Drove the Titan

CTyler · Jan 7, 2004

Pushrods vs OHV engines...Hmmm....when are we going to dump these things anyway?

Pushrods motors are kinda like buggy whips IMO. Had some dang good buggy whips before the steel horses took over.

rdam · Jan 7, 2004

( While I bleed GM blood, think the HEMI is too kewel, and am intrigued by the Titan, Motor Trend picked the 04 F150 as their Truck of The Year.

Of course all this is a moot point for me. The only way I'd own a half ton would be if my financial situation became where there was too much money to spend. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now if you're talking pickemups. Let's talk pickemup )

Holy Smokes !!!!!! I HATE GM. I'm a FORD guy....But I'll suffer through the indignity of the C4500 !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JerryG · Jan 7, 2004

rdam,
There are more that one place on the net that builds F-450 and F-550 pickups.

wroughtn_harv · Jan 7, 2004

( There are more that one place on the net that builds F-450 and F-550 pickups.)

You're right of course.

But the closest thing to the C4500 Ford makes is the F650. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you doubt park a 550 or 450 next to the 4500 or 5500 and just look at them comparing apples to apples, brakes, rearends, etc.

What will be interesting will be to see allegedly what Dodge plans to bring to the table late this year. A bud bought a 2002 longbed because there wouldn't be any 2003--2004 long bed cab and chassis' from Dodge with the new body style. Supposedly because they're tooling up a competitive vehicle for the 450--550--4500--5500.

It all is about catch up anyway. For years GM didn't have a comparable vehicle for the 550. When they brought out the 5500 they upped the ante a bunch. Now we'll see how Ford and probably Dodge reacts.

One of my buds who bleeds Navistar (International) blood came up the other day and asked me about my front end. When I told him my mileage (41,000) as he looked at the original Michelins without any uneven wear he about flipped. He has three 4300's that have had their kingpins replaced at fifty thousand. An there's no way he can get the kind of mileage out of front tires without them being almost square.

I almost bought an International instead of the Chevy mostly on his recommendation. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Rowski · Jan 7, 2004

( If you doubt park a 550 or 450 next to the 4500 or 5500 and just look at them comparing apples to apples, brakes, rearends, etc.
)

Is Ford the only one making 6wd in the 450 and 550? That is, factory production.

wroughtn_harv · Jan 8, 2004

( Is Ford the only one making 6wd in the 450 and 550? That is, factory production. )

I imagine so. It looks like they share the components with the 350 which all the manufacturers put out in the four wheel drive format.

TresCrows · Jan 8, 2004

"Motor Trend picked the 04 F150 as their Truck of The Year."

Yes, but that does not always make it the best truck or top truck or most value truck. Just a few years ago the Tundra was their pick. The Tundra was never really intended from the get go to go head to head with GM and Ford. It was intended to be a comfortable truck for the "gentleman" user. Motor Trend, trend being the operative word, makes their picks on "trend" setting designs, new technology etc. In this case I agree that the Ford probably deserves the honor because it is the inheritor of the crown for the most popular vehicle on the planet and therefore the NEW Ford F150 with it's numerous improvements mark a sudstantial change in this long time popular truck. The improvements on the Ford are not Detroits usual vinyl stickers that proclaim "Sport" or "Big 10" or whatever but are indeed a complete remake of this machine. I think that Ford deserves the award for their effort /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. This does not mean however that the Titan will not out pull it, out run it, has more features for the money or is a better buy or has better technology.
To paraphrase a comment form a Nissan NA executive when the Titan was introduced at the motor shows went something like-----" we, unlike some others (Toyota Tundra), intended from the get go to go head to head with the Big Three. We did not want to introduce a truck and then have to make excuses and say things like well --give us a few years or wait till next year. Our solution was the Titan. It is a no excuse truck built to take on the Big Three on their terms. It is a truck built to anihalate, crush and pulverize. We know that truck owners are loyal to brands so it was a requirment that the Titan not just match them but better them at being a truck and doing truck things with features truck users (in that segmant) want.""---that was a paraphrase to eliminate a huge copy and paste. They used the word pulverize /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. The Ford may be the current epitome of these type trucks but the Titan is here now as well and could have been called the "Tyson" (Mike) instead of Titan becuase it is a two fisted bruiser with an attitude and makes no excuses and expects none in return. The Titan was built to bite the tailgate (ear) off a Ford and then spin gravel in it's grill (face) and boldy proclaim, "Bring it On". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif J

BigDave · Jan 8, 2004

( "Motor Trend picked the 04 F150 as their Truck of The Year."

Yes, but that does not always make it the best truck or top truck or most value truck. Just a few years ago the Tundra was their pick. )

Now for the Ford press release:

This year, the editorial staff of MOTOR TREND conducted testing on seven new vehicles, searching for the pickup truck that best represented exceptional value, superiority in class, and the most significant development on the the new-truck scene.

For the 2004 Truck of the Year competition, the winner was selected from the following eligible models: Chevrolet Colorado, Chevrolet SSR, Dodge Ram SRT-10, Ford F-150, GMC Canyon (my personal favorite of the group), Nissan Titan and the Toyota Tundra Double Cab.

5030 · Jan 8, 2004

J:

I just can't resist this, especially after reading your posts.......

Question: Do you know why the Titan was built????
Answer: To keep the A******s out of Fords, Chevy's, and Dodges. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Have a good day J., and keep supporting the homeland.

RobertN · Jan 8, 2004

Oh, but it must be more fun to drive the Dodge SRT-10 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
It would not be a good all-around pickup, but 500+hp, you just gotta like those numbers!