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Need a new vehicle, part 3:

It's going to be a truck, and it's going to be either an F-150, a C1500, or a Tundra (can't like Nissan, and don't like Dodge).

Figure full-size, TONS of highway miles, a good bit of off-highway mileage, need for long-distance drive comfort...... auto tranny, 4WD, extended cab or crew cab........

Chevy gives better engine options (4.3V6, 4.8V8, 5.3V8), Toyota likely a bit better mileage, Ford better "looks".

Thoughts (and yes, I know this oughta be a schit storm.....)

Ford F-150 crew cab FX4 model ... (grins)

The 5.3 GM is an excellent engine and mileage is decent. Given a 3.73 rear end, most half-ton trucks give 20mpg on the road with the 5.3 ... sometimes a tad better.

Also, the 5.3 seemingly runs forever. I'm running one in a 2004 Tahoe right now and it is sweeeeeet. In the 'Hoe, I'm gettting 15 City/20 Highway and easily pulls a 7,000 pound trailerhouse @12mpg.

Steve

VA,
Been driving Fords since I learned to drive in our 1939 P/U. In 2006, I rode in a friends Tundra Double D out to Kremling, CO. Promptly traded off my wife's '04 Ford. I asked her the other day how she liked it - short answer - she is keeping this one or getting another just like it. Highway milage runs 20-21mpg, ride is just like a Cadillac, 4WD is sufficient for the couple of times a year I really need it. We live on a farm and take gravel roads every day - as long as the windows are kept shut dust and noise stay out. Re-sale is the brightest spot as the dealer usually has buyers waiting...our banker has already called dibs on this one.
FWIW -- Good Luck!!
Johnny $

My current truck is a 2003 Chevy 4wd Duramax with a full Banks set-up. Plenty of beans for towing a 8500-lb toy box or embarassing cars at stoplights . Around town it will get upwards of 17 mpg, but generally gets as high as 22 mpg on long trips on cruise control. It is comfortable and has yet to need any work of any kind. I replaced the tires at 28K miles, but they could have easily gone another 10-15K miles.

The Beef?? It cost over $40k ---

I'd wait and check out the 09 Silverado Ext Cab with the 5.3L, 6 spd auto and 3.42 rear with the locking diff and whatever creature comforts you desire.

I currently have 145K on my 2000 Silverado Z-71. At 80 plus MPH, it gets 16,4 MPG. The only thing I've ever had to do to it, is oil, gas & tires. Oh yes, I JUST now changed the original brake pads. jorge

heh, there's no doubt, there's gonna be multiple solutions to this purchasing decision. it's your money, buy what ya want.

for me, and i don't know you from a sack of beans, i chose a Tundra. many reasons, mostly because i'd already owned a mini-truck in the toyota lineup.

given a scarcity of dollars, and a lack of earning capacity, i chose the best value i could identify. it was my decision. yours might be different.

Tundracars rule.

What engine Jorge?

The old Ford(5.4) gets about 13mpg if I cruise around 75-80mph.

i've owned all three. now i own 2 toyota trucks and one camry. for me, toyotas are the best. ymmv................

No doubt, Toyotas are well built machines.

FWIW, I've driven the dog piss out of Fords, Chevys, and Toyotas. Had great experiences with all three (not so with Dodge and Nissan, which is why they ain't under consideration).

GMC. I always get GMC over Chevy. The styling is just a touch better especially this year where it has a full chrome bumper and the Chevy has the plastic wings.

Been watching for the last 18 months as truck prices kept going down so that I could buy a replacement for my 12 year old Cherokee. Finally broke down a month ago and picked up a used Ford F150 super crew cab. Yes, it rides like a truck. That's because it is a truck. Wife and kids love it, and even with 3 boys between ages 11 and 17 we all fit into it quite easily.

Now, I bought mine for hunting, fishing, and maybe family trips. Not an every day vehicle, I'll probably put less than 8,000 miles a year on it. So my criteria was a lot different than yours.

Toyota's are nice.. but I'll keep buying american, thank you very much.

Practically speaking, all the new full sized pickups drive more like a luxury vehicle than a truck ... that's just simply because of the better technology/engineering we have today. They all also have very nice interior appointments ...

I agree that GMC trumps Chevy in all respects, some aspects more than others ... I drove a 4x4 Yukon for almost 3 years, and had NO issues with it at all ... probably should have never rid myself of it.

That said, my favorite pickup trucks are made by Ford ... both the F-150 and F-250 are workhorses, and look damn good to boot ...

Get a Kia...........................

I drive a 99 GMC Sierra (new body style) with a 5.3L. I get 20+ mpg at 75 mph on the highway with 116K miles on it. It has had some reliability issues and defects, although I believe GM corrected some of them in subsequent models. It has not left me stranded on the road but some of the repairs, recalls and associated costs have me more than a little annoyed. I like buying American but wonder why Detroit just can't seem to get it right. Hands down though, GM has the most fuel efficient full-size truck.

You couldn't pay me to own/drive one of those things ... (grin)

I know a guy who bought a 2007 Crew Cab Chevy with the 5.3 last year this week, he's claiming 21.6 MPG on the highway with it, it does have the 4-6-8 capability. It's "not fast".

That's about the same as the Nissan Frontier I bought at the same time. I've had four Nissan pickups, and have had ZERO problems with them, but the mileage with my 4.0 V-6 doth sucketh gas mightily. It goes fast, however, and will tow 6500 pounds if need be.

It was T.I.C. of course.
My choice would be a Ford F series......Preferably superduty.