I have had my 06 for about 1 month now. Most satisfying truck i have ever driven. I dont know to much about either of the trannys but i went with the 6 speed. Feels like a very solid transmission. I'd say go for it!

 

Yup. I did the deal in late September, but it took me a month to get down there to pick it up. They really run a first-class operation.

 

honestly I bought my 06 g56 thinking it had big shoes to fill (I absolutly loved my 98 12 valve and it kept lasting and lasting) well it has filled those shoes and then some but I have to admit I'd like to tint my front windows more to match the back and the ac has a bigger cab to cool in the summer some days in the nebraska sandhills it seems the ac just can't get cool enough for me but the tinting will help that but I think these trucks at least with the 6 speed can really pull I tows about 30000 behind mine at least 3 days a week and it does just fine but I have to admit with everything turned up it's not hard to smell a slipping clutch hehe I love my 06 though it seems to really like working hard and I already have 50000+ miles on it. though my dad's 06 has had problems with the seats tearing at the seams though mine has been perfect. the only thing I don't like as much as my 98 though is the manual lumbar support adjust my 98 was power and I miss that also I can't figure out how to turn off the ding when you don't have your seat belt on. I pick hay outa the field alot and it's annoying to always be putting on and off your seatbelt then.

 

Oh, did I mention--this will be my wife's business truck? Yep, she wants it as much as I do.

From what I can tell, I'm expecting to pay around $41K for this truck (edmunds.com invoice price) and trade in my old one. Do you really think it would be better to sell it private party? I don't have a lot of time to put towards selling it.

 

Here is what they will not tell you:

1. You have to pay extra to have the cord for the already installed block heater.
2. You have to have the “High idle” flash done prior to delivery.
3. All the TSB flashes have not been done at time of delivery. You will have to bring it back to get them done.
4. Your fabric seats will show water spots if they get rained on. The spots will fade, but it will look weird.
5. You can pull just about anything you want.
6. The truck is more fun to drive the more you drive it.

 

Remove the seat belt latch electrical connector and jump the two wires - then the truck thinks the belt is always latched.

 

the hvac blend doors have problems but that is minor I guess an auto would be ok but why get a diesel if you cant use its power? and if you get a 6 speed they wont tell you it needs taller tires cause it is so low geared you will get run off the freeway. but that was an w\easy fix and now it looks way cooler.

 

glad to see im not the only one this bugs. i wanna figure out how to remove the plastic over the gauges and put a piece of window tint or something over it.

 

Your headlights just need adjusting. There too high. I turned mine down two full turns on the adjusters ,both sides. Perfect now ,high beam where you want it and bright too.

 

I agree with the headlight adjustment. If you are getting a 4x4, sooner or later, you will want to level it. When you do, you will need to adjust the headlights again!! Thank goodness it's easy to do; just a torx T20 from any auto parts store for about 2 bucks. Keep it in the glove box so you can quickly adjust them if you really load down the bed too. It's a quick and easy adjustment.

Things I wasn't told but would have been nice:
1. The gear box is tighter than a 16 year old virgin. It'll take about 4 or 5K miles to break it in. Then it will shift like a dream.
2. If you've never driven one, the computer will surge the throttle if you get it below the idle speed in an attempt to keep from stalling the motor. Very bad on a snow or iced road. You will be in the ditch faster than you can ever get your foot on the brake.
3. Any "cool parts" are much cheaper from an aftermarket source in most cases. Don't get things like running boards, brushed aluminum gas cap, bed liner, etc from Dodge. They charge way too much.
4. Get the limited slip. It's not the best out there, but so far as I can tell, no one else makes one for the '06.
5. Get the heater cord factory installed. It's about $10 on the invoice and about $60 afterwards.
6. Get the U-Connect. I don't know about your state laws, but in California, in 2008, the law will change and no cell phones other than hands free while driving.
7. Don't get the nav system. An after market one is swappable to other cars you own plus you can do software upgrades as new roads and maps become available. They charge a fortune to get maps loaded that cover more than just your locale.
8. Get the tow package. It's the best value for options.
9. Get the tow mirrors....heated of course. Well worth it!!
10. Get the leather seats. There's no substitute for leather. It smells great and mine is holding up perfectly by using leather wipe-down cloths from ArmorAll.
11. Have them show you where the trailer brake connecter is under the dash. Seems the factory likes to play hide-n-seek with that thing. While you are at it, be sure they show you the pigtail that plugs into it, just to be sure it's included.
12. Check it out in bright daylight for any shipping damage. After you leave their lot, it's your damage, not theirs. I had a tear my driver's leather seat, which they replaced and then gave me the old one. It was a tiny tear on a hidden part that would never had mattered. Check the under carrage too. There's been posts of some pretty severe damage from the tie-downs used on some trucks while transporting.
13. Get it made in Mexico for a better paint job.
14. Test everything before leaving the lot. Every control and function. I even had them check the torque on the lugs.
15. Get them to fill it up and give you some free oil changes. At least some coupons for buying oil filters.
16. Check the roof for dents. Climb up in the bed and really look it over. Mine had a dent where the detail guy put a knee up there to reach across the roof to detail it before I picked it up.
17. Get 2 keys with the alarm fob on it. They are about $100 each otherwise. Also get the key code # and keep it safe. Your manual will talk about it. Read it and point it out to the salesman so he knows what you are looking for.
18. Get the fender liners in the rear. Well worth the money from the dealer, you can find them elsewhere, but they will be mopar. I don't know of anyone who makes aftermarket liners.

This is more than you were asking, I think, but I hope you find my tips helpful.

 

Yes to the fold flat floor, although they're on Ebay often where I bought mine. I kept checking and someone was selling one for a buy it now price of $100. They usually go for much more.

Yes to the Thunder Road package as it's called here. The premium cloth also has the storage under the center section of the front seat, which is nice. The "premium cloth" is is my opinion as well. I can't wait to get a set of nice seat covers or maybe some of the aftermarket leather some of the folks on here has installed.

You will love the heat as well, especially if you plug in and get a winter front. It's pretty quick.

 

Good post skipro3, where were you at in August when I was buying!

#16, they tapped my passenger rear door, way up top near the roof with the wash pole. The dealership owner pointed it out to me when I was picking up. They sent out a paintless dent removal guy. Pretty much gone, I know where it's at, but I'm ****.

 

I didn't like the 06 that I took out a rip. It would take to much money to fix the truck to actually work right. I would just fix the old truck and keep driving it. My truck has way more power than the 06 could ever have. My tranny is sweet and is almost bulletproof. My stereo kicks, the new truck stereo was pretty weak. I'm money ahead now as I would have done the same stuff to the new truck and have no warranty. I just hate losing all the money just by driving it off the lot. Its probably more than $6k.

 

I thought of a couple more things:
19. Get the off road package that includes the skid plate for the transfer case. It's less than $100, so I think it is a good value.
20. I sure wish the Laramie package could get the electric rear window. Ask how you can get it. That's a long reach in the quad cab.
21. Get heated seats. It only comes with the leather, but it is SOOOO worth it considering how long these diesels take to warm up.
22. If you are going to get the extended warranty, go to www.chryslerwarrantys.com They are a real dealership and sold me my warranty for $100's less than my dealer. In fact, I printed out the quote from their site and took it to my dealer. He still wouldn't come down on his price, let alone match it. He tried to scare me into thinking it wasn't a real Chrysler warranty, but it is.
23. Don't be rooked into getting a paint or leather protection package. What a waste of money. They try and show you that it's only a few more $$ per payment. For the $600 they wanted to charge, I can use a little elbow grease to keep my paint and leather looking real nice.
24. My dealer tryed to tack on some security thing where there's hidden #'s in each major body panel and etched on the glass. I said no. They said it's already on the truck, they all have it. I said no thank you. Good by. They removed the charge. Your dealer might try some other scam. Be sure you know what every charge is with your dealer before he sends you in to the finance guy. The finance guy sets up the contract and trys to sell the extended warranty, the paint/leather protection, and the bogus security system.
25. Think about getting the lo-jack system. Our trucks are desireable. Their statistics are pretty amazing in regards to recovery times. Just be sure lo-jack has coverage in your neck of the woods.

O.K. I think I got them all now.

 

Have you decided on an automatic or manual? I have a ’06 with the G56 and while it is great for towing and shifts more like a sportscar than a truck tranny, the final ratio is too revvy for unloaded interstate driving.

If you are set on an automatic, I’d wait for the Jan ’07 trucks with the new 6.7L and 6 speed slushbox, otherwise go for the tried and true 5.9 with the G56 manual.