We bought the 3/4 ton Silverado extended cab last night. I looked at the Dodge and the back seat was a lot smaller and there were no headrests in the back. I didn't bother to drive it. We had a hard time finding a Chevy 2500 2wd extended cab, but after I drove it, I was hooked. Moudry1 is right, this truck is awesome and the acceleration is great.
New to this discussion but I will throw my 2 cents in to the argument. Let me first say I own a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 4wd Quad. Let me also say I traded my 1995 GMC in on this truck - way too many problems.
I am not Ford man. I was a diehard GMC buyer however and this is the first non-GM truck I have ever owned. Travel any highway in America and by far you will find more Fords on the side of the road than any make or model. Statistically it could be because they have sold so many, but look around.
GMC/Chevy make a great truck. They are overpriced for the actual cost to produce, but then they all are. I looked at the 99 Sierra and read a ton of information and found that the truck was way too "car like" for my taste and had too many redesign characteristics to give it a shot in the first year. I would definetly look at it say 3 years out though as it was nice.
My complaints with the GMC/Chevy are the following: no fourth door, bad CV joints, squeeky interior, uninventive redesign looks, mismatched option combinations, and questionable experience with my last one.
As far as the Dodge goes my complaints are: weaker fuel economy, less precise steering, location of tie downs in bed designed by a total idiot, and turning radius. It corners well and is not top heavy but swing it into a parking space and you will see what I mean. Acceleration however is incredible. Like an old muscle car.
For the Ford enthusiasts: design mimics Dodge exterior, interior still looks like it belongs in an 84 Ford LTD, price too high for cost to produce, engines inferior to Dodge or Chevy offerings, never have I known anyone with a Ford who did not have trouble. I know alot of people by the way. Being highly sold in quantity does not equate to quality.
Foreign trucks - forget it I buy American.
BUT heres the key. I agree with alot of what has been said regarding finding a product that suits your needs. Some people tow, some haul, some plow, some drive to work and like to look like they belong at the hardware store on Saturday. The fact that the Dodge sits up high does not offer much. The differential still offers a clearence of only 7 inches. Hell the Jeep Cherokee has more clearence then that. Sure you could add bigger tires but for what. Anyone who buys a truck for $25-35K and actually takes it off road is a f____ing idiot or has lots of cash in which case the argument over which truck is better is mute.
I recommend finding the truck you want. Buy and extended warranty and sleep at night. If something fails as eventually it will in anything get it fixed. I have a friend with a 69 Dodge P/U that still runs, plows and hauls. It is missing both side windows and sits in the weather. Usually the water flows out the door when you open it up to use it on his land. It starts every time and has no problems. I have another friend with a Ford F150 4wd. Spends more time in the shop then an antique does for storage. He drives it more to and from the dealer than he does to work. It leaks oil, and gas, runs like [non-permissible content removed]. TOo bad its only a 97 with 38K.
Oh regarding my 95 GMC. New U joints, CV joints, transmission, wiper motor, some sensors, tie rods ends all before 50K. It never went off road, it never towed or plowed, it was a commuting truck at the time. No excuses it was a waste of money. Its most pressing job was cold starts to make rescue calls where I volunteer.
Oh and by the way. Dont you love the guys who buy the SUV like the Expedition or the ridiculous Navigator and put a luggage turtle on the roof to haul stuff when they vacation. What a joke. They are even funnier at the lumber yard.
Later paramedic99 Dodge for now. But GMC at heart.
lvstang - How can you say his opinions are lame - 80% of the post is recounting experiences, not opinions. Just because you don't like them doesn't make them any less true.
And yes, the post was long, but it contributed a damn site more to this topic than your two lines. We are all free to disagree with the opinions that paramedic99 did express, but let's do so in a constructive way. That way everyone learns.
Incidentally, we should all be grateful that paramedic99 got rid of the 95 GMC. If I ever need a paramedic I want them there as soon as possible, sorry but my truck won't start ain't the best way to make me their best friend.
I haven't had to replace any of those items on my old '90 S10 with 110,000 miles. Original tranny, u-joints, CV joints, tie rods etc. I did put some spark plugs in it, and a water pump at 100,000, but it was precautionary, not failed. Done plenty of towing and off-roading, (it's a 4x4), and I still have it. Maybe paramedics need to drive S10s. Fords and Dodges can be just as good, I'm sure. It makes me wonder if the people who have these major problems are also advocates for 10,000 mile oil changes and fast/herky/jerky stop and go driving, slamming curbs, pot-holes, doing burn-outs etc. My $0.03 added to your $0.02 makes a nickel.
Congats on the life of your s-10. My '89 is about to be traded... a burnt valve, bad cam, slipping tranny, and a howling transfer case...only 92 K on it. I'm looking to buy a full-size extended cab pickup. I thought I might get some input from you "experts"as to the make, but it looks as though it all comes down to get a good deal and an extended warranty.
Quad--Good call of ownership. Some of these expierences are due to misuse of vehichle. I started to agree with paramedic on his 95. I had three Chevy 95s that were nothing but trouble. Now, my employees treat all of my trucks like crap so the playing field is equal for all brands. Paramedic: One question. No foreign trucks? Did you check to see where your precious Ram was made? Almost half are put together in Mexico.
Now watch all of the jingoistic idiots come out of the woodwork!: "OH-Roc-that's different!! At least OUR FAT CATS get the money and not the Japanese!!"
Yeah. Sure. Watch the Germans rolling with laughter all the way to the bank.......And American CEOs smirking while vacationing in the Bahamas..........
If I ever need a good lawyer I know who to call. Just like with zbad71 I'll never argue with ones personal experiences. It's the ignorant statements that I'm reffering to. "Anyone who takes their 25-35k truck off road is an idiot" Gee I guess I'm an idiot for putting a 4" Rancho lift on my 4wd F150 and having a great time in the desert. "Ford interior looks like '84 LTD" If you don't like it fine, but neither the Crown Vics or the LTD's of that time period even remotely resemble the new trucks. "More Fords on the side of the road" If this guy was a real paramedic he'd see the majority of ambulances are Fords, both vans and pick ups."Expiditions and Navigators look ridiculous with turtle luggage racks..." Boy, I guess if you don't agree with Mr. paramedics truck choice you're either a f---ing idiot or look ridiculous. All I said Andy was he's entitled to his opinion just like the rest of us. And just because we do something someone doesn't agree with shouldn't make that person an idiot or ridiculous. Sorry if I offended you in any way.
Comments
LOL
- Tim
I am not Ford man. I was a diehard GMC buyer however and this is the first non-GM truck I have ever owned. Travel any highway in America and by far you will find more Fords on the side of the road than any make or model. Statistically it could be because they have sold so many, but look around.
GMC/Chevy make a great truck. They are overpriced for the actual cost to produce, but then they all are. I looked at the 99 Sierra and read a ton of information and found that the truck was way too "car like" for my taste and had too many redesign characteristics to give it a shot in the first year. I would definetly look at it say 3 years out though as it was nice.
My complaints with the GMC/Chevy are the following: no fourth door, bad CV joints, squeeky interior, uninventive redesign looks, mismatched option combinations, and questionable experience with my last one.
As far as the Dodge goes my complaints are: weaker fuel economy, less precise steering, location of tie downs in bed designed by a total idiot, and turning radius. It corners well and is not top heavy but swing it into a parking space and you will see what I mean. Acceleration however is incredible. Like an old muscle car.
For the Ford enthusiasts: design mimics Dodge exterior, interior still looks like it belongs in an 84 Ford LTD, price too high for cost to produce, engines inferior to Dodge or Chevy offerings, never have I known anyone with a Ford who did not have trouble. I know alot of people by the way. Being highly sold in quantity does not equate to quality.
Foreign trucks - forget it I buy American.
BUT heres the key. I agree with alot of what has been said regarding finding a product that suits your needs. Some people tow, some haul, some plow, some drive to work and like to look like they belong at the hardware store on Saturday. The fact that the Dodge sits up high does not offer much. The differential still offers a clearence of only 7 inches. Hell the Jeep Cherokee has more clearence then that. Sure you could add bigger tires but for what. Anyone who buys a truck for $25-35K and actually takes it off road is a f____ing idiot or has lots of cash in which case the argument over which truck is better is mute.
I recommend finding the truck you want. Buy and extended warranty and sleep at night. If something fails as eventually it will in anything get it fixed. I have a friend with a 69 Dodge P/U that still runs, plows and hauls. It is missing both side windows and sits in the weather. Usually the water flows out the door when you open it up to use it on his land. It starts every time and has no problems. I have another friend with a Ford F150 4wd. Spends more time in the shop then an antique does for storage. He drives it more to and from the dealer than he does to work. It leaks oil, and gas, runs like [non-permissible content removed]. TOo bad its only a 97 with 38K.
Oh regarding my 95 GMC. New U joints, CV joints, transmission, wiper motor, some sensors, tie rods ends all before 50K. It never went off road, it never towed or plowed, it was a commuting truck at the time. No excuses it was a waste of money. Its most pressing job was cold starts to make rescue calls where I volunteer.
Oh and by the way. Dont you love the guys who buy the SUV like the Expedition or the ridiculous Navigator and put a luggage turtle on the roof to haul stuff when they vacation. What a joke. They are even funnier at the lumber yard.
Later
paramedic99
Dodge for now. But GMC at heart.
lvstang - How can you say his opinions are lame - 80% of the post is recounting experiences, not opinions. Just because you don't like them doesn't make them any less true.
And yes, the post was long, but it contributed a damn site more to this topic than your two lines. We are all free to disagree with the opinions that paramedic99 did express, but let's do so in a constructive way. That way everyone learns.
Incidentally, we should all be grateful that paramedic99 got rid of the 95 GMC. If I ever need a paramedic I want them there as soon as possible, sorry but my truck won't start ain't the best way to make me their best friend.
Paramedic: One question. No foreign trucks? Did you check to see where your precious Ram was made? Almost half are put together in Mexico.
Now watch all of the jingoistic idiots come out of the woodwork!: "OH-Roc-that's different!! At least OUR FAT CATS get the money and not the Japanese!!"
Yeah. Sure. Watch the Germans rolling with laughter all the way to the bank.......And American CEOs smirking while vacationing in the Bahamas..........
Chevy Silverado or Dodge Ram for 2000 - II.
Please continue these discussions there.
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