But to answer your question, since 2004.5

 

Georgeandcheryl, im with you on this one. I drove a new 325/600 a few days ago, and it did not impress me at all. I couldnt hit the gears too good because im not used to the six speed, but in 5th or 6th if you stepped on it, it just didnt feel as powerful, as i thought it should . My 94 with a plate would have ate that thing ALIVE! I havent drove an auto yet because they didnt have one, but it doesent have NEAR the pull in high gear that my 94 does with the converter locked. I guess i shouldnt expect it to, but i would almost put dads stock 98 against it in a race . If i drive an auto soon, ill let you know what i think of it compared to the 6 speed, but i hope its quite a bit faster.

Eric

 

Well it sounds like the 6 speed that you drove was the twin brother of the auto that I drove

 

I thought the new engine just had another injection event and an electronically controlled wastegate. This is news to me that it has a cat...

Bish - I'm in Lauderdale this weekend if you're around.

 

Well I didn't think it had a cat either and I didn't look under the rig to physically see it, I'm just going by what I was told. I know when I first read about the new engine on a Cummins site and in the TDR there was no mention of a cat.

 

One thing to remember here is that the power increase of the 600 over the HO is only something like 8%, which you really shouldn't expect to be very noticeable in seat of the pants testing, if it is detectable at all. If you get in a 600 with an expectation in advance that it should feel much different then you may be setting yourself up for a dissapointment, so it may seem slower as a result of your expectations... but in truth it is simply not much different.

Buy hey, if they can reduce the emissions that much and make it 50-state legal with no power hit (even a slight gain) then that is pretty good in any event. Just don't expect a neck-snapping difference over the HO...

 

Good point but I wasn't really expecting to notice a difference like night and day but what I wasn't expecting is for the new 325hp to feel like it took two giant steps backwards from the 305hp, and that's the impression I got. If it would have just been the same driving feeling with better emissions I think that would be great.

 

G&C I think you need to go test drive at least another one or two before you can make such a definitive assertion that these 600's are so doggy. - It's kinda like knowing someone who won the lotto and then determining it's easy to win..

 

I think you are right, in fact we are going today and I'll drive at least two more. I don't believe they have any 6 speeds yet but i can drive the auto and compare it to the auto with the 305.
Not trying to **** anyone off here, I don't like what i'm typing either I'll be sure to share my experience with everyone.

 

Lightman
I wish I was home this weekend, don't get in untill late sunday night. We could hook up at Outdoor World (bass pro), spend the min. one hour their, then go race the trucks down I-95 where the average speed is 90mph. Maybe next time, I'll keep you in mind if I get over to the west coast.

Has anyone taken the CAT off of their 600 yet? It looks real easy to take off and put in a new peice of pipe. Not that I would ever do it .
bish

 

Im ready for the results of your 2 other test drives Georgeandcheryl, but im just afraid they are going to be the same as the 1st one you drove .

Eric

 

Just got back from the test drive on the 600. Not as sharp on the throttle as the HO with a 6 speed.

The rig I was driving was a 2500 Quad AT. It just came back from a test drive when I got in, so it was fully warm. Had the tow/haul switch off for the entire trip, execpt when I wanted to slow to see it downshift. The sales person had it on, keeping the engine a little quieter just after the upshifts.

All in I guess a 6-speed would be better. I am glad I did not bite early on the Ford. I guess I will wait just a little longer on the Dodge too.

 

Ok we are back from a test drive, the truck was an auto quad cab, only got to drive one due to spending the day spending money elsewhere and running late. The truck was much better than the first one I drove, it seemed to have a slight hesitation when accelerating from a stand still but the truck had a lot of get up and go, a lot like the 305hp BTW I looked under the truck too and saw the cat or at least a big fat pumpkin on the exhaust pipe that looked like a cat. Overall this truck was impressive I'm happy to say. I'm looking forward to driving a 6 speed next.

 

My truck made 8 mpg on its first tank of fuel. Now I get around 18-20mpg at 50000miles. I drove a 03 HO six speed last year and felt disappointed but mine drove that way until I put a chip on her. Once I did that it woke her up. I sure that these trucks will make good power, just like the older trucks. These trucks will make an easy 500rwhp with a couple simple mods. I'm sure that will put a smile on your face.

 

Maybe G&C is use to driving a top fuel dragster or something but I have driven a 94' , 96 (owned), 98', 2001 HO and bombed, 03 so, 04 so and a 04 HO a Auto. My 04.5 6-speed rocks definetly goes as good as my buddy's 04 HO , but I can't shift as well as the auto but that's not what I bought it for. It definetly will get with the program when you want it to . Lots of fun on the on-ramps. This is definetly the best fit and finish , tightest, fastest stock diesel I've driven. It will tow what I want and all in a stock package.