Thoughts on truck selection...

[jcmseven]

My main worry is not the GM truck, it is the service. The dealer with whom I am working closely has been really good to work with, and knows I am looking at both ford and GM. They really seem eager to help. I wonder with GM planning restructure in the near future, what will happen to dealers like this as this is a fairly small dealership. The salesman at the dealer in my hometown literally told me when I came onto the lot when first looking that "GM is going bankrupt soon." The same salesman (only one of about twenty bothered to walk out and meet me) also responded when I was asking about the trucks that "you can get that information on the internet" and walked back inside after stating he would not have a job soon. This is why I started looking at other dealerships, finding one recommended to me by my friend who bought his 2500 GMC there. They seem nice and professional, but I wonder whether they will stay or go. Builder and others have commented about "brand loyalty" but I am not so much brand loyal as much as dealer loyal. My Ford dealer has sold me my past three trucks and my dad two more. He, and his family, are wonderful people who do a lot in our community. They have brought trucks to me to drive while I am trying to decide, something I am sure this GMC dealer would have also done had they been closer to me. The struggle I have right now is whether to choose a product I know suits my current needs better, and going away from my previous relationship with my current dealer (if even for a couple of years); or doing nothing and cancelling my potential sale, or going back with my dealer and getting a truck that does not exactly fit my current needs because of my relationship with him. I will say, so far, the GMC dealer has proven very aggressive in his pricing and clearly wants my business. Both his rates and prices I have felt are better than the Ford dealer's and he is giving me the X plan pricing (and then some). I just don't want to spend $50,000+ dollars and find out two months from now that I have a "lame duck" truck that will have no value. Someone tell me that won't happen. Should I try to delay this purchase or would it matter, if I chose GM???

John M

 

[nmu98]

I wish you were closer to Michigan, I would just trade you trucks.

I cannot tell you anything other than my opinion...

I think GM trucks will take a hit in value. I do not think they can go bankrupt, take taxpayer money loans, and not put a sour taste in people mouths. We own 2 GM vehicles, and i will not look at GM when its time for new ones. I feel ford has managed their money better, and not put our country in a place where they need money... Yet...

I think you might see some major sales if there is a bankruptcy. I think I read that 1300+ dealerships will close. I assume Pontiac? My town has 2 Pontiac only dealers.

Will it make a difference to you in service. I doubt it. GM will have to prove that even though they are bankrupt, they can still service and sell you a quality car. I bet service will be at its best ever after this mess. but, you might take it a bit in resale.... And as you stated, you are getting a deal upfront, so it probably will not matter.

Good luck! Its not going to be easy...

 

[Turbys_1700]

I take it from your earlier posts that you are somewhat leaning towards the Ford...

Personally, I would not be as concerned with GM as some others, just convenience of the dealer network...I'm sure that it will be scaled down but parts and support will be ok...

Since you have a good relationship with your Ford dealer this seems to weigh heavily in your decision...

Anyway, what do I know...

My last three cars were Cadillac's and Buick's...My last three trucks were Ford's...

Does that make me bi-polar??? LOL

 

[jcmseven]

Actually, I am leaning more toward the GMC right now. I am about 1" away from making a deal on the GMC 2500 pickup, but I want my wife to go down and look at it and ride with me in it. She was out of town when I had the truck for two days earlier this month. My concern, and I hope this can be appreciated, is that no one in my family, not my father or grandfather or uncles or anybody else has ever NOT owned a Ford. I would suspect if counted, they would total more than 100 cars and trucks over the years. I really want something different this time, and I guess I am trying to justify it. I do not want, though, to buy a truck and find the value to plummet and my dealer gone and other dealers not wanting to service a product they do did not sell. I will say that my experience so far with this GMC dealer is the best I have ever had while vehicle shopping. The dealer is not fancy, but the people have been very nice.

John M

 

[Diamondpilot]

Will the GM dealer be convenient? The town I was born in had a Buick/Pontiac dealer up until 3 or so years ago. 2 years later the one and only Chevy dealer closed its doors leaving no GM based dealer there. By the way the town is hurting being Automotive Based and is about 25,000 in popluation. 25 miles away there is was a GMC Truck dealer and one car line, can not remember. They just closed the doors the first of the year leaving anyone in that area a 45 mile drive to the nearest GM dealer for service. The Dodge dealership my mothers side of the family owns and the Ford dealer are still strong with no foreign competition. So what I am getting at is it sounds like the dealers have told you they are closing the doors so where how convenient will service be compared to other brands? I am not brand bashing, I have also seen a Ford/Mazda dealership in my area close along with a Dodge/Kia and another Chevy all withing 15 miles of my current home. I am sure more will come.

One thing to really consider is if you do buy from Dealer A and you need service you usually get a loaner. My dealer for example gave me a Dually Powerstorke 4x4 the time my F-350 was in the shop for a bad Fuel Gauge. He knows I am a truck guy and I would need to tow the 3 days it was down. Now if Dealer A goes belly up and you have to go to Dealer B for service who you did not buy from you will have no problems with the service end but my experience is they do not give loaners out unless you purchased from them. Just something to think about when dropping your money.

Chris

 

[Builder]

My main worry is not the GM truck, it is the service. The dealer with whom I am working closely has been really good to work with, and knows I am looking at both ford and GM. They really seem eager to help. I wonder with GM planning restructure in the near future, what will happen to dealers like this as this is a fairly small dealership. The salesman at the dealer in my hometown literally told me when I came onto the lot when first looking that "GM is going bankrupt soon." The same salesman (only one of about twenty bothered to walk out and meet me) also responded when I was asking about the trucks that "you can get that information on the internet" and walked back inside after stating he would not have a job soon. This is why I started looking at other dealerships, finding one recommended to me by my friend who bought his 2500 GMC there. They seem nice and professional, but I wonder whether they will stay or go. Builder and others have commented about "brand loyalty" but I am not so much brand loyal as much as dealer loyal. My Ford dealer has sold me my past three trucks and my dad two more. He, and his family, are wonderful people who do a lot in our community. They have brought trucks to me to drive while I am trying to decide, something I am sure this GMC dealer would have also done had they been closer to me. The struggle I have right now is whether to choose a product I know suits my current needs better, and going away from my previous relationship with my current dealer (if even for a couple of years); or doing nothing and cancelling my potential sale, or going back with my dealer and getting a truck that does not exactly fit my current needs because of my relationship with him. I will say, so far, the GMC dealer has proven very aggressive in his pricing and clearly wants my business. Both his rates and prices I have felt are better than the Ford dealer's and he is giving me the X plan pricing (and then some). I just don't want to spend $50,000+ dollars and find out two months from now that I have a "lame duck" truck that will have no value. Someone tell me that won't happen. Should I try to delay this purchase or would it matter, if I chose GM???

John M

Now ask yourself that question again. Do you really think you'll spend "$50,000" and have "no value" in 2 months?

If you don't mind me saying, your problems are all in your head. They're assisted by the news media who's sole purpose is to put everyone in a state of panic so they'll keep watching the news. Quite honestly, the news media is doing more to aid the demise of GM & Chrysler right now as anyone. They're helping people like yourself decide not to buy GM or Chysler because "they may not be here next year".

I bet they're both here next year because I have common snese and I don't panic or believe in hype. GM is not going away. Bankruptcy or merger does not mean "the end". It means "reorganization".

If it makes you feel any better, the president himself said the gov't will pick up any warranty concerns on GM & Chrysler vehicles. I don't think this will ever happen. I think these companies will honor all warranties. If they don't, then they WILL create their own demise.

I see guys buy used equipment from companies that disappeared 10-20 years ago with no hesitation. They certainly still have "value", they're still able to get parts & service, don't they?

 

[Builder]

Will the GM dealer be convenient? The town I was born in had a Buick/Pontiac dealer up until 3 or so years ago. 2 years later the one and only Chevy dealer closed its doors leaving no GM based dealer there. By the way the town is hurting being Automotive Based and is about 25,000 in popluation. 25 miles away there is was a GMC Truck dealer and one car line, can not remember. They just closed the doors the first of the year leaving anyone in that area a 45 mile drive to the nearest GM dealer for service. The Dodge dealership my mothers side of the family owns and the Ford dealer are still strong with no foreign competition. So what I am getting at is it sounds like the dealers have told you they are closing the doors so where how convenient will service be compared to other brands? I am not brand bashing, I have also seen a Ford/Mazda dealership in my area close along with a Dodge/Kia and another Chevy all withing 15 miles of my current home. I am sure more will come.

One thing to really consider is if you do buy from Dealer A and you need service you usually get a loaner. My dealer for example gave me a Dually Powerstorke 4x4 the time my F-350 was in the shop for a bad Fuel Gauge. He knows I am a truck guy and I would need to tow the 3 days it was down. Now if Dealer A goes belly up and you have to go to Dealer B for service who you did not buy from you will have no problems with the service end but my experience is they do not give loaners out unless you purchased from them. Just something to think about when dropping your money.

Chris

A little perspective here:

GM has more dealers than Ford & Chyrsler combined. They have too many dealers. There's too much competition & overlap between them. With this huge downturn in business, it's no surprise to see some of them close.

If you live in an area with only 1 dealer, and they look shaky, then I could see not buying that brand. I live in an area with 10 GM dealers within 10 miles, so I have no concerns.

I bought my GMC from a dealer 100 miles north of me, but I get it serviced at the local Chevy dealer. They're happy for the business. I buy where I get the best price and get service right up the road.

I bought 2 Ford trucks at the same time from a Ford dealer in Shillington, PA (about 45 miles west of me) and they went under 2 years later. I didn't care because my local Ford dealer serviced them everytime they broke.

 

[Builder]

Actually, I am leaning more toward the GMC right now. I am about 1" away from making a deal on the GMC 2500 pickup, but I want my wife to go down and look at it and ride with me in it. She was out of town when I had the truck for two days earlier this month. My concern, and I hope this can be appreciated, is that no one in my family, not my father or grandfather or uncles or anybody else has ever NOT owned a Ford. I would suspect if counted, they would total more than 100 cars and trucks over the years. I really want something different this time, and I guess I am trying to justify it. I do not want, though, to buy a truck and find the value to plummet and my dealer gone and other dealers not wanting to service a product they do did not sell. I will say that my experience so far with this GMC dealer is the best I have ever had while vehicle shopping. The dealer is not fancy, but the people have been very nice.

John M

Do you want to call me? I can PM you my phone #. maybe I can put your mind at ease?

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Take a look at your personal experience with your Fords lately and make sure you are not over rating the need for dealer service. I can only speak to experience with GM product. A 2005 Silverado only needed one warranty service item in approx 50,000 mi. So far the 2008 Sierra has only needed LOF and any place will do that. Two previous Astro vans also required minimal "service."

We all tend to form an emotional bond with certain inanimate objects and find reasons to reinforce our choices. The emotions can be very strong persuaders, however, I think Builder has provided considerable objective information as to why a Chev / GMC might be a good choice for you to give a try.

If the latest plan where GM is trying to get GOV to take 50% of the common stock and UAW 40%, plus all the proposed trimming, I think GM will be around for a long time to come. Despite the press saying all the time that GM is building products "that no one wants" when a company sells between 9 - 10 million units - somebody must want what they are building.

Give the Chev / GMC a try. No matter what happens the value isn't going to zero in a couple of years - which is a lot better than what can be said for a lot of stocks.

 

[Patches]

Buy whatever and from whomever gives you that warm/fuzzy feeling, BUT, Do Not Buy a 5.4 Ford with any intention of towing anything significant with it. I owned, for a short period of time, an '05 SuperCrew Lariat, 5.4 3 valve, 3.73 gear, towing package(HA). That had to have been the lamest tow vehicle I've ever owned.Do yourself a favor and cross that off your list of "maybes"!!!