Getting Worried about Chrysler, thinking about an F150

[AHarris]

I've spent a couple hours yesterday trolling the web for news about Chrysler. They and GM submitted their viability plans to Congress last week, and Chrysler is pursuing throwing in with Fiat at a 35% stake. The prevailing opinion of almost all automotive industry analysts is that won't be enough, and Chrysler is on nearing its last breath. They think GM will probably pull though but Chrysler won't, but Ford (the only one of the Big 3 that hasn't taken government bailout bucks) will make it just fine.

I love Dodge trucks and have been driving them for 20 years, but now I'm starting to get worried that I might be driving a white elephant that won't have a warranty a year from now. If I had one of the 5. 9s I wouldn't be worried as much, but the 6. 7 (knock on wood it has been 100% reliable so far after 12,000 miles) is a much more complicated machine with a lot to go wrong. Plus I have a 25' camper and a nagging worry that fuel prices are probably going to up again.

So I am considering trading down to a Ford F150 :{ because Ford is the most likely of the Big 3 to survive and their F150s are actually pretty damn good trucks which would meet all my needs just fine (just have to forget about that 5th wheel next year). My brother has been driving F150s for years and has never had a single problem--and he beats the $**t out of them every day in the construction business. The Ford I had years ago was actually a good little truck.

I love my truck but I don't like the idea of sitting there with no warranty and a mega complicated emissions system. I've got the money to fix anything that could go wrong but I'd rather not be my own warranty station... there are better places I'd rather put my money. Is it a smart financial move to keep it while its still worth some money before the company that made it becomes the next American Motors?

My truck is paid for, in mint condition, and still worth about $28K ($31K retail). Wondering if I should cash it out while the gettin' is good or am I being a Chicken Little? If Chrysler goes T. U. , the resale value of these trucks will be probably be cut in half immediately. I have serious doubts that Chrysler is going to make it.

 

[Bob4x4]

I read the entire 177 page report from Dodge,it sounds viable to me,I am just short a few billion to get in on the ground floor.

Seriously the gov can not let it fail. When you read the report the cost of keeping them alive vs the controlled wind down(BK) No way will Dodge go away this time.

 

[EBung]

Why would you buy a Ford instead of a Ram? Ford has no warranty and if you fit the bill it will hurt bad trust me. There parts are rediculously overpriced and I bet the house your brother HAS had a problem or two in his ownership just none hes admitting to. Ford 150s are a good truck but are expensive to repair and the new Ram 1500 is head and shoulders above one IMO.

 

[Regcabguy]

I looked and drove a F-150 before buying my '07 diesel. Fit and finish were excellent and the trucks are extremely roomy and comfortable. Braking however suffers, and I couldn't imagine towing anything very heavy as they just don't have the get up and go as our diesels.

 

[Dieselnut59]

If you are worried about the 6. 7, trade "down" for a 5. 9 Dodge/Cummins, with a proven track record. Remember also, you are backed by lots of helpful advice on TDR and other internet sites. Many of us have been "our own warranty station" anyway, so the warranty ain't worth the paper it is written on. Would I trade my Dodge/Cummins for a Ford? HELL NO! Would I DEGRADE to a gasser?? Double HELL NO!!!! I don't think I would want a 6. 7 personally, because of all the anti pollution crap, but I would heap rather have it than any gasser. Cummins makes reliable engines and you can get engine support from places other than Chrysler. As for transmissions, rear rends, transfer cases, etc... there are plenty of places to get them and get parts/upgrades. You have nothing to worry about. We on TDR are backing each other and we will continue to have product support somehow, even if Chrysler fails.

 

[jgillott]

I've spent a couple hours yesterday trolling the web for news about Chrysler. They and GM submitted their viability plans to Congress last week, and Chrysler is pursuing throwing in with Fiat at a 35% stake. The prevailing opinion of almost all automotive industry analysts is that won't be enough, and Chrysler is on nearing its last breath. They think GM will probably pull though but Chrysler won't, but Ford (the only one of the Big 3 that hasn't taken government bailout bucks) will make it just fine.



I love Dodge trucks and have been driving them for 20 years, but now I'm starting to get worried that I might be driving a white elephant that won't have a warranty a year from now. If I had one of the 5. 9s I wouldn't be worried as much, but the 6. 7 (knock on wood it has been 100% reliable so far after 12,000 miles) is a much more complicated machine with a lot to go wrong. Plus I have a 25' camper and a nagging worry that fuel prices are probably going to up again.



So I am considering trading down to a Ford F150 :{ because Ford is the most likely of the Big 3 to survive and their F150s are actually pretty damn good trucks which would meet all my needs just fine (just have to forget about that 5th wheel next year). My brother has been driving F150s for years and has never had a single problem--and he beats the $**t out of them every day in the construction business. The Ford I had years ago was actually a good little truck.



I love my truck but I don't like the idea of sitting there with no warranty and a mega complicated emissions system. I've got the money to fix anything that could go wrong but I'd rather not be my own warranty station... there are better places I'd rather put my money. Is it a smart financial move to keep it while its still worth some money before the company that made it becomes the next American Motors?



My truck is paid for, in mint condition, and still worth about $28K ($31K retail). Wondering if I should cash it out while the gettin' is good or am I being a Chicken Little? If Chrysler goes T. U. , the resale value of these trucks will be probably be cut in half immediately. I have serious doubts that Chrysler is going to make it.

One of the questions I think you need to ask yourself is how long you intended to keep this truck when your purchased it. Myself, I will keep something forever unless something happens to it or my needs change to the point of justification for a different vehicle. If you were planning on using this truck long term, I would suggest just hanging on to it and see how things play out over the next few months with Chrysler. Speaking strictly from a financial standpoint, the only way you can guarantee losing money at this point is to sell yours and then eat the depreciation on another new one.



Now, if you were only planning on keeping this truck a few years to begin with, then I think your plan has some merit. The ~30K that you could potentially see from the sell of your truck, could buy quite a bit in the current vehicle market.

 

[AHarris]

Thanks guys for the good advice. I am only considering this. I was going to take a ride to the Ford dealer this afternoon just to look. I got as far as looking at my truck through the window and felt the sudden urge to find something else to do instead. I was planning to keep the truck for 10 or so years... especially since we just paid it off.



The TDR is hard to beat for sure and a definite plus in the column of keeping my truck. Hell, if Chrysler does take a dump and my 6. 7 self destructs I can always swap in a 5. 9.



But its still in the back of my mind. What ever I do, I won't be doing it quickly. Please keep the thoughts coming.

 

[AHarris]

I read the entire 177 page report from Dodge,it sounds viable to me,I am just short a few billion to get in on the ground floor.

Seriously the gov can not let it fail. When you read the report the cost of keeping them alive vs the controlled wind down(BK) No way will Dodge go away this time.

Where can I get a hold of that and read it?

 

[Grizzly]

I've spent a couple hours yesterday trolling the web for news about Chrysler. They and GM submitted their viability plans to Congress last week, and Chrysler is pursuing throwing in with Fiat at a 35% stake. The prevailing opinion of almost all automotive industry analysts is that won't be enough, and Chrysler is on nearing its last breath. They think GM will probably pull though but Chrysler won't, but Ford (the only one of the Big 3 that hasn't taken government bailout bucks) will make it just fine.









I'd worry more about Ford going under then Chrysler. Have you seen Ford stock lately? Yes $1. 58 per share. Chrysler stock is $6. 62, which is a bit better.

 

[brods]

Switching to a less capable truck that doesn't fit with your future plans because of a "what if" scenario? Why not figure out how much money you stand to spend switching to a truck with the same capabilities as your Ram (don't forget sales taxes, registration fees, etc) and then compare that to a quality after market extended warranty? If the warranty is about the same or less then its a no brainer, keep the truck and if Chrysler tanks simply buy the after market warranty. If Chrysler doesn't tank you come out ahead.

 

[Grizzly]

1. So I am considering trading down to a Ford F150 :{ because Ford is the most likely of the Big 3 to survive and their F150s are actually pretty damn good trucks which would meet all my needs just fine (just have to forget about that 5th wheel next year).



2. Is it a smart financial move to keep it while its still worth some money before the company that made it becomes the next American Motors?



3. My truck is paid for, in mint condition, and still worth about $28K ($31K retail). Wondering if I should cash it out while the gettin' is good or am I being a Chicken Little? If Chrysler goes T. U. , the resale value of these trucks will be probably be cut in half immediately. I have serious doubts that Chrysler is going to make it.

1. Furd is the last truck in the world I would buy. I had an F250 gasser and I'm here to say it was the worst vehicle I've ever owned. If you're going to get a 1/2 ton gasser, get a Toyota Tundra.



2. It's a dumb idea, Chrysler and Dodge aren't going anywhere. Ford will go before Chrysler.



3. Your running scared and pushing the panic button. Settle down, don't freak out and enjoy what you have. You'll lose you shirt if you sell it now. You won't get a better, meaner pulling machine then what you have now.

 

[JUeckert]

yooper, if you feel like you need to buy a ford, toyota, fiat or whatever, then do so. if the capacity of your current truck is not really needed, then bailing for whatever reason is your decision. drive it, spend some time in it, and try and ask others who own what your wanting , about what their experiences are. if i based my past dodge experiences on the one dodge gasser truck i owned, then i would have never bought another dodge product again. the same could be said for the 24v dodge i had and had costly issues with. or the first gen dodges [ still have 2 of them] that i had numerous issues with and cant hardly find parts for any more. i can still go to the dealer and get just about any part i need for my early 80's gm trucks, same could be said for the 90' model ford i had up till 2 years ago, when i sold it. if gm or ford didnt stock it, they could at least get it. ford makes a good truck, and they score better then both gm and dodge on impact test's. i had considered a ford 1/2 ton when i bought my 05 dodge[wifes]. but the fuel mileage on them at the time wasnt that great, plus the fact that i could get dodge 3500 diesel for just a bit more $$ at the time . the fuel mileage of the fords has been improved upon since then, and there is no doubt in my mind if the chips were really down, ford motor co will out last the chrysler corp. i live 30mi west of you, and to my account i know of no ford dealer in at least a 100 mi radius of us that has closed it's doors. i cant say the same for at least 2 dodge dealers. all in all if your satisfied with your current truck, keep it. i really doubt chrysler is going anywhere, in the end no one on here really knows this. if it worries you , or you just want another one, take the leap. .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The prevailing opinion of almost all automotive industry analysts is that won't be enough, and Chrysler is on nearing its last breath.

JEEZE Yoop, why all this ridiculous and unfounded "doom and gloom" talk - ya gotta peek out from under that tinfoil hat once in a while, and take a few DEEP breaths to unscramble yer brain cells. You must be reading some VERY questionable or deeply slanted news sources to be so mislead and concerned over nothing - nothing is going to fail or disappear, all is well, and when Chrysler recovers from this temporary problem, they will be even stronger than they were before...



(NOTE, this is an inside joke, far more understandable to those who are also active over in the Politics forum... ) :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[AHarris]

JEEZE Yoop, why all this ridiculous and unfounded "doom and gloom" talk - ya gotta peek out from under that tinfoil hat once in a while, and take a few DEEP breaths to unscramble yer brain cells. You must be reading some VERY questionable or deeply slanted news sources to be so mislead and concerned over nothing - nothing is going to fail or disappear, all is well, and when Chrysler recovers from this temporary problem, they will be even stronger than they were before...



(NOTE, this is an inside joke, far more understandable to those who are also active over in the Politics forum... ) :-laf:-laf:-laf

Ok Gary... TOUCHE! Based on our discourse in the Politics forum I had this coming and I'll take it like a man!



:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[JDiepstra]

Yooper, no reason to cut off your arm cause your toe hurts man! Don't do it!

 

[Tractorat]

Yooper,

A couple of things to consider.



1. In spite of all of the complaining on the tdr web site, Dodge makes a pretty good truck. And, since you bought one, Im guessing that you probably agree.



2. Your truck is paid for. You will lose A LOT of money if you sell it; even more if you trade it in. (So, even if you have to make repairs yourself, it might pay for itself, rather than lose that cash in a sale or trade in.



3. The reality is that you probably won't have an tremendously costly repairs, at least for a long long time. The reality is that, if you take care of your modern car or truck, they last a long long time. We're not talking about 1940's 1950's technology anymore.



4. If you are worried about the availability of parts and service, I have a 1974 MG that has probably about 150,000 miles on it. It's a pretty reliable car. I have never had a problem getting parts for it, and I know of at least 3 places here in the Seattle area that are experts at working on this kind of car. If Chrysler goes away, you will find that expertise still available. BTW, I haven't used Chrysler/Dodge for service in years. Not for my truck, nor for my 1994 Chrysler Concorde. Not only were the Chrysler/Dodge crooks, they were incompetent



5. I Don't know about you, but I bought my Dodge diesel truck so I could pull my camper trailer over Snoqualmie Pass at 70 mph. And, be able to easily accelerate from there. (I couldnt do that with the gasser that I had before. So, I would have to say that my Dodge truck is a lifestyle enhancer. Something that Im just not willing to give up.



If driving a truck made my an extinct company makes you feel like you're not keeping up with the Joneses, (and that can be a valid reason to some), then sell your Dodge. But I feel that you would be making a huge mistake. But, if you are concerned about the reliability of the 6. 7 engine, then sell it outright You can buy a really nice late model 5. 9 for what you might be able to get for your truck. And have money left over for some upgrades, or apply to the cost of a 5th wheel.



TRat

 

[Tractorat]

Regarding which of the big 3 will survive and who won't.



If I had to put money on who will survive, I would have to say that Ford has the best chance. Putting brand loyalty aside ( and in spite of some of the opinions on this site, we're all pretty loyal to the C/D brand), I believe that Ford is the best managed hands down. Ford is the only company that turned down the bail out money (its available if they need it, but they dont need it yet). The CEO of Ford is the ex-CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplane who really saved Boeing several years ago when they were losing big time in the commercial airplane business It was a huge mistake for Boeing when they passed him over when the job for CEO of all of Boeing was available.



BTW, Im not sure I would take the price of a share of stock as to wno will survive. I think I heard that GM's stock is the lowest its ever been. And, BTW, I see a lot more Ford and GM cars on the road than I do C/D cars. And that is where most of the market is.



Just something to consider.



TRat

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Ok Gary... TOUCHE! Based on our discourse in the Politics forum I had this coming and I'll take it like a man!



:-laf:-laf:-laf

HEY, Yoop - absolutely no problem, here, or over in the Political forum - I enjoy discussions where you are involved - we're actually pretty close on most points - and you help keep me on my toes on the ones we don't agree on! :-laf



Regards...

 

[69RoadRunner]

I'd worry more about Ford going under then Chrysler. Have you seen Ford stock lately? Yes $1. 58 per share. Chrysler stock is $6. 62, which is a bit better.

It depends on how many shares there are of each stock.



If Ford is in worse shape, they would have taken the welfare loan, too.



To the OP, keep the paid-off truck you have now.

 

[AHarris]

Yeah the wife and I talked it over and we're trading it in a Prius. I think by upgrading the electric motor and battery on the Prius and putting some HD springs on it we can pull our camper no problemo! Oo.

Just kidding. We're leaning towards keeping our truck and seeing how things play out over the next year or so. I love my Cummins! Thanks for the thoughts and advice guys--it helped a lot.

But the wife is talking about a Prius to replace the GC.