranny, and I am glad I went that route really, because we all know how the autos are on these trucks, you cannot deny it.

Everyone can have a truck that has 300,000 miles on it. What really counts is what you have had to fix and replace down the road. And you could have had a ram or dakota that you never fixed, for its entire long life. The statistics dont lie though, when other people have in fact had the same problems.

Hopefully these new rams are more bullet proof then there counter parts.

If I had it my way, I'd bring back a solid front, and build these things to work again. Road comfort? Soft ride? Come on, you should'nt have bought a truck. The whole "life style" pickup truck that stuck since the late 70s is ruining trucks IMO lol. Give it another 10 years, they will be cars with beds.

Hopefully this guy is gonna make Dodge Trucks worth there inflated price tag again.

 

All manufactures build lemons, no way around that, you just hope when you put your money down you're not the one who gets the lemon. All manufactures also spend a bunch of money on engineering for their vehicles as well. I'ts been my experience that as a truck gets more and more modified, the less reliable it becomes. Now being the age I am and know some of the stuff I've done in the past to my own trucks, I know better than to place blame on the mfgr for some of the stupid stuff I've done. I used to bitch and raise hell about my 80 4wd dodge because I had problems with the transfer case. Course I never gave a single thought about pulling a fully loaded concrete truck out of the mud while I was in low lock on pavement with 78 miles on a brand new truck. Nope, couldn't have been my fault, must be Dodge's for putting in crappy transfer case! I had some problems with my steering on my 99QC, ball joints, tie rods, idler arm, etc, of course installing large tires and heavy wheels had nothing to do with that I'm sure! My point is, they engineer a vehicle for specific parameters, but when we exceed those parameters on a regular basis and something gives then it's natural to blame the mfgr for not building a good truck. I've owned 8 dodge trucks all automatics and not a single one ever had transmission problems, 2 of those were 4wd, and only had the one transfer case problem that I brought on myself. I truely think if every situation could be studied that in most, not all, but most cases you'd find a lack of maint or a mod that shouldn't have been done, or a situation that exceeded the operating parameters that the truck was built for. And I make this comment about all brands, not just dodge. Of course this is only my opinion but then I always try to be honest with myself. Jeff.