posted
sometime in the next year or so i'll be in the market for a truck to pull our fbodies to shows. we'll probably only get a single car enclosed trailer so the towing capacity i need won't be too much. i could tow what i need to with a 5.3L... but i was wondering if i should go for the diesel or regualr V8. i've heard pros and cons for both... what's your input?
-------------------- your Firehawk sis, Selena Muhoberac
2002 SOM Formula Firehawk #180 2002 Silver Formula (daily driver) 2000 Silver Camaro SS (husband's car) Posts: 39 | From: New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2003
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Love my dodge diesel only draw back is the inital purchase price (well and maybe the noise its a 99)
Posts: 67 | From: Southern CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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yeah diesels sure are expensive purchase price-wise. and i hear maintenance on them is expensive as well. but if the benefits of gas mileage and towing capacity are really great then i may just have to fork out the cash.
-------------------- your Firehawk sis, Selena Muhoberac
2002 SOM Formula Firehawk #180 2002 Silver Formula (daily driver) 2000 Silver Camaro SS (husband's car) Posts: 39 | From: New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2003
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There's nothing like towing with a diesel, ...all kinds of torque. A bit of a premium to pay for the engine (diesel vs. gasoline) but if you plan on towing, give it serious consideration. The newer engines (like the duramax ) run much quieter than diesels used to.
Posts: 1046 | From: Pine Bush, NY USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Around here the gas and deisel prices are about the same. I have the 2500HD 4x4 and its a great truck. Have used it to pull small dead trees without a hesitation.The 5.3 should be no problem for you as that is what I have. Am in the process of looking for another F-body which I will bring back with the 2500.
If your still looking next spring I will have this one for sale as I need to replace them every 2 years to keep the wifes company car.
Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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If you won't be towing every week, you could get by with the 5.3L with no problem. Heck even my 1990 Suburban with a Vortec 350 and 165,000 miles has more than enough towing power to tow an enclosed trailer and Camaro inside. The diesels are nice, but the initial option cost will buy a whole lot of gasoline. If you needed a heavy duty truck for other purposes other than towing the Camaro, then get the turbo diesel. Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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thanks for all the responses the truck will probably be used to tow about twice a month. that would be towing the formula to the dragstrip. then it would tow the hawk to any out of town car shows which would only be a few times a year. 35th ED definitely shoot me an email if you're going to be selling your truck next spring. that would be about the time i'm looking to buy. thanks y'all
Posts: 39 | From: New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2003
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Will do It looks a little different now with the toneau cover and pinstriping .It has just about every thing that GM offers leather,towing.Bose system.......... Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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I love my D-Max, great daily driver, AWESOME for towing, and get this . . .
22 mpg HIGHWAY!!!! (without trailer of course) Just under 14 mpg with a trailer.
And deisel in th midwest is typically 5 to 10 cents cheaper than gas.
-------------------- My Cars: 2000 Bright Rally Red Camaro SS Convertible 2002 Electron Metallic Blue Berger SS T-Top 2004 Silver Birch Metallic Silverado 2500HD Duramax Ext. Cab. S.B. 4x4
-------------------- 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe RS/SS 350 - Quasar Blue, LOADED and just happens to be my pride and joy. 2002 BMW 540i 6-speed - Jet Black, nicely optioned (Daily Driver) 2000 BMW 323i 5-speed - Titanium Silver, nicely optioned (Wifes car)
quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: Nissan Titan.
They did a HELL of a job on those babies...
Yeah too bad they do such a bad job putting them togather... All the ones I've seen have had shoddy quality that makes a Kia looks like its well built.... humm a "import" vehicle with a bad quality rating.... read below.
From Automotive News July 26th TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co. says it has redesigned hundreds of parts in vehicles built at its new Canton, Miss., plant in an effort to fix quality problems.
About 200 Japanese engineers descended on the plant in May after three models built there fared poorly in the latest J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.
About half of the engineers are still operating in the United States.
"We redesigned every possible component," says Eiji Imai, Nissan's senior vice president in charge of quality assurance.
Nissan vehicles built at the year-old plant performed dismally in the survey of consumer quality perceptions for the 2004 model year. The first three nameplates launched at the plant - the redesigned Quest minivan, Titan full-sized pickup and Pathfinder Armada SUV - scored last in their segments.
"Improving the IQS is my commitment," Imai says. "We've got to reach a numerical target (for the 2005 IQS survey) that would surprise you."
He won't specify the target but says: "We have to do such a great job that it makes you say, 'Well done.' "
Imai says he will test drive the 2005 Altima and Maxima - both built at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., plant - by the end of July. He will drive the Canton-produced 2005 Quest, Armada and Titan models in late August.
Tackling problems
By the end of June, Nissan engineers filled in more than 200 "design notes." The notes inform Nissan or a supplier that a specific component will be redesigned. Each note accounts for one or more components.
The engineers tackled such items as an air conditioner that performed poorly, a radio tuner that was not calibrated precisely, steering components that caused the vehicle to pull or drift to one side and window seals that allowed excessive noise into the cabin.
Imai won't elaborate on which problem affected which vehicle.
[ 27. July 2004, 10:51 PM: Message edited by: MM ]
-------------------- 2002 SS #5973 Posts: 1045 | From: Seattle, WA | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by MM: Yeah too bad they do such a bad job putting them togather... All the ones I've seen have had shoddy quality that makes a Kia looks like its well built.... humm a "import" vehicle with a bad quality rating.... read below.
Really...not the ones I've seen/ridden in. Fit and quality puts Ford/Dodge/GM to shame.
Correct me if im wrong...isn't the Titan assembled here in the good ol USA.
Posts: 700 | From: Fighting the Nazis of the world..... | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MM: Yeah too bad they do such a bad job putting them togather... All the ones I've seen have had shoddy quality that makes a Kia looks like its well built.... humm a "import" vehicle with a bad quality rating.... read below.
Really...not the ones I've seen/ridden in. Fit and quality puts Ford/Dodge/GM to shame.
Correct me if im wrong...isn't the Titan assembled here in the good ol USA.
Yep by a untrained workforce in Canton Miss. J.D Power don't lie... and if they say they have poor quality well then.... like I said the Titan's I've seen were practically falling apart on the lot....
-------------------- 2002 SS #5973 Posts: 1045 | From: Seattle, WA | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by MM: J.D Power don't lie...
...yup..and neither does the government.
We musta got a great batch of em out here, my experience at the Nissan dealership a while back was "enlightening". Maxima was a really nice car too...I just hated the FWD. 350Z was awesome to drive.
But anyway..thats off the subject.
Posts: 700 | From: Fighting the Nazis of the world..... | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: Nissan Titan.
They did a HELL of a job on those babies...
The one I drove must have been the worst driving, worst laid-out, hardest steering truck I have ever been in. It was awful. Awful. It was also ugly as a mud post. The only reason I could see that anyone would buy a truck like this is that they just want to make a statement that they do not support American-branded vehicles, because it damn sure isn't as good as a Ford or Chevy. Hell, if you were trying to make an anti-American statement, the 7/8-scale Toyota is a better driver than the Nissan.
Posts: 142 | From: Kansas City | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: Nissan Titan.
They did a HELL of a job on those babies...
The one I drove must have been the worst driving, worst laid-out, hardest steering truck I have ever been in. It was awful. Awful. It was also ugly as a mud post. The only reason I could see that anyone would buy a truck like this is that they just want to make a statement that they do not support American-branded vehicles, because it damn sure isn't as good as a Ford or Chevy. Hell, if you were trying to make an anti-American statement, the 7/8-scale Toyota is a better driver than the Nissan.
I think Happy Dan here bought one and was pretty happy with it from what I recall. You guys must be getting different trucks out there. ...and Craig, your comment sounds like a statement to not support import vehicles...just the opposite.
To each their own. If I was in the market for a truck It would be a Nissan Titan. The Toyota offering is ugly and you know how I feel about the big three, their quality does not stack up to the imports at this time (I have family that own US trucks and they are not thrilled). If I was forced to choose an American product, it would be the Dodge.
Posts: 700 | From: Fighting the Nazis of the world..... | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: ...and Craig, your comment sounds like a statement to not support import vehicles...just the opposite. [/QB]
I'll give you that. It's no secret that I'm closed-minded about the import thing. Always have been, always will be. I hate them. I think they're offensive.
HOWEVER, even though I look upon them with comeplete disdain, I can still make a reasonable comparison. Some imports are not bad, even though I wouldn't be caught dead owning one. I have driven everything out there. The Toyota is better than the Nissan. The Nissan is not as good as the Ford or Chevy.
That's only my opinion, of course. But at least I've driven them all to back it up.
It looks like there are some people in this thread that are happy with their Chevy trucks, and they have not only driven them, but they own them. Maybe they aren't all bad, even to normal people.
Sorry. I hope I didn't ruin the thread for you, Selena. I'll stop rambling. Good luck on the search. Posts: 142 | From: Kansas City | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: . . . If I was forced to choose an American product, it would be the Dodge.
The abosulte worst American made truck out there . . . . Makes me even more comfortable with your automotive opinions.
My ranking of trucks:
Chevy/GMC Ford
The rest are just toys . . . Plus if I am looking for a truck to tow, my Chevy car, do you really think one would even consider a Japanese truck? It's bad enough considering towing a Chevy with a differnt American brand, but Japanese?? You be chased out of the car show.
I would never consider towing a Car in an enclosed trailer with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck, just too unsafe for me, it's like taking your most precious item and throwing it up in the air and just hoping for it to fall to the ground safely.
[ 28. July 2004, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: Xsta Z 28 ]
Posts: 608 | From: Schaumburg, IL | Registered: Sep 2000
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Geeeez...you'd think I insulted someones mother. Gotta love how personal these little opinion things get.
My sisters Hemi Dodge pickup is a superior truck to my other brothers Chevy truck in every way. I've driven both...and thats my opinion.
I missed the "enclosed" trailer part...so I would have to agree on min 3/4 ton. Dodge diesel would be my choice. My oldest brother has one of the Cummings diesel duelies (for business purposes) and its got over 200K miles on it and its an awesome "puller" and runs and runs and runs.
I used to be blinded by brand loyalty too...(not trucks)...experience with other manufacturers have been very good to me.
Choose what makes you happy.
Thats all I have to say.
Posts: 700 | From: Fighting the Nazis of the world..... | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: . . . . Gotta love how personal these little opinion things get.
Pot calling kettle black . . . We are all guilty of that . . .
quote:I used to be blinded by brand loyalty too
I'm not blind, just loyal . . GM has been extremely good to me and my family. Lost count on how may GM cars and trucks we have owned but it's been a lot, and until they fail me, I will remain loyal.
Fortunately / Unfortunately (depends on your view) I am consumed with being unable to even consider a vehicle from any one but the Big Three, I was born in the USA, I am supported by the USA, so I must return the favor and support the workers of USA, even if the European and Japanese cars are better . . . I still can't do it, I'd be ashamed for life.
quote:Originally posted by Xsta Z 28: Fortunately / Unfortunately (depends on your view) I am consumed with being unable to even consider a vehicle from any one but the Big Three, I was born in the USA, I am supported by the USA, so I must return the favor and support the workers of USA, even if the European and Japanese cars are better . . . I still can't do it, I'd be ashamed for life.
okay...I lied about being done.
Tell me? What car is 100% made in America anymore?
Do you have a TV, a microwave? A Toaster? You better throw out almost every product you have in your house...its all foreign made. Sad but true...America cannot compete for labor costs...we did it to ourselves and have noone else to blame.
I was born here too...I am a VERY patriotic person...doesn't mean that to be a "true American" I have to suffer with poor quality or poor service of the products made here. Believe me...I'd rather buy American too...but only if and when they start building quality offerings with service to back it up.
<thwap>...ball is headed back your direction. Posts: 700 | From: Fighting the Nazis of the world..... | Registered: Jul 2002
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Well, I have to say, I love America and I love my GM vehicles. I have no problem with GM service and I was always happy with my truck. I had a Dodge Ram 1500 before I bought my Camaro and had more trouble with it than any other vehicle I have owned. It may have been a bad one, but it was junk.
I love the Titan and Grace does too. There is a lot of room for Dani in the back and the utilities are great. I have the painted in bed liner and the rails and all the other stuff that goes with it. It rides great. The only complaint I have is that I don't like the mirrors. It is big and has a large turning radius. It was in effect 6K less than an Avalanche 2500 that would tow 10,500 lbs. The Ford and Chevy 2500 trucks drive rough.
I love the Duramax and I love Chevy. If I had the money, that is what I would drive. But I don't, so I went with the Titan that can tow 9500lbs and has a comfortable seating area for Dani, who comes everywhere with us.
I would apppreciate it if the personal shots don't go any further. Opinions are great and should be respected when presented in the right way. I am not anti American for manufacturing. I am for free trade and I am Pro Happy Dan!
Have a great night. Good luck with your decision Saleena!! I think waiting until spring for 35Th Ed's truck would be a good choice for sure.
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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My neighbor has an old Mercedes Diesel - whenever he drives by, I swear that it's a truck driving by. Not a pickup truck; one of those old tractor trailer jobs that sound like they're running with open pipes. Can't believe that it's a Mercedes!
Posts: 1907 | From: I hope I'm not repeating myself. Again. And Again. Stop picking on me! Waaahhh!! | Registered: Feb 2000
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Selena, Sorry for Hi Jaking your thread, but to answer your question . . .
A 5.3 liter equipted 1/2 ton Silverado Pick up or Tahoe, would be sufficient for light trailering (as you say only a couple times). I personally recommend a open trailer with this application, an encloseed trailer is possilbe (20'-0") but is must be equipted with load distribution hitch and good trailer brakes.
A 6.0 liter truck would give you a little more towing grunt, available as the base motor in a 3/4 Ton P/U Avalanche or Suburban. will work great with an open trailer, and be more capable of an enclosed trailer, wieght distribuiton would still need to be considered. If you go HD, the wieght dist is now a mute issue.
The 8.1 liter will give you all the gas powered grunt you need, added benefit would be the Allison 5 speed auto tranny (work of art IMHO). available in the 3/4 Ton HD, this would be a great tower, gas powered would suffer a little in fuel econmy, but will do you a great job. No problems hauling an enclosed 24'-0" trailer, with electric brakes.
Top of the line will push you into the D-max 3/4 Ton or overkill the 1 Ton Dually, the Allison tranny is standard, and you could tow a house with this truck. I've done a couple of good treks with mine, and there become times you completely forget the trailer is there. Fuel economey will improve both unloaded and loaded.
Hope that helps.
-------------------- My Cars: 2000 Bright Rally Red Camaro SS Convertible 2002 Electron Metallic Blue Berger SS T-Top 2004 Silver Birch Metallic Silverado 2500HD Duramax Ext. Cab. S.B. 4x4
quote:Originally posted by MMMM_ERT: okay...I lied about being done.
Thought so !
quote:Tell me? What car is 100% made in America anymore?
I never said made in America, just support Americans, Granted the Camaro was assembled in Canada, but there are parts of it made in the USA, and anyway GM is IN Detroit supporting hundreds of American workers living in America.
quote:Do you have a TV, a microwave? A Toaster? You better throw out almost every product you have in your house...its all foreign made. Sad but true...America cannot compete for labor costs...
Very true, but at least with an automobile I have choice unfortunatey the electronics from overseas are too plentiful and pretty darned good . . but my toaster was made in the USA.
quote:we did it to ourselves and have noone else to blame.
Very true and very sad . . .
quote:I was born here too...I am a VERY patriotic person...doesn't mean that to be a "true American" I have to suffer with poor quality or poor service of the products made here.
Sorry you feel that way, I don't feel I am "suffering" with poor quality . . I love all my Chevy's, You feel you suffed or were pained by GM, I'm glad you like your Bimmer, they are great cars, I even no the women in charge at BMW corporate that orders ALL new BMW's for the midwest dealerships, she has a new bimmer every 3 mo's they just don't do anything for me, yes I love the M Series, and the Z8 but now we are in a hole new price range.
quote:Believe me...I'd rather buy American too...but only if and when they start building quality offerings with service to back it up.
I know you do, and there is a lot to be said about American Service, but that's a hole new ball game.
quote:(thwap)...ball is headed back your direction.
Back at ya! Just a frinedly volley
And Happy Dan, I in no means am meaning to critize your Truck, You made and educated choice that best fits your needs. . . Peace.
Posts: 608 | From: Schaumburg, IL | Registered: Sep 2000
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Didn't take it badly at all. No problem, I can appreciate a good discussion. Just wanted to make the point that I have owned a RAM 1500, a Silverado (loved it, just needed more back seat room) and a few little, old Nissan trucks. The Nissan's have always been good to me. I think I do have a valid opinion having owned them all and used them all for different purposes.
Peace back to you! Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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hee hee thanks for all the import... i mean input. i don't mind thread hijacking for a good debate. as far as i'm concerned, i'm a loyal GM buyer and will consider nothing else. GM has always taken care of me. and thanks xsta Z for all your useful info. i'll be definitely doing some more homework before i buy.
-------------------- your Firehawk sis, Selena Muhoberac
2002 SOM Formula Firehawk #180 2002 Silver Formula (daily driver) 2000 Silver Camaro SS (husband's car) Posts: 39 | From: New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2003
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the truck will probably be used to tow about twice a month. that would be towing the formula to the dragstrip. then it would tow the hawk to any out of town car shows which would only be a few times a year. 35th ED definitely shoot me an email if you're going to be selling your truck next spring. that would be about the time i'm looking to buy. thanks y'all
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