While all us Ford Fans would rather have root canal than drive a Chevy, I would think that it is OK to drive a Dodge now and then. Remember about 85 or so years ago old Henry Ford had the Dodge Boys making engines for him. Henry quit that only when he realized the Dodge Boys were making a healty profit that should really be made by the Ford Motor Company. Fact is, I would drive a Dodge (the older style, better looking Ram truck)if there were no Fords, but Chevys--forget it!

 

I feel just about the same way, I really don't have any problem with dodges. As a matter of fact I'd still like to have an old power wagon, no matter how hideous it is, I just want the raw power. Plus since it isn't a Ford, I wouldn't feel too guilty if I kinda banged it up, while four wheelin'. ;-)

Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300" T18 4speed
Blue & Silver

 

Ford's are definately great trucks. Dodge and even Chevy aren't that bad either. I personally would much rather drive a chevy than some import garbage. There is no such thing as a good import truck.

 

Well, I'll be the different one in the bunch.....If I couldn't have a Ford, I would definitely go with a chevy. Ford is the best there is, the best the was, and the best there ever will be. chevy is running in second.......a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY distant secone, but second none the less. dodge is ok, I don't mind them. I would choose dodge over a foriegn piece of trash, but that's about it. My Dad has an 89' Ford with a 300 6 that has over 225,000 miles on it and it has started and ran everyday since it He bought it brand new. I personally feel that no automobile company will EVER build a motor that can compare to the 300 6. In conclusion, I would have to say........The Best Never Rest....because they are.....Built Ford Tough!!!!!!!

TBirdGuy

 

Too bad Ford quit using the 300 six. Looks like I will be buying pre-1997 F150s from now on. Just got a '95 with a 300 six last Nov with 60,000 miles. My boss is driving my old '84 300 six with 176,000 miles. He told me the engine really runs strong. I knew that. I used to floor that thing in first gear up to about 45 mph--it really flew for a stock six. Newer truck weighs 800 lb more (supercab). Remember Chevy once had a big inline six. It was a 292 ci, but only offered in the 3/4-ton and up trucks. Seems they dropped it long ago. I remember looking up the spec. It has a slightly longer stroke than the Ford 300 six, 4.12" I think. I think the most Dodge offered in a six was the 225 ci slant I6, which was a great engine, but probably could have used a few more cubes

 

Ill toss my opinion in ... Ford trucks are my favs , I have driven Chevys , Gmc 's . Ford's are definetly the simplest to work on , Gm Engineers and designers obviously dont think anyone is ever going to have to work on them . I dont care for Dodges . I think they look homely , they seem to have cheap trim and interiors and they get the worst mileage of any truck I know of and of the 3 Dodge owners I have talked to , they all got rid of their Ram's within 2 yrs because of ongoing mechanical problems . Ford , Chevy and just about all the other truck manufacturers have gone to more efficient engines ( I will miss the 300 ) Dodge is still using the 318 and 360 's . Ford puts a lot of R&D into their trucks , I think when the Ram was redesigned a few yrs ago they were merely trying to cash in on the truck / Suv craze .
I know some of us have low opinions of import trucks , but to be fair some people like a truck that size , it suits their needs . Ive done regular maintenance on an 87 Toyota 4x4 ( Which pulled my 90 F150 4x4 buried to the tops of the tires in wet snow out in 93 ) and a 88 Toy 2wd ...both have had no major repairs or problems . If I had to go down the food chain of trucks it would be Ford , Toyota ;tired of walking.. Chevy , cant ever see owning a Dodge .
Paul

 

I will admit that I really have no evidence to say one manufacturer's truck is better than another, including imports. My favoring of Fords is largely a personal preference. I have driven a couple of mid 90's Chevy Lumina cars and didn't care for the instrument/controls layout, nor the seat comfort. My Mother's '95 Mercury Cougar though is a great ride. I wouldn't mine owning that one--even if it isn't a truck. A co-worker just bought a new pickup. He has no bias toward any brand and his last truck was a Dodge Dakota. He test drove a Chevy, Dodge, and Ford 1/2 ton and selected the Ford as the most comfortable and nicest riding of the lot. As for me, you can keep the '97 and up F150's. I just don't care for the styling. I heard they dropped the twin I-beams and the 300 I6 so they could make a lower profile hood for styling purposes to broaden their customer base, supposedly to include more women. If I buy a newer Ford pickup it will have to be an F250 as the new styling of the superduty looks very good. I think the best looking of the Ford trucks, ever, was the 70s (my former '77 F100 is on this sites picture gallery, light tan with dark brown accents and step bed. Sold in '84--too bad!). Ok. Guess I'm done rambling for now.

 

My family owns three trucks, one Ford, one Dodge, and one Chevy. All are 3/4 tons, the Ford has a 5.8 efi, the dodge has the 488 v-10, and the chevy has a 350. The Ford is manual, and the chevy and dodge are auto. I will say that the dodge has the power, but we've never had a problem with any of the trucks. All three are worked worktrucks. I like the Ford best because of the ease of use, in driving, off-roading, pulling, and pushing, things simply do what their supposeded to and you don't have to play with them as you do with the chevy, dodge.

 

Putting aside my personal preference for fords, I've seen many Ford Trucks with the 300 Inline Six with 150,000+ miles that still run like a champ, ranging from rusty 80's F-150 work trucks to Commercial Delivery Vehicles with Dual Rear Wheels. I have a friend who has an 85 F-150 4x4 with a 300 I-6 and 4 - speed granny trans mission with over 180,000 miles on it with very little work other than routine maintenece performed on it. It still runs like a champ. It may not be the fastest motor ever produced, but it seems to be one of the smoothest running and longest -lasting motors ever built. Just my opinion.

 

Lesser of two evils?? I would go with the Chevy. In 1994, I reluctantly bought a Suburban because I actually had a need for a " 4 door truck that will pull a trailer, haul 8' sheets of drywall, AND fit in my garage". Still have it, wish there had been a Ford version at the time however.... Dodge raises interesting questions. My grandfather had a '58 Sweptside (the finned truck) that I remember thinking was the ugliest thing when I was a kid. Now it would be neat to find one, just for that "different" look...

 

I would drive an older dodge if it was really cool lookin and had a big block, but forget about the newer ones. There's also no contest between a chevys or imports and my own two feet.... I'M WALKING!!!

 

I almost aggree with Paul, except switch the long walk with the dodge and put the ch*vy behind the long walk. I have nothing against Toyota's, my step-dad completely stock '89 with everything that came from the factory except oil filter and air filter has saved me and my '76 F-150 from mud and snow on more than one occasion. Fords come 1st! Toyotas 2nd, dodge, really long walk, tired as hell, ch*vy.
Derek

 

Chevy any day of the week opps i already own one a 2000 Chevy Xtreme and i cant wait to drop a 350hp 350 in it, I believe all trucks are created pretty equal but my least favorite is Dodge but Im partial to Fords and always will be but a tough truck is a tough truck bottom line

 

You gotta love that Dodge slant six. It has no power, downshifting doesn't even make a seat of the pants difference. However, they will run for a month without oil or coolant in them, and take the cake in that regard. BTW, if you read my sig, I wouldn't mind getting an import. Wouldn't stay very stock though.

1979 F150 Custom: 75 351W, Edelbrock & Holley
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
Chevy 454: waiting for a truck (Mazda?Nissan?)

 

Dodge's slant six was good, I'll give it that. However, you can do the same thing to a 300 I-6 and it will still have the power to tow a full size chevy or dodge out of the mud or drop down and just fly down the road.

TBirdGuy

"Stuck with a m*par, Settle for a ch*vy, Happy with a Ford!!!!"