Starting to look for a replacement vehicle...

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Adamgp

Adamgp

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I still love the '97 GTP, but it's starting to get old. It has just 101k miles but the rust is getting out of control. On top of that it had some unscheduled bodywork done to it when I slid into a Honda Pilot during the last snow/ice storm. Lastly I just want & need something bigger, so I'm starting to look at trucks.

Namely full-size 1/2 ton 4x4 extended cabs. New or slightly used. Ford, Chevy/GMC, Ram, doesn't matter to me. Just don't want a Tundra or Titan.

Checked them all out at the Chicago auto show, and again at the manufacturer displays at the Daytona 500 and am having a hard time picking a favorite. Each have good points and bad. Sort of leaning toward the Ram at the moment.

Thoughts?

Looking to buy this summer when the end of the year deals come out.
 
Well from experience and an in depth talk with a sales team, Ford doesn't really do many rebates or incentives like Dodge and GM do. Not to mention with current inflation the prices of these new big trucks are jacked so high the incentives don't do you that much good anyways.

Just from what I've read (and maybe a little bias) I'd rank them like this.
1. F-Series
2. Ram
3. Silverado/Sierra

They are all really great anymore, and even seem to get decent gas mileage. I guess it all depends on what you want to carry.
 
I looked at the F150, and think it is nice, except for the back end. Around here a F150 is more expensive than the Ram/GM twins, but I'm pretty sure I could get Ford employee pricing through my uncle.

New truck prices aren't that bad here, it's USED prices that are out of control. Which is why I'm looking at new. The only problem with new is it's hard to find one that isn't painted black, white, or grey.

I'm looking to keep it in the $25k-$30k range. I don't want a fully loaded "Cowboy Cadillac".

I may use it to tow home a project car once the truck is paid off, but mainly I want it for the bed in back. As a new home owner, the cargo carrying ability will come in handy.
 
Are you looking at new or used? I'd stay away from the new GM trucks, and go with a Ram or F-150. If you are looking for used, look for older model GM and Fords and stay away from the Rams. However all of them are quality vehicles even though I am a die hard Ford guy. If you are going to get a truck though, get a 3/4 ton. Most get about the same gas mileage however you can haul more. Go big or go home as they say.


@Disinfected, I beg to differ. We got a 2009 Focus off the floor in 2009 for more than half off retail due to incentives and rebates etc.
 
That's a Focus. Good luck pulling a deal like that on a new four-wheel drive F-150. (Which I might add as a whole is leaps ahead of the Focus in demand in America.)
 
I would prefer new, but would consider used if it is 1-2 years old with less than 20,000 miles. I'd like to buy a truck as new as I can and run it into the ground.

I'd prefer to go with 1/2 ton. For one, the price reasons. Also, at my work there is a parking garage and I'm pretty sure a 3/4 4x4 truck would'nt fit in there. (I've seen new Ram, F150, and Silverado 1/2 tons in there so I know they fit.
 
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disinfected
That's a Focus. Good luck pulling a deal like that on a new four-wheel drive F-150. (Which I might add as a whole is leaps ahead of the Focus in demand in America.)
Click to expand...

True...
 
The F-150 is my top choice as well, but look at it this way. It's the best selling vehicle in North America. It's a bad business strategy to sell them for cheaper when people are going to pay the money even if they mark them up.
 
If I was doing serious towing/hauling I would go with the Ford. However, it would be more of an occasional work horse.

Personally I think the back end of the F150 is hideous. The new powertrains bring up a red flag for me as well, not proven reliable like the Ram or Silverado.

Ford also has the poorest warranty. Only 3/36k, as opposed to GM/Ram with a 5/100k.
 
The GM trucks use the same drivetrain that they've been using for years now, so they have the most "proven reliability". At the same time, I'd have a hard time looking away from an EcoBoosted F-150, ugly rear end and all.
 
If I go Ford, it would probably be the 5.0, not the ecoboost.

I've been reading about problems with the ecoboost, as well as the transmissions. Apparently some have nicknamed them "ecoboom". Probably why Ford won't match the warranty of Ram or GM.

Lastly, I'm not a fan of turbo engines.
 
TheBook
The GM trucks use the same drivetrain that they've been using for years now, so they have the most "proven reliability". At the same time, I'd have a hard time looking away from an EcoBoosted F-150, ugly rear end and all.
Click to expand...

The old F-Series in general looked better than it does now. Generally the same with GM and Chrystler.
 

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