Need Help Convincing a Friend to Buy a Cummins over a Ford

[Eventer]

A friend at the barn where I keep my horses is in the market for a new truck. Everyone at the barn has Ford Powerstrokes (both 7. 3 and 6. 0 engines) except for my 2nd generation Cummins (2001) and a (very) lonely Ram 2500 V10.



I have loaned the latest issue of the TDR magazine to him in hopes that this will help convince him that the Cummins is the best engine out there. I also purchased the latest edition of Diesel Power Magazine for him even though it is mainly a Ford magazine and the editor thinks all diesels use glow plugs. (He is a Ford guy. )



My friends main concern seems to be the noise of the Cummins as all he has heard is my engine (K&N air filter, stock exhaust and an Edge Comp). I have offered to take him for a drive in my truck to let him listen and feel the power. My Comp is set on 3x3 - about the equivalent of the new 600 Cummins.



What do I need to know to convince my friend to buy a Cummins over the Ford? I don't think GM is even in the picture.



Thanks in advance for your help in adding a new member to the Cummins family.

 

[ACoyle]

Take him to the dealer and have him take a test ride. The new ones are pretty quiet.

 

[BHolm]

If the noise is THE issue, it will be easy to change his mind. For '05 the 6. 0 has lost its pilot injection and is as noisy as a 7. 3. The '05 Cummins on the other hand is now the quietest of the three. My '05 made less noise than my '03 d-max and is much quieter than the Ford as well.



Anybody fool enough to go out and buy a truck with the 6. 0 deserves what they get. This is a $40-50k purchase and if they do not do some research, that will clearly show the CTD to be the most powerful, most reliable of the three, again they will get what they deserve I looked hard at a new V10 Ford, for similar money I bought a diesel from Dodge, no contest.

 

[MFalkinham]

Just have him spend some time comparing the TDR 3rd Gen posts with those on TheDieselStop.com 6. 0L forum, and the choice should become clear. If he still buys the 6. 0 despite what he reads, then he will have to live with his decision and there is nothing more you can do. Time will eventually prove you right.

 

[GCross]

I was recently faced with the same dilemma, a relative was insistent on buying a Dmax I mentioned that they were prone to injector and other problems, the 590 engine was defueled to 520 because the mighty Allison transmission could not handle anymore, the independent front suspension was mushy, the brakes were inadequate, they were over priced, the Dmax is a light duty engine that would probably need to be rebuilt within a 150,000 miles. Inspite of my efforts guess what they did? Yep, they bought the Dmax Chevy. The bottom line is people are going to look at all the facts, and then buy what they want anyway. They were swayed by the real important stuff, a bigger back seat and softer ride.



-George-

 

[AlexWV]

I had a 7. 3L Powerstroke for about 150,000 miles with no problems except for a cam position sensor at around 65,000. Those are consumable items on those engines and most people carry a spare. Then I got a 6. 0L Powerstroke and maybe made it 10 miles before it stopped making any power at all. I got rid of that thing quick and didn't lose too much. I'm so happy I didn't decide to keep it and work through the issues, would have taken a much bigger bath on it.



When I got rid of it I decided to try a Hemi which was big mistake number 2. So when I finally decided to go back to a diesel which I should have done in the first place, there was no question at all about which one to get. If the 7. 3 Powerstroke was still around, I would have had some thinking to do on the subject.



Duramax did not even enter my stream of consciousness. Besides, those are the butt ugliest of trucks I have ever seen. Even if they had a Cummins in them I wouldn't get one.

 

[Buffalo]

A neighbor of mine had an older Powerstroke which he had to put 8 transmissions in.

He replaced that with an '04 Powerstroke, which, he promptly blew the engine. Didn't even have the license plates on it, yet. He uses Edge boxes & admittedly runs the crap out of his trucks. Says, " It's a diesel. Should be able to take it". Before it blew, he had taken it to the dealer for an oil change & they put 10w-30 motor oil in it. I'm sure that didn't help. When the engine blew, he left the Edge box on and the dealer promptly voided his warranty. He had to rebuild the engine himself & on his "dime". Pistons & cylinders were scored, badly, as were the bearings. He got it rebuilt and it ran well.

He has now traded it in on a new "05 Powerstroke.

Says he likes the Fords because the crewcabs are huge and can hold all of his family.



If you look-up the term "Brand Loyal" in your favorite Merriam-Webster or Funk & Wagnall's dictionaries, you will see a picture, of him.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[TowRig]

My wife and I have a horse also, at the barn it is pretty even between Ford, Dodge and Chevy, with a few more new Ford's I have noticed.



Some good Ford/Dodge/GM discussion here also:



http://towrig.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

 

[RTuvell]

The problems with the 6. 0 and how Ford handles the owners are legendary. If that isn't enough to convince him then just let him buy the Ford and he can learn the hard way!

 

[Matt400]

What do I need to know to convince my friend to buy a Cummins over the Ford?

Have him do some reading on what the 6. 0 Techs deal with here



and here

 

[WM-300]

Just a thought... ... . Never try to convince a friend to buy anything. If he follows your convincing, and buys a Lemon, your a bad guy forever and maybe loose a friend. And Lemons exist in everything.



WM-300

 

[Po' Riggity]

Just a thought... ... . Never try to convince a friend to buy anything. If he follows your convincing, and buys a Lemon, your a bad guy forever and maybe loose a friend. And Lemons exist in everything.



WM-300

EXACTLY. Let him buy whatever the hell he wants.

Scott

 

[sick_ram]

tell him to open the hoods and ask him whitch one he wants to work on.

 

[JMarhofke]

I agree with WM-300, never try to convince someone to buy a product. If there is a problem, your the "bad" guy.

When people tell me they are going to buy a brand X, I

encourge them to do so. They give me a strange look, and

normally say, but you drive a Dodge. I say "yes" with a

smile on my face...



Jim

 

[Bschneider]

EXACTLY. Let him buy whatever the hell he wants.

Scott

No kidding. Why not just let him chose the best truck for himself? The 6. 0 has some problems, but have you read the posts on this site lately? Ford has some problems, Dodge has some problems, Chevy has some problems.



I don't think you're helping him at all by "convincing" him to buy one brand over another - I think you're only helping yourself.

 

[FATCAT]

For the amount of $$$ he is going to spend, the only thing I would advise you to say to him is to (1) take his time in the decision and do research (2) TEST DRIVE each of the "Big-3" (3) then buy what HE likes.

 

[klenger]

I'm sure the Ford and Chevy sites have topics titled: "Need Help Convincing a Friend to Buy a Ford/Chevy over a Dodge". Fortunately, I ignored any advice from from Ford/Chevy owners when I was shopping for my Dodge.

 

[EricBu12]

Whenever I defend getting the dodge cummins, I say,



"hey, ALL over the road trucks... no matter what brand, have in line 6 cyl. diesels... . there are no V-8's... not really anyways... Plus, I make 380hp on 6 cylinders... . the stock 600 cummins has the same power as the V-8 Ford..... So the same hp with better MPg's, how can you go wrong?"

 

[jungledave]

My neighbor, FORD HEAD, had an 02 PSD. IT was in NEW condition at 55,000 miles. His transmission went out at 37k. Ford fixed it for only $2500, what a deal. His transmission started leaking again at 55k. Fraud, I mean ford wouldn't warranty their work cause they told him he wasn't a loyal costumer to that dealership. He told the service manager he was going across the street and buy a Dodge. He traded in the fraud, I mean ford for an 05, white 2500 big horn at Perkins Motors here in Colorado Springs. This was just last week. He hates to admit it, but he really likes the Dodge. The best way to convince your freind to buy a Dodge is to go get the fraud, I mean ford and drive it to the dodge dealer (or visa versa) park them side by side and open the hood of both and see wich one looks more reliable or simple. Remember simple is relaible. The choice should be obvious.

 

[jungledave]

tell him all the real cowboys drive Dodge.