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Comments
Dodge is number 3.....maybe
Ford and Chevy are 1/2....in which order though?...Ford sells more...but they are cheaper...I believe chevy makes a better truck....and I'm not saying that just cuz I own one.....they are both excellent..
- Tim
Try this. Get out of your Chevy pickup (or Suburban or whatever) and sit in front of it so that you are looking straight into the grill (the view I had from our old car while waiting for my wife to finish grocery shopping). You will notice that the front components look like a jigsaw puzzle, but disconnected. The headlights, turn signal assemblies, grill, bumper, etc. are each attached to the vehicle somehow somewhere back in there, but each piece is seemingly totally unconnected to its neighbors. It looks like a tiled floor where they never put the grout in. Of course, this design has a big advantage in that they can measure tolerances in quarter inches. ;-)
From many years of witnessing Ford's seeming inability to grasp the concept of fit and finish, I reluctantly looked again and found that, among other things, they finally realized that those rough plastic flashings are simply part of the manufacturing process and should be removed before the vehicle is assembled (what a concept!). The Fords have actually gotten to be pretty tightly assembled and done so from a very well conceived and thoroughly thought out design. I was amazed.
Now, I disagree that Dodge has the styling crown in pickups. They have gone much too far with bulges and curves. I was so little attracted to their styling that I never bothered to look closely enough to know just what their fit and finish is like (sales figures indicate that apparently many others have felt the same ;-)).
However, I still gave the overall Chevy styling another chance and (objectively and scientifically, of course!) re-examined all the photos on their web site. Honestly, the still-squarish styling looks very much like older Fords and Chevys. They need to update or hark back to curvier designs and get out of their linear mode.
IMHO, Ford has hit the nail on the head with the right combination of sweeping curve and straight line. They look like what they are: muscular, powerful and practical vehicles with a rakishly suave demeanor. F-series all the way!!! No question about it....
tim -
what is this, the oprah winfrey fashion show?
"They look like what they are: muscular,
powerful and practical vehicles with a rakishly
suave demeanor."
rakishly? suave? damn, i'm glad i got my chevy. i think i'd die if someone told me my truck looked like a garden tool or shampoo... ;-)
kyle
Rico Suave haha
My trucks to sexy for the garage to sexy for the expressway to sexy for you to ride in to sexy to do any real work
haha
TIM2 a little pciky are we???
Ryan
I have been in numerous Ford Superduties. The interior door handles are very thin, flimsy, and have flashing on the top edge, that you touch everytime. The dashboard is just a vast piece of plastic, that looks pretty dull, and you could hose it down or sweep it off. The radio fits in just like GM's. The little plastic cover that covers the powerport is very loose fitting. (The GM's have 2 power ports with spring loaded flip covers that are softly padded.)
Sorry, but Ford is not heads and above GM. My Chevrolet has nothing but plastic on the interior, and I could care less, everything is nice and tight and has a great feel. (except for my door panel, because I broke a couple of the plastic mounts when I removed it to put in after market speakers.)
i have nothing against the Fords, in fact I almost bought a Superduty, but couldn't find a used gasoline CC when i was looking. Just saying I think these claims that Ford has such superior fit and finish are poo. Actually, I think Dodges interior fit and finish is of the highest quality. Unfortunately that is the only thing I have nice to say about Dodge.
Best Gas powered HD truck = Ford SD line
Best Diesel powered HD truck = Dodge Cummins.
Both Ford and Chevy will give Dodge a run for the Diesel market with chevy's new Duramax and Ford's new line of diesels in the next several years.
Oh ya, best big import = Tundra
Best small import for the money = Frontier
Chevy was first to round their trucks in 1988..
Ford was..1996,7?....
Dodge was 1994.
While the new chevys make look the same to Ford owners...the chevy owners (like myself) have told GM that's what we want....so be it.
I like to help others..but what yawl actually buy doesn't make a bit of difference to me....if the whole world hates my trucks looks....but I like it...that's all that matters to me...
Peer pressure used to get to me as a young punk...but as an old punk now....I really don't care what's "fashionable".
- Tim
heres a good one
PUNKYTIMSTER
hahahahhahahahahhahahahha
Ryan
kyle
I can't tell you if the exact model is what came out....but i remember picking something similar to what is out.
I don't like the Freightliner "I look bad..but have nothing under the hood" dodge look...and ford looks like a bad cartoon to me...or something buzz lightyear would drive...
and auto show response (as mentioned) gives them an idea.
I believe I have gotten mailings before as well?...a looong time ago.....asking what I like and don't like.
I like what they make....as do thousands and thousands of other buyers....as for a square look still and looks the same?.....Ford took almost a decade longer to round up....and they went too farr in my opinion..
But hey...like I said....I don't give a rats.. what you buy...I sleep very good.
- Tim
They also asked styling questions, i.e. radical or conservative.
In late '98, out of the blue, I recieved a very nice little package from Chevrolet. It had a nice letter saying thank you for yadadada, including participating in the survey...which was at least 2 years prior! The package had some nice postercards of every model truck in Chevrolets history since 1918, had a picture of the truck and features of it. kinda neat. It also had a picture of the then soon-to-be Silverado and a brochure of all the new features that were going into it.
I bought my first 'brand new' vehicle in '94, and i recieved that around '96 or '97. so if they tracked me down, and I figure they sampled quite a few of the faithful to see what they wanted in the new truck.
I dont' know any Chevy owners that I know, and none around here that are unhappy with the truck GM made.
the auto makers are going to do what they want....and we either buy it or not...the people they DID ask does not make that the ultimate word....but it's nice to know I was asked...
even in the 50's....to now....the Chevrolet has maintained..."the look of a chevy"....Ford and dodge have not....is that bad or good?....it's neither....but I like the Chevy...
I like certain fords and dodge..but when you round up the 50's....and 60's/70's muscle cars..and the 80's...I like GM cars the most....and it's what i buy...for looks...and for features as well as power and reliability.....
This debate has gone on for decades..and will continue for many more....
I like the sport side box of the new fords....although it does not look like a sport side at all....it barely flares..but it makes a nice curve and looks good from the rear..
it's just that god awefull bumper/front end combo and horrible fenders that make me curl...
to each his own...
Chevy and Ford rule.....Dodge follows........farrrrr behind..
- Tim
I got both as well...
Wife doesn't want to give up the GT though....she likes her style (95) and hates the new style..(sorry)
I was hoping she would go thru with the cobra....oh well
Neighbor is a Dodge fan.......won't see one in my drive...I mean ya gota put yer foot down someplace!
LOL
- Tim
Of course, there is no one, universal "right" styling answer from the customer point of view. There are better/best answers to manufacturers and dealers; that being what styling helps sell more trucks.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I represent the growing group of people who really do not need a truck. It will be an exception when we actually use it to haul something bigger than I could before. Our F-150 is a commuting vehicle most of the time; it's our family car right now. We had a Civic as our only car before it, and the supercab interior actually provides more space than that car. With the hard tonneau cover on the bed (coming in this week), it will have 6 to 8 times the "trunk" space too. :-)
We bought it mostly for the size (puts me up at the more usual height in Dallas/Fort Worth traffic), safety (check the 1995 or even newer Civic crash tests), and styling. Almost immediately after my wife mentioned her desire to see me driving something bigger and presumably safer, I "fell in love" with the F-150 looks.
I appreciate that others have other opinions. Otherwise, it would be a boring world of limited diversity and no style would hold much appeal to me. This is just my obviously personal and biased opinions on the subject. No apologies for that. Just (a lot) more verbiage....
That's my story and I'm sticking to it....
- Tim
Nice truck, but I haven't the chance to ride it yet.
For more Brochure pics go here and look under Brochure topic.
http://www.teleweb.net/mgdvhman/
- Tim
I like the 2500 Ride...and use the payload capacity....but I do not need or want the diesel. If I was to pull a 5th wheel or trailer....there would be no hesitation...
I have to test drive the 8.1 to see if I will get that or the improved torque same HP 6.0?....the 8.1 only comes in a manual (which I can drive..but no thanks)...or the allison.....which again...I'm not sure I need?.....$1700 extra for the Allison and 8.1....I'll have to see if I want it or not....
probably the 6.0 again for me....it's done all I need it to do. I have hauled several small trailers under 5K or so....and a biggen' once for my dad in law...and it was fine....although if I did it on a regular basis..(which I don't )...MAYBE i'd get the 8.1
we will see
Good luck
The duramax/Allsion combo is THE king now...
- Tim
how bout father in law.
Ryan
?
- Tim
.......BOY!
- Tim
was it Obyone that posted that video of the diesels chained back to back?....that was awesome..
The ford gave a better fight than the Dodge...but it had no chance...
Post that again....if I recall...ya couldn't dave it?....I showed that to my buddy with a Cummins..and my father in law with a Powerstroke...and my bro in law with a cummins...
For some reason they didn't smile and laugh as much as me??
- Tim
honestly, say that the PS has a flying chance of outperforming the Duramax?
PS will still sell, with its long history and loyal following.
But it won't be king of the hill. not by 70 hp.
and do you think the Gen III PS would be very good, if the Duramax wasn't making it step up?
And Fords answer for the Allison is?......
waiting....
waiting....
......
Same thing goes for the Duramax. Yes, Isuzu makes some of the best deseils, but how many miles has one of these new HD Chevy's logged?? After the new model year debacle of '99 that Chevy just went through, I'd think the smart guy would be a little more gun shy. But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
I honestly believe we have a new King...
I have given credit to the Powerchoke..(did I say that)...and The Cruddin's..(who said that??).....and have never praised the 6.5....bu tthe time for touting GM as the best Diesel has come boys....
- Tim
You're right about the Duramax. its not proven longevity. You doubt the power advantage? How?
You're wrong about the Allison, it is proven. The exact same transmission has been in service for a couple of years in RV applications mated to a high output Cummins. And it is flawless. My uncle works at a large diesel shop that is also an Allison dealer. They see lots of these RVs come in for service intervals while they are on long trips. The only probs they ever have is something funny in the RV electronics that cause the Allison or the Cummins to hickup.
other than that, yes, it is a bulletproof tranny.
Exactly what problems has Chevy had with the Vortec motors? I don't know of any. Some truck vibrations, but NO probs with the engine line up.
The 4.6 is not perfect, but it does pretty well. I know a guy in Penzoil engineering, does lots of stuff for HPD, they hated the discontinuance of the Caprice, tough, fast cars. The Crown Vics are fine, but the 4.6 rarely lasts over 150K...their engine studies showed the #4 and #8 pistons were both low on coolant and oil, and were always the first to burn up.
- Tim
Oh, and don't ever plan on rebuilding that engine.
They are like all [non-permissible content removed] and Tiawanese parts....use
once, then throw away."
F150Rules:
For as long as I can remember, people looked for
anything made in Taiwan, Korea, China, Japan, etc.
Stayed far far away from it because the products
were made cheap and with slave labor. They still
have an element of that name of use once then
throw away.
Of all the trucks sold diesels make a small percentage. They are expensive and only payoff for the very serious user.
I was really hoping that chevy was going to come out with something good when they put out the silverado. There is always next time. Ford will probably be first 32 years running by that time.
I cannot afford the Hyundai levels of quality with the GM. The Ford - Much better quality than the GM - less truck.
Toyota - the Big3 better get busy.
My dad had one....cuz they were "going to be the future!"
- Tim