Silverado Or F-150

[93GT]

im in the market for a full size 4wd truck and i have narrowed it down to the Two american brands GM or Ford.... to start off i test drove both and both feel really good but there are a few things that make them completely different in some ways...... to start ill describe the ford its a 2006 F150 XLT 4x4 with 100k miles... yeah its high milage but its clean.. the one thing that really scares me is that it will need the spark plugs replaced right away and any one that knows about the 3v 5.4 engine knows what issues it has with changing spark plugs, now for the chevy its a 2003 silverado Z71 4x4 with 73k, it has the bose system steering wheel buttons for the radio ect, on the test drive the Chevy feels really Nice and soft like im in a suburban or some thing not a truck which really made me want the chevy but i dont know to much about them, now comes down to the part that im asking you guys about... what problems are there with the 2003 Silverado's? are they good trucks?

 

 

Both trucks are in the $14k price range is this a fare price for them?

 

Thanks

[AlenWoods]

Go with the Silverado. It will be one of your choices you will look back on and say "Wow im glad I made the right choice". the ford will break down constintly. Ford

 

Fixed

Or

Repaired

Daily

[ryan_hermanutz]

Both are probably a decent trucks, but you are on a GM Forum sooooooo......... go with the Chevy. But more info on the Chevy could help, what motor, cab, bed tranny you know all the goods.

[jrod332]

Found

On

Road

Dead

[250motorsportz]

F***ed

On

Race

Day

[Nytemare]

Drive them both...get what you like more. They both come with a warranty...and if it brakes in the first 3 years its fixed under that...so either one is a good truck....I'm not a fan of Ford by any stretch of the imagination, but they make a good truck, as does Chevy. Very compareable in all aspects. Its all about what you like sitting behind the wheel in.

 

Read some reviews of both trucks...do online comparisons of them both...than drive them. In the end the right choice is what makes you happy.

 

 

EDIT....should have read your full post...LOL

Scratch the warranty thing.

Oh yeah and as for the price...14K is a good price for a 2006 f150...but is a little much for a 2003 silverado...it should be more around the 9k area...they sell on my lot locally for 12(11995)...and thats in Canada, where things are more expensive.

 

 

Now for the Bowtie in me....

 

 

GET A CHEVY...who wants a F**kin Old Recycled Dodge

[punmax]

Ignore those stupid Ford comments. Test drive them both, get them inspected, and make the decision. Out of those two, I would go with the Silverado since the trim level is higher than the Ford, and has less mileage.

[knipper_03]

Love the look of the new fords. Reason I dont like them is the overhead cam motor design, and how far back towards the cab the motor sits. Like the old chevy pushrod design, and achieves better fuel economy too. Although mainly cause the torque curve isnt designed for towing as much. I thought hard about a ford for my second truck but went with the chevy...just what im comforatable with.

[remington351]

93GT,

Here's my history with both. Grew up a Ford fan. Dad had 'em, Uncle's had 'em, friends had 'em. Everything from Pintos to Granada's to Mustangs (60's & 80's) to F100's and F150's. I owned a 95 F150 for 30K miles and a 2000 F150 for 20k miles. My current truck is a 2005 Silverado and I can tell you I'm extremely happy.

 

Having turned alot of wrenches on the Ford's I can tell you the '99 and up Silverado design is very well thought-out (imho). start with the engine - if you plan on doing and maintenance your self just compare the room under the hood of the Chevy to the ford. Ford stuffed the engine halfway through the firewall and then crammed everything else all around. Chevy - lots of room to work, period.

 

You already mentioned the blow-out/frozen plug issues with the 5.4 which I think is cause to walk away right there.

 

The 4.8 and 5.3 engines are very durable, long lived with the proper maintenance, and get competitive fuel economy with the fords. No plug blow-out issues. No coolant hose leaks that collect on the # 8 plug and foul out the coil like on the fords. No 6ft cam chain to stretch over time.

 

As for the ride being softer, that's actually something I appreciated about my Chevy. The ride in my 2000 F150 was a bit harsher. As far a loaded, both trucks we're workhorses and did everything I asked. Granted the F150 liked to talk to me all the time with a squeak here, rattle there, chirp this, and moan/groan that. But it never left me on the side of the road.

 

The last thing I'll say is if the trucks appear to be in the same condition, I always buy the one with the less mileage. I know alotta people say that either truck is good for well over 100k but I've been burned too many time when the 39 year old gal at the bar looks closer to 49 the next morning.

 

Listen to Allen from the post above. Get a Chevy and you'll be very pleased with the results.

[takevin]

 

[smoak352]

This is a GM forum so you obviously are going to have some baised answers. I currently own a GMC and have owned Fords in the past and I am going to give you a completely unbaised answer...

 

Anyone who says a Ford breaks down constantly does not know what they are talking about. I have owned GM trucks and Ford trucks and neither one is more reliable than the other. However, I would choose the Chevrolet based on the engine, the 2006 Ford with the 5.4 is very sluggish...Good luck!

[smoak352]

Yes, there is not room under the hood of the Ford, more difficult to work on...

[Stex]

The ford 3v motor (W in the vin about the fourth or six digit) and plugs are a problem. If the plugs have been in awhile or are orginal I would have the seller change them before I bought the truck. I have some wrench friends and in some cases have had to pull heads. Me I would go with the GM but that is my preference and I do not like the ford ride on the 06 models...

[RyanbabZ71]

If you have to ask then pick the F150

[rogerf]

In addition to the busted spark plugs, some F-150 4X4's of this vintage are known to have vibration issues. The F-150 I test drove in 2006 went into a high-speed shake that felt like a blow-out. Some believe the frames are too stiff and go into a wave vibration under certain road conditions (like striking a tuning fork). There are multiple TSB's for the problem. Ford was buying back trucks during this time due to the problem and reselling them through the auction process so watch both the sales and warranty history of the F150 you select. Google "F150 vibration" for some insight.