silverado/sierra vs. f-150

[spaceman]

well, tired of my tacoma, ive owned it for a year and im really not pleased with the truck.ive babied it and had the thing in for warranty work four times now.(clutch pedal assemblyx2,leaf spring bushings, heater etc.)
i regret getting rid of my f-150 which needed some work but i somehow doubt i would have inconvenienced me as much as this truck did.
my tacoma has 25k on it right now and looks virtually new,its paid for so im going to sell it and buy a newer f-150 or silverado/sierra 4x4
2000-2005 im thinking. i really dont want to take a loan out or float anymore cash than my tacoma will net in a sale.
***********************************
in any event, im very dissapointed in the tacoma ...its an 05 and ive never had a vehicle that asked for so much while providing so little.


edit 8.31
i think the truck is sold, now my question is this.
looking on the local lots there are a ton of used sierra's and silverado's
ive seen '02s from 10k(ext cab 4x4) well there is one on a local lot(but kinda rusty underneath)
and '04 '05 from 16k-20k in the mileage range/condition i am looking for (sub 30k)
of course these are sticker prices and i know not to even approach those.
I wont have time to hunt private party so I am considering just buying new.


what should i be paying OTD right now for a brand new 5.3l silverado ext cab 4x4.
*not loaded(at/ac/cd/dont care about power windows or locks) but well equipped.??

 

[spaceman]

for the record it never left me stranded.
and the problems i have had are well documented on toyota forums.
im just not impressed, for what i paid i could have very easily purchased a comparable f series or chevy/ even one with more creature comforts.




so now im down to f-150 vs. gm/chevy sierra silverado.
i refuse to purchase a dodge. i wont be purchasing another toyota on principle..ive had $1500 trucks that were less troublesome.so tundra is out of the question.
towing a 14 foot boat, going to home depot, no offroading.
what will be the most headache free of the two?
years to avoid? engines to avoid?
transmissions?
common problems?
personal input?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

 

[desy]

The FIL is much impressed with the newer 07 Silverado and he also had an 05.
You should be able to get top dollar trading off the taco

 

[herm0016]

GM makes a great truck.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

i'd like to stick with a minimum of a 6 foot bed(i have a ten foot jon boat that i throw in the back of the taco for smaller ponds)
i noticed the 5.3 was better on gas than the 4.8...
id really like to get one of the '07s or '08s but cant really justify spending the money.

my friend is a big chevy/gm guy..and hates fords(mechanic at an independent garage)
but i am shopping more for the deal than the truck i suppose, it is something to keep in mind as he will be doing any work that is more than standard maitenance/repair.
I liked my '95 f-150 but man it drove like a bus even compared to my other friends 2000 silverado.

ideally id like to find a good private party deal, but i wont have alot of leeway with time between sale and purchase(work..)
i suppose i could float a loan in the interim, but i'd rather not deal with registering a new set of plates and all that crap(unless its for a 3rd vehicle)

i dont see alot of f-150's or silverado in a manual, not that i want one...its just strange.

 

[desy]

I think the F150's have nicer interiors than the older than 07 Silverados

Are you getting xtended cab? step side box etc, I think you can gets Fords in a much wider variety of configurations so you'd get closer to what you want

 

[spaceman]

no step side, i need the bed width for my jon boat.
definitely getting an extended cab/automatic transmission
the thing i need on the truck are:
split front seat
automatic
extended cab
6 foot bed minimum.
4x4

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

i'd like to stick with a minimum of a 6 foot bed(i have a ten foot jon boat that i throw in the back of the taco for smaller ponds)
i noticed the 5.3 was better on gas than the 4.8...
id really like to get one of the '07s or '08s but cant really justify spending the money.

my friend is a big chevy/gm guy..and hates fords(mechanic at an independent garage)
but i am shopping more for the deal than the truck i suppose, it is something to keep in mind as he will be doing any work that is more than standard maitenance/repair.
I liked my '95 f-150 but man it drove like a bus even compared to my other friends 2000 silverado.

ideally id like to find a good private party deal, but i wont have alot of leeway with time between sale and purchase(work..)
i suppose i could float a loan in the interim, but i'd rather not deal with registering a new set of plates and all that crap(unless its for a 3rd vehicle)

i dont see alot of f-150's or silverado in a manual, not that i want one...its just strange.

As far as I know you can not get the v8 in manual in the GM, and I think the Fords are the same, you can only get it in the v6 an diesels.
The only difference I can see why your buddy wouldn't like the Ford is because of the engine difference. Fords are OHC while the GM's still use a push rod (lol mullet )
The Gm motor is going to be easier for him to work on. But like I said, I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6L and I've never had a problem with it.
I also had a 91 c1500 back when Silverado was an options package that had 200k+ miles on it and still ran like a top. The truck was ugly and beat up but it started every time and could still haul ass. It was a 5.7L TBI regular cab long bed.

My vote is the GM, but with either will serve you well.

 

[spaceman]

the other knock i have with the tacoma is the stupid bed mounting rail system which has made it a nightmare to find a cap that isnt retail
and in my neck of the woods(and probably yours) used caps are a dime a dozen..but not for the tacoma 05+!

 

[NetGuySC]

Here at work the chevy's consistently get better gas mileage than the fords..

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

i'd like to stick with a minimum of a 6 foot bed(i have a ten foot jon boat that i throw in the back of the taco for smaller ponds)
i noticed the 5.3 was better on gas than the 4.8...
id really like to get one of the '07s or '08s but cant really justify spending the money.

my friend is a big chevy/gm guy..and hates fords(mechanic at an independent garage)
but i am shopping more for the deal than the truck i suppose, it is something to keep in mind as he will be doing any work that is more than standard maitenance/repair.
I liked my '95 f-150 but man it drove like a bus even compared to my other friends 2000 silverado.

ideally id like to find a good private party deal, but i wont have alot of leeway with time between sale and purchase(work..)
i suppose i could float a loan in the interim, but i'd rather not deal with registering a new set of plates and all that crap(unless its for a 3rd vehicle)

i dont see alot of f-150's or silverado in a manual, not that i want one...its just strange.

As far as I know you can not get the v8 in manual in the GM, and I think the Fords are the same, you can only get it in the v6 an diesels.
The only difference I can see why your buddy wouldn't like the Ford is because of the engine difference. Fords are OHC while the GM's still use a push rod (lol mullet )
The Gm motor is going to be easier for him to work on. But like I said, I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6L and I've never had a problem with it.
I also had a 91 c1500 back when Silverado was an options package that had 200k+ miles on it and still ran like a top. The truck was ugly and beat up but it started every time and could still haul ass. It was a 5.7L TBI regular cab long bed.

My vote is the GM, but with either will serve you well.

when the clutch slave went in my '95 f-150 we had to remove the crossbars on the frame, drop the transmission out, it was 9 hours of my friend complaining how much easier it would be to replace a clutch slave on a chevy.

he has an '84 or '85 2500 4x4 and a 78 stepside that he did a full restoration to...cept for the frame is yellow and the truck is red, i call it the ronald mcdonald truck.

btw, ive been at the garage hanging out with him when he was changing plugs on an expedition...he had a hell of a time getting to the ones at the rear of the engine

but to be fair.he has mechanic friends that are ford fanboys...i guess its all in what you are used to working on.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: spaceman
the other knock i have with the tacoma is the stupid bed mounting rail system which has made it a nightmare to find a cap that isnt retail
and in my neck of the woods(and probably yours) used caps are a dime a dozen..but not for the tacoma 05+!

I don't like caps (that's putting it nicely). If you're going to get a cap, you might as well get an SUV. With the Expedition I can lay all the seats down and haul as much as I can with the Silverado. However I can cram more people in the Expedition when the seats are up.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman
the other knock i have with the tacoma is the stupid bed mounting rail system which has made it a nightmare to find a cap that isnt retail
and in my neck of the woods(and probably yours) used caps are a dime a dozen..but not for the tacoma 05+!

I don't like caps (that's putting it nicely). If you're going to get a cap, you might as well get an SUV. With the Expedition I can lay all the seats down and haul as much as I can with the Silverado. However I can cram more people in the Expedition when the seats are up.

yah but i bring garbage to the dump and load a boat into the bed, i cant do that with an suv..
well the trash i could but i like a cap because it acts as a mobile dumpster and keeps snow/racoons out in the winter

in my old ford with the 8 foot bed and cap i saved $75 by picking up new couch from the furniture store in the middle...could you do that in the expedition

i love the space of an suv, but they dont have the designated dirty area like a pickup..
my old subaru wagon was the old fish mobile and man after awhile it smelled like the inside of a tacklebox... the seperation is key

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

i'd like to stick with a minimum of a 6 foot bed(i have a ten foot jon boat that i throw in the back of the taco for smaller ponds)
i noticed the 5.3 was better on gas than the 4.8...
id really like to get one of the '07s or '08s but cant really justify spending the money.

my friend is a big chevy/gm guy..and hates fords(mechanic at an independent garage)
but i am shopping more for the deal than the truck i suppose, it is something to keep in mind as he will be doing any work that is more than standard maitenance/repair.
I liked my '95 f-150 but man it drove like a bus even compared to my other friends 2000 silverado.

ideally id like to find a good private party deal, but i wont have alot of leeway with time between sale and purchase(work..)
i suppose i could float a loan in the interim, but i'd rather not deal with registering a new set of plates and all that crap(unless its for a 3rd vehicle)

i dont see alot of f-150's or silverado in a manual, not that i want one...its just strange.

As far as I know you can not get the v8 in manual in the GM, and I think the Fords are the same, you can only get it in the v6 an diesels.
The only difference I can see why your buddy wouldn't like the Ford is because of the engine difference. Fords are OHC while the GM's still use a push rod (lol mullet )
The Gm motor is going to be easier for him to work on. But like I said, I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6L and I've never had a problem with it.
I also had a 91 c1500 back when Silverado was an options package that had 200k+ miles on it and still ran like a top. The truck was ugly and beat up but it started every time and could still haul ass. It was a 5.7L TBI regular cab long bed.

My vote is the GM, but with either will serve you well.

when the clutch slave went in my '95 f-150 we had to remove the crossbars on the frame, drop the transmission out, it was 9 hours of my friend complaining how much easier it would be to replace a clutch slave on a chevy.

he has an '84 or '85 2500 4x4 and a 78 stepside that he did a full restoration to...cept for the frame is yellow and the truck is red, i call it the ronald mcdonald truck.

btw, ive been at the garage hanging out with him when he was changing plugs on an expedition...he had a hell of a time getting to the ones at the rear of the engine

but to be fair.he has mechanic friends that are ford fanboys...i guess its all in what you are used to working on.

Hey if he's working on it and not you then don't let the ease of working on it be a consideration. If you're paying him he shouldn't complain.

As far as plugs go, It isn't a cake walk to change them on the newer Chevy's either. With ever shortening hoods and pushing engines further back it makes the last 2 hard to get at. My 91 trans am was a PITA.
Oh one thing to look for in the Chevy/GMC is the "Chevy lean" almost all Chevy trucks will develop this. It's an easy fix that requires a $10-$15 bushing and 10 minutes of time.
If you want to look at info on Chevy's go to fullsizechevy.com

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: spaceman

well the trash i could but i like a cap because it acts as a mobile dumpster and keeps snow out in the winter

I haven't seen snow in years. lol
We have 2 season here. HOT and ice. Ice last about 3 days.

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Headache free can never be a sure thing.
But anything you choose is going to be good.
The Chevy/GMC you need to get the 5.3L. It has better fuel economy than the 4.8L. The 4.3L v6 is a joke. It is bullet proof, but pathetically underpowered.
In the Chevy/GMC range you'll want the z71 package. I prefer the full 4 door trucks, but there are so many options it retarded. You can get 2 door regular bed, 2 door long bed, 2 door extended cab regular bed, 2 door extended cab long bed, 4 door 5.7 ft bed, or if you move up to the 2500 you can get a 4 door long bed. The trucks from 2000-2005 are all going to be the same, your major differences are going to be radio options and front headlights.
In the Ford I wouldn't get a pre 05. The 05 and ups are damn nice trucks. The V6 in the Fords are peppier and more responsive than it's counterpart in the GM trucks. The 4.6L won't tow as much as the 5.3L but it's a good quick revving engine. I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6 and the thing purs like a kitten and still runs strong.

The GM trucks, I feel, ride better than the Ford and are more like Cadillacs in the way they ride compared to the F-series. I love my 06 Silverado, but either truck is a great truck and really in the used market it's going to come down to looks (subjective) and what features you want. Right now the market is so flooded by these trucks you are in a good position to find one and make a great deal on one. for shits and giggles one day I looked up the "trade in" value of my truck, it's an 06 LT with all the options except leather and with 50K miles they said it was worth $9k. I would never let it go for that little of an amount, but that will tell you a lot of people probably got rid of some damn nice trucks for very little money. the stealerships are still charging upwards of $20K for a truck in great condition. So there is LOTS of room for wiggle in the price.

i'd like to stick with a minimum of a 6 foot bed(i have a ten foot jon boat that i throw in the back of the taco for smaller ponds)
i noticed the 5.3 was better on gas than the 4.8...
id really like to get one of the '07s or '08s but cant really justify spending the money.

my friend is a big chevy/gm guy..and hates fords(mechanic at an independent garage)
but i am shopping more for the deal than the truck i suppose, it is something to keep in mind as he will be doing any work that is more than standard maitenance/repair.
I liked my '95 f-150 but man it drove like a bus even compared to my other friends 2000 silverado.

ideally id like to find a good private party deal, but i wont have alot of leeway with time between sale and purchase(work..)
i suppose i could float a loan in the interim, but i'd rather not deal with registering a new set of plates and all that crap(unless its for a 3rd vehicle)

i dont see alot of f-150's or silverado in a manual, not that i want one...its just strange.

As far as I know you can not get the v8 in manual in the GM, and I think the Fords are the same, you can only get it in the v6 an diesels.
The only difference I can see why your buddy wouldn't like the Ford is because of the engine difference. Fords are OHC while the GM's still use a push rod (lol mullet )
The Gm motor is going to be easier for him to work on. But like I said, I have a 00 Expedition with the 4.6L and I've never had a problem with it.
I also had a 91 c1500 back when Silverado was an options package that had 200k+ miles on it and still ran like a top. The truck was ugly and beat up but it started every time and could still haul ass. It was a 5.7L TBI regular cab long bed.

My vote is the GM, but with either will serve you well.

when the clutch slave went in my '95 f-150 we had to remove the crossbars on the frame, drop the transmission out, it was 9 hours of my friend complaining how much easier it would be to replace a clutch slave on a chevy.

he has an '84 or '85 2500 4x4 and a 78 stepside that he did a full restoration to...cept for the frame is yellow and the truck is red, i call it the ronald mcdonald truck.

btw, ive been at the garage hanging out with him when he was changing plugs on an expedition...he had a hell of a time getting to the ones at the rear of the engine

but to be fair.he has mechanic friends that are ford fanboys...i guess its all in what you are used to working on.

Hey if he's working on it and not you then don't let the ease of working on it be a consideration. If you're paying him he shouldn't complain.

As far as plugs go, It isn't a cake walk to change them on the newer Chevy's either. With ever shortening hoods and pushing engines further back it makes the last 2 hard to get at. My 91 trans am was a PITA.
Oh one thing to look for in the Chevy/GMC is the "Chevy lean" almost all Chevy trucks will develop this. It's an easy fix that requires a $10-$15 bushing and 10 minutes of time.
If you want to look at info on Chevy's go to fullsizechevy.com

i do pay him, but not nearly what i would pay a garage.we did change the clutch on it too while were at it. he did the clutch and the clutch slave at my house for $200+parts w. my hold the flashlight/get me this/errand boy helping him.
now he has a house with a nice garage and a sweet lift so there will be no more of working on the floor of my unheated carport in february

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: spaceman

well the trash i could but i like a cap because it acts as a mobile dumpster and keeps snow out in the winter

I haven't seen snow in years. lol
We have 2 season here. HOT and ice. Ice last about 3 days.

yeah i live in the berkshires.(ma)
we get snow every year without fail and bitter cold

 

[Sluggo]

We have a 99 silverado 2WD 5.3 and a 99 Expedition 4WD 5.4.

They both have over 200,000 miles, with very little work on either. Both have the OEM drivetrain and are simply dependable as crap.

You really cant go wrong with either, but if I was buying again, I think I would pick the Silverado/Sierra line over the F-150.

 

[Vette73]

GMC/Chevy would be my pick over the ford IMO.

Of course my Truck is a old 94 Mazda B4000
But only cost $1500

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
GMC/Chevy would be my pick over the ford IMO.

Of course my Truck is a old 94 Mazda B4000
But only cost $1500

i had an '85 stranger (in '99) and and went to a '92 sTranger after my sister totalled the '85 both never gave me grief, it had 130k on the odo, the 3.0l v6, i replaced the muffler and thats it...they were both decent trucks imo.(i think the '85 had 115k when it was totalled)

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
GMC/Chevy would be my pick over the ford IMO.

Of course my Truck is a old 94 Mazda B4000
But only cost $1500

i had an '85 stranger (in '99) and and went to a '92 sTranger after my sister totalled the '85 both never gave me grief, it had 130k on the odo, the 3.0l v6, i replaced the muffler and thats it...they were both decent trucks imo.(i think the '85 had 115k when it was totalled)

Yea mine is pretty good. Has 160k+ on the 4.0L motor and runs fine to me. I got it for so cheap as it had a dirty mass air sensor that caused a bad miss, esp at takeoff. So he put money into new plugs and other stuff. I just put money in a single q-tip and some cleaner and runs great now.

But I was trying to get a Chevy/GMC truck before i got this. But the GMC/Chevy trucks hold their value to good.

 

[JDMnAR1]

My generalizations (based on my experience and observations in my market):

-the GM truck will ride more like a car than a Ford
-the GM will get marginally better gas mileage than the Ford
-a used Ford will cost less than a comparable used GM
-they will all do what you want

With that said, I would say go with whichever one you find the best deal on that meets your criteria for options, color, mileage, etc.

I say this as a Ford owner - 2002 F250 Crew Cab 4x4, 6.8L, yadda yadda - with 115K+ on the odometer and not a mechanical problem yet, with me trying my damndest to break it.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'm surprised how much trouble you've had with your Tacoma...I have nothing but great things to say about my Tacoma.

That being said, if I was shopping for a full size truck, I'd buy a Sierra/Silverado hands down. I had a 2002 Yukon and I loved that 5.3 liter engine and it consistently got "good" gas mileage considering its rating.

 

[joutlaw]

I recently bought an 04 Chevy Silverado regular cab short bed Z71 with the 5.3L V8. This thing is a monster compared to my 2000 mazda millenia and wife's 1994 Accord. It has tons of power and very capable off road.

I would personally go with an 04 and up in either GMC or Chevy flavors. You can find them dirt cheap right now too. I got mine for $7K with 119K miles.

Some minor things that have gone on with mine:

The intermediate steering shaft was noisy. There is a TSB out on it. The greese is able to escape on the old part # steering shaft. I replaced the shaft with the new part # for 75$ and was able to put it on myself... (gotta love american cars and big engine bays)

HVAC blower resistor is acting up. A/C sometimes only works on the 5th level. I can undo the resistor and wipe it clean and it works... will probably replace soon since the part is $20 and can replace myself too.

That's the only issues I've had with the truck. I know the 03 models have speedometer issues too. They made a big change to the interior noise dampening and wire system in 03... so thats why I say 04 and up on the GM trucks.

I'd get the VIN of the truck you are looking to buy and call a dealer. Get them to run the build sheet for you and look at the options. If you go 4x4 and you tow make sure you get the G80 rear end option. It's the auto-locking rear differential option. I have 3.73 gears in mine, but you may want to go with 4.11s if you are going to tow a lot.