I test drove a 2012 3500 single rear wheel 6 speed manual diesel 4X4 with 3.73 gears. I found it very unresponsive when I stepped on the petal to accelerate, I am also very concerned about the mileage.
I have a 2003 that is the same and I am very happy with it. I am looking to correspond with someone who has a 2012. Thanks

 

I have a 2012 quad cab 4x4 long box, 6speed manual.
Mileage is 10-12mpg,
Power sucks unless you are shifting above 2000rpm which is stupid I think.
The stock clutch will not hold much power if any beyond stock. If your towing heavy I would be considering either change out for a aftermarket clutch and fly wheel or I would buy a automatic.

The power difference between the auto and the manual is so much that unless you are actually sold on a standard I would go auto.

 

I currently have the 3500 in auto with 4:10 srw rear and 4wd. I drove the manual first, and agree was not impressed. We drove the auto and I was done night and day difference I thought, plus no shifting while pulling the 5th wheel. I'm also coming from a 6 liter powerstroke which was a turd compared to the Cummins. The mileage is getting better with miles and I probably will delete later down the road. I love rolling into the throttle and smiling ear to ear! Plenty of power and I hear it gets crazy power with the tuners and stuff.
Jim

 

My 04.5 six speed didn't wake up until I turned off tq limiters and defueling. Then I went nuts with everything on it.

My new truck with the auto needs nothing. It flat runs and will ruin tires faster than you can buy them if you like that sort of thing. I love it so far. Mileage gets better with more miles and break in. I would get the HO with the auto all over again and twice on Sunday.

 

I have a 2012 crew cab long box 4x4 with the 3.73 and g56 transmission. I agree the clutch and flywheel are garbage. The truck however, is perfect. I love it every time I drive it. The mileage is getting better at 22000 km's already and I'm all stock except AFE intake. I have heard incredible things about deleting the DPF and EGR systems. The auto does come with the high output motor and doesn't have the clutch issues obviously. I have had the stock clutch slip a time or two towing my boat which leads me to believe i'll be upgrading the clutch and flywheel well before 100K but I still like the manual and was willing to deal with the problems that come with it. Whichever you decide on if you buy new, all the best and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

My 2003 definitely had more power down low, the throttle was very responsive, actually too responsive when rock-crawling in 4-low. My theory is they've designed a torque buffer into the software to preserve tranny life in the 4th gens or maybe the throttle mapping is just more lazy. Towing heavy on the highway though, the 4th gen really shines. The 2003 would get winded on long, straight mt. passes. The 4th gen just cruises up and over like they ain't there.

There are many, many advantages to the 4th gen over the 3rd, so I'll forgive it for the lack of throttle response. Could also be that the truck you drove was in regen or close to needing it. They get into a funk. Like asthma (or constipation might be a better way to describe it) I guess.

Oh, and a 2012 with a manual trans is de-rated anyway. Go test-drive an auto if you want to experience rocket-boost.

 

My wife and I have a 3500 CCSB SRW with the 6 speed and 3.42 rears. Truck works great and has gotten better over time, now have 8,000 on it. We had test drove one with the 3.73 gears and was not pleased with the response and rpm's when cruising on the highway. Our truck has become more responsive over time and will get up and go.

With the 3.42 gears we are getting 14-15 mpg for regular commute and up to 17-18 mpg on the highway running 70-75 mph.

 

my 03 was gutless when i first got it off the lot it took about 10k miles before it really got decent mileage and before the low end power settled in. over time it came alive and i noticed the same thing with our 2012 and i was concerned until my wife reminded me about my complaints with my 03 when it was new. the first 10k miles were slow off the line lately though the off the line power is just like my 03 strong and there now.

I will say that deletes, a tuner, clutch and a cam are most likely in it's future. otherwise i love my 6 speed manual 2012

I know handshakers are short for this world and are being phased out due to various regulations and its a shame, probably in the next 3-5 years they will no longer be in dodges. the gravel roads that we tow heavy GN's up and down eat autos (i have plenty of aisin, allison and torque shift tranny replacement bills to show for this statement) for lunch even if you shift into low range with the t-case the steep grades and slow long pulls at less than 5mph really take a toll fast.

one gripe i have with all the new 6.7's is the exhaust brake does not work at below 20mph towing a 15k-20k lbs gooseneck up and then down such long steep gravel road read 2000-3000 verticle feet of decent at times all at low speeds means you are on the brakes alot. my old 03 the exhaust brake stays on no mater what speed.

my 2012 is pushing 16 mpg these days on road trips empty, 15 around town and 11 ish towing a load of 16k lbs. at times i wish i would have gotten 3.42s but the 3.73s work pretty well for me all around.

 

Wait for the 2013/14's and pray they really have fixed some of the major problems with the 4th gen's.

 

I've got a 2012 SRW Crew Cab Long bed with an automatic and 373 rearend I love it. I have always been a 6 spd man but after driving bith I went with the auto I wouldnt go back now for anything. It runs great and out pulls my 03 and my 07.

 

All us dodge fans are just crazy. Why do we continue to buy new trucks and have to upgrade things so they'll be right. But we always do it.