Ford vs. GM. vs. Dodge

[bcarricarte]

I've asked this questioin on a few sites and I never really get a decent answer. So I'm going to ask it here. Please note I'm not hear to bash any brand, or to say this or that sucks. I own an 05 dmax, my brother an 03 cummins, and my other brother an 05 Powerstroke. I've driven and towed will all three. I'd have to say that I disliked the 6.0 powerstroke the most by a long shot. I did like the Fords exterior styling much more than the other two. I just felt that the 6.0 powerstroke was the loudest, least smooth, least powered, and slowest. The thing is though I've heard more people swear how there 6.0 is the most amazing engine ever. Theyd stand behind that engine with there life. Ive noticed this moreso with the Fords than even with the most loyal of dodge and GM owners. I'm not saying the Fords are crappy or anything like that. So what is it about the Fords...If you had to argue exterior I'd say Ford wins, but engine wise...I just dont get it. So what is it about the powerstroke that makes people swear behind it. Please dont answer with anything uneducated like, "Ford rocks because chevy sucks". Thats not what I'm looking for and I'm not here to argue but to further understand how the 6.0 has such loyalty.

 

[BamaSixGun]

i know from my own personal exp. that i have enjoyed my 6.0 very much.
keep in mind, i have never driven the chevy or dodge with the diesel engine, so i can not base my exp. on having driven all three.

when i bought my truck, all i knew was that i liked the features (exterior and interior) and the styling much better that the "other two".

i also knew i wanted a diesel. i knew nothing of the 6.0, except that it was the new engine, really didn't know who made the 6.0, just that i wanted a diesel. i must say in all honesty, that i was amazed at the power, pulling ability, and over all performance. now keep in mind again, i have never driven the other two makes. i would probably say the same thing about them, if i had never driven a ford.

yes, i have had some issues with a few things, like some TSB recall work (wiring harness, EBP sensor, etc) the EGR cooler has gone out twice, but i still love my truck.

i am not very educated on all the technical stuff, like some of the others here at SDD, or maybe yourself even, but i am learning new things everyday.

also to add, when i bought my truck, SDD didn't exsist, i really didn't know to get online and check reviews or anything else for that matter. i am not one to spend months checking out all the consumer reports, review websites, an so on, if i like it and can get a good price, i will buy it.

thats my story and i'm stickin to it.

 

[JLDickmon]

none of the light truck diesels are what you find in big rigs, so get that idea out of your mind first... the closest is the Isuzu diesel in the GM trucks, which is used in medium duty cube vans...

fist thing you have to do, is forget how a gas engine makes power, and get used to the fact that a diesel is just going to drive different than a gas motor...

next, you need to realize that maintenance costs are higher with a diesel...

then, you need to go out and buy the Ford....

because Chevy and Dodge suck..

 

[fordtrucker4life!]

I am going to have to say the 6.0 is much quieter and sounds tougher than the izusu junk. I have a 2002 3500 with Dmax and am not impressed with it at all. All the injectors were replaced at 75000 miles and the gauges are jumping all over the place oil psi is on haywire Just got 6.0 in E 350 which is less hp and tq than the F 350. Tows way better than the Dmax allison combo. Sorry to say GM sucks buy a ford

 

[02SilverStroke]

I'm like Bama. When I got my 2002 7.3 L F250, I wanted and needed (occasionally) a bigger rig than my 93 F150 6 cyl. Several years back I had taken a 97 F250 Crew Cab Diesel for a quick test drive. In that case, I saw it at the dealership (they had transferred it in for a customer, and the salesman let my wife and me take a quick drive in it). I had wanted a Ford F250 PSD ever since they came out with the Short Bed Crew Cab in 1995. I really didn't do too much research and did find "the other site" (TDS) which I joined after buying my truck. However, even though I've never driven either a D-Max or a Cummins, I still prefer the Ford (although I got lucky with a 7.3, just before the 6.0 came out). My only previous experience with a diesel was a 1980 Chevy Wagon with the crazy 350 CID Oldsmobile engine that GM stupidly developed (Bought mine used and both heads cracked before 50,000miles - GM paid for that). We traded the car when trade in value equaled the payoff. I have heard of Dodges that would get up to 25 mpg, but also know that some Dodge owners have had problems with the automatic transmissions. Ford has always been known to put strong tranmissions in their trucks. The diesels, beginning with the original 6.9 diesel in the mid 80's through the new 6.4 in the '08s have all been made by International who has a long reputation for building quality engines (except for the 6.0). I know that the Duramax is made by Isuzu (who makes tough trucks), and the Cummins has been well-proven in many sizes of trucks, but until I find something better, I'm sticking with Ford. It also helps that I've known both the local dealer and my salesman for over 20 years and get great prices from them.

 

[bcarricarte]

Please remember I'm not comparing the 7.3. I own one and I think it was a great engine when it came out and still is awesome. Look I'm not brand loyal. I drive a GM, which I bought because of the employee discount deals. I got 13 grand off the sticker so I couldnt resist and I fell in love with my truck. Thats how I ended up with a GM. Its hard for me to believe people when they say the duramax drives like junk. I just dont get it. Its quiet, smooth, and quick. Now if you want to say that it looks like a car with a truck bed, go ahead I agree, but I dont see how anyone could say that it drives like junk. The GMs are by far the smoothest and quietist. I'm not praising any brand but I'm still not seeing how the 6.0L has become this almighty praised engine. I'm not saying it sucks but after unbiasly test driving all three diesels the 6.0 engine would be my last choice. Although If I had to choose by body style, I'd pick a Ford.

 

[95_stroker]

So what is it about the powerstroke that makes people swear behind it.

You answered your own question.

I drive a GM, which I bought because of the employee discount deals. I got 13 grand off the sticker so I couldnt resist and I fell in love with my truck. Thats how I ended up with a GM.

Maybe had you gotten $13K off an 05 6.0 and put a couple 10K or 20K miles on it right now you'd be singing praises on the Ford/IH combo. Brand loyalty has a way of "just happening". If you were in the 6.0 and one of your brothers rolls up in a Dmax you instantly are going to think, "yeah, my truck is better than that thing."

I'm still not seeing how the 6.0L has become this almighty praised engine.

I think it is well known that the 6.0 had many problems from the onset, unfortunately Ford didnt respond to those in a manner timely enough to save evey owner who was having problems from jumping ship. That stuff happens in the industry. But since 04 the 6.0 has been a realtively solid engine and it is capable of doing what the Isuzu and Cummins are. Which one does better when heavily modified? That question is as deep as anybodies pocket book, but off the assembly line, all three are so equal that it just has to come down to "whats right for you", and for you it was an employee discount.

 

[BamaSixGun]

Please remember I'm not comparing the 7.3. I own one and I think it was a great engine when it came out and still is awesome. Look I'm not brand loyal. I drive a GM, which I bought because of the employee discount deals. I got 13 grand off the sticker so I couldnt resist and I fell in love with my truck. Thats how I ended up with a GM. Its hard for me to believe people when they say the duramax drives like junk. I just dont get it. Its quiet, smooth, and quick. Now if you want to say that it looks like a car with a truck bed, go ahead I agree, but I dont see how anyone could say that it drives like junk. The GMs are by far the smoothest and quietist. I'm not praising any brand but I'm still not seeing how the 6.0L has become this almighty praised engine. I'm not saying it sucks but after unbiasly test driving all three diesels the 6.0 engine would be my last choice. Although If I had to choose by body style, I'd pick a Ford.

then i don't think there is any reason to continue to debate the question for you bcarricarte, you fell in love with your GM, we have fell in love with the ford 6.0.

 

[powerboatr]

You answered your own question.



Maybe had you gotten $13K off an 05 6.0 and put a couple 10K or 20K miles on it right now you'd be singing praises on the Ford/IH combo. Brand loyalty has a way of "just happening". If you were in the 6.0 and one of your brothers rolls up in a Dmax you instantly are going to think, "yeah, my truck is better than that thing."



I think it is well known that the 6.0 had many problems from the onset, unfortunately Ford didnt respond to those in a manner timely enough to save evey owner who was having problems from jumping ship. That stuff happens in the industry. But since 04 the 6.0 has been a realtively solid engine and it is capable of doing what the Isuzu and Cummins are. Which one does better when heavily modified? That question is as deep as anybodies pocket book, but off the assembly line, all three are so equal that it just has to come down to "whats right for you", and for you it was an employee discount.

i think stroker nailed 90% of it
i would also add, its not just the 6.0 or the 7.3.
to me it was also the rest of the truck
I tes drove many differnt brabds of pickups , cars, large sedans from al lthree over my years as a traveling trainer.

most dodges we had the interiors were far below acceptable, knobs falling off, plstic cracked, windows that would jam, rust on new vehicles. odd road noises, almost every one was out of alignment

gm trucks
ride soft and unpredictable when carry loads, brakes spongy, got worse in stop and go traffic
seats comfy

ford
carried weight well, brakes right on, although the abs has a few quirks on rough pavement, but so did the chevy
even in xl trim the interior was comfortable for long drives. and no knobs fell off.

so when it was time to replace the blazer it was a no brainer
ford got the nod, we are on our 4th one now, not that they wore out, we needed a bigger truck.

 

[fordtrucker4life!]

powerboater nailed it. The Dodge's fall apart and the GM's are weak. Even when GM made "real trucks" there are the same problems with door hinges, handles breaking off, brakes, transmissions, and front ends. One bad year of the 6.0 is not going to scare me off. Powerstrokes have been great. I wouldn't settle for a truck that has a Dmax for the allison trans combo. I know GM has many problems in other parts that cost good money.