Looking at trucks

It sounds like you looked at a base level GM truck with a regular cab. These are targeted as work trucks and are a no frills "truck", the operative words being work and truck. The extended cab and crew cab LT and LTZ have more frills/options but are without the chromed plastic and faux wood found on Ford trucks. To me personally the Ford interiors look like they belong in a 1970's Lincoln towncar. It is completely subjective and any make will involve trade-offs and if appearance is at the top of your list than buy a Ford or a Ram and be happy.

gmcsmoke wrote:
We have 2 2007 f 150's as work trucks. They are the biggest pos I've ever driven. The 5.4l makes a lot of noise but has no power, the seats are in comfortable and the interior is a rattle box. With 40k they've had two front end alignments and they eat brakes. The radios work but you have to push or pull the volume to turn the sound up or down. Now the latest problem is the cam sensor went out costing $300

You can't beat that ford quality

Gee. Mine is 10 years old. I've changed oil, and tried to change spark plugs. No other problems. Maybe it's NOT the truck. Maybe it's the driver / drivers.

Any way after looking again today. I've decided to keep it, and worry about the plugs when I have too. No need to settle for a lesser truck. I didn't really know when I bought the 04. That Ford was 11 or 12 years ahead of the others. I'll just wait till they catch up, and look again.

We have 2 2007 f 150's as work trucks. They are the biggest pos I've ever driven. The 5.4l makes a lot of noise but has no power, the seats are in comfortable and the interior is a rattle box. With 40k they've had two front end alignments and they eat brakes. The radios work but you have to push or pull the volume to turn the sound up or down. Now the latest problem is the cam sensor went out costing $300

You can't beat that ford quality

Well, A couple people now have mentioned that Ford took care of the spark plug issue. Why don't you just buy a new(er) F150? That way you can get the interior you like.

On edit: The interiors, as has been mentioned are personal taste. For example I love the Lariat trim, but I don't care that much for leather seats. I wish I could have the rest of the Lariat pkg, including the two-tone paint without the leather, but I can't. So i had to compromise and get an XLT with the options I wanted.

Engineer9860 wrote:
I know I took a little jab at the OP, but I just don't understand the need for bling. I spend 8 hours a day in a truck with vinyl seats, rubber floor mat, crank windows, lame A/C, plastic blah dash, etc. However, I am perfectly content.

I would prefer colder A/C, but it is what it is. The cab has been off enough that the A/C should be charged......

Now if someone said they passed on truck X because truck Y had a better mechanical feature, I could understand that.

(Following comment is in general, not at OP) Wanting more plush at all levels of our daily lives has to be a first world problem.

I think my larger point was. A new GMC should at least be as nice as a 10 year old Ford. IF I can't at least get as nice as a 10 year old truck, I may as well pop for either a new motor, or 1200 bucks of sparkplugs

Terryallan wrote:
Because of the spark plug issue on my Ford. (They won't come out) So I've been looking at Chevys, and GMCs. I really like the looks of the GMC better. Any way. I go onto the lot, and just walk around looking. Man they are super expensive. I expected that. But they are plain inside. No floor shifter, no bucket seats, Tiny back seat. None of the bells, and whistles I'm use to in my 2004 Ford. No console just ugly, and crappy, inside. What's up with that?

I got to thinking. IF I'm going to pay that kind of money for a truck. I want it to be atleast as nice as my 10 year old Ford. They are not.:?

I recon I just do what is needed for the plugs, befoe I downgrade my comfort level.

I have the same concerns.My F150 is a 2006.The new Fords don't have the spark plug problem
ford corrected the problem in 2008.
I plan to hold out and get the 2015 F150 HD.
I hope by then they will have the 8 speed

Sport45 wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
He bent the ratchet Handel trying to break them loose.

Tell him to quit buying tools at Harbor Freight. Those plugs will come out if you want them to and the plug will break long before a quality tool fails.

I'm with the guys who go middle of the road (or lower). The less fancy stuff there is, the less stuff there is to fail later and the less cost there is to keep it all working.

Ditto. The plugs will come out fine. Most shops around here charge $100 per plug or less. I wouldn't let a one-time $800 charge for a repair force me into five years of obscene payments for a new truck! I don't know of anyone who has screwed one up so bad that they needed to pull a head.

There's nothing like a high end interior. But I'm always worried about damaging it. I came from an XLT, while not Lariat, SLE, Longhorn fancy it had nice light colored cloth seats. Seemed like I was always smudging them up with something. Bought a new 12 Ram ST with the power package a year ago. Black seats, with a light colored insert. All the power except seats. No floor shift, but don't care anyway. The floor console is pretty big with 3 cup holders and a couple small storage spots. Plus with the select shift trannies I like my hands near the steering wheel and not looking down to find the shifter to change a gear. I could never go with vinyl seats, way to sticky in the summer and cold in the winter. To me the Ram has the best optioned low end interiors. IIRC the Ford XL doesn't have the carpet option, not sure on GM's LT's. I have all the needs and comfort for a longer trip with the Ram. I can spend 8hrs towing and feel no fatigue. Would I love a Laramie Longhorn interior, absolutely. But then I'd worry about dinging it up.

To the OP, spend a little more time looking at the different brands and trim levels. Dealer lots sometimes don't have the best selection. Plus with rebates near $10,000 you should be able to find a nice truck.

To answer the questions, you can order Leather trim in the front bench seat. It is about $1000. Or you can order the 2LT, and get Leather Bucket seats and console. I like the leather so that I can clean the truck after muddy soccer daughters ride home, and I like the front bench because I can put all six in the truck.

As for the fold down console, you can store packages of wet wipes, snacks, and full size box of tissues. Under the fold down, there is additional storage for a blanket.

4x4ord wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
Get a new F350 with the Powerstroke and I can guarantee you that you will never have problems with plugs again.

Did Ford dump the glow plugs??

If no the only truck without plugs is the Ram Cummins, no plugs, spark or glow, intake heater much easier to deal with.

You know, your right, I think Ford still uses glow plugs, although in the last 3 years I don't recall ever using them. I just jump in my truck and give the key a quick flip and it starts instantly, even in our Canadian winters, although my truck is kept in a garage most of the time.

Ford has glow plugs, and yes you use them. There is a squiggly figure that lights up till it is ready to start. It only takes a few seconds.