I've said it before and I'll say it again with what these trucks cost nowadays I don't understand how anyone can be strictly brand loyal. I've personally had great luck with GM trucks, so I tend to look to them first. However I'm looking at what each company has to offer if I do decide to upgrade trucks either in the near future or in a couple of years. I've already tested a Ford Super Duty and liked it a lot. I will test out a Chevy too, both a 2010 and a 2011 when they come out, maybe I'll like that even better who knows. I do still prefer the interior layout of the GM's to the super duty, although the super duty did seem to have a little more space, although frankly I've never found my truck lacking in space. Lastly, I'm even going to test out the Dodge trucks, even though I've personally seen lots of problems in the older transmissions and I am disappointed that the Cummins is not using the urea injection which seems to directly increase the fuel efficiency. With the cost of trucks nowadays, one certainly cannot afford to either totally forget their past experiences with certain trucks nor can someone be totally brand loyal.
Frankly, when people blindly defend their favorite brand it gets counter productive after a while. And that goes for the GM guys, the Mopar fans and the Ford fans equally. Personally, I don't put a lot of credence in sales numbers as far as who makes the best truck. A lot of trucks get purchased based on lowest price, especially fleet vehicles and Ford's fleet program is way better than any of the other auto makers. I believe that that fact can account for a lot of the sales numbers. Sure it's a nice award to be able to claim and if I was the sales leader you can bet I'd brag about it too, but I find that lots of consumers make very stupid decisions so consumption alone doesn't factor into my thought process much. Secondly when GM claims highest resale value on their trucks that seems distracting to me as well, as the difference in trade values or resale values on any of the trucks seems pretty darn close to me, at least in this area. Ultimately most of the claims that car companies make nowadays are more about marketing than they are about substantive differences.
Lastly, I feel I can somewhat fairly evaluate all the big 3 brands because I drive them all. My personal truck is a Chevy with the 5.3 liter. My government issued take home vehicle is a Dodge Durango with the Hemi. My last g-ride was an Expedition with the 5.4 liter. I've driven Crown Vic police cars and I had an explorer as a take home car when I was assistant fire chief of my volunteer fire department. When I was superintendent of water and sewer, before going into law enforcement I had a GMC issued to me with the 6.0 Liter. I drive my uncle's 2000 Dodge with Cummins from time to time as well. So ultimately I feel like I can speak frankly about all the big 3's products. I wouldn't consider myself to be overly abusive of any of my vehicles, nor would I say that I routinely use them to their limits. I would say that if they are properly maintained that I've had pretty good luck with every car or truck that I 've ever owned or been assigned. I honestly believe that each auto maker offers some advantages and disadvantages over the others and I feel that if price was no object I'd be happy to own any of them based upon my experiences. And just as a last point to prove that I'm not blindly brand loyal I think that GM's current fix for the Duramax air intake problem is ridiculous and why I wouldn't buy a 2010 Duramax and would wait for the 2011 with its new air intake. To have to change airboxes depending on the season or else risking over heating or stalling out due to snow clogging is ridiculous and a serious design flaw. So I can see the strengths and weaknesses of all the big 3 including the brand that I own.
