Which Diesel to buy? help please!

Okay so im thinking about buying a diesel but im not sure which would be best for my needs. Im going to be looking from about the year 2000-2008 range and im going to be using it for pulling/racing purposes. I do intend on doing modifications to the truck so which is best for me, duramax, cummins, or powerstroke? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!  

If you're looking for a competition truck, I would look at a 2001-2007 Dodge Ram with the 5.9 Cummins. The 6.7s have a lot of potential, but also a lot of emissions crap on them. 5.9 is the way to go, IMHO.  

Well im not really looking to compete...but if i see a kid thinking he's cool in a wrx...i want to show him up in my truck  

Well, you just said "pulling" and "racing." If you're just talking about screwing around on the streets, any of the newer diesels can be made to produce quite a bit of power with just a few upgrades.

But the Cummins is by far the stoutest platform to modify, if you're really going for big horsepower and torque numbers. Regardless, don't neglect your transmission. Chances are, your trans will go well before your engine will once you start doing performance upgrades.  

Ok and one more question, should i go for the newer automatics or just stick to manual which i like better?  

Depends on how much towing you'll be doing, and what kind of weight.

If you're going to be towing something once in a blue moon, go with the auto.  If it's your hauler then the manual.


Kris  
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 5.9L - No Mods Yet
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 6.7L - Titan Fuel Tank Owner

The 6.4 PowerStroke is by far the most superior platform out there for making lots of easy power. Anyone care to disagree?  
Forged Rods, Tuning by Diesel Innovations, PowerStrokeNation.com L.P.C. President.
Veteran Combat Medic,

Even though conventional wisdom is that manual transmissions are better for performance, with diesels, I'd say automatics are the way to go. For one thing, there's a lot more aftermarket support for them in terms of components, and for the time it would take you to shift gears with a big "donkey d**k" shifter, you'll already be halfway through the next gear with a good automatic, and still on boost. I'd say auto is the way to go.  

I'd say an automatic was better.... 80-90% of the time. But nothing is better then a full-manual auto like a guy I know has! But you have to have PCS for that....

Or you could get an 08-09 PowerStroke, and but down 500-600hp without ANY upgrades to hard parts. Just an intake, exhaust, and programmer!!  
Forged Rods, Tuning by Diesel Innovations, PowerStrokeNation.com L.P.C. President.
Veteran Combat Medic,

yea but if you want a motor that will last and get good mileage go 5.9  
I burn more diesel and run more miles in a week the most of you people do in a month. ctds that have been used 97 3500, 98.5 3500, 98.5 3500,01 3500, 03 3500. those that are being used 06 3500, 07 3500. and yea these trucks earn their living

If Want a Work Or a Ranch Truck Go With a Dodge. if want a pretty play truck go with powerstoke or durmax, i used to work pipline construction. we had them all 12s, 24 valves, 7.3s, 6.0s, 6.6s. they all did good but we kept are cummins truck longer. we had 91 d250 with over 500,000 thousand miles one it stile running good. they have there pros and cons. you get good ones and get bad ones.  

FORD is the way to go