jcmseven
Veteran Member
To all, a few months ago I had a fugue and started to look at trucks. I really like my current ride, but about every 2-3 years I get the itch. Like most of us in this economy, I am watching my spending, but one area where I indulge periodically is my vehicle fetish. I drive a fair amount (30,000+ miles per year) and have always had a pickup truck, so I would like to stay in that arena. As I have stated in previous postings, I now have a 2009 GMC 2500 SLT Duramax with just over 70,000 miles on it now. It has been trouble free. I have loved having it, but would like to get away from black as an exterior color (wears me out to keep looking nice). In my previous post, I was asking whether to keep my current ride or look into getting a new one. The overwhelming majority of those responding thought I should not trade at all, which I heeded at that time. My question this time, as the itch has returned, is: "if I WERE to trade, what direction should I go?"--knowing I still may not trade.
My choices: I have been very happy with GMC. I like two trucks they sell. I like the 2500 Denali with the 6.6L Duramax, and I like the 1500 GMC Denali, both of which are available in a lighter color. They are expensive trucks and I am wanting to think carefully about their consideration before such a commitment. I also have looked at an F150 Ecoboost King Ranch, and was impressed by it. I have had Ford's in the past and have gotten good service from them, but I have enjoyed my current truck more than any I have had. As noted in previous posting, I am just not a Dodge fan, but realize they make good trucks. I also have looked at Toyota, but in all honesty, just do not see myself buying one (though they are well-made and solid in the 1/2 ton market).
My considerations: My needs are evolving. I need a truck that I can drive a lot and will be reliable first. I have 6 year old twins and my family will be using this truck to go on occasional trips also. Since I spend a lot of "windshield" time, I want something comfortable that is also potentially good in bad weather. My other issue is my towing needs have evolved. I also never really tow much weight any longer (as I did two-three years ago). At most I will tow 6-7,000 pounds, and this is rare. As my parents age, they are downsizing and most of my towing was taking equipment back and forth to their house. I still do this, just not as often. I do haul things, though and would miss not having a truck. I also am a diesel fan. For me, a diesel these days is likely overkill, but I like the torque, performance and solid fuel economy I get driving such a large vehicle. I would go gas, but would want something with similar performance (aside from towing). Mileage is not unimportant to me, but is a secondary issue (i.e., whether something gets 20 mpg or 18 mpg is not that important to me). I do want something that has good resale, since I tend to sell or trade fairly often.
I was very impressed with the upgrades done on the 2011 and 2012 MY 2500's. Though they look similar to previous MY's they have been significantly overhauled and are impressive. Mucho dinero, though. I was also impressed by the Ecoboost engine in the Ford I test drove. It was very "diesel-like" in unloaded performance, but my neighbor has one and he does not get as good mileage as I do in my 2500 (again, not that important) and he has already had a couple of small service issues, which makes me uneasy. I have reservations about getting an early run truck and about resale down the road if the Ecoboost proves troublesome. I have never driven a 1500 Denali with the 6.2L, but I hear they are impressive. I like the look, though. I have driven a 6.2L Yukon Denali. It was used at 25,000 miles and the XL version. I thought it was OK, not great. I would not have traded my diesel for it, but it was not a truck either and this may have affected my opinion of it.
All this leads to my question: the 2500 diesel Denali, even with a really good price, spec's out about $10,000 more than a 1500 Denali and about $13,000 more than an f150 with Ecoboost in KR trim, the way I want them. I really no longer NEED a diesel, so a truck like this would be overkill for me, save for the miles I drive. The 1500 trucks would be more maneuverable, ride a little better and likely be a little cheaper to operate, but I would lose diesel power, and perhaps a little resale (is this true??) Is that a trade off that is worth it for someone such as myself--if I were to decide to trade?? I can say that my trade-in offer for my truck was unbelievable for a truck with over 70K on it, so I cannot imagine doing much better there. One cannot lease a truck for the difference, even with a mileage cap.
Thanks again to those answering. It is not my goal to re-pose questions, and hope it is not thought of this way. I STILL may end up doing nothing, but if I did I wanted some thoughts on the diesel v. gas for those who do not tow often and also anyone who may have better knowledge of the 1500 Denali GMC (the only truck I have been unable to actually drive of the three main contenders).
John M
My choices: I have been very happy with GMC. I like two trucks they sell. I like the 2500 Denali with the 6.6L Duramax, and I like the 1500 GMC Denali, both of which are available in a lighter color. They are expensive trucks and I am wanting to think carefully about their consideration before such a commitment. I also have looked at an F150 Ecoboost King Ranch, and was impressed by it. I have had Ford's in the past and have gotten good service from them, but I have enjoyed my current truck more than any I have had. As noted in previous posting, I am just not a Dodge fan, but realize they make good trucks. I also have looked at Toyota, but in all honesty, just do not see myself buying one (though they are well-made and solid in the 1/2 ton market).
My considerations: My needs are evolving. I need a truck that I can drive a lot and will be reliable first. I have 6 year old twins and my family will be using this truck to go on occasional trips also. Since I spend a lot of "windshield" time, I want something comfortable that is also potentially good in bad weather. My other issue is my towing needs have evolved. I also never really tow much weight any longer (as I did two-three years ago). At most I will tow 6-7,000 pounds, and this is rare. As my parents age, they are downsizing and most of my towing was taking equipment back and forth to their house. I still do this, just not as often. I do haul things, though and would miss not having a truck. I also am a diesel fan. For me, a diesel these days is likely overkill, but I like the torque, performance and solid fuel economy I get driving such a large vehicle. I would go gas, but would want something with similar performance (aside from towing). Mileage is not unimportant to me, but is a secondary issue (i.e., whether something gets 20 mpg or 18 mpg is not that important to me). I do want something that has good resale, since I tend to sell or trade fairly often.
I was very impressed with the upgrades done on the 2011 and 2012 MY 2500's. Though they look similar to previous MY's they have been significantly overhauled and are impressive. Mucho dinero, though. I was also impressed by the Ecoboost engine in the Ford I test drove. It was very "diesel-like" in unloaded performance, but my neighbor has one and he does not get as good mileage as I do in my 2500 (again, not that important) and he has already had a couple of small service issues, which makes me uneasy. I have reservations about getting an early run truck and about resale down the road if the Ecoboost proves troublesome. I have never driven a 1500 Denali with the 6.2L, but I hear they are impressive. I like the look, though. I have driven a 6.2L Yukon Denali. It was used at 25,000 miles and the XL version. I thought it was OK, not great. I would not have traded my diesel for it, but it was not a truck either and this may have affected my opinion of it.
All this leads to my question: the 2500 diesel Denali, even with a really good price, spec's out about $10,000 more than a 1500 Denali and about $13,000 more than an f150 with Ecoboost in KR trim, the way I want them. I really no longer NEED a diesel, so a truck like this would be overkill for me, save for the miles I drive. The 1500 trucks would be more maneuverable, ride a little better and likely be a little cheaper to operate, but I would lose diesel power, and perhaps a little resale (is this true??) Is that a trade off that is worth it for someone such as myself--if I were to decide to trade?? I can say that my trade-in offer for my truck was unbelievable for a truck with over 70K on it, so I cannot imagine doing much better there. One cannot lease a truck for the difference, even with a mileage cap.
Thanks again to those answering. It is not my goal to re-pose questions, and hope it is not thought of this way. I STILL may end up doing nothing, but if I did I wanted some thoughts on the diesel v. gas for those who do not tow often and also anyone who may have better knowledge of the 1500 Denali GMC (the only truck I have been unable to actually drive of the three main contenders).
John M
