Very good post Hank. I don't think Nissan needs a new rear end, but there's defintely an issue. I'm hoping it was a bad batch of gears that got put in.

I'm glad that someone understands that just because there's an American name on the car, doesn't necessarily make it American. Just as foreign doesn't necessarily mean it's foriegn made.

As for the Ridgeline, that thing is hideous, and I know people here don't like the Titan, but please NEVER put the Ridgeline in the same class as the Titan!

BTW-Ridgeline is having a few isses, but none bigger than this one...

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/f...t=3580&page=11

I hope it's okay to post a link.

 

Ok, the Dodge will always be American in my book, and just because a Jap car is assembled here; doesnt make it American...the company is still headquartered in Japan; and a good percentage of the $$$$$$$ goes over to Japan.

I will categorize the fugly Ridgeline with the fugly Titan anytime I want; because I believe in equality, and these two so called "Trucks" are EQUALLY FUGLY!

 

Okay, if you don't think what I posted was "honest" it is only because you disagree with it. I gave Nissan credit for the things it did well - engine, transmission (even though it is borrowed from the 350Z, just beefed up), and innovations. And, I called out their blatant weakness - quality and refinement.

Secondly, to say my truck "sucks" because it is outsold by Ford and Chevy is kinda funny. Because what does it say that YOUR truck is outsold by the F150, Silverado, Ram, Sierra, Tundra, Tacoma, Colorado, and Dakota??? See this link http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/otf0999.html Note the sales for September 2004 and 2005 for the Titan, they have actually sold 900 LESS than the first year it came out. You'd think if the Titan was the greatest thing since sliced bread, they'd sell more than the first year. So, when Nissan can sell more trucks a year than a DAKOTA, then come back with the sales argument. In which case, I'll tell you to come back when it sells more trucks than a Ranger . . . or Colorado . . . or Tacoma . . . you get the point.

Next, I wouldn't define being "smart" as buying a truck with known brake and rear end problems. I would encourage you to look at these two websites -

1) www.nissantitanbrakeproblems.com
2) www.lemonlawcenter.com/brake-problems.htm

I thought it was funny someone created a website called "NissanTitanBrakeProblems.com" Nothing quite says epidemic like a website name dedicated to it! Plus, I came across this ABSOLUTELY GOLDEN POST on Titantalk.com - http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tita...e-problem.html I couldn't have made this up if I tried. But it looks like Titan owners have a problem with their trucks being crooked . . . too funny.

As for performance, check out this 2006 half ton truck review from TruckTrend, specifically pages 9 and 10 which list 0-60 and 1/4 mile times for the Hemi Ram and Titan -

http://trucktrend.com/roadtests/pick...ff/index8.html

0-60 time Titan 7.6 seconds, Ram 7.7 seconds
1/4 mile Ram 15.6 seconds, Titan 15.6 seconds

Looks pretty even to me, so I'd say your performance "advantage" is zero to none. Now, I know you Titan guys are going to talk crap about that tenth of a second, so I would say check out what the tested Ram has on it - 20" rims compared to the 18" for the Titan. Put 18" rims on the Ram, and we are even in acceleration.

Lastly, you can dismiss the fact I noticed quality failures as "BS" but I see it as a real problem. If the things I see first in a truck - handles, interior, and trim - are this cheap, what else did they go cheap on? Plus, the Titan may be able to tow 9,500 lbs but I'd love to see them tow it 40-50 miles. Because, if their trim and seats break after 200 miles, what is the transmission, axle, brakes, etc going to do when put to the test? That is something I'd pay money to see - so if any of you Titan owners plan on towing something over 8,000 lbs, let me know and I'll pay my own way to see you do it.

 

Well, I know there have been some who have towed OVER 8,000lbs, but I wouldn't do that. If someone needs to tow that much, I'd get a 3/4 ton.

As for the Titan outselling any American truck-that'll never happen, and that's okay. It doesn't have to sell the most, to be the best. Look at the article you got your info from-the Truck Trend shootout. You forgot to mention that the Titan won that once again! Two years in it, two years winning it!! I'd say that's a pretty good track record.

As for reliability issues. The Titan is not bad as the internet would have you to believe. To date, there's only been two recalls. It's still a new truck and bugs have to be worked out. The brake issue has been resolved. The rear end issue will be resolved too. How long did it take Dodge to work out the bugs in the Ram? I think they're still trying. Just read the board here-cracked dashes, tranny problems...the list goes on and on. No truck is without problems, NO TRUCK-Fords, caught fire, Toyota, front brake problems (same as Titan), plus they just had the largest safety recall, Checvy, well, theyr'e Chevy-thigns always break, and Dodge-tranny problems for years. But the Titan is taking more verbal abuse than any other, but I'm nto sure why?

And let's talk about performance-THe Hemi motor has lots of HP. As a matter of fact, it has 40 more than the Titan. But why is it that the same conifgured truck, QC vs. CC, the Hemi is slower? Why is it that Hemi is rated at only 7,600lbs. and the Titan is at 9,400? THe Hemi has helped Dodge tremendously, but let's face it, it's a HUGE marketing scheme. One that's worked, but in the end, the drivetrain is not that impressive. Why is it that a stock Hemi with 345hp is dyno's around 250? Why is it stock Titans dyno around 265-275?

By the way...Happy Holidays!!!

 

I am not sure where you got the dyno numbers from. Take a look at these dyno runs - I am just comparing the STOCK HP numbers, not what the muffler companies are saying their systems produce -

Aeroturbine Exhaust - http://www.aero-turbine.com/seehear/...r.cgi?search=y
You have to search "Dodge" and "truck" but it shows STOCK HP @ 275 HP.

Magnaflow - http://www.magnaflow.com/newdyno.asp
This shows a Hemi around 268 STOCK HP, and the Titan around 252 STOCK HP. So again, I'm not sure where you get this "Titan 275 hp and Hemi 250."

Secondly, the reason a Titan is quick is because of its gearing. It has shorter gears than a Dodge, which is why you see the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times so close. Thirdly, the reason a Titan is rated at 9400 and a Ram at 8500 (for a QC Hemi, not sure where you got the 7600 from), is because of a lot of factors (gearing, torque curve, and mostly marketing). But like you said, if you are going to tow anything over 8,000 lbs, you should use a 3/4 ton. I agree, so whether a truck tows 8500 or 9400 or 9900, it doesn't really matter. However, if a Titan owner is going to tell me their truck is better because it "supposedly" tows 9400 lbs, I wanna see it : )

As for the article, you said the Titan won again - it didn't win an award, merely the opinion of the editors. But you also have to realize TruckTrend rated the Tundra #2 (a complete joke), and by the way, gave the Honda Ridgeline the 2006 Truck of Year award (another joke). The Nissan Titan NEVER WON the Truck of the Year award - in 2004 it was beaten by the F150, 2005 by the Toyota Tacoma, and 2006 by the Honda Ridgeline. That is 0-3 to me. I was merely quoting them to show the performance numbers, which are even between a Titan and Ram.

You are right, every vehicle has problems. I let the Titan and F150 slide in their first year of vehicles. But once you are into production year 2 or 3, and people are having the same problems, then it throws up a red flag. Plus, what did you think about the link I posted for Titantalk.com - about the crooked Titan frames? : )

 

Homerun:

Some truck owners buy their vehicle for looks, some for straight line performance, some for work. To sit here and debate which is the better truck is not too dissimilar from choosing your favorite type of beer; "less filling", "tastes great". Remember those days?

The Truck Trends shootout that you mentioned rates a number of different trucks in different classes. I found it interesting that they picked the Dodge RAM over Ford and Chevy in the 3/4-Ton 4WD Regular Cab Longbed class. The review states "With the work-truck class, our editors tend to examine vehicles based on how they perform when under heavy load." We all know Ford makes a great truck in this category and you see tons of them on the job site; they do take a beating. But for Dodge to take this category should say something about the RAM's capability when you are doing far more than red light racing, picking up the kids from school and getting the groceries.

Now, any truck subjected to that type of daily use has to have some degree of reliability and is built for that use. Since owning a Dodge for 2 years now, I always get friends teasing me about it, looking under it for oil leaks and the like. But even before I bought my truck, I researched and found out what Dodge had been doing over the past 5 years to improve upon these design flaws. The transmissions coming from DC these days are solid with only a few exceptions mostly due to misuse or simple lack of maintenance.

Likewise, looking into the cracked dash problem a bit, I found several posts about that topic mostly from RAM owners with 00 and 01 year RAMs. When the Titan has been around for 5 years and subjected to southern heat and direct UV sunlight, we'll see how it fairs. Hopefully better for the sake of their owners; I wish noone ill will.

Also, just a correction, you stated that the towing capacity for the RAM Hemi was 7400# when in fact the Truck Trends side by side comparison shows the RAM at 8600#. I'm not sure where you found this number but it is inaccurate.

Furthermore, I doubt the average consumer buying a 4door pickup could tell you that engine HP is measured from the crank rather than the rear wheels. I personally don't know any truck owner who has taken their ride to a dyno to see what the RWHP is and why would they want to? I tow a 6000# boat to the lake every weekend in the summers here in Atlanta and the RAM handles it very nicely. What is a few HP on a dyno going to do for me?

With all due respect, Homerun, to each his own. Debating a tenth of a second, a few RWHP, a few hundred # in towing capacity is pointless. Car and truck buffs will always look for what sets their ride above the rest, that thing that they can brag about and all be proud of. I, like so many on this forum, bought a RAM for looks, power and reliability. And it doesn't disappoint *me* in any category.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

Mike

 

As you can tell I am a Titan Owner. 1st off if the titan took the 3.5 v6 from the 350Z and beefed it up well... you see where i am getting the titan has a 5.6 V8 forged crank & pistons and yes is underated for HP. As for the brakes. I think Dodge used to have things with there trannys for the longest time up untill 01 I think. Nissan will fix the problems actually i think they have on all later 05's and u. below is an attached test of all the half ton pick ups and there out comes. When i bought my Titan i considerd all options and dodge is to expensive and also had the highest insurance rate of them.

 

http://truckworld.com/Truck-Tests/04...-4way-num.html

 

I also wanted to let you know that I am not here to bost about the titan I like all new trucks minus the Chevy. Dodge being my #2 pick to the Titan. I was just surfing and wanted to straighten up some facts.

 

Let me be objective here.
I currently own an Armada. I also own a Vette, Jetta, Infiniti and have owned a Jeep GC, etc. I like Dodge.

Not sure about the Titan you looked at, but I do have extensive exp with these vehicles.

Door handles weak and wobbly. Not sure of this one. They have the tightest closing doors I know of, similar to MB in quality.
Personally, I like the choice of interior materials. I have an '05, and they changed the interior materials between '04 and '05+.
I can hang on the A pillar handle and I weigh 230. No give. Very sturdy.
F150 does have the best seats and the best overall interior. I prefer the Titan/Armada to GM, Dodge, and Toyota however.
The titan is quicker and has more power. On Dyno tests, the Titan puts out equal HP but 20 more TQ at the rear wheels. The reason that you may have had a "slow" titan is two fold. One, they come with different rears. If you didn't have the Big tow gears, it has taller gears, and is slower. Two, the Nissan is unique in that the computer learns your driving habits. If a vehicle is being broken in, you baby it when you drive. The computer learns you drive it like a granny and adjusts the ECU and trans shifting to match granny driving and shift points to max fuel economy. The computer is easily reset with some synconized pedal pushes, and it unlocks the power. After doing mine, I went from chirping the rear tire to 10 foot burnouts.
As for handling, the largest factor is the junky stock tires. Replace these with good tires, same size, and you gain substantial handling, road feel, tracking, grip, quietness, etc. The stock tires are the only real weak link. It is probably the best handling of the class, except for maybe the Tundra, which like the ridgeline is a 3/4s truck and I don't consider full size.

Bottomline, the '04 is very different from later models. Truck Trend rated it first, followed by the F150, Dodge, Tundra, and then GM. I think they got it right.