Truck buying

[CAMPMEAT]

I love my 2010 Ford F150 SuperCrew.

[PolarBear]

FC, So FORD is the "WALMART" of the auto industry huh? 

I have owned a FORD car or truck since highschool ( 20 years ago) Not one of them has spent one day in a garage other than regular tune up and or maintenance. NOT ONE. I have had both cars and trucks. So if i were to buy the crap you are trying to tell everyone one here then I must be the luckiest guy in the world.
Ok your a mechanic, they all are subject to breakdowns here and there. But for you to sit there and try to feed us that FORD is garbage? I beg to differ with you and your words of wisdom.  Because I think your full of B.S.

[TheHunt]

I have a 08 Tacoma but when I replace it I will be buying a 1/2 ton.  Then pick up a small rig that I can use strickly for hunting and that I can tow behind the 1/2 ton if needed...

[swanny]

I'm pretty sure it was already said, but honestly it's hard to go wrong with any of them, Ford, Chevy, or Toyota. I know people with all three and they have all had their fair share of issues that they have had to go to the shop for. Drive them all, see what you like the feel of and look of the best and then get the best deal you can. I'm sure whatever you get you will enjoy.

[netcoyote]

OK, I'm going to jump into the fray here. Opinions about trucks are like A-holes...everybody's got one. Here's mine...(uh truck opinion)
I've owned big trucks and little trucks, Chevy, Dodge, and Nissan. To address xd2005's original point is a little difficult because there are so many factors to consider in a decision like this and he didn't get into all of them. A few things about his post though:
I wouldn't put a lot of weight on a Consumer Reports evaluation of trucks. We used to be subscribers of their magazine and I got tired of seeing their obviously biased puff-pieces and there evaluations based on features like the number of cup-holders and crap like that. Better to get opinions from guys like the mechanics and fleet guys with practical experience.
XD, if you are serious about putting a camper on that rig, you better be thinking definitely about a 3/4 ton frame or better. Manufacturers are leery about buyers putting heavy campers on high ground clearance rigs and will usually post some kind of notice to that affect on a new rig. If you are only thinking about a light weight pop-top, it's less of a deal.
Also have to agree with Bean Counter on the value of buying a good used rig. I bought a new Dodge Ram diesel in 2002. Got a stripped down version, but it has served well and hauled a lot of horses. As I learned more about the Rams with the Cummins engine I decided to buy two others but went the used route. Bought a '98 and a '01 both with a shade under 100k on the clock. You get a lot of truck for your money and the resale really holds well since you can run the Cummins for so long. Yea, I know about the weak fuel pumps and automatic transmissions on Dodges. We have replaced two injector and two lift pumps and still have not had transmission problems. Still a lot cheaper than a new rig.
The truck I've put the most miles on has been the 1997 Nissan that I bought new. I've got over 160k miles and it still looks and feels new. Everything is tight and does not leak fluids. Of course I don't tow much with it, just an occasional fishing boat trailer or utility trailer but it's great for getting up into those high places with overgrown trails.
Only had one Chevy and it was underpowered for what we wanted to use it for (haul horse trailer). My bad. I didn't spend enough time with that truck so I won't add to the Dodge/Chevy/Ford war....just passing on my experience.

[Bofire]

Owned them all, there aint spits difference. buy which ever you get the best deal on. They all have pluses and minuses.
Carl

[alecvg]

I like them all, but overall, I would say I am a chevy guy.  I love the looks, and driving it is like driving in a lazy boy compared to all the fords I have drivin.  If it were me, I would go chevy or toyota.

[mossback91]

MY 2002 Chevy 1500 has seen some serious abuse got 170k an still a tickin! I will say some of the interior is crap and chevy tailgates suck!!! but that motor is still goin!!! did eat up a rearend last year but like i said she has seen some abuse!

[FC]

FC, So FORD is the "WALMART" of the auto industry huh? 

I have owned a FORD car or truck since highschool ( 20 years ago) Not one of them has spent one day in a garage other than regular tune up and or maintenance. NOT ONE. I have had both cars and trucks. So if i were to buy the crap you are trying to tell everyone one here then I must be the luckiest guy in the world.
Ok your a mechanic, they all are subject to breakdowns here and there. But for you to sit there and try to feed us that FORD is garbage? I beg to differ with you and your words of wisdom.  Because I think your full of B.S.

So here is where I get rude and call it like I see it: If you have been driving for 20 years and you have never had any kind of breakage you are either a liar or you buy a new one every other year. Cars are mechanical things, they all break eventually! I'm sure your 20 years of "experience" far outstrips mine...I only have experience with a few thousand cars and trucks after all. Please continue to buy Fords, on behalf of all mechanics I thank you!

[xd2005]

Thanks all for your opinions!

I'm currently considering a 2009 Ford F-150 XLT Supercab. The only big downside is the miles, at 90,XXX. It's from a "car lot" vs "dealer" which I'm also always leery of (no particular reason), but seems to be priced about $5k under KBB.

[PlateauNDN]

I'm a chevy guy through and through but...I've owned dodges as well.  I was "buy American" before it was popular.  There is nothing anybody can show, tell or give me that would convince me otherwise to venture outside of either one.  My opinion.

[alecvg]

FC, So FORD is the "WALMART" of the auto industry huh? 

I have owned a FORD car or truck since highschool ( 20 years ago) Not one of them has spent one day in a garage other than regular tune up and or maintenance. NOT ONE. I have had both cars and trucks. So if i were to buy the crap you are trying to tell everyone one here then I must be the luckiest guy in the world.
Ok your a mechanic, they all are subject to breakdowns here and there. But for you to sit there and try to feed us that FORD is garbage? I beg to differ with you and your words of wisdom.  Because I think your full of B.S.

I love how people get so personal about this stuff, makes me laugh every time!   

[CAMPMEAT]

Thanks all for your opinions!

I'm currently considering a 2009 Ford F-150 XLT Supercab. The only big downside is the miles, at 90,XXX. It's from a "car lot" vs "dealer" which I'm also always leery of (no particular reason), but seems to be priced about $5k under KBB.

That's a lot of miles for an '09. I, myself would keep looking. Don't know where you're from, but you can do better. Look into lease returns. My last 2 Ford F150's have returns. Still under warranty too. Dealers go to auctions and get these trucks everyday.

[xd2005]

That's a lot of miles for an '09. I, myself would keep looking. Don't know where you're from, but you can do better. Look into lease returns. My last 2 Ford F150's have returns. Still under warranty too. Dealers go to auctions and get these trucks everyday.

I believe this is a lease return actually. I can definitely "do better" as far as miles goes, but it would probably be hard to not pay significantly more for fewer miles (this is lower value already due to miles, and is listed well below KBB). 

I'm not necessarily sold on the vehicle yet, but there are some mitigates to the high mileage, such as the fact that it's probably a lot of freeway driving in order to get that many miles on it that fast. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Another way to look at it is, the rental companies always take very good care of thier vehicles from what I've seen. No scratches, dents, broken glass etc. Oil changed etc. Mine had 26,500 miles on it when I bought it last September 2010.