Ill admit Ive been a loyal Dodge owner the past 16 years. Three separate trucks and hardly any problems. In all that time, the only repairs I had to make were a fuel pump on my first truck and an EGR valve on the last one. Never had any other problems, nor did my transmissions fall out on the hwy.

I switched to for to get the 6.5 bed in the crew. Figures Dodge would offer it right after buy my 2012 F150. Dodge did introduce some options that have been on F150's already but now they have a bunch that the F150 doesnt. Its Fords turn to play catch up now.

Regardless, I am really happy with my Ford and dont have anything negative to say about it. Its a head turner and runs like a beast.

 

No matter who you ask, you'll get complaints. What goes on here, goes on other forums. Everyone thinks there make is better. The Fords have had some huge money issues. Cam phasers, Plugs, etc. We accept it. Yet people knock on dodge trannys, checvy piston slap etc. You can't please everyone. The one who needs to step it up next in GM imo. Dodge and Ford are going to make them look bad.

 

It's funny what sticks with you. I totally get the "feel" of things making a lasting impression.

Before I purchased my new Plat, I went around to look at the competition just to see what is out there. I have always been a Chevy Tahoe fan (owned 4 older gens), so went to look at a new current gen Z71 with visions of a moderate lift and beefy tires and aftermarket wheels running through my little head...lol.

So being all excited, I sat in a fully loaded one that stickered well north of 50 grand, grabbed the steering wheel, and immediately got turned off. After owning the newer Fords and Dodges with nice thick steering wheels, the Chevy's felt like I was holding onto a pencil...lol. And then to make matters worse, my head hit the headliner since the sunroof took out a lot of headroom.

Anyway, the steering wheel feel was enough for me to say "no".

 

To me, that is the big thing with all vehicles now. Most makes are, for the most part, good, solid, reliable vehicles. But it's the attention to detail that sets certain brands apart. For me, especially with interiors and "look and feel", that is Ford.

 

Thank you for writing this! All excellent points.

Everyone is getting all excited about nothing. I'm sure the 2013 F150 is waiting in the wings to clobber the RAM. And then the next gen will come out in 2014 or 15 and be even better.

Nice try Chrysler but the Ford Motor Company's got you beat. Oh yeah and GM too... Almost forgot about them!

 

I totally agree with you on the feel of the trucks. I was a serious GM fan and had 4 Silverados and an Avalanche but the current GMs are so disappointing that I won't even consider one. The steering wheel has a terrible feel and they're just not like they used to be. The 1999-2006 GMs were so good but now that I have had a few Fords I could never go back. Maybe, a Sierra Denali half-ton if I absolutely had to.

 

a **** for the tranny dont think so

 

Not really that big of a deal. The buses I drive are a touch pad. Weird, but it is a similar idea to what exists in other vehicles already.

 

Think of all the times you've heard people shifting their Fords into 4x4 when they were reaching for the AC. Now think of them sliding the Dodge to neutral with the cruise on. Not that it would hurt it but it would be pure comedy watching them scramble to figure out what just happened as the truck bounces off the rev limiter.

 

I think for the most part some of the things they are talking about adding are things that I would like to see in an f150 and sound nice. I always found it strange that there was no keyless entry/start system on the upper level f150's, and I really like that feature. An 8 speed sounds good(better fuel economy and more responsive engine is always better). The **** shifter is DIFFERENT, not worse. It would take me a while to get used to, but I would also appreciate the space it created by not having a shifter in the center console. LED headlights/taillights have been a long time coming in the full size truck segment, and Dodge was first but they wont be the last. I DONT like the auto start/stop motors(in any vehicle), and the utterly minimal savings are not worth it to me. I am skeptical of the durability of the air suspension, and it always kinda irked me a bit when I saw it in the Grand Cherokee. The lack of a higher gearing also upsets me, but is the direction the market is heading. Overall, I think this is a damn fine improvement and I look forward to seeing what Ford has to offer in their 2013's.

 

and what happens if the plastic **** breaks or the touchpad goes dead? Thats why id rather have the actually shifter.. No worries

 

Ive never broken a volume **** in a vehicle and we all know the cheap plastic those are made out of. Im pretty sure they built and tested this so it would last.

I remember when Ford and the rest of the trucks started switching to *****/buttons for 4X4, everyone was so worried then. Turns out they work pretty well and are the standard now.

 

Exactly my point. Should be interesting to see what Ford does, Dodge has set the standard with some of these options so everyone else HAS to follow. I HATE those ram boxes though. Yuck. I too don't like the start stop. Ford is implementing that too iirc. I think GM uses it a good bit too

 

Our fire apparatus' have touch pads. P-N-R-D-3-2-1. Never a problem from them, and they get ABUSED

 

Eh.... Looks like a bunch of annoying sounds good on paper little gadgets that are not gonna do much except fill up the brochure pages, drive up weight, costs, and repair/ maintanence.

I still like my trucks to be trucks. Simple, meat and potatoes type of vehicles. Unfortunately ford will HAVE to follow and put all the same crap on their trucks.

Its bad enough already. These trucks are basically loaded to the max street queen entertainment centers