Old PW's my perspective


[Follow Ups] [Post Followup] [Dodge Power Wagon Forum]


Posted by Galen on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 8:49AM :

The other day I was behind a late model pick up truck, you know the kind, very streamlined body, lots of plastic, leather seats, carpets and a big 4X4 decal on the back. Well I got to thinking about my old flatfender- undergoing a frame up restoration in the garage, and why Dodge had to stop making them. We all know the stated reason: the old L-(flat)head engine could not meet the EPA regs and that the styling was out of date and the dies were old and worn out etc. But the one thing one must remember to make a truck as sturdy as the WDX-WM300 would be bad business practice since it was just too damn rugged. How can you make huge repeat sales if your truck isn't designed to fall apart just when you made the last payment on it! Dodge, Ford, or Chevy they all subscribe to the philosophy of planned self destruction. And, forget about working on it yourself. There is so much plastic and computerized components under the hood it that it requires a megabuck diagnostic center just find the problem much less fix it. Getting back to cost, I saw a new Jeep SUV in a parking lot- $37,000 on the window sticker ( I would be so ashamed of that price I would have immediately torn that sticker off upon purchase)!!! Wonders never cease- seems people would rather pay big bucks for pretty plastic. If a flat fender were produced today,with the required safety and emission requisrements met, it might cost this much, but at least you would be getting your money's worth. Funny thing is the auto companies know most of the truck buyers today don't purchase them for what a truck is used for, they buy them for the "look". Ironically, the old flat fender looks more like a truck than do the trucks made today- which look more like cars, what a joke. This is why when you see a flat fender cruz by every one, I mean every one looks and waves! Maybe this is why the price for a restored WDX-WM300 fetches over $15K and rising fast. Well, I'm just glad I got mine and hope all those still fixing theirs gets 'em running, and to those still looking, finds one parked behind the barn.
Galen



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