F-this snow. I want to buy a truck!

[Canehdianman]

I am looking to upgrade from my 2005 Tundra Access Cab to something with 4 full doors (baby seat incoming!)

I was initially looking at a Double Cab Tacoma, but I really can't justify the price they ask for. The Tacoma hasn't really be updated in 10 years. The mid-sized truck market is owned by Nissan (Frontier) and Toyota (Tacoma). There hasn't been any incentive to improve on their design, so they haven't.

I was super excited to hear that Chevy is making a Colorado again starting for MY 2015. It looks like it will have enough bells and whistles (diesel engine in 2016!) that it might get Toyota and Nissan to bring their A-game.

[The Fonz]

For 50/50 city/hwy, I'd go GM.

Something else I forgot to add... Dodge 4 doors have little to no room in the back seat. I'm 5'10'' and can't fit back there.

GM + Ford have all the space in the world.

[btimbit]

On the Ram front, there's no question the engines are great. The 5.7 Hemi doesn't mess around, it loves to go. But the overall build quality on the rest of the truck is what steers me away. Interior is plasticy and gross, and at a year old knobs feel loose, the doors creak, you open one from the outside you can see it drop like somethings loose and it was resting on the door jam. Rear diff seized, and while I love the 7speed tranny that fuel saving system they have kicks on and off like a ton of bricks. Just the usual Chrysler stuff, and the engines almost make up for it... just not quite in my opinion.

I drive an F-150 right now and I love everything about it EXCEPT the engine. But mine's an '07 with the 5.4 Triton. Known for being hilariously horrid. Ford tech once told me that engine alone put all his kids through university, haha. But more importantly I'd buy a newer ecoboost or even the 5.0 in a heartbeat. I've driven both quite a bit and have nothing negative to say about them.

But my favourite right now is the new GM's. GM fell behind with their half tons in recent years but the new generation,while way overdue, is honestly spectacular. I think they're the best looking inside and out (matter of opinion) the 5.3 eco-tec V8 was ridiculously smooth, the fuel management came on and off seamlessly, gets better economy than the Ford Ecoboost and the economy doesn't drop off a cliff while towing like it does in the Ford (Although the Ford has a new version coming in 2015 I believe so we'll see). A 420hp 6.2L version just came out as well, but I haven't tried it yet. My '97 Sierra is the best truck I've ever owned (not that that's much relevant 17 years later) I also drove a 2012 2500 in the arctic for a month last year and the thing was amazing, especially in the conditions and treatment it received.

Haven't driven a Tundra or Titan in years so can't comment there. LOVE the Tacoma but it's too small and expensive, and getting a little old in the tooth.

Goes without saying to test drive 'em all and form your own opinions, but these are my experiences.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

0% Financing on the Chev/GMC 2014 1500s until the 9th, for what it's worth. You'll probably want to go with a crew cab if you're toting kids.

I am looking into a Sierra or I might wait for the 2016 Canyon w/ the 2.5L turbo-diesel.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

0% Financing on the Chev/GMC 2014 1500s until the 9th, for what it's worth. You'll probably want to go with a crew cab if you're toting kids.

My girlfriend is going to hate you for telling me that right before Christmas Finance rates were the only thing that kept me from buying one in August

[Sliver]

I leased a Tacoma for four years. What a boring, personality-less, unfun vehicle. I'm so much happier with my F-150. Especially if you're going to make the mistake of buying new...Tacomas haven't changed in like five or so years. They're so outdated, man.

[4X4]

I'd like to chime in with a vote for the Chev/GMs. My '01 Silverado had 355,000 km on it before I decided to update. My last truck was a Tacoma, and while it was really fun to drive, it was not a work truck. Toast at 59,000km, contrary to Toyota's reputation, it was a POS.

The one thing to keep in mind when it comes to trucks, is that every truck guy seems to have a brand that they swear by, to the point where they claim that the other brands are garbage. This is mostly a Ford/Dodge/GM Chev thing. I'll tell you the truth here, they're all good trucks. They all have pros and cons. You can't really go wrong with any of them, as long as you do a bit of homework first.

Chev/GMs are more expensive to buy, but their parts are less expensive. Dodges cost less to buy, but their parts are more expensive. Fords are right in between. There is a range of years (something like 04-10) with Fords where the spark plugs have a tendency to break when changing them. Don't quote me on the years, but any mechanic will confirm that. It's not the end of the world, but it can turn a tune up into something much more expensive. But the rest of the truck is awesome. I'd have no problem driving any Ford, Dodge or Chev/GM newer than 1999, and I only choose that year because that's when the classic body style started for Chev/GM.

I'm not even joking here, you have to pick which brand you like the most based on looks, because everything else is comparable, when you consider the pros and cons of each.

Domestic trucks are the way to go. The resident VW guy even says so. No offence to you guys who love your Tacomas. Mine was a lemon, and it had no business on a construction site, and even less business 4x4ing. But if your primary purpose for your truck is to haul people, and not get stuck in snow, the Tacoma will do that very well, and it's really fun to drive (for a truck)(especially with the 6 speed manual).

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I leased a Tacoma for four years. What a boring, personality-less, unfun vehicle. I'm so much happier with my F-150. Especially if you're going to make the mistake of buying new...Tacomas haven't changed in like five or so years. They're so outdated, man.

Weird. That was my Tacoma's one redeeming quality. Fun to drive. Everything else sucked. Payload, mileage, everything malfunctioning all the time. Spend so much time in the shop, I actually learned a bus route at the age of 30.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

0% Financing on the Chev/GMC 2014 1500s until the 9th, for what it's worth. You'll probably want to go with a crew cab if you're toting kids.

I am looking into a Sierra or I might wait for the 2016 Canyon w/ the 2.5L turbo-diesel.

Just make sure you know what you are giving up to get the 0% rate. If you are leaving a $5 or 6k rebate on the table, you might be wiser to take the rebate, and go with a bank. Right now there is a bit of a rate war, and there is 4 commercial banks with 3.9% fixed rate loans that the dealers can use. And a couple are offering up to 96 month Amortizations.

[The Fonz]

4x4^^

I agree. Which is why I lean to Chev/GM if he's going to have any sort of city driving. Nothing worse than driving in 4x4 in your Dodge thru the streets, then trying to park that thing. Chev/GM on the other hand has the "Auto" option, and to the best of my knowledge, Ford doesn't.

I hate driving my work truck (2013 Dodge 1/2 ton) in the city during winter. My 2010 GMC 1/2 ton on the other hand is no problem.

They are all great trucks.

[Da_Chief]

Love my Titan! would recommend it. Also the Tundra as well.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Weird. That was my Tacoma's one redeeming quality. Fun to drive. Everything else sucked. Payload, mileage, everything malfunctioning all the time. Spend so much time in the shop, I actually learned a bus route at the age of 30.

Mine must have been a dog or something. I remember us talking about this once on here when we both had Tacomas. Mine was embarrassingly slow even with the six-speed manual and you found yours to be fast. Plus the stock tires were complete garbage and gave me no traction and handled like crap. Mileage also sucked on mine. I liked Tacomas a lot until I owned one and now I don't even know what I saw in it haha.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Chev/GMs are more expensive to buy, but their parts are less expensive. Dodges cost less to buy, but their parts are more expensive. Fords are right in between. There is a range of years (something like 04-10) with Fords where the spark plugs have a tendency to break when changing them. Don't quote me on the years, but any mechanic will confirm that. It's not the end of the world, but it can turn a tune up into something much more expensive. But the rest of the truck is awesome. I'd have no problem driving any Ford, Dodge or Chev/GM newer than 1999, and I only choose that year because that's when the classic body style started for Chev/GM.

2004.5 to 2008. The 5.4L 3v being the main culprit. They're a two piece spark plug by design, but you require a special tool to remove them if they break (Which usually at least one does) Labour costs to remove a broken one is $100 per plug as I was quoted. I've read of guys paying just under a grand for a simple plug change. Luckily there's aftermarket one piece replacements you can get, which I did ASAP while the truck still had low km's and luckily had none break.

This isn't an issue with any Fords 2008+ though, I'd get a newer one in a heartbeat

[Canehdianman]

Good lord this thread is making me want to go test drive trucks this weekend!

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by 4X4

The one thing to keep in mind when it comes to trucks, is that every truck guy seems to have a brand that they swear by, to the point where they claim that the other brands are garbage. This is mostly a Ford/Dodge/GM Chev thing. I'll tell you the truth here, they're all good trucks. They all have pros and cons. You can't really go wrong with any of them, as long as you do a bit of homework first.

I would agree with this mostly but the biggest difference seems to be the ride. The Chevy guys say the Ford rides like a tank, the Ford guys say the Chevy is too soft and you can't feel the road. It's mostly personal preference. I haven't driven the new Chev's but the interiors used to be pretty cheap plastic, that said the Fords have some issues too, my Lariat has a shifter knob cap that I wouldn't pay $2 for. No opinions on Dodge, never owned one.

Originally Posted by 4X4

Fords are right in between. There is a range of years (something like 04-10) with Fords where the spark plugs have a tendency to break when changing them. Don't quote me on the years, but any mechanic will confirm that. It's not the end of the world, but it can turn a tune up into something much more expensive.

Can confirm this, I just had the plugs changed on my 2006 and it cost about $400, only one of mine broke removing them, most of the cost is in the replacement plugs but they last a long time (yes I still have my 7 year old truck, no reason to upgrade since I love it). That is the only "major" repair I've had in 4-5 years of owning it. They used to use a 2 part plug that the longer you leave it the better the chance of it breaking when it was pulled. If you buy a F-150 older than 3-4 years check the records if it has had them changed, if not negotiate at least $500 off the purchase price.

[pylon]

And to what 4X4 and The Fonz says (sounds like a sitcom or something) there is really no such thing as a crappy vehicle anymore. The way cars are built today as compared to 20 years ago, the difference between what is considered a POS and Best In Class is marginal. There are exceptions to that rule, but for the better part, cars are made incredibly well now, right across the board.

The one huge shift we are seeing in the business is the amount of extended warranties customers are buying. It used to be the odd one here and there, but now, it is over 50% on cash/finance deals (leasing not so much). Most manufacturers are offering warranties up to 10 years and 200,000 kms COMPREHENSIVE, which is insane. Yeah it will run you between $3,000 and $5,000 on average, but I remember when cars were considered scrap metal at those kind of kilometres. The average shop rate at a dealer in Calgary is around $125/hr, and if you keep a new truck for 200k kms, you will get every nickel back and then some in most cases. I usually lease (with the exception of my summer fun car), as for me, being in the business buying makes no sense. But even on my BMW, I bought a 5 year warranty extension, as it just isn't worth the risk anymore. The days of the mechanic that could diagnose a cylinder misfire with a stethoscope are long since gone. Now they yard out your entire ignition system and replace it with a new one.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Mine must have been a dog or something. I remember us talking about this once on here when we both had Tacomas. Mine was embarrassingly slow even with the six-speed manual and you found yours to be fast. Plus the stock tires were complete garbage and gave me no traction and handled like crap. Mileage also sucked on mine. I liked Tacomas a lot until I owned one and now I don't even know what I saw in it haha.

First thing I did was buy new tires. My Taco was fast, or maybe my foot was heavy. But I've been a truck guy since I was 20, so I don't have a convertible mustang in my garage to compare my trucks to. It was definitely the quickest and most nimble truck I ever owned, compared to my half tons and my SUVs and my beloved first car, a Ford Tempo.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by 4X4

First thing I did was buy new tires. My Taco was fast, or maybe my foot was heavy. But I've been a truck guy since I was 20, so I don't have a convertible mustang in my garage to compare my trucks to. It was definitely the quickest and most nimble truck I ever owned, compared to my half tons and my SUVs and my beloved first car, a Ford Tempo.

Lol my first car was a Ford Tempo too. Those things are beasts in the Winter too. I swear I used to go 4x4ing with that thing.

And about this thread...not sure how someone can NOT own a truck or at least an AWD vehicle in this city.

[4X4]

Silverado or Sierra for me. Love the look, and I'm just used to it. But I bounce around in my buddy's Ford all the time, and the comforts are the same. And none of us truck guys were stuck today. Well, I'm sure a few were, but they're the strugglers. Every group has it's share of strugglers. The rest of us truck guys were pulling up behind the car guys and pushing cars by hand, or pulling with the tow strap kept under the flip up 60/40 back seat.

Sorry about the bragging, us truck guys only get a handful of days per year where our vehicle is superior. The rest of the time, we're just paying more for gas.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Silverado or Sierra for me. Love the look, and I'm just used to it. But I bounce around in my buddy's Ford all the time, and the comforts are the same. And none of us truck guys were stuck today. Well, I'm sure a few were, but they're the strugglers. Every group has it's share of strugglers. The rest of us truck guys were pulling up behind the car guys and pushing cars by hand, or pulling with the tow strap kept under the flip up 60/40 back seat.

Sorry about the bragging, us truck guys only get a handful of days per year where our vehicle is superior. The rest of the time, we're just paying more for gas.

The 20% of the time that I don't hate the thing makes it all worthwhile