01-02 2nd gen 24v VS. 01-02 Ford 7.3 VS. 06-07 Gas Rig

[EArp]

Ok, first off, I don't want this thread to turn into a war since I am mentioning a different brand of vehicle that is generally regarded as "the dark side", but I really need some unbiased (if that's possible... LOL) advice from you guys. I'm in a situation where I need to sell my truck and use the equity to get something cheaper to drive. Here are the contenders:



1. A 01-02 2nd gen 24v 4x4 in great shape w/110-160,000 miles.



2. A 01-02 Ford 7. 3 4x4 Crew cab of similar mileage.



3. A 06-07 half-ton 4x4 gas rig with 60-70,000 miles (No preference on brand).



My goal is to have a reliable vehicle that will last me for 5 to 7 years and not give me a bunch of problems. I enjoy having a diesel and I really LOVE the 5. 9 Cummins motor and believe it to be one of the greatest diesel motors on the road. My knock on Dodge's of the year model specified is that they don't offer a crew cab and with a baby on the way right now, extra room is something that ranks high with me. If Dodge had a crew cab, I would choose it hands down. Ford on the other hand does offer a crew cab in the years specified, and I know that the 7. 3 is a decent motor but I don't know much else about the Fords in this year range. The diesel will get better fuel mileage than the gas rig, but on the other hand are much more expensive to fix than the gas rig. Transmissions, lift pumps, and injector pumps are expensive on the diesels. Since I don't pull anything, this is something else to consider. So basically I'm torn between these three options and can't figure out what to do. Any advice you guys can give me on these models in question is greatly appreciated, and maybe you guys can offer some other things about these 3 options for me to think about that had not come to mind.



Thanks in advance,



Eric

 

[rscurtis]

Visit some of the Ford forums. The 7. 3 is pretty highly regarded, espescially by 6. 0 and 6. 4 owners who wished they'd kept theirs.

 

[Wingate]

The 7. 3L IS a good engine, BUT. . consider the fact that its going to be pushing the 10 yr. old mark. . Even a well maintained 9 year old truck can nickel and dime you to death. A 9 year old DIESEL can $100-$1000 you to death. You WILL be rolling the dice on any manufacturers vehicle that 9 years old.

IMHO, you seem to be looking to cut some monthly costs and didn't mention needing to max out a 1 ton pulling something on a regular basis... so what I would do is save the extra money you are going to spend on the diesel optioned truck and spend it on a lower mileage, more optioned out and roomier late model F150 crew cab. You should be able to pick up a really nice low mileage F-150 crew cab at a really reasonable price right now... maybe something that still has some warranty. .

You won't have to worry about a bad tank of fuel wiping out $3000 worth of injectors, a turbo exploding and sending $2000 down the exhaust pipe or front end components constantly wearing out from overweight engines sitting on them...

 

[EArp]

Thanks Wingate. You are probably right about trying to get a gas truck. I just know how much I will miss having my Cummins. This has been such a great truck and hearing the inline 6 never gets old! I just enjoy having a diesel. It's good to know you can pull anything you need to. But as you mentioned, there's so many more things that can go wrong on a diesel that are not cheap fixes, I will probably be better off on the gas truck. I may look at some Z71's, as I have owned 2 of them in the past and they were both great trucks. There aren't as many Fords that are listed here in my area. I'm not opposed to the 1/2 ton Dodge, but the Hemi is THIRSTY and the 4. 7L motor is really not that appealing to me.

 

[rscurtis]

Keep in mind there are plenty of things that can go wrong with the later gas engines that are not cheap fixes either.

 

[Wingate]

My sons truck was an 03 with the hemi in it. The truck also had 3. 92 gear ratio rear end. He consistently got 17 mpg on the highway. Well, he did when he wasnt getting into trouble for doing donuts, racing, John Force burnouts. . etc. . Anyway, the truck WAS capable of it.

I had a Ram 2500 QC 4x4 with the Hemi and 3. 73 gear set. For being less than 350cu. in. , that little engine would pull like a mule, but you paid for it in fuel economy.

My wife has the 4. 7l in her Jeep Grand Cherrokee. . that thing will scream, but i'm sure its because the Jeep doesnt weigh anything.

The only experience I have with GM is my in-laws GMC with the 5. 3l dog in it... it appears to be greatly underpowered, on the up side, the truck drives really nice. On the down side, everything in the interior/doors seems to either squeak or leak air, but the truck has never been wrecked or abused.

Ford has just always seemed to build a solid, steady pickup truck. . their down sides mainly seem to be price and ... of course... . their selection of what could be the crappiest diesel engine platform ever drawn up (6. 0l/6. 4l)... . I think they are trying to take the crown from the reigning champ 6. 2L GM/Oldsmobile morphodite!. .

 

[EArp]

My sons truck was an 03 with the hemi in it. The truck also had 3. 92 gear ratio rear end. He consistently got 17 mpg on the highway. Well, he did when he wasnt getting into trouble for doing donuts, racing, John Force burnouts. . etc. . Anyway, the truck WAS capable of it.

I had a Ram 2500 QC 4x4 with the Hemi and 3. 73 gear set. For being less than 350cu. in. , that little engine would pull like a mule, but you paid for it in fuel economy.

My wife has the 4. 7l in her Jeep Grand Cherrokee. . that thing will scream, but i'm sure its because the Jeep doesnt weigh anything.

The only experience I have with GM is my in-laws GMC with the 5. 3l dog in it... it appears to be greatly underpowered, on the up side, the truck drives really nice. On the down side, everything in the interior/doors seems to either squeak or leak air, but the truck has never been wrecked or abused.

Ford has just always seemed to build a solid, steady pickup truck. . their down sides mainly seem to be price and ... of course... . their selection of what could be the crappiest diesel engine platform ever drawn up (6. 0l/6. 4l)... . I think they are trying to take the crown from the reigning champ 6. 2L GM/Oldsmobile morphodite!. .

My wife also has the 4. 7 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's been a great motor, and you're right... that thing will haul the mail! I remember once in my old z71, I was getting some hail damage repaired and got a Dodge truck rental with the Hemi in it, and I didn't realize what a dog the 5. 3 was until I drove that truck! In all fairness, I do have to say though, that in my personal experience, the 5. 3 is a very reliable albeit underpowered motor. I never had any issues in either of my two z71's. I do like the Ford gas rigs quite a bit though, there are just hardly any of them available right now (i'm being picky in what i'm looking for... ). There's a chance I will have my truck sold tomorrow, so tomorrow will be a VERY sad day for me to see my truck go, but I will just have to see what I can get in my price range between the Ford and Chevy gas rigs. I would really love to get another diesel, but as has already been mentioned in this thread, since I don't pull anything I think it would not be as wise a choice to go with a diesel since they're more costly to fix and maintain.

 

[Crash&Burn]

If your NOT going to tow anything, I wouldn't mess with some of the diesel hassles..... beware of the Ford 5. 4 spark plug problems (Goggle)

I never thought of my 5. 3 Tahoe w/373 gear as a dog. . hmmm

 

[AClayton]

Put a trailer behind any of the late-model Chevy powerplants and you'll here em' bark and see em' with their tonques out !No power at all!!



Alan