Well, for better or worse, we're set to pick up our '08 3500 Mega Cab next month. It rolled off the assembly line on 05-14-08, which puts in the the last series to be built... or should I say "hecho", since it was assembled in Mexico (arriba, arriba!!!).

Anyway, it should land in Idaho at the end of the month, and we're supposed to pick it up the first week of June. It will be 840 miles from there to here, so if nothing else, it will be broken in and ready to tow once we get it home. Also, we opted for the DVD player, which means I should have some degree of my sanity remaining, since the kids will be with us for the trip.

Is it possible that Dodge has finally figured out the emission issue at this point? Also, in talking to the salesperson, he said that Chrysler has swithced to a heavier-duty manual transmission for these latest trucks-- anyone know or heard anything about that?

 

The manual transmissions have always been great in these trucks. They did not go to a different one but they did change the gearing in them so you are not running at such high rpms going down the hwy.
I got the DVD player in mine too and it's great but very hard to reach back and control it from the front seats. The player in our Chrysler mnivan is in the front dash and is very easy to manage. Why couldn't they do that in the Ram?!?!?!
My truck has been great so far but just be prepared for the mileage. Hwy isn't too bad if you drive slow enough but the city mileage stinks.....

 

Went to Dave Smith HUH!! Good choice in staying away from the dealer in our home town! Just so you know We take our trucks to Carson CIty to have service done.

You will enjoy the trip. My Mom bought her truck up there and she and my wife did the trip in 2 days stopping in Prineville Or. for the night. My Mom drove and my wife read the manual to her wenever she had a question.

My truck has not seemed to have the issues with the emmisions stuff that others have had. I did take it in once for a few symptoms and to have the comp. reflashed. It just gets crappy milage.

Enjoy the trip and the new truck

Chris

 

Yes, it's our second trip to ID. We got a Durango up there back in '06. I flew up there and tried to drive back the same day-- I made it as far as Winnemucca before I had to pull over at a truck stop.

Thanks for the tip about the Carson City dealer. I've haven't head alot of good things about the local dealer here-- but he's been in business for awhile, so they must be doing something right.

I did utilize their services to take a few Rams out for test drives before deciding on the Mega Cab... hope they didn't mind us using their trucks, fuel and time.

 

How much money could you have possibly saved to justify plane tickets and all the extra fuel? Is service not that important? The selling dealer will normally offer much better service to customers that have actually bought from them. I have seen so many people shoot themselves in the foot buying a long ways out of town. If the local dealerships have terrible service, then maybe different story. Did you give the local dealer a fair shot at the deal?

 

I hear this all the time but don't believe it. Maybe in Small Town, USA, but not around here.


I could have save a couple thousand going to Dave Smith, but the associated costs and hassle made it not worth the extra effort.

 

My local dealer never seems to care where I bought my truck. I used to always try them first but their price was never even close to what I get going to North carolina to buy. Trade in is also much better in NC versus Va....

 

I figured to have saved around $5k by going up north--- and that's without having to go through all the salesman "I'll-have-to-talk-to-my-manager" games. The plane ticket in '06 cost me $149 one-way, plus another $200 in food and gas. Granted, I drove many miles in the dark, but I feel it was more than worth it.

In fact, when I was picked up at the airport in Spokane by the D.S. shuttle, there was another guy there from San Diego that was picking up a truck. They told me that even people from Alaska fly down, pick up their rigs, drive them to Seattle, and send them north by ship.

I'm figuring that if these people are going to such extremes, it's gotta be for a very good reason.

 

That is amazing that one dealer would be so much less money than the others. Here in Canada all dealers pay the same for the vehicles...it doesn't matter if you order 2 or 200. This is the reason it puzzles me that if one dealer can do it, why can't the next. Congrats on your new truck, I am sure you will love it.

 

the last three trucks i have bought have all been over the internet-some up to several hundreds miles away. reason being- always a couple of thousand dollars cheaper than buying local

 

Local dealers are betting that you won't go through the hassle just to save some money. Many of us have learned that it is well worth it. And what better way to get aquainted with your new pride and joy then spending many hours driving it home?!?! I drove 9 hours, picked mine up, and drove 9 hours home. I got a much better deal on my purchase and I got around $2000 more for my trade in. The selling dealer also moves a vehicle that they may not have otherwise. At least not so soon...

 

my Mom saved 8K and I saved close to 7K by not buying at the dealer here in town!! My Mom got hers at Dave Smith but I got mine in Roseville.

It is worth it to me to not give my money to Reno Dodge again

Chris