Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and I was looking for some advice. I currently drive a pontiac G6 but with the winter coming and being a new homeowner, I figured I need to get me something to haul stuff with. I'm not going to be towing anything like a boat or a camper, it's mainly going to be used for Depot runs, dump runs and transporting furniture for my new home.

So I am looking to buy my first half ton truck and have narrowed my choices down to the 2008 Chevy Silverado, The 2008 GMC Sierra and (maybe, if I can get past all the plastic)2008 Chevy Avalanche.

Thing is, I am also finding some screaming bargains on new F-150's right now and while it's not as nice or as well built as the new GM trucks it stills seems like a somewhat popular choice amongst truck buyers. I checked out the Dodge RAM which is also selling with huge incentives but found it to be old, crude and also not as well built as the GM trucks. After reading through the forums and blogs around the net, I confrirmed my conclusions that Dodge quality and reliability is not good.

So, getting back to my post, I am interested in finding out why you guys bought your trucks and your experiences. I'm guessing most are diehard, repeat truck buyers who probably use yours a bit harder than I plan to (something a bit closer to what they were intended for) ?

What were your other choices when you were shopping for your current truck and how did they stack up against the F-150?

Overall, how reliable/dependable has your truck been? Has it been expensive to maintain? A lot of unexpected maintainence (recalls, fixes, issues)?

Does the high amount of recalls (1.7 million recalled just recently) bother you as an owner or is it no big deal?

And last, what do you guys do with your trucks? Are they work trucks or are there other folks out there like myself who just want to do the homeowner duties?

I am really leaning towards the GM trucks at the moment because from a quality and reliability standpoint they will always be the best and most respected. GM really hit a home run, they're quick, well thought out, they have beautifully crafted interiors with the best materials and design, and it's a well known fact that GM makes the best powertrains in the industry. And based on my 2006 Pontiac G6 which has a perfect 31,000 miles and no problems whatsoever, I feel GM as a whole builds the longest lasting, best quality vehicles around .

And the most expensive which is why I may just settle on a Ford instead. With all the hype and popularity surrounding the Silverado/Sierra, GM dealers are charging thousands more than the competition with no incentives at all. On top of that, Chevy dealers are mad houses, getting the chance to talk to a salesman is like taking a number at the deli counter, they're all busy and not available for hours. They just tell you to call in advance and book an appointment if you want to take one for a test drive [:@]

Plus, with everyone around here driving Sierra's and Silverados, it would be nice to drive something that isn't on every single street corner .

So, should I really consider the F-150 over the GM trucks? Is it a huge riskspending 30 thousand dollars (Top of my budget) on a Ford when their reputation isn't aspositive as it is for GM? Or should I just wait for the next F-150 (2009 right?) to come out andcross my fingersthat the prices of the GM trucks go down (If Ford can come out with a truck that's as capable). Is there any hope for the Dodge RAM ?

Anyways, I really would appreciate your feedback on this.

 

From what I'm reading you pretty much have your heart set on buying a GM, and not matter how good we can tell you our experiences have been with Fords, you will be looking for every reason to cut it down. Now, I was pretty much born and raised on Fords, I have had a couple of GM's and Dodges due to budget restrictions and won't go back anymore. I'm not sure of your age, but back in the late 70's and early 80's GM and Dodge was using ver poor quality steel in their bodies and since I live in WI where salt is used on the roads in the winter most were rusting through before many people had them paid off. THat's when the sales on Fords had sky rocketed it continues to this day with many of us "older"fans of Ford. Now, on the quality side of things, I have had issues with all of the trucks I've owned. The only major ones concerned the dodges and primarily that was transmissions. THey do have strong engines at least back when the 318 and 383 were around. NOw, currrently I have a 95 F150 extended cab 4x4, with over 170K miles on it and love it. I admit the 5.0 liter doesn't have the ponies on the lower end, but she is getting 15-17 mpg. I have friends with chey's lower miles and newer with rust coming through on the bodies, and here in the north, thatis a big concernthan most, we don't want our vehicles rusting out. Mine currently has some surface rust to be taken care of this spring. I bought this truck with 50K on it and it has had one recall to do with the cruise control. I would like to buy a newer one, but just feel I can't justify the expense when this runs so good yet. I can rebuild the motor and tranny and still have a very small investment in it.
I also work this truck very hard, it pulls ATV's and Snowmobiles around just about everytime it moves, I have hauled skid steers, large campers, horse trailers, and it hasn't faltered once. I have put a water pump, alt, and brakes on this since I've owned it.
So, I think you are going to buy a GM not matter what because you are looking for faults in the fords to justify your reasoning for buying a GM. Around here as far as price they are all really equal with in a few hundred dollars, and I've heard complaints from GM guys that Fords are to espensive as well.
I also drive a Pontiac Grand Prix and have had a couple of them for my work car as I drive 70 miles one way to work and personally I feel Ford can't top the quality of that car since they quit making the family style T-bird. But, that won't make me buy a GM truck, I have had to many issues that I won't go back.
Buy waht you want as you are the one that has to live with the decision.

 

Coming from a dealer service dept. point of view, I have seen very few of the newer F-150's coming in for more than regular maintenence. Especially '06 and newer. Just my two cents.

 

Well jeeze, I would hope a 2006 model would be in the shop for othing other than routine maintainence

Even still, there are milions of satisfied GM owners who don't have to do anything but routine maintainence for years, probably decades, well beyond 2006 models. There should be no excuses why any late model car or truck didn't make it 2 years without a problem, recall or breakdown (Well unless it's a Chrysler or a Toyota). But I guess that is why GM owners rarely ever becomeFord owners,it's too much of a step down in quality and reliability even with all the bargain basement deals flying around.

Iguess when you're used to flawless, trouble free product like my GM cars have been, you tend to not accept even the slightest amount of imperfection in your future purchases. I guess for the extra few thousand bucks markup I should just stick with my original plan and buy a new Silverado.

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate the feedback.

 

 

As this seems more of an attempt to start an internet fight, I will lock this thread and ban the OP.

Thanks for the rest for not giving into to starting an internet fight and just stating your opinion without a personal attack towards the OP.