Originally posted by Quaddak


Since 1990, I have had 2 dodge caravans, on my second dakota, I currenlty have 2 full size rams, one 1973 big block challenger and one small block road runner. So far in my last 13 years of ownership, I have only had one vehical back at the dealer for a busted hinge on my console.


I'd say that you're darned lucky. I'm on my third Chrysler minivan since 1997. The first one blew its tranny at ~20k miles. When we took it back to the dealer, he said it would take 6 weeks to get fixed because they were backed up with minivan tranny problems. We wound up calling Chrysler Service and telling them that 6 weeks was unacceptable since we only give 5 days on a loaner. To their credit, they checked many dealers in the area and found one that would fix it in 5 days and Chrysler paid to have it towed from the original to the other dealership. The second one had a leaky tranny that I had back to the dealer 3 times in less than a year. The third one, a 2003 T&C hasn't had any problems yet, but it only has 14k on it. You might ask why do I keep getting Chrysler minivans with their poor track record? I like the ride and my wife needs the ability to remove all of the seats....and we ONLY lease them so they're always under warranty, so when they break, it's Chrysler's dime, not mine.

 

My apologies... was at work which didn't help my post. It just gets me fired up when people hate something so much that they proceed to talk trash and BS about something. It's OK if they're backing that opinion up with some sort of fact, but when they just start blasting out of pure hatred I can't stand it. I like all the truck brands, except Nissan but just because of the looks. I'll point out my opinions on different makes, but I won't blindly criticize out of spite.

As for the 5.4L better at towing, I admit, I haven't been in a new '04 5.4L, but I do know that the Hemi makes most of its torque up high which for towing isn't that great. I didn't buy my Hemi to tow though, I bought it cause it could haul what I need and be fast when I'm not.

 

That makes more sense, but yet it honestly sounds like you just got a major lemon. I'm sorry, but I've yet to see an F-250 run anywhere near the speed that most of the Hemi's are running at the track. It may feel more powerful, but time wise, it just can't be stock for stock. Again, your Hemi sounds like it may have just sucked. I say that not out of just hope and feel of my Hemi, but the track times that I've seen them running stock. I know that most of them are very fast and earning their place on the street. Again, for instance a new '04 F-150 ran against his friend's stock Hemi and was amazed he lost, because he was sure the Hemi's sucked too.

I am sorry for the loss on your truck, that really does suck. Again, I had several Fords in the late 80's early 90's and they all couldn't last past 80K miles. From my personal experience, my Explorer sucked & my Probe Sucked, but I've also seen the same cars going 200K miles, so I can't say that they all suck, so don't sell the Hemi short simply cause yours sucked is what I'm trying to say I guess. I know it sucks to lose that much money in a nice new truck, but from seeing Hemis with my own eyes, not just one, I can tell you for sure that they don't totally suck which is why I defend it from those that say it's just a POS.

I admit, it's 1st run production and some bugs are still getting worked out here and there. A few with tranny problems, a few with broken valve springs, but nothing anymore major than an average 1st year run truck.

I assure you marketing isn't the only thing that is selling the Hemi. A lot of them are very informed non-Dodge loyal buyers, and there is a reason they are buying them. So far, I've been very happy with mine, and honestly, I have always said, "The only way I'd buy a Dodge is if I could afford to fix it."

So far, the only money I've spent is to clean out the gas tank because diesel was put in it, and ya know what, my truck still ran on that crud for 300 miles back to Memphis.

 

Hate to say it, but the hemi Rams I've been around have plenty of low end grunt. Some threads on this forum state the hemi makes more torque at all speeds except for perhaps 1,000 rpm (our 5.4L 3 valve might have 2 ft lb advantage at 1,000 rpm). Whether unloaded or loaded up to max allowable, the hemi will out pull the 5.4L 3 valve (assuming both have similar axles, etc., etc.). So our 5.4L comes close to matching the hemi at low speeds (maybe up to 2,500) but falls back as engine speed goes up. Go out and run your truck against the competition, see if the Ford 5.4L 3 valve pulls on you from a stop at anytime.

I think this has been beaten to death, perhaps we can just lock the next thread that brings up the hemi.

 

I dont know, my F-250 will beat my co-workers hemi. The only mod I have on mine is a K&N air charger. His Hemi has the K&N and an exhaust system. I wouldnt say that I completly smoke him, but I am about a truck and a half to two trucks in front of him. Than again, sometimes it depends whos driving it.....

 

Your truck is a V-10 I would assume? And I also assume his was a HD Ram, not a 1500? My V-10 F-350 beat a co workers Hemi 2500 by about 1 1/2 truck lengths as well. A 1500 Ram is a different story. It will kill my truck, even if it is a Quad Cab 4x4. I guess the 2500's must be significantly heavier.

 

SuperDutyHaulin',

What were the specs on his and your trucks? Do you have the 5.4L?

EV2Demon, yes, as with all the 1/2 to 3/4 trucks, the 2500 Ram has a solid front axle which contributes to the weight over the 1500, which is heavy enough as it is at 5500+lbs. Mine weighs in at about 5800 with me in it roundabouts.

 

Just reading through these threads and wondering when a truck came to be judged by horsepower and quarter mile times. The best trucks Dodge ever made were when they were military inspired and running about 60 - 120 HP, they worked hard, did what they were asked, and had transmissions that didn't self destruct after 3 yrs.

 

Looks like I started a contriversy

 

It didn't necessarily... as I've been trying to point out in my posts, as far as towing is concerned, the Hemi wouldn't be my top choice, but some people need a light duty truck but don't need the super low-down torque. It's just a waste to have it if you don't need it. The debate is a lot of people here claim the Hemi sucks at towing, and speed, which just isn't true at all. The Hemi has had a lot of BS bashing simply because the marketing strategy dodge has used & because it's not a speed Hemi like the old days, but that doesn't mean it sucks.

Personally, Dodge made a full-size 4x4 QC that can go 0-60 in under 8 seconds... for my needs, ya just can't beat that. I work on a farm, but I don't need a super heavy duty truck that can haul everything and the barn, we have the John Deere for that. I'd rather haul what i need and be able to blow away rice boys and some other trucks.

 

Realm, I can see you hauling a horse trailer or live stock trailer to town with your John Deere. Whats the 0 to 60 on it? (with the barn in tow)

Thats what I call a tow vehicle!

 

Well we actually have 2 John Deere... Big 'un & Small 'un.

Now Small 'un is pretty slow, we only use it to haul the little stuff, like 200 bails of hay at once (yeah, the big round ones), or maybe the barn as you mentioned, but Big 'un, we use her for everything else. Like when we want to move a pond or the whole herd at once. Once we were watching Trading Spaces and decided to rearrange our living room, then BOOM, it hit us... why don't we rearrange the whole farm? So we broke Big 'un out who switched the North 70 acres with the East 70 acres. Much nicer now cause we have a few of the lake now.

 

oh yea just thought i'd say i more thing about the drag strip on the new dodge "hemi". it really isnt all that, if you would like slip times for 3 different "hemi" trucks 3 diferent drivers (one being myself) all with damn close to the some light, the proof is in the puddin (or puttin) by the new "hemi". this again is a nice truck but i can about promise if you bring that hemi to la rue ohio this spring, there will probly be some pretty dissapointed "hemi" owners. again im not sayin they are junk, just please take it to the strip and get your proff for yourself, we dont need alot of foolish people racing on the streets, take it to the track show your slip proud and if you can hey prove me wrong? (i dont think so considerin ive drove it but?)

 

So what were you're times? Oh BTW, reaction times have absolutley nothing to do with 1/4 mile times.

 

Well, I'm as new as it gets to the forum here but was very interested in this thread.

I'm looking to buy a new truck in the near future and have had my eye on either a new Dodge Quad Cab 1500 with the Hemi or an '04 F-150 Super Cab or Super Crew with the 5.4 Triton. One of my bigger concerns between the two is fuel economy, who gets the better mileage?? Can you guys give me some insight into that or steer me to a site that can??

Also curious about prices in the U.S. , Dodge in the Calgary, Alberta area seems to be much more affordable than a comparible Ford ( $1000's ). Is that the case where you live??

Hope that's not too off topic, thought with the enthusiastic debate going on these may be other points to consider.

Cheers,

Steve