Tony,

No doubt you will be the happiest with a Duramax. They will be easier to get a good deal on used, as they have been out longer. They have more aftermarket stuff for them out as well. The cummings is a great motor but DODGES SUCK!

I know how you are about interior feel and looks and the Ford is a YAWNER VS the Chevy. Exterior, I have to go witht he Ford. Ford will edge out the D max in the MPG derpartment as well.

My list Ford VS Duramax, since dodge does not count..IMO.

Motors and Tranny are a wash but chevy has been out longer nad has more mods available.

Interior: Chevy is nicer and more comfortable but lacks room. leather on seats and carpet wear way to fast..Chevy has hepa filter and locking center console. Ford`s console does not lock and that sucks. Ford has nice sliding Sun roof and electric rear slide window, which is a plus on the Boring interior. Fords crew cab has a more practical rear seat system , with metal floor plate for storage of dirty and heavy metal tools. Chevy, everthing lays on the back of the folded down seat (real bad) Ford, back up sensors and adj. gas and brake pedals are real nicer and a plus for Ford. Fords, extended mirrors are far nicer than Chevy and safer to use..

Chevy, no bed rail protectors and Fords are standard and nice.

Ride, Chevy rode nicer until 5000 miles or so then it bucked like a bronco.. I would say I got trick fu_ _ ed on that.. Chevy`s IFS handles better but also had to replace front end at 20,000 miles and alignment was always and issue. Ford turns tighter and striaght axles stay true.. Ford is and fells like a heavier duty truck..

Ford, has less plastic on the outside to fade and the plastic they use, seems to be of better quality..

BTW, I beat Gerald in the company 2 wheel drive EXT. Cab, 6.0 PSD last night , against my CC 4x4, PSD. I showed him what 4x4 is worth under a full boost launch.. Even though he was lighter, could not run me down.. Solid 2.5 lenght win.. That should make a 4x4 CC 6.0 down in the low, low 15`s stock.. ADD a chip, 420 rear wheel and near 800 ft lbs of boost . High 13 to low 14 then, with baytown air..

 

LOL with your truck racing Brooke. Thanks for the excellent info. Like you, I'm kinda wanting something different than just another GM with a new engine. I think I'd take the Silverado SS over a Duramax, at least it looks PIMP. I'm going to beat your record for RED vehicles in the same driveway if I get a red truck.

Red '00 SS
Red '69 SS
Red '88 Formula
Red '00 Trans Am (Lisa's car)
Red Truck?

hahaha

 

Looks like money's not an issue here.....

 

No denying it, the Dodge looks good. And that Cummins 24v motor is a very nice running and durable motor. BUT, I can't get by the fact that its in a Dodge. Look around at the used trucks like 1 to 2 years old, and see how much cheaper you can buy a Dodge for. The re-sale value is much lower than the others, and there is a valid reason for this. Its not because people are mean and its not because of favortism one way or another, its because everything Dodge makes these days is Junk! Thats a fact. They really do have some talent working for them in the design division, and they do build the concept cars and trucks and I give them props for that, but I wouldn't spend my hard earned money on one. You can't polish a turd! Just my .02. You get what you want.

 

I drove them all before order my new truck, so here is my take.

1. Dodge: Awesome engine, too bad it comes wrapped in a Dodge. The 4-speed trannys are junk and don't last, the interior is cheesey, and the Quad cab is a joke. It did drive well though. The resale value is crap.

2. Chevy: Very nice interior and comfortable seats. Ride was the smoothest of the three but the front ends are a sure problem point. Power was nice and the 5-speed Allison tranny was sweet. I didn't like the way it drove however. It felt like the engine was always trying to slow the truck down when coasting. When useing tow/haul mode it takes the tranny out of 5th gear OD so you have to pull in 4th. Rear cab was not very big, better then the Dodge but not near as big as the Ford.

3. Ford: The 6.0 PSD with the 5-speed auto felt like the strongest and smoothest drivetrain out of the three. In Tow/Haul mode you still get 5th gear OD. Yes the 6.0 got off to a rocky start in '03 but the '04s have been a thousand times better. The main problems were with Fords crappy electronics not the 6.0 engine itself. IH has been running that engine for years with thier own electronics with no problems. Remember the Duramax had pleanty of issues it's first year as well, namely injector problems the engines still suffer from today. Also from a lot of reading and talking to people the Duramax doesn't pull as well under heavy load compared to the Cummins and Powerstroke.

Yes the interior is pretty plain in the Fords but it holds up very well. I have a few friends with Chevy's that are creaking and rattleing. The interior in my '02 F-250 has been flawless as well as the rest of the truck. Hopefully my new one will be too.

Taking all of these things and more into consideration I ordered my new truck:

2004 F-350 CC DRW, Larait, 4x2, 6.0 PSD w/ 5-speed auto, True Blue w/ AZ Beige, 4.10 LS, Heated Seats, TT Mirrors, Power Moonroof, Tubular Cab Steps, Trailer Hitch, In-Dash 6-Disc CD Player.

Paid $500 below invoice plus a $1500 rebate and any other incentives that apply with it come in. Should be here next week!!!!!!!

 

Paul, shoot me a PM with who you bought it from below invoice. How long was the delivery time?

Tony

 

You have mail.


Paul

 

I see Paul knows his trucks.. I thought I heard and ECHO..

 

actually Paul, the duramax trucks can drive in 5th gear in tow haul. the button you push to get T/H if pushed for longer than one second will lock out overdrive. you will then get a light on the dash that says no overdrive so 5th is locked out.

 

Cool to know. Is that something new?? The truck I test drove was an '03 and if you just touch the T/H button the truck would upshift out of OD. Never tried to hold it in though. The saleman was an idiot and knew nothing about the truck. Thanks for the info.


Paul