Should I buy a new 2007 with older 5.9L Diesel?

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Huff - 20 Sep 2007 19:43 GMT

I'm thinking about buying a new 2007 Ram Quad cab Diesel. Found a
dealer who has a 4x4 with the Big Horn package and some other
options. MSRP is 44K. They will come down to 38K. There must be a
factory to dealer rebate I don't know about as this price does not
include the factory to dealer rebate of $4000. So that brings the
price down to 34K. My company is a supplier to Chrysler so I can get
another $5000 off. That brings it down to 29K.

This particular truck has the older 5.9L engine which is
discontinued. Any reason not to go with this engine and instead opt
for the newer models? One issue I see is that the new engine also
comes with an exhaust brake which I do not see listed on this truck.

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Tom Lawrence - 20 Sep 2007 21:46 GMT

> discontinued. Any reason not to go with this engine and instead opt
> for the newer models? One issue I see is that the new engine also
> comes with an exhaust brake which I do not see listed on this truck.

The 5.9L is a proven engine. There's nothing really new with the 6.7L
engine in and of itself to raise reliability concerns, but there certainly
is in the emissions systems. That's still a big question mark.

You're also giving up a 6spd transmission for the 4spd (assuming we're
talking automatic transmissions here). The exhaust brake is integrated into
the 6.7L engine via it's variable-geometry turbo. You can add a traditional
butterfly-style exhaust brake to the 5.9L-equipped truck (factory approved,
dealer installed) for about $1,300 or so.

Even with the loss of two extra gears (6spd vs. 4spd), and the little loss
of power/torque (350/650 vs. 325/610), I'd be hard-pressed to pass up a $29K
truck over what would probably work out to be a $40K truck at least.

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SnoMan - 20 Sep 2007 22:42 GMT

>> discontinued. Any reason not to go with this engine and instead opt
>> for the newer models? One issue I see is that the new engine also
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>of power/torque (350/650 vs. 325/610), I'd be hard-pressed to pass up a $29K
>truck over what would probably work out to be a $40K truck at least.

Also for what it is worth, from what I have read the 5.9 is about 170
pounds lighter than 6.7 with most of the extra weight going to new
emissions hardware and in theory more stuff to fail or need servicing
over time. The 5.9 is a well proven mill and very mature in design
while 6.7 is still quite young. It also remains to be seen how the
MPG will pan out on 6.7 and it is nice to give them a few years to get
the bugs out of any new tranny from any maker and not be a test dummy
for it yourself. For the money I would get 5.9 (sweet deal) unless you
feel that you really need the 6.7.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

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Huff - 21 Sep 2007 00:32 GMT

> On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:46:54 -0400, "Tom Lawrence"
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

I suppose the one thing that I would want to add would be the exhaust
brake. It is not listed as an available option. I have heard that
Dodge will void portions of the warranty if an exhaust brake is used
with certain transmissions on certain years.

Found out I can't get all the discounts I was hoping for. This trucks
MSRP is 42K, the 44K included 2K of bogus dealer ads. I got a copy of
the invoice and its 38.5K. I can buy it for 33.7K.

The invoice date is 11/29/2006 which is odd to me for a new truck.
Does this mean this truck has been sitting on the lot for this long?
Seems unusual. Or it was sold and financing fell through and
returned. Will have to check on that.

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Nosey - 21 Sep 2007 01:35 GMT

> I suppose the one thing that I would want to add would be the exhaust
> brake. It is not listed as an available option. I have heard that
> Dodge will void portions of the warranty if an exhaust brake is used
> with certain transmissions on certain years.

See: http://www.everytime.cummins.com/every/applications/ram59_braking.jsp

Signature

Ken

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miles - 21 Sep 2007 03:33 GMT

>> I suppose the one thing that I would want to add would be the exhaust
>> brake. It is not listed as an available option. I have heard that
>> Dodge will void portions of the warranty if an exhaust brake is used
>> with certain transmissions on certain years.
>
> See: http://www.everytime.cummins.com/every/applications/ram59_braking.jsp

Per Dodges website the exhaust brake (item code 76K) is not available
after 3/9/2007.

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Tom Lawrence - 21 Sep 2007 06:14 GMT

> Per Dodges website the exhaust brake (item code 76K) is not available
> after 3/9/2007.

Is that because on the '07s and up, it's integrated, so they stopped
offering it as a separate factory option, or did they actually stop offering
it for install on the 5.9L-equipped trucks? Starting in '06, Dodge finally
got their sh.t together with transmission hardware and ECM software to
implement an exhaust brake - the dealer should still be able to install it.

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SnoMan - 21 Sep 2007 13:17 GMT

>The invoice date is 11/29/2006 which is odd to me for a new truck.
>Does this mean this truck has been sitting on the lot for this long?
>Seems unusual. Or it was sold and financing fell through and
>returned. Will have to check on that.

Invoice date was pretty much when it was shipped to dealer. I have
seen some that have sat longer. Warranty starts day of purchase not
invoice and since it has been there for a while you may be able to
squeak out a even better deal from them.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

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Wayne J. - 24 Sep 2007 03:06 GMT

> I'm thinking about buying a new 2007 Ram Quad cab Diesel. Found a
> dealer who has a 4x4 with the Big Horn package and some other
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> for the newer models? One issue I see is that the new engine also
> comes with an exhaust brake which I do not see listed on this truck.

I did just that. I had two reasons though.
- I thought that ULSD would be hard to find. It is the only diesel that is
sold here in Canada now, so it would not have made a difference.
- I also like the idea of having a tired and proven engine.

My CTD has dragged my trailer 2800 Km to Winnipeg and back as its break in.
I now has over 8K on it and most of it involves towing. I love the truck and
the engine. It is now fun to tow our trailer again.

We have had NO issues or concerns with the 5.9.

wayne

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