Considering Ford? WOW!
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Michigan
Considering Ford? WOW!
This thread is basically for those who are thinking of buying a new F-150 and aren't quite sure yet.
I just got home from picking up my new baby, and all I can think of to say is....WOW!!! I had a 2003 Silverado before this, and it can't even compare. The ride, quality, structural integrity...it all feels so much better. Ford really outdid themselves on this new model. Everything from rear shocks to the tailgate is just awesome. At this point, I'd never even think about going back to GM. So, if you are on the fence about getting a new one...even if you don't really need it....just go get it....you will not be disappointed!
I just got home from picking up my new baby, and all I can think of to say is....WOW!!! I had a 2003 Silverado before this, and it can't even compare. The ride, quality, structural integrity...it all feels so much better. Ford really outdid themselves on this new model. Everything from rear shocks to the tailgate is just awesome. At this point, I'd never even think about going back to GM. So, if you are on the fence about getting a new one...even if you don't really need it....just go get it....you will not be disappointed!
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 329
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From: River Ridge, LA, USA
Alright. I'll admit to owning a 2000 GMC Sierra. You know, the new body style at the time. Unfortunately GM had a strike period in most of 1999, the production year for the 00 Sierra (much to my surprise). Well, to make a long story short, I traded my Sierra for the 00 F150 Supercab, which I still own. The Sierra had SEVERAL quality issues such as:
>driveline clunking upon accelerating
>tail shaft damage
>tranny torque converter shudder
>door hold open clicking noises/bad welds
>turn steering wheel all the way right and engine dies
>chrome "caps" on steel wheels constantly throwing weights
>lots of loose parts inside the dash; lots of noise
>rail dust rusting on body
Some things I liked about the Sierra:
>very quick throttle response
>smooth as silk shifting
>roominess and comfort in the rear cab area
I won't go into specifics about why I traded the Sierra other than the buttwipe dealer forced arbitration. Arbitration is HEAVILY weighted toward the manufacturer. In this case, GM. They all buy into the arbitration process and make us look like idiots for trying.
>driveline clunking upon accelerating
>tail shaft damage
>tranny torque converter shudder
>door hold open clicking noises/bad welds
>turn steering wheel all the way right and engine dies
>chrome "caps" on steel wheels constantly throwing weights
>lots of loose parts inside the dash; lots of noise
>rail dust rusting on body
Some things I liked about the Sierra:
>very quick throttle response
>smooth as silk shifting
>roominess and comfort in the rear cab area
I won't go into specifics about why I traded the Sierra other than the buttwipe dealer forced arbitration. Arbitration is HEAVILY weighted toward the manufacturer. In this case, GM. They all buy into the arbitration process and make us look like idiots for trying.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 664
Likes: 1
From: Whitehorse, Yukon
I'm kicking myself for not having my camera with me tonight.
I got a call from my buddies wife informing me her hubby went off roading in his Rubicon, and that he was stranded off road.
(2 years ago I pulled my next door neighbors Dakota out of the same spot)
I think the Rubicon is the "cat daddy" when it comes to off-roading, but as he was driving down the trail, he broke through the ice, and fell about a foot. He was completly submerged 12-14 inches by hard thick ice, and all he was getting was wheel spin.
I didnt like the idea of driving in there, but when your friend is stuck, what you gonna do?
I got a bunch of scrapes and scratches on my paint from low hanging trees and brush, but after an hour of manuvering and slowly getting in there, I pulled him out with a tow rope secured to my front tow hook. (it's been over a year since I had it in 4 low anyway)
Im sure all the big 3 trucks have their strong points, but I love my truck and wouldnt trade it for any other brand.
Well, if my buddy offered me his Porche twin turbo SUV, I'd probably take it
I got a call from my buddies wife informing me her hubby went off roading in his Rubicon, and that he was stranded off road.
(2 years ago I pulled my next door neighbors Dakota out of the same spot)
I think the Rubicon is the "cat daddy" when it comes to off-roading, but as he was driving down the trail, he broke through the ice, and fell about a foot. He was completly submerged 12-14 inches by hard thick ice, and all he was getting was wheel spin.
I didnt like the idea of driving in there, but when your friend is stuck, what you gonna do?
I got a bunch of scrapes and scratches on my paint from low hanging trees and brush, but after an hour of manuvering and slowly getting in there, I pulled him out with a tow rope secured to my front tow hook. (it's been over a year since I had it in 4 low anyway)
Im sure all the big 3 trucks have their strong points, but I love my truck and wouldnt trade it for any other brand.
Well, if my buddy offered me his Porche twin turbo SUV, I'd probably take it
Last edited by Habibi; Dec 30, 2004 at 11:15 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 891
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
I have owned almost every make of domestic cars and trucks over the years and I have to say that there are lemons in everyone of them and there are golden rides in every one of them. Different decades (Or generations) have proven to of had various demensions of each vehicle makes to be stronger than thier competitions very few makes ever come out stronger as a whole than thier competetion.
Historically what I have found in the trucks, my own non bias opinion is that
Ford:
Has always had a much better ride with thier suspension, The suspensions have constantley been more comfortable, and able to plant more power to the ground than most of thier competition as well as hang on to the corners than the others. With fair to good looks through out all generations and an overall good design.
Dodge:
Frame has always been built overly strong with a very rigid and physically strong chasis. Tradeing a comfortable or pleasing in any form of a ride for the driver or passengers for the tensil strength. Works well off road with little maintance but sloppy on the highway. Historically parts are more expensive over all. Only from 94 on did they become cosemtically pleasing, but when they did they became very desirable looking.
Chevrolet:
Has taken the high road both cosmetically and with thier chasis and tried to give a good ride with a rigid chasis and the results are ussally rougher than Ford, yet softer than Dodge. Not as rigid as Dodge but more rigid than Ford. Off Road does fair and highway does fair. Chevrolet has invested more time on engineering thier line of Engines than the rest of thier truck. Cosmetically have not had very many drastic changes since the early 60's or so.
International:
Very Similar to Dodge in almost every form of fashion and function!
Relaibility of each:
They all have had lemons and all have had gold. Non specifically have left me stranded any more times than another. There is a older local man who has certified a Studebaker that he bought new and now has over one million miles on the original drive train, and it is still his dailey driver. Yet Studebaker went out of business. I've only had one Studebaker truck so I did not include them as it is not enough to form an over all opinion. Though the one I had was very nice for it's period.
Performance:
I have always been able to build all of them to perform the way I that I want them too! NON are perfect from the factory! So no problems with any of them there! Price wise though due to cost of parts Chevrolet and Ford are equal, Dodge the most expensive. As listed above I ussally dont have to do quite as much with Chevrolet engines or Trannsmissions, But I do a lot of work on thier suspension to get the power to the ground and a comfortable ride maintainig decent corners. Ford I do very little to the Suspension but focus more to gain power and strength under the hood. Transmissions are usally pretty good too. "Except on the late 90's Rangers and Explorers with 4.0L engines, Yuck: What were they thinking there?" Dodge I have to almost completely rebuild the whole truck with after market parts to get it to both perform decent and to drive decent.
In Conclusion:
It basically boils down to personal opinions and ussally stems back to what your dad or grandpa might have prefered. It's ussally the one that you have spent more time with though out your life and are most comfortable and familiar with. Fortunatley I spent a lot of time with all of my family as a kid and they all prefered different makes and we all worked on them together.
Dad: Chevrolet
Grandpa: Chevrolet/Dodge...Studebaker????
Great Grandpa: Ford/Studebaker, or what ever he could trade somebody out of for something
Uncle: What ever he could find cheap or could trade sombody out of...
Me: Whatever I find that has qualities I think I can easily build on.
Historically what I have found in the trucks, my own non bias opinion is that
Ford:
Has always had a much better ride with thier suspension, The suspensions have constantley been more comfortable, and able to plant more power to the ground than most of thier competition as well as hang on to the corners than the others. With fair to good looks through out all generations and an overall good design.
Dodge:
Frame has always been built overly strong with a very rigid and physically strong chasis. Tradeing a comfortable or pleasing in any form of a ride for the driver or passengers for the tensil strength. Works well off road with little maintance but sloppy on the highway. Historically parts are more expensive over all. Only from 94 on did they become cosemtically pleasing, but when they did they became very desirable looking.
Chevrolet:
Has taken the high road both cosmetically and with thier chasis and tried to give a good ride with a rigid chasis and the results are ussally rougher than Ford, yet softer than Dodge. Not as rigid as Dodge but more rigid than Ford. Off Road does fair and highway does fair. Chevrolet has invested more time on engineering thier line of Engines than the rest of thier truck. Cosmetically have not had very many drastic changes since the early 60's or so.
International:
Very Similar to Dodge in almost every form of fashion and function!
Relaibility of each:
They all have had lemons and all have had gold. Non specifically have left me stranded any more times than another. There is a older local man who has certified a Studebaker that he bought new and now has over one million miles on the original drive train, and it is still his dailey driver. Yet Studebaker went out of business. I've only had one Studebaker truck so I did not include them as it is not enough to form an over all opinion. Though the one I had was very nice for it's period.
Performance:
I have always been able to build all of them to perform the way I that I want them too! NON are perfect from the factory! So no problems with any of them there! Price wise though due to cost of parts Chevrolet and Ford are equal, Dodge the most expensive. As listed above I ussally dont have to do quite as much with Chevrolet engines or Trannsmissions, But I do a lot of work on thier suspension to get the power to the ground and a comfortable ride maintainig decent corners. Ford I do very little to the Suspension but focus more to gain power and strength under the hood. Transmissions are usally pretty good too. "Except on the late 90's Rangers and Explorers with 4.0L engines, Yuck: What were they thinking there?" Dodge I have to almost completely rebuild the whole truck with after market parts to get it to both perform decent and to drive decent.
In Conclusion:
It basically boils down to personal opinions and ussally stems back to what your dad or grandpa might have prefered. It's ussally the one that you have spent more time with though out your life and are most comfortable and familiar with. Fortunatley I spent a lot of time with all of my family as a kid and they all prefered different makes and we all worked on them together.
Dad: Chevrolet
Grandpa: Chevrolet/Dodge...Studebaker????
Great Grandpa: Ford/Studebaker, or what ever he could trade somebody out of for something
Uncle: What ever he could find cheap or could trade sombody out of...
Me: Whatever I find that has qualities I think I can easily build on.