Since we picked up my father in law's 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with a V10, we have another tow vehicle. My choice right now is a Nissan Armada. Very comfy inside.

Honda's are built so damn well it just makes the American stuff look stupid. Never owned one but you can just see the thought put into it just looking into the engine bay.

 

All this talk of the dark side....... shiver

 

You definitely gave fords a chance, my mom's nissan maxima needed an alternator & they were around $250.00. So parts might be more, but your on the money about the japanese. As an field electrician ive seen the technology they have in their cnc machines compared to the made in america.

 

I miss my focus more than anything, that was the best car I've ever had... sadly I really like that Fiat has finally came to the states and I'm seriously looking at them.

 

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

 

All this talk makes me want to sell my Ex. lol Naw not really. Would love to get rid of the gasser and go up to 7.3. just sayin.

 

The 7.3 is an awesome engine! I and many others would say fords best diesel ever.

 

[quote=Snowseeker;13025038]The 7.3 is an awesome engine! I and many others would say fords best diesel ever.[/q My neighbor has a 01 7.3 but its his work truck. Ive heard a billion stories the 7.3 is the better diesel in the ford garage.

 

We have a 7.3 work truck with near half a million miles on it and still working. Just did an oil change on it two days ago in fact.

 

My wife has a 1999 K1500 Suburban (18mpg hwy/15 city). It has been a daily driver for the past 200K miles since we bought it new in September 1998. I've replaced both front wheel bearings, one fuel pump, and one starter. The dealer replaced the intake manifold gasket under warranty.

My father has a 1995 C1500 Suburban (18mpg hwy/15 city) which he purchased new. I did most all the maintenance on it, too. It was his daily driver and travel trailer tow vehicle. He would travel around the country every summer pulling a 25' trailer; Alaska one summer. I replaced the rear end in 1996, and just this year replaced the water pump and thermostat.

Before the 1995 Suburban, my dad had a 1979 Suburban (9mpg uphill, downhill, at idle in neutral, or pulling 10,000 lbs), he bought new. 454 cu in motor. I worked on that one too. The only thing I ever had to do to that for the 16 years my father owned it was change the oil and replace a broken speedometer cable (and fill the gas tank... often).

I've owned several Japanese vehicles also. A few old Land Cruisers, and a brand new 1982 Supra (I really wish I still had that). I still drive my mother's 1984 VW Rabbit convertible every day to work. She bought that one new, too. It has 160K miles.

All vehicles have had brakes, rotors, calipers, bearing, and every fluid flushed as needed.

The newest vehicle I have is ten years old, that being the Excursion. In the summer, I drive a 1970 Honda 350 motorcycle my brother bought new, and my wife drives her 1969 Mustang on nice days. The Airstream trailer in my signature was built in 1986. Needless to say, I never have a lack of opportunity to turn wrenches on rolling stock at my house.

You may have problems with any vehicle from any manufacturer, but if you stick with a proven engine (like the GM 350) and a proven drive train (like the ford 4R100), stay away from the first model year of anything, and change the oil and filters every 5000 miles, they can run for a very, very long time.