buying a new truck

[redneckdr]

truck choice

marjie... ... ..... i dunno. i've got a lady friend who "horses around" all the time. she recently switched from power stroken to a dodge CTD. she loves it and hasn't looked back, i think... ... ..... pulls a big horse trailer. she says she smiles a lot at the fuel fills. she apparently is getting significantly better mpg, now.

 

[DPelletier]

Well here I go again!

My company has a small fleet, including a 2001 Ram/Cummins and a 2001 Ford Powerstroke. Both automatics.

Both have approximately 12,500 miles on them. Observations;



1) Ford - one defective glow plug module. one faulty ignition switch. Dodge - one broken clock spring (fixed under recall)

2) MPG - Dodge appears to get 1-2 mpg better economy (fairly close)

3) Ford steering feel seems better (more positive)

4) Dodge starts easier and quicker

5) power seems about the same (stock) Dodge seems to have more off idle, Ford may have more in upper RPM

6) Dodge came with WAY better tires

7) Ford bumpers are heavier and chrome on them is nicer

8) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

9) Ford is quieter, but the Dodge has a nicer, deeper tone.

10) Don't have to worry about cavitation corrosion in the cooling system with the Cummins.



PS. The next one I buy is going to be a lighter color.

Hope this helps.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Glad I made you laugh, Marjie. You might also want to check out www.diesel-central.com and www.enterpriseengine.com

Enterprise Engine is owned by a husband and wife team, they go to sled pulls all over the country and pull with their Dodges. She's mighty good at it, too, it's fun to watch her beat the Ford boys.

Loretta Mitchell is her name, I'm sure she'd make time to talk to you if you want to call her.

As for diesel-central,com, it's free , no cost to post questions. Lots of good information over there too.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Briar Hopper

So if that theory of Big Toy's is to hold water, the Dodge is a man's truck, the Ford is a woman's truck, then what is the Chevy? A transvestite's truck?

I know plenty of cute women that prefer the Dodge. I also know a couple of big bad dudes that prefer the Ford. Don't know any clowns that prefer the Chevy, I usually surround myself with intelligent people. We need to spare poor Marjie such boorish talk , and help her out.

Briar

Didn't you get the "JOKE" when I signed it Tim the Toolman Taylor, or don't you watch TV?



Lets try and have alittle fun here??? Buying a truck is not rocket science, if she has both the Ford and Dodge number 1 web information sites she is more informed than 99% of the people that go out and buy a truck. Good luck Marjie and enjoy what ever you buy!

 

[Wheaties]

Big Toy,



I don't know about Briar, but you had me confused for more than a few posts. This is because we have a ToolManTimTaylor right here on the TDR whose real name is Tim Taylor. When you signed TMTT, I thought of him and not the Tim Allen character.



I thought you were either masquerading as another TDR member, or that the Tim I actually know had gone out to visit you.



Matt

 

[Briar Hopper]

I'm just deaf, not blind

Yeah, Big Toy, I got it, I thought it was hilarious, but in the rush to add my own joke to it, I left out a verbal thumbs-up to you. Sorry. I'm sure we all have to wonder if others are reading our stuff, particularly when we don't get a response. A lot of people just read and laugh, and move on, others may answer it all, point by counterpoint, others may take a piece like I did and have fun with it. I hope I made you laugh too... .

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: I'm just deaf, not blind

Originally posted by Briar Hopper

Yeah, Big Toy, I got it, I thought it was hilarious, but in the rush to add my own joke to it, I left out a verbal thumbs-up to you. Sorry. I'm sure we all have to wonder if others are reading our stuff, particularly when we don't get a response. A lot of people just read and laugh, and move on, others may answer it all, point by counterpoint, others may take a piece like I did and have fun with it. I hope I made you laugh too... .

You made me laugh, I did not no we had a Tim Taylor that used that handle. Hope I did not offend him

 

[Pit Bull]

Marjie

Buy the Dodge!!! Were more fun than the Ford guys

 

[Zacman]

Ford CC

I have to admit the Ford CC's are an attactive alternative and before really landing on the Dodge Extended Cab that I now drive, test drove three F250 CC powerstrokes. One being a 4x4

all had 6ft boxes. Do I (did I) need a full four doors? No but like a lot of others find them incredibly convenient and yes practical in a way.



Well, I did not buy one because of any of the above. The reason was everytime I drove one I drove a Dodge within a week of driving the P-Stroke. and the Cummins off the lot just felt like it had a lot more power new than the P-stroke did. Thats the reason I drove three different identical trucks. On the freeway at 70mph pressing the go-pedal and with one other adult and an adolescent in the back seat the powerstroke just did not have anything left power wise... nada acceleration. NOT SO with any of the Cummins powered Rams.



Understand this is not a slam for or against the vehicle... just my seat of the pants observation with the available vehicles. If a vehicle will not accelerate in freeway traffic with no load in it then to my mind its a dangerously underpowered vehicle.



If on a regular basis I transported more than two adults the Ford CC would most likely get the nod. BUT I certainly would not like driving it being that underpowered in certain cercumstances.

Or did I just drive three very bad trucks... . I would like to think NOT.



Oh, yeah my Dodge gets 20+ on the highway at 70+ mph and I am very pleased with it. Like any other vehicle it has its shortcommings but I can live with them and underpowered on the highway it isnt.

Just my 2cents

 

[pfalero@aol.com]

I want to thank you again for your replies. Am wondering about something else I heard. Is the styling of the 2500 supposed to change in 2003? I have to confess I really can not stand the looks of the Dodge. Plus, it has looked the same since 95 or am I wrong?. This is not meant as an insult to anyone's truck so please don't take it as such. As someone said earlier, its all in the eye of the beholder. Drove another Ford yesterday, but what blew me away were its looks. Was black with an kind of gold/silver color for that bottom strip. Husband had to agree it was a beauty. But I know looks certainly aren't the only reason to buy a truck. I wish the Ford got the same mpg as the Dodge, but everyone I hear from seems to agree the Ram does better. Also drove a couple more Rams, they do seem a little peppier. I just don't feel as comfortable driving them. Ah well... ... . maybe I should take my dogs for a ride and see what they prefer .

Marjie

 

[Zacman]

ford vs dodge

Yup, its true beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As for Dodge's appearance its true since 94-95... . some other members can confirm that. Now all the other mfg are basically copying the successes of the Dodge. The nose on the SD Ford's is one example. If the Ford "floats your boat" then by all means thats the brand for you. I certainly considered them and based on the performance characteristics and size ruled them out. Size too, nixed them from my selection... . even a comparable extended cab would not fit my garage -- Too tall to fit garage door opening.

IT hails frequently here in Texas and so another reason not to buy one. Again the Dodge floated my boat and filled what fit me not anyone else. There are five Dodge Ram 2500-3500's in my neighborhood. There were two Ford CC's and one of those was a previous Dodge ram owner. Big reason he bought the Ford was the CC feature. He bought the Ford off the lot without even driving it. He is a paint contractor and pulls a large enclosed utility trailer. He really was surprised about the difference in interior appointments (I think he was used to his Dodge) He did complain about the no power vs his 96 Dodge. I tend to listen to folks that own both or have owned both.

Again Just my un-educated finding and view from the field.

David

 

[CharlieMiller]

I've had both and prefer my Dodge but I can offer a good suggestion. BUY BOTH - one for your hubby and one for you

 

[JHansen]

Never owned a Ford-but I've ridden in a few...

Both my bosses have upgraded to PS Super Duties in the last few months. One has a 2001 F250 4x4 extended cab in Lariat trim, the other has a 2002 F350 4x4 Crew Cab also in Lariat trim. Both are automatics, and I would suspect both are 3. 73 geared (isn't that stock for a Ford? Dunno-don't spend much time prowling around the Ford sites ). Here's my opinions between their Fords and my Dodge:



1. I realize it's not a fair comparison between my 6-speed and their automatics-but my truck was WAY more powerful pre-BOMBed than their trucks. Not even a comparison-I drove the extended cab one and was quite frankly disappointed... . Didn't seem like it wanted to move out until you wound it out.



2. I can understand you wanting a Crew Cab if you carry people all the time. I rode in both the front and back of the Crew Cab truck on Saturday night... . tons of room front and rear. I don't think the extended cab Fords are any roomier in the rear than our Dodges-but I never climbed back there to see for sure.



3. That PowerStroke looks extremely ugly to work on-my Cummins isn't the sweetest thing either but it's tons more accessible than the PS in the Super Duty.



4. The Ford does have a few in-cab features that are nice if you're into toys. Examples being the cruise button titles light up with the interior lights, the power lock/window switch titles light up unlike the lights at the end of the switches in our Dodges, courtesy lights in the bottoms of the doors, and power adjustable pedals in the Crew Cab I rode in. The Crew Cab also has that rear proximity alarm thing like Explorers etc that supposedly beeps if you get within a certain distance of something. I see the Ford stereo now also takes cassettes and CD's like the highline Dodge one. However we have them covered with our steering wheel audio controls. The drop-window door glass is kinda nice-but I do not like the Ford factory trailer tow mirrors. Maybe they work good-but personally I don't like the looks



5. The Ford may be a little quieter in the cab-probably due to the engine itself being quieter as opposed to sound-deadening differences between the 2.



6. Ride? Pretty much even I think. Not going to mistake either one for a Lexus-but you won't think you're riding on rubber blocks either. I think my Dodge turned tighter stock than their trucks do-but it's not a fair comparison due to wheelbase differences (haven't driven the Crew Cab which being a short box should be close to my Quad Cab LWB).



7. My truck's a Sport-I think it's got way better headlights than the Super Duties have. And I had a hell of a time getting the hood up on their Ford the 1st time when I was trying to lift on the grille



Would I trade trucks? No way-I still think my Dodge is heavier-duty than their Fords. I know my engine has a ton more potential than theirs-and I'm confident that it'll outlast theirs. I like the looks of my truck better (I prefer to drive the originator rather than the derivative)-and I do prefer a lot of the little things that Dodge has done differently (ever looked at where the trailer plug is on a factory trailer package Ford? Wiring life is measured in days when you run the gravel). My views are skewed somewhat by the fact that I have always been and will always be a Dodge guy-for me there was no other option... .



BUT-I can see why you'd have a Ford if you needed the extra passenger room. I know for a fact the guy with the Crew Cab one would have bought a Dodge if they offered a Crew Cab-I tried to get him to hold on until the 2003's are outed at the Detroit Auto Show to see what they were gonna offer but no dice...



Jason