BANG!! Pulled the Trigger!

[fatcat]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You'll love the little beast, just a couple of questions though. Was there a reason you went with the 54" deck over the 60", and how is the VW diesel holding up, I want one really bad, but have heard they have reliability problems, I sure would like to know that's not true. )</font>

I figured the 60" would be too big ... but everyone is suggesting to get the 60" ... I guess there is still time to change since I will not pick up the machine till Friday ... just pay for the upgrade.

As for the Diesel Jetta ... I love it! Bought it on 12/3/2002 and just turned it over 40,000 miles. So far so good ... no problems yet! If you are looking into getting one, the new Jetta/Gulf TDI's are even more powerful with the same miliage. I get NO LESS than 51 MPG and thats no bull!

When I was at the VW Dealership for the 40K service, the new Passat TDI's were there (2.0 L at 135 hp) and the new Tourage V10 TDI @ 330hp ... they were very nice.
My Jetta crusies quite fast for a 90hp/155 ft.lb. engine ... it supprises everyone who drives it. Best miliage was 58.85 mpg on a trip from NJ to NH.

You must get the 5-speed for the best miliage.

Also, I use AMSOil in everything ... I use the Series 3000 SuperDuty Diesel oil in the VW and it is great.

 

[milkman]

Thank you fatcat, gotta show your reply to the wife, she drives 65mi. each way to work, the odyssey gets 25mi. to the gallon and with 174000 miles, the fuel savings would be a good part of the payments.

 

[5030]

Mr. Cat:

Hope you don't have a slushbox behind your Cumapart. Diamlers' auto's don't like that kind of torque, that is, unless JET reworks them. You could increase the pump pressure, but the o.d. clutches aren't up to the task.

 

[fatcat]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Mr. Cat:

Hope you don't have a slushbox behind your Cumapart. Diamlers' auto's don't like that kind of torque, that is, unless JET reworks them. You could increase the pump pressure, but the o.d. clutches aren't up to the task. )</font>

Nope, no slushbox behind the old Cummins. My wife and I don't believe in automatic trans. The old Dodge is a 5-speed NV4500 with an upgraded clutch. I remember when I had the injectors and new turbo put in for the first time and we took it out for a ride with the original clutch and BANG! The old clutch could not last more than a mile after we gave her full throttle.
I came out in pieces ... so a call to SouthBend for one of their ConO clutches and Kevelar through-out barring was in order.
That was some time ago, the old truck is getting a little slower ... but still pulls the trailer with now problems.

As for the VW ... I myself drive 150 miles a day round trip to work ... so the miliage I get with the diesel Jetta is a reall $$$ saver.

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I myself drive 150 miles a day round trip to work )</font>
NOW thats a lot of driving! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif don't know if i could do it.

 

[5030]

FatCat:

I think I'd have gone with a Luk, they have my company's steel in them. Wait a year or two and you will be able to get a MB 800 series engine in the new Ram. That is the same one that is in the Sprinter. You loose one hole, they are a 5 cylinder.

 

[fatcat]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( FatCat:

I think I'd have gone with a Luk, they have my company's steel in them. Wait a year or two and you will be able to get a MB 800 series engine in the new Ram. That is the same one that is in the Sprinter. You loose one hole, they are a 5 cylinder. )</font>
Those Sprinters are VERY nice. I was at the dealership a while ago and spoke with a plumber who was in for his first oil change in his 3500 Sprinter duley. He had nothing but praise for the truck, best thing he ever had for his work. He said that fully loaded, he was still getting 25 mpg ... far better milage than any pickup or conventional van he ever had.
The 5 cyl. engine is very quiet and powerful.
I'm sure Ford and GM will be taking a close look at these trucks.

But the Cummins engine contract with Dodge goes through 2007 model year. I would have to say that Dodge would stick with a winner and not change engins ... just wish they would upgrade the engine to the ISC or better ... and ISL.

 

[5030]

Fatcat:

Ford owns the majority of Cummins. Hence, Ford will have a cummins engine, Dodge will have MB and Chevy will have a Duramax. When Diamler's contract runs out, thats it. Ford has 30 F350 pickups in Dearborn with cummins engines in them already. They use them for company vehicles.

 

[fatcat]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Fatcat:

Ford owns the majority of Cummins. Hence, Ford will have a cummins engine, Dodge will have MB and Chevy will have a Duramax. When Diamler's contract runs out, thats it. Ford has 30 F350 pickups in Dearborn with cummins engines in them already. They use them for company vehicles. )</font>

Boy if I had a dime for everytime someone said that Ford owns Cummins, I'd be buying a L48. Thats a myth that has been floating around for more years than I can count. At one time, a long time ago, Ford owned less than 10% of Cummins outstanding shares, then sold them back in the very early '90.
This link should clear things up.

And if anyone says to you that Fords owns Cummins, just refer them to the Cummins web site.

 

[granite]

I checked out Toreku and found them to be a good dealer - no bells and whistles but quite helpfull. They know their competing with the NH dealers so they were competative on price too. I'm looking at the BX23 and also live in NH. What did you pay for the BX23?