Picked up my Black Limited today from OC Welch in Beaufort, S.C. today. Great dealer, good salesman - Ken Vanderhoof.
Drove it 250 miles on return trip.
First Impressions:
* Quieter than my '02 Duramax. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
* Didn't have the punch that D/M felt, but not broken in. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
* Cheap Ford left hood insulator off, built 12/16. Dealer would sell
me one for $125, but didn't have in stock. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
* 4x2 and drives like it was on rails. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
* I'm 5' 8" and Limited seats fit me perfectly. 650 miles back home,
might change my mind by then, but day 1 was wonderful. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
* Had white letters flipped, tires feel round and smooth, now if they
last. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
* After all the posts on here I expected something bad, but other
than the insulator and no underhood light, it was 10 times better
than I anticipated. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
* Long time GM owner, owned two Fords, both had major reliability
issues, maybe third time is a charm. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
GO BUY ONE!
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Mine - '04 EX 6.0,4 x 2, Black LTD. Limited slip, T&T mirrors. Built 12/16/03 Add=ons: C-Betr's, Bug Screen, Rear Deflector, Floor Mats, XM Roady with PIE adaptor, Ultimat dash mat, Ruff-Tuff Sheepskin seat covers, Bel Detector, Hellwig 1 1/2" front and 1 1/4" rear bars, SS door edge guards, 22" Trico Teflon blades...121K! Avg MPG UP from 17.3 to 17.8 with new tires.
'03 E350 - 165k, 7.3ltr. Empty gets upper teens and towing a 30ft light trailer still gets 11.
"Ours" KW T2000, Series 60 (435 hp), 1,409k. Autoshift.
The dealer charges for things that the factory decides aren't needed anymore. "The factory has the right to make changes......" so if I want one I can try and fight the factory, or buy one.
P.S. Forgot to mention that I like the feel of the 5-spd vs. the Allison that never seemed sure what gear it wanted to be in. Same driving style, mainly highway.
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Mine - '04 EX 6.0,4 x 2, Black LTD. Limited slip, T&T mirrors. Built 12/16/03 Add=ons: C-Betr's, Bug Screen, Rear Deflector, Floor Mats, XM Roady with PIE adaptor, Ultimat dash mat, Ruff-Tuff Sheepskin seat covers, Bel Detector, Hellwig 1 1/2" front and 1 1/4" rear bars, SS door edge guards, 22" Trico Teflon blades...121K! Avg MPG UP from 17.3 to 17.8 with new tires.
'03 E350 - 165k, 7.3ltr. Empty gets upper teens and towing a 30ft light trailer still gets 11.
"Ours" KW T2000, Series 60 (435 hp), 1,409k. Autoshift.
Congrats on the new truck. I also came from a dmax/allison to the Ex Lmtd. I agree that the Ford tranny is a smoother shifting unit. I've also found that it holds top gear a lot better while towing at highway speeds.
When you say it's quieter than the dmax, in what way? At idle or slow speed driving, I've found my 6.0 to be much, much louder than my dmax was. At anything above 30 or so, they're equal to me.
Get used to the feeling of less power. Mine has 7k on it now and 2 flashes and it's still feels slow compared to my dmax. I'm still holding out hope for more power as it gets more miles but I'd be surprised if it ever delivers the smiles the dmax did when I mashed the pedal. The Ex is a little heavier than my Chevy was (01 HD2500 4x4 CC LT, glass topper, rhino liner) so maybe that's the difference but the power is pretty under-whelming so far.
It's a nice truck ovearll, though. Seems well put together so far. I think you'll find the CC works better than the GM one, too. I don't like the controls as much but it's smoother and just does a better job once on.
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If you think that it shifts well now, wait until you ride in one with a shift kit. I like mine with the kit.
scott
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If only there was a kit. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I've got a kit in a 4R100 also and I agree, once you feel it you'll never want to go back to a stock 4R100. The TS is different, and shifts really nice already...but, come on aftermarket. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
__________________ 2004 EB Excursion, 4x4, 6.0, everything but step tubes and 2nd row chairs, Magnaflow Exhaust, Isspro Gauges in an under cubby pod, Fumoto sitting on V Codes and Revo 285's.
"Treat me good, I'll treat you better; treat me bad, I'll treat you worse." - Sonny Barger
My '04 is quieter than any '03 EX 6.0 I tested at idle, accelerating and cruising. I think under acceleration this is a lot quieter than my Dmax.
Another 150 miles today. Jumped it a few times at stops. It may just be that my Dmax was louder and felt faster, but it sure did feel like a 454 was lurking there. This is beginning to act like it has some punch hiding and ready to come out. My Dmax was the first one the dealer had and it had 500 miles when I got it, so it was "broken" in. Can't wait for chips, exhaust and air. Just wish I could get duals.
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Mine - '04 EX 6.0,4 x 2, Black LTD. Limited slip, T&T mirrors. Built 12/16/03 Add=ons: C-Betr's, Bug Screen, Rear Deflector, Floor Mats, XM Roady with PIE adaptor, Ultimat dash mat, Ruff-Tuff Sheepskin seat covers, Bel Detector, Hellwig 1 1/2" front and 1 1/4" rear bars, SS door edge guards, 22" Trico Teflon blades...121K! Avg MPG UP from 17.3 to 17.8 with new tires.
'03 E350 - 165k, 7.3ltr. Empty gets upper teens and towing a 30ft light trailer still gets 11.
"Ours" KW T2000, Series 60 (435 hp), 1,409k. Autoshift.
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Keep in mind guys the Dmax is in a P/U. X is good 1000 pounds heavier.
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More in the range of 500 pounds in the real world. Still a fair amount of weight and all but I sure miss that dmax punch. Oh well, the ford does seem to tow a little bit better.
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My '04 is quieter than any '03 EX 6.0 I tested at idle, accelerating and cruising. I think under acceleration this is a lot quieter than my Dmax.
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Sounds like you have one of the rare ones with a working pilot injection system. Don't ever get it re-flashed or you'll probably loose it.
2) "Breaking-In" the engine--I don't know if 500 miles is enough to break-in a DMax or not, but DEFINITELY NOT a PSD. You will notice a big difference immediately following your first oil change at about 4,000 miles, and a bit more at the next oil change. It takes a good 15,000 miles to break-in these engines and quiet them down (at least, on the 7.3L engines).
3) Good news--I've owned my Ex PSD for 3.25 years now, and my grin is EVEN BIGGER TODAY than it was when I bought it. It's the only vehicle I've ever owned that I still feel the same amount of pride, love, and wonderment as the day I bought it and drove it home. What a great truck and engine! Hope you have the same experience.
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I don't understand, when Four Wheeler mag tested all 3 diesels, 6.0, dmax, cum, the Ford was faster in every type of test, especially towing.
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This test was done with trucks, not SUV's. The trucks are faster. Put extra weight in a pick up that the "X" has to carry and they would be a little closer in speed.
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Mine:
2005 Chevy 2500HD DMAX/Allison, CC, LWB, 4x4, 3.73 w/locking diff, LS Pkg, Bose & XM Satellite, Dark Navy Blue w/Graphite Buckets
Hers:
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I don't understand, when Four Wheeler mag tested all 3 diesels, 6.0, dmax, cum, the Ford was faster in every type of test, especially towing.
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This test was done with trucks, not SUV's. The trucks are faster. Put extra weight in a pick up that the "X" has to carry and they would be a little closer in speed.
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And the trucks that were tested are not the de-tuned, re-flashed trucks most of us are driving.
front-24", rear-17"), riding on 285/75/R16 Bridgestone Revos.
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