2004 Dura Max

timk49 · April 17, 2004

I'm thinking of buying a 2004 2500 HD 4x4 Dmax. I've been looking around the local dealers in Southern California and they all have the same canned speach.

"Those Dura Max trucks are hard to get". I guess that means they don't want to deal on the price that much.

Why is there a shortage? When will the supply catch up with demand. I just hate buying in a sellers market.

I do like the 0% $1000 cash back deal but I'd like a better selection.

MCourson · April 17, 2004

Perhaps do to the change over to the LLYs? I dont know though because there are a good bit at dealers here. Unfortunatly I think the dealers are trying to make it a sellers market in this case.

dogzapper · April 17, 2004

Lots of the LLYs (the new Duramax engine) here in Portland, Oregon. I'm shopping too, so I'm familiar with the local situation. Interestingly, it's the 8.1 liter engines that are hard to find here.

You might check out GMBuyPower and see what you come up with.

Steve

timk49 · April 17, 2004

Do all the 2004s have the new LLY engine?

MCourson · April 17, 2004

I think the LLYs came in around January so there has to be some 04's with the good 'ole LB7

linda · April 18, 2004

we have plenty of LLY's here in MD......the 8.1L's are difficult to come by though. I think its cause not as many people buy them. My 8.1L came from Reading, Pa (150 miles away) cause there were none in the "LT" variety like i wanted. Are you looking for a DMAX LT? It seems not to many 2500HDs in the LT package around unless you want the 6.0L. I can throw a rock off of my back porch and hit a 6.0L 9 out of 10 times... .

AUTOGUY · April 18, 2004

I just picked mine up on Thursday and the dealer did a locate and it was one of three 2500 HD CC/LB Duramaxes within 200 miles!!! I consider myself lucky to be able to get my hands on this truck. I'm sure there are more with different cab/bed sizes and different trim levels around, but all in all the Duramax is hard to find.

I called a Chevy dealer and they did not have a single truck in stock with a D-max!!!

HendyPhoto · April 18, 2004

I had a HELLA time finding my 8.1, almost had to order then found it 2 states away. Our dealers here are loaded with diesels and 6.0's, maybe you should come get one here!! (SLC, UT)

timk49 · April 18, 2004

I own a 2003 2500 HD 6.0. It has 41000 miles and has ben a great truck. I want to tow a bigger trailer now and I drive about 200 miles a day for work. I dont like the range of the 6.0 I only get about 300 miles to a tank of gas. A longer cruising range would be great on long trips. I dont want leather, have no use for On Star, I dont care about a DVD player. I'm looking for a 4x4 2500 HD Dmax EXT Cab short bed with cloth seats ( split bench type). A single cd player and audio controls on the steering wheel. I like the DIC information I dont have that now. I like the Polished alloy wheels they look great. Silver Birch is my choise of color.

Did I miss anything?

Most of the Dmax trucks I see in this area on the dealers lots are loaded with the unnessary things that drive the price up. I still have to sell my 03 so I've got time to locate just the right truck. The dealers only want to give 19,000 for my 03.

I will probably list it in the truck trader and ask 25000 or a little higher.

MCourson · April 18, 2004

Yes most everything around here is loaded LTs. The truck you want is almost exactly like ours, except we just bought the aluminum wheels, dont have the steering wheel controls, and it is white.

tonyd818 · April 22, 2004

I'm thinking of buying a 2004 2500 HD 4x4 Dmax. I've been looking around the local dealers in Southern California and they all have the same canned speach.
"Those Dura Max trucks are hard to get". I guess that means they don't want to deal on the price that much.

Why is there a shortage? When will the supply catch up with demand. I just hate buying in a sellers market.

I do like the 0% $1000 cash back deal but I'd like a better selection.

Take an hour drive up 5 then to 99 to Delano (Delano, CA). There is a HUGE chevy truck dealer there. I'm sure they have lot's of DMax available, due to the large numbers of farmers. I heard the same story your hearing when I bought my July 2003.

americanmuscleman · April 23, 2004

When I bought my 2500HD a couple weeks ago, it was only one of two at a huge dealership here. It just so happened to have exactly everything I wanted. They had had mine at the dealer for 2 days, and other one sold the next day. The dealer said it would have been 4 to 6 weeks to order one in (with an LLY duramax) and they had a few on order, but it was 6 weeks before they were due to get one for their showroom.

No 8.1L's here, and I haven't seen one for sale in a LONG time. I've been looking at new ones for months.

Most have 6.0L's, and aren't many GMC HD's for sale around here anyway. Lots of Chevy HD's though.

dogzapper · April 23, 2004

Yeah, 8.1s are the rare ones here in the Portland, Oregon area. The only one I know of is at Wilsonville Chevrolet (about ten miles south of Portland).

Interestingly, a lot of local guys buy their 8.1 HDs at Dave Smith Motors in Wallace, Idaho (zip code is 83837, in case you want to look it up on GMBuyPower). Smith Motors offers a killer price, picks you up at the Spokane Airport and busses you to Wallace. The drive home is a wonderful chance to properly break-in your rig, instead of doing it in fits and starts in an urban environment.

Even more interesting is the fact that Smith Motors has very few Duramaxes.

I've just seen too many injector and fuel failures on Duramaxes so I won't buy one when I purchase out new rig next year. I'll get a loaded 2500 HD in 8.1 and be a happy hunter.

Steve

gcope63 · April 25, 2004

Steve,

The last time I checked Curt Warner in Vancouver had a few 8.1's in stock as well as several DMax's..

A friend bought a truck from Dave Smith last year, it was kind of a weird experience. Like buying from a telemarketer And he didn't get save much from local.. I think his total savings was $200.00 which barely covered airline tickets and the wasting of a day driving across Washington. That said I will consider them when I buy my truck later this year...

Gary

dogzapper · April 25, 2004

Steve,
The last time I checked Curt Warner in Vancouver had a few 8.1's in stock as well as several DMax's..

A friend bought a truck from Dave Smith last year, it was kind of a weird experience. Like buying from a telemarketer And he didn't get save much from local.. I think his total savings was $200.00 which barely covered airline tickets and the wasting of a day driving across Washington. That said I will consider them when I buy my truck later this year...

Gary

Gary.

I just checked; you're right, Curt Warner has several 8.1s.

Heck, they're just across the river. Never shopped there, but they are close enough to Portland that they have to be competitive. Man, I can't believe the stock of trucks they carry. Curt Warner will be a definite possibility when we get our new rig.

Thanks for the tip.

Steve