If Ford had Cummins?

Damn Nate, what the hell has gotten into you?

wow, you gotta go quite a ways to see mike simmons as an asshole. quite a ways off track that is.

i think max is right on. there would be complaints from some circles, but the german diesel would win even those people over. don't get me wrong, i love the cummins, i just can't write off the mercedes. have talked to a lot of very knowledgable people lately and have found no one that has a single bad thing to say about it. i8t wold work out fine after the initial complaints. it isn't an international and it deosn't have aluminum heads after all.

Nate, that's a bit harsh don't ya think? Or did I miss something again?

Roy

I guess it would depend on what Dodge offered for a diesel. Between Cummins and Cat, I'd follow the Cummins and if ford had a Cummins I'd be in one. Having said that, the Magnum we bought last month with the v-6 is a nice car. We looked at all the others, and liked the magnum best, time will tell.

Roy

I don't do many "me too" posts but this one is good for me as well on all points. With some trepidation I have a new Freightliner M2 on order with the Mercedes engine, 7.2L 300 hp, FSO 8406 six speed. We ( I ) wanted the C series Cummins but it's not available in the 106 chassis with hydrodraulic brakes. Freightliner isn't accepting orders with the Cat engine right now, don't know what's up with that. Even the Kenworth rep didn't have a negative thing to say about the Mercedes power plant, we'll see. I DID get the order in time to avoid the '07 emmissions standards.

Even if ferd had heated seats? Mac

Good point, Chris... what I SHOULD have said was "what if Ford and Dodge both had Cummins?"

Mac

I drove a MB turbo diesel for a while and loved it.. great engine, IMO... I'd also have to factor in the it was an early 80's engine and must have undergone several improvements since then..

Mac

Actually, it would seem that if Cryco was "saved", it wouldn't have needed the merger.... hmmm... Mac

I'm just curious... Anyone know what percentage of pickups that Dodge sells have the Cummins? Maybe now compared to the mid-90's would be interesting...

I remember the "new" Ram front end because everyone suddenly wanted a Dodge Ram, but didn't see many diesel pickups of any brand at that time..

Mac

Pray tell, how were they cured? I know of 3 years the damn things were going south on.

Roy

ive always been a dodge man, but i do feel that dodge has fallen behind in other areas. not a lot certainly, but i do notice differences when i drive my buddys '05 king ranch. i wouldnt trade my cummins for anything but another cummins, being able to get one in an f350 king ranch would certainly sweeten a good deal even more.

somebody replying: "Methinks Nate is overreacting (again!) and is just blowing smoke." in response to my personal opinion of someone that neither of us knows. perhaps i misread mikes intentions, thats sometimes easy to do when all you have is printed text in front of you, but it sure looked insulting to me.

if i misread his intentions ill certainly give him his due apology. ive yet to finish reading the thread.

dont misinterpret my feelings. im just saying that if they do drop the cummins, it will be their biggest f*ck up to date.

i just dont see it. perhaps certainly, but the strength of the cummins (from a marketing perspective) is in the name cummins.

although i dont foresee myself ever buying one, i have to give the duramax the credit that it deserves. theyre producing amazing power and holding up far better than i ever thought they would.

the short answer.....the Dodge

possibly, i dont know mikes intentions but i would like to know how i could be accused of "overreacting" or "blowing smoke" in my PERSONAL OPINION of someone that neither of us knows. i will apologize if its in order.

F-650 and up... never offered in the 450/550 (due to DC's exclusivity contract w/ Cummins)

Agreed about the "not blowing their head gaskets all over the place" like many expected to see (me included). But the amazing power/reliability issues? Ehhh... not so well. At stock or mild levels, sure - they're pretty reliable. Turned up to sick levels, they're wearing down pretty quickly. This shouldn't really be a knock on the engine itself, because people are pushing them to do a lot more than they were designed to do.

I'm with ya... more comfortable seats, larger rear passenger room, crew cab/long bed availability... if I could just get one without that UGLY AS HELL blue oval on the grill :)