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DAA - Dealer Advertising Assessment - it's an advertising charge from DaimlerChrysler.
PPA/EB-PF - that one is nit as familiar, but is more likely a regional ad charge for your area of Florida.
Regardless, you want to zero in on your out-the-door total price. If they charge you a dollar for the truck and $33,999 for the title, it's still adds up to $34,000 regardless of how they came up with it... yes that's a gross exaggeration, but you get the idea
kcram
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I would think you could do a little better than that, of course in my experience special ordered vehicles don't get as good a deal as to taking one off the lot. Maybe more so with a diesel.
Best regards,
Dusty
The lot vehicle has costs to the dealer associated with it, which go on increasing every day it sits there. The longer it sits there the more expensive it becomes for the dealer, and the more sense it makes for the dealer to sell you that one rather than order one for you.
However, if you make it clear that you will only order (or buy elsewhere), you should be able to negotiate a better deal. A special order is gravy for the dealer. It's a guaranteed sale with virtually no associated costs. It's an added number for that month, and it doesn't eat into the holdback or floorplan.
The dealer might say they'll give you a better deal on a vehicle off the lot, but the figures say otherwise. If he doesn't offer a better deal on the ordered vehicle it's because he chooses not to (to pressure you to buy one from the lot), not because he can't!
:--)
kcram
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It's a dually 3500 SLT.
thanks
I ordered my '96 3500 dually and I'll likely order my 2005 this fall. But for the most part, trucks in dealer stock of that class are almost always set to tow; it's the interior options and colors that would make the difference.
kcram
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Premium cloth power seat, etc.
Light group
Aluminum wheels
265R/70 17 OWL tires
Fog lights
Automatic Trans
4.7 liter Magnum
The MSRP was right at $30,000. Got is for $21,000 plus tax and title. This was with rebate and EP pricing. EP was about $1400 below invoice.
I special ordered the truck on April 2, 2004. I used the Friends and Family of Chrysler program. I was originally quoted EP (Employee Price), of $29,828. However, when I took delivery of the truck on May 22, the dealer tried to charge me 1% under invoice for the truck, which was slightly above $31,000. There is a price at the bottom of the internal pricing printout that dealers get that is called "FFP" but my dealer kept explaining that I dont' get that price. A quick call to my uncle, and he told me I was supposed to get FFP price. My dealer did not him on this either. I ended up having to call the Chrysler zone office on this, and they straightened it out, and my deal was rewritten for FFP price, which was $580 lower than 1% under invoice. I did get all rebates taken out from those prices ($4500). My final price was somewhere around $27,500.
This dealer was Waldorf Dodge in Waldorf MD. I was pretty unhappy with the buying expirence, considering they either 1) Tried to take me for a fool on that $580 or 2) Are completely in the dark on how the FFP program works. Also, they made me sign an arbitration agreement in order to take delivery of the vehicle. If I had known I could have walked from the deal and got my $1500 deposit I put down on the truck when I ordered it, I would have just gone to another dealer and had it exchanged.
Besides the not so hot dealership expirence, I am pretty happy with the truck. I seem to be getting about 14 MPG without having a toneau cover on the bed. I am calling around for a price on having UConnect and a toneau cover added (the UConnect was on restriction when I ordered the truck, and I have decided after I ordered the truck to get the soft cover put on.). I had a spray in bed liner put on though the dealer at a cost of $450, which was over the rail and included the tailgate. Calling around before I took delivery of the truck, to be armed with numbers, I found that price to be pretty reasonable for a 8' bed. This truck can be driven with a light foot or with a lead foot equally as easy, because of the electronic throttle. It handles pretty well for a truck, the ride is bouncy, but that's not a bad thing, I don't want to forget I am in something that is less forgiving in the handling department. The build quality is solid, though there was a minor paint issue on the passanger side door (fixed by the dealer with no questions asked). The Infinity stereo is much better than the JBL system in the 2000 Camry I drove reguarly for the past 4.5 years and is light years ahead of the still stock system in the 1990 Ford Econoline 250 I drive for work on certain days. I have put 1100 miles on the truck in about three weeks (including a 500 mile road trip though the NE part of Maryland). I get looks wherever I drive this truck, because it is one of the few Laramie regular cab long wheelbase trucks out there without the sport package. Being Flame Red probably helps draw attention too.
There are a few changes I would bring to this great truck. The first is I would like to see the overhead console from the 2003-2004 Jeep Liberty, 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee make it back to the Ram (it was on the 2002 early build Laramies, but was removed abruptly in the middle of the 2002 model year). Second, on the Laramie quad cab, there is a six way power Passanger seat. On Laramie single cabs, it is manual. Can we get a power seat on the Passanger side on a regular cab too? I also would love to see the dual zone A/C system be automatic, like in the Fords, GMs and Nissans. A factory spray in bed liner, like in the Nissan would be a good idea too. I also would steal the power rear window from the Tundra. I would move the cruise controls to a mini stalk, like in the Galant (DC owns a stake in Mitsu) or in the Tundra, but keep the current stereo controls on the rear of the steering wheel spokes. Also, the addition of an extended, club cab, model would be useful, and at the same time, make the quad cab a little larger. I would have liked to have a club cab truck with a eight foot bed, but since I could only go single or quad, and I use the 8' bed to the max pretty often, I went with a single cab (easier to park). Though most people can get by with a 6.25' bed.
5.7 Hemi Engine
Tow Package
20x9 Polished wheels
Fog Lights
Quad Cab Value Package
Sticker was $34,941 and I paid $27500 including 6.7% taxes.
First Ram, or truck for that matter, 25 miles and loving it.
After '98 all Dodge auto transmissions received changes that addressed marginal lubrication issues under extreme temperature conditions, as well as a new designed solenoid shift pack and more reliable electrical connectors in the transmission circuit. Still the vast majority of Dodge truck owners DID NOT experience premature problems or failures. I've seen many go 150,000 miles and more and never been touched. There is another problem that doesn't show up in the statistics: using Dexron-Mercon ATF in a Dodge will cause a number of performance problems and eventual failure. Unfortunately, Dexron-Mercon was used in a large number of these reported "failure" cases.
I ran the following type of truck in through the Kelly online book:
1999 1/2 ton chassis
Club or Extended Cab
small V8
auto transmission
4x4
top trim line
60,000 miles
good condition
air, PS, PB, PW, PDL, tilt, cruise, AM/FM/Cassette/CD, dual front air bags, sliding rear window, towing pkg, premium wheels
Here is are the Kelly trade-in values for my area (northeast):
Chevrolet - 11,150
Dodge - 9,540
Ford - 10,425
In 1999 the F150 Lariat cost approx. $1600 more than the Dodge SLT
In 1999 the Chevrolet cost approx. $3100 more than the Dodge SLT
In real terms, all other things being equal, the Dodge retained its value better.
Regards,
Dusty
Is that true??- thanks
I'm sure a jake-brake can be installed on an automatic version, it just wouldn't be very effective since on decceleration there is so much uncoupling in the drive line.
For a lot of reasons a manual six-speed makes more sense on a diesel light-duty pick-up, especially if one makes the assumption that the truck's use will justify the cost-up of the diesel package. A manual allows better maximization of the power and torque of the engine, as well as the economy and reliability potential.
Interesting to note, though, that the six-speed New Venture manual is heavier than the automatic transmissions.
Best regards,
Dusty
kcram
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Let me start off by saying my dream that I have had since I have been 12. Wake up look out the window and see my Blue `94-`97 now `01 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 1/2 ton Slt Extended cab with cream interior with 2 inch custom lift. *options* Grill Guard, Nerf Bars, Fog Lights. Then in the back of the truck my 4 wheeler, I wake up with the piercing sound of someone yelling "when you win the lotto!" lol Well Anyway I just turned 18 and finally have $3000 saved up and im out on the prowl To find my Dream or something close to it. If anyone has any suggestions on if I can even pull that off with $3 grand (just the truck)and what other alternatives are out there. I applogize if I posted in the wrong section. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Feel Free to reply...
-Future Ram Owner
The 287 CI engine (4.7) was designed by Chrysler engineers and is currently manufactured at Chrysler foundries in the U.S. and Mexico. It was not a Mercedes design and is not manufactured anywhere else in the world.
The transmission you are referring to is the 545RFE. It is a pure Chrysler design, is fully electronic, fully adaptive, and has six distinct forward speeds. This transmission was first used in '99 on the Jeep Grand Cherokee behind the 4.7 engine. It has since migrated to Dodge trucks where it has proven to be an extremely solid and robust design. It has no known inherent design defects. Since it's introduction there have been only two component quality problems, both transducers, and had affected a very small population of 2002 versions. There has been one shift program update (PCM) on Dakota and one on RAM. These corrections resolved a quirky cruise control/shift quality issue, nothing debilitating. There have been only a hand full of reports of catastrophic failures within a short period of time after vehicle delivery, indicating an assembly problem. Problem and especially failures since are extremely low. I have talked to three transmission rebuilders who stated they have never had one apart!!
In short the 545RFE is probably one of the best and most reliable transmissions currently available in an American designed light-duty pick-up truck.
Regards,
Dusty
Steve
Just in case you weren't aware, your 4.7 motor incorporates a polyspherical cylinder head design. Also known as a "semi-hemi," it is a hemispherical combustion chamber with one flat bulkhead. Chrysler has used the polyhead chamber before, as far back as 1954.
This chamber shape can nearly match the hemis one horsepower per cubic inch in normally asperated, moderate cam timing form. It is notably resistant to detonation, highly tolerant of low-grade fuels, and will actually produce slightly more torque per cubic inch at lower RPM than a hemi of the same configuration.
I don't know what you've been use to driving in the past, but I wonder if you feel that the little 4.7 has a lot of low-end power for an engine it's size. The polyhead is noted for producing a fairly broad and smooth torque curve, mostly because volumetric efficiency is generally higher than a hemi and a pure wedge chamber design at lower induction flows.
Bests,
Dusty
Paid $37000.00 out the door, received military rebate, 2.9% finance 60 mth. Titled in Virginia
Purchased at Waldorf Dodge in MD, do be careful, they are a tricky lot (but nice and polite). Tried to get me to take the $2500 rebate instead of financing. Total interest paid would have been $6800.00 as opposed to $2800.00. Interest offset rebate. If you have a trade worth anything...cash out and invest the money or just put it back in the bank. Don't roll it in to something that depreciates...like a vehicle. Unless you don't qualify for the best interest rates. Goodluck.
II've been out on short term disability for several weeks now. Finally going back to work and ex part time town hall lurker. Update on the Ram Quad..I bought my SLT QUAD HEMI in march. 20 inch wheels, 3.92 LSD and Big Horn edition. During my time unable to drive, ( wife drove me)I came to the conclusion I didnt like the ride with the big wheels, and lack of some options were noticeably missing on longer ridesso it was worth loking to upgrade to a Laramie. Yesterday With added incentives and good negotiations I traded in for a fully loaded, all the electronics, leather Laramie, graphite monochrome, and step bars included. 5.7, 17 inch wheels, aluminum aloy rims towing and LSD. MUCH happier with the ride and interior options. I commute ALOT and the extra Infinity stereo, wheel cntrols and dual climate make all the difference. LOVE the Hemi and RAM.
R/Bill
I have a friend of a friend who just bought a 2004 Ram 3500 Cummins/6speed Dually. He is wanting to upgrade his speakers like you did. When you installed the tweeters in your dash was the wiring harness there or did you have to wire them into the radio? Good luck with the new ride. Rick
It would have been expensive, but I got extra (EOM) cash back from the dealer and free nerf step bars as well, so all I paid was the difference in a car note back to them for the overlap month and 500 cash; no other out of pocked expense. The ride on the 17 wheels and 3.55 LSD rear end is SO much better as well, definitely worth the upgrade. Oh yeah,, Sport appearance package, so it has the matching body color painted trim, billet grille, tow hooks among other features. Quite a good look!
The tweeters went in so easy (refer to the upper dash removal you sent me, and I just needed the dash head unit wiring kit (Best Buy) to tap into the speaker wires easily. I DID use the resistors to filter out the low end (Crutchfield sells tweeters already filtered of course. They mounted right to the existing openings and the system sounds much better when fired up. And YES I used the changer in the Laramie.. the LCD display is quite different to operate but with the steering wheel controls, I am already wondering how I drove WITHOUT them in the past ..
350 miles and very happy (wife is too with the dual AC... and heated leather come cooler weather <G>)
Bill
At the moment high-end RAMs are in short supply around here. There are quite a few entry-level models and a number with manual transmission. I was at my dealer's this past week and there was not one '04 RAM 4x4 on his lot. Nor a diesel.
There may be more to squeeze out of that RAM with rebates, I don't know. Good luck on your quest. It sounds like an exceptionally nice truck you've got your eye on.
Best regards,
Dusty
2500 primary rebate
1000 Bonus Cash
500 Military rebate
500 Farm Bureau (if member)
Average difference between MSRP and invoice on a loaded Ram is around $5000. So ten big bills is not out of the realm of possibility - one just has to remember this is discount from full MSRP.
kcram
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I guess with the '05s just about a month away most dearlers are probably in a bargaining mood!
My dealer is not particularly large -- about 1600-1800 units a year, but his current stock of RAMs is pretty pitiful even for him. I think I saw eight on the lot last week and they were all plain-Jane versions.
Bests,
Dusty
Thanks
CT
In order to get specifics on the rebates & incentives offered in your area, you need to have more info - like year, ZIP code, and which Ram you're shopping for. Rather than try and get all of those details, I'm going to refer you to our Incentives & Rebates page, where you can check the offers in your area for the models you like.
kirstie_h
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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Is there any difference in the 2004 Cummins HO Turbo Diesel or the 2005 Cummins 600 Turbo Diesel?
Thanks,
Scott
kirstie_h
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MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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Now at, 150 miles, I'm very pleased with the truck!!
I'm also in the UK and a sucker for American iron! I've got a black 2004 Ram 1500 SLT 'Hemi Sport' on order (will arrive in 5 weeks!).
I've test driven a Hemi Ram before but wondered what your experience has been regarding living with one of these beasts in the UK (left hand drive, the physical size, 14 MPG!? etc).
I'd be using mine as a daily driver and will be up and down the highways and byways quite a bit (I do about 15k miles per year) and really want to know whether I'm doing the right thing or whether I should be signing up for a BMW 3-series company car!?
Any thoughts and opinions for all would be most appreciated.
Cheers,
James.
LHD: You get used to it very quickly. So used to it that if you take it to Europe, you'll feel as though you're on the wrong side of the road!
Size: You get used to it very quickly! If you've ever hired a non-HGV type lorry/truck to move house you'll know what I mean. By the time you take it back, you're driving it like a car.
MPG: You get used to it very quickly!! (i) You have no choice. (ii) 14 MPG (US gallons) translates to 16.8 MPG (UK gallons) which makes it easier to bear.
BMW as 2nd car: Depends on your finances I guess.
Whatever, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!