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Ford is taking over the market around here with their pickups. For over 30 years out of every 10 pickups I stripe 7 of them have been Chevy/GMC's, 2 have been Dodges and only 1 have been Fords.
Well no longer. In the past few months Ford has reigned supreme around here. I had 1 week not long ago where every day I had a Ford pickup. I've got back to back King Ranches for tomorrow and the next day to stripe.
Is this just a coincidence or are other stripers experiencing the same. I'm wondering if it has something to do with Ford not taking bail-out money.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Coincidentally, our local newscast this evening had a feature that focused on North American car sales. One striking item was the figures showing that Ford had increased it's market share over GM for the past 2 model years....something that hadn't happened since the early '80's. The Ford F-150 & 250 pickups were the strongest selling model in that class of vehicle.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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I had four new Chevys and last year drove a new F-150. They are ten miles and hour smoother. When I am in a 25mph neighborhood. I keep looking down and I am doing 35. Beyond that, it is a very nice truck. The fact that Ford did not take bailout dough did make me pick a Ford over the GM. I also bought their stock that did a 647% return in a year that paid for the truck! (Mar6, 2009 @ $1.70 -Mar 10, 2010 @$13.00)
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Since 1990, every GM truck or van we had was in need of some serious repair in one form or another within just a few years of normal around-town driving. In 2000, we bought a 1999 GMC Savana with only 5k miles on it. In the first four years, we replaced head gaskets, wheel bearings and the plastic interior parts just fell apart.
In 1994, I bought a Ford Ranger because the dealer had spent several thousands of dollars with us that year. I felt it necessary to return the favor when it was time for me to get a new vehicle. During the 17 years I've had it, the only repair as been to replace a tie-rod arm. Finally, after putting 160k miles on it, its time to replace the clutch plate.
In 2007, we gave up on the constant repairs on the GMC van and invested the money in a new F150. I've never had a problem with it.
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In all fairness to GM, I have had very good results with Chevy trucks. They do have a bit higher level of luxury about them in similar lines and price points. A Chevy feels more like a Cadillac than the F-150 feel like a Lincoln, but as far as dependability goes, they are really about the same very well built vehicles. I have a good friend who is a major Used Car Manager at a big high volume store here and we talk about this very subject frequently, for some reason. He reports he has almost identical reconditioning and mechanical costs with Fords and Chevys, but that Toyotas, Nissans and Dodges always cost him more dough to make ready or to keep the customers happy, after the sale. He says the Toyotas are usually in the nicest cosmetic condition, but that the occasional repair can wipe his clock clean much more than the others. A computer or minor electrical problem always makes him very wary of the Toyotas and Nissans. The Dodges are prone to wacko and ridiculous cosmetic defects, like they just did not care enough to have a high standard of quality (stupid stuff like seat belts, trim pieces and stuff falling apart when it should not.)
Honestly, the Chevy and Ford trucks are actually built to much higher standards than the cars because they have to meet those standards in more commercial use. Try ordering a Toyota truck. They laugh at you and say it takes six months if you are lucky. I wanted a regular size 4x4 and they told me nine months.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Preston has it right with luxury and creature comforts, however, the Fords lately really have some serious HP and torque, even in the F150 line. To get all kind of power in a Chev/GMC, you have to get the new 1 ton crew cab Duramax to the tune of $68,000...for a "work truck" model. If you are just pulling a job trailer, get a Ford. They still ride rough, in my opinion, but then again, my Tahoe's/Yukons and Suburbans have all had AutoRide, so I ride in marshmallow-land, even with my latest 3/4 ton.
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Well, I just switched to a Toyota Tacoma, after having Brand New Ford F150'S every 3 years for the past 10 years. The 6 Cyl. Toyota has MUCH more power than my 8cyl Ford, it can carry the same gear, it costs a little less a month, GAS, used to cost me $130 For a fill up, the Toyota fill up is about $70, I can go the exact same distance, once the lease is up, I can keep the Toyota and sell it and make about 5 to 6 Grand, and then lease another one...or buy it. You do the math. Now the Fords were nice Pick ups, I never had too many complaints, except Gas Mileage.
The Dodge products I've had in the last 10 years, 2 brand new Caravans and a PT Cruiser, were really Junk, especially the Vans.
[ January 04, 2011, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Neil D. Butler ]
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Back in the seventies and eighties I did alot of off road and long distance driving painting billboards all over the two Carolina's and northern Georgia and eastern Tennesee, well hell all over hells half acre and the paw paw patch,....anyway I went thru pickup trucks every three or four years and always had very good luck with the fords,...it seemed as though the front suspension on the Chevy's was weak and I would always break something on the "a" frame on them when we went off road to get to a sign location,..and believe you me we went to some locations that were all but inaccessible from the Smokey mountains to the lowland coastal swamps with aligators and etc,..then jump back on the expressway and drive four three hundred miles back home,...the Ford's always got me home,....can't say that for the chevy's always ended up broke down somewhere I didn't wanna be,.,..
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had a 93 Ford flairside that I bought new. I always loved it and yes it was like driving a Lincoln, I put ten grand into it the first month I had it to get it to what I liked.
Here it is 2011 and I am building a 90 Chevy Silverado with power everything and A/C climate control, truck was unmolested and in excellent condition, doors close like new when I bought it in November 2010 for my conversion. In the middle of December I had a Tremac six speed manual transmission installed which replaced the five speed and will finish the suspension before I install a rebuilt 96 Corvette LT4 engine rated at 330 rwhp, this combo will get 27 mpg+ on the hiway and 17 around town as 5th and 6th are overdrives. I accumulated all the necessary parts including a Mopar 8 3/4 rear for it just in the past few days. The truck will appear factory stock all around with no signs of modifications but will be lowered a bit have gas shocks, sway bars and rear air bags w/ compressor in case it needs to carry something in the bed and along with Dynamat 6211 sound deadener for the interior noise, this will complete the project. Best part of this is the cost, under ten grand and is always on the road except for a week or two while things get done.
I cannot see going in debt for practically anything when there are clean vehicles out there from people who have gone into debt buying everything new.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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We just buy them wrecked and fix them up to new! Haven't had a car payment....
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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I buy nothing wrecked. All my vehicles were in top condition when I got them, even the 64 rust free Signet I've had for 25 or so years. What I don't like is the newer metal and the newer computerized vehicles as I can deal with the older computers which just runs the fuel injection systems and with a couple tweaks here and there, I can make them invasion proof.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Around here, the majority of new trucks lettered and /or striped have been Chevrolet and GMC.
I am also partial to Chevrolet and always have been. I am currently driving a "94 Suburban with 245,000+ miles. It has it's quirks, but runs great. The heater will roast a turkey and this time of the year, this is a good thing!
-------------------- Curt Stenz Graphics 700 Squirrel Lane Marathon, WI 54448 Posts: 590 | From: Marathon, WI 54448 | Registered: Dec 1998
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I chose ford over gm because of the bailout. I drove gmc and chevy for years and had no major probs. those old gm vans runs forever.
When it was time for a new van I bought a ford from a place going bankrupt. I also have a ford ranger and ford dually.
I look at it this way, if you have been in business for as long as GM and you need to borrow money for a bailout you dont know how to manage. this is not a contest of calvin peeing on chevy or ford i just dont appreciate what GM did
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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Must be a regional thing. Last year, the majority of the truck lettering I did was on the Dodge Ram 1500 models. Don't think I touched one Chevy pickup all year.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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I've owned two Chevy Silverado 4X4's..... they were alright... but I mainly bought them because I got the inlaws GM employee discount. I've really always wanted a Ford Truck...
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Did you notice how trucks just keep getting bigger? I remember when we got our Silverado 1500 a few years back it seemed huge compared to our past trucks, and that same model today seems huge in comparison. If you were to drive a Ford f150 through a time machine back to 2000 it would look more like a f250.
No more S-10s and you rarely see a ranger on the road. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind so much. Although I think it's funny that you would have to use a step ladder in order to put things in your truck bed, or even worst, have only 2 foot of usable truck bed space. LOL I mean are all truck owners going off road these days? I wonder what percentage of truck owners use them to do actual work?
-------------------- Joe Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, IL 61764 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 538 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Aug 2005
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I agree with the height issue. They have tended to raise the floor level too much. I wish they had side gates to access the bed alot more. I have a tonneau cover and it is great, but it would be nice if it also raised in the front. Another feature I would love to see would be a simple built in file behond the seat to place blank onvoices and documents in. It seems like if they just ask us users what changes we would like, it would be more cistomer friendly.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ha That is funny Joe! We have a vehicular compulsion. To mention the S-10 is a great note of curiosity. We have always had an S-10 for running errands and for my husband to go to work (big whoppin 20 mile round trip per day!) Our daily vehicles (going shopping and pulling the camper) have been the Chev or GMC trucks or Tahoe/Sub. Our fun rides are (2) Chevelles and a Trans Am.
Our workhorse for plowing has ALWAYS been a Ford. That Ford is indestructible. I bought and drove Fords with 100,000 miles+ for years cuz they never had any issues, always started and ran FOREVER. The straight six never failed and THEY WERE CHEEP!!! (For a college student paying her own way thru!) However, once I test drove a Chev (454 SS) (which I always liked the styling of), it just won me over with the comfort and ride. The seats are more plush and the controls are more user friendly to me. The overall options just seem nicer, but only once you have gotten used to them. If I had never been exposed to them, it wouldn't make a difference I suppose. BUT, I do not care so much for the new body style (07 and up). The seats are stiffer, everything seems so HUGE inside and the blind spots are worse. Having just replaced my 03 Yukon Denali with an 03 3/4 ton Quadrasteer Yukon Suburban, I really don't notice much difference, esp with the Quadrasteer and AutoRide. I guess my only choice in a Ford that would be comparable would be the King Ranch, but those are next to impossible to find around here. As was with the Quadrasteer 3/4 ton. Had to go to California over Thanksgiving weekend to get that one. So maybe it is regional.... Dodge doesn't even register on my radar.
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Preston, you can have that in the form of a metal locking gun safe by tack welding a metal file holder inside it. I had one in my other truck. The safe fits directly on the back inside of cab.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Seems to me Ford has a reputation for making funcional and affordable cars, cars you use for transport, not for ahm pe..s enlargers. Economy isn`t allways improving, sometimes it makes a halt, and sound spending/earning is the profitable way to work/live.
Besides, it seems to me US cars has a reputation to be repairable, it will draw the thinking customer towards buying them, as opposed to t ex a car with a logo thats looks somehow like the "peacesign", the carbrand which have to have a proofassional brand garage to change lightbulbs, cause one will have to lift the very motor to GET to the bulbs and to lift it you need the brand puter program.
Nice xtra sales thinking there!! Viva Ford
-------------------- Stein Saether GullSkilt AS Trondheim Posts: 1183 | From: Trondheim Norway | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Ihad great luck with my Dodge work van, but at a designated time it succumbed to all the ills that all others of that vintage did, transmission failure and A/C failure. I was able to treat the tranny with some goop that was recommended and put on a compressor belt and everything held together long enough to trade it in on a Chevy Venture van.
The Chevy van worked fine until a similar designated time arrived and it succumbed to all the illments that the vans of that vintage did.
By that time I was retiring and didn't need another work vehicle...BUT...I needed a cheap. low mileage SUV to drive to Mexico and hopefully keep here for many years.
Bought a "certified" 1996 Ford Explorer 4x4 in 2007. $3000 and it had 130,000 km on it. After 3 years of residing and being driven in Mexico it has cost me about $500 in minor repairs.
I love it as much as I love my Mustang in Canada!
I think I must be a "Ford guy" now.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
[ January 05, 2011, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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My family worked & retired from GM so I have to drive GM. I prefer GM cause I just like um.The reason FORD is so popular this year cause they have that HEATED TAILGATE so your hands don't get cold when pushing them off the road. "CHEVY ROCKS" it also stays on the ground when I use that crazy sign hoist mounted to the top of it.
-------------------- Bill Wood Bill Wood, Sign Artist 3628 Ogburn Ave., NE Winston-Salem, NC 27105-3752 336-682-5820 Posts: 397 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: May 2006
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My '97 f150 has 240,000 mikes on it, and still smokes the daylights out of the tires. I sold my v10 f250 crew cab with plow when gas hit $4 a gallon in 2008...a trend we will soon see again.
Fords are great plow trucks because of the I-beam suspension although you will sacrifice ride comfort.
I've had the s 10 extreme and an 88 step side silverado that was the best looking truck I have ever owned.
Can't wait to see what's ahead.
-------------------- Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Had to go letter a Ford 350 super duty crew cab with full suspension on it. When I got in the building I said "wow!, you didn't tell be I was lettering a semi!" That monster was up off the ground. I look at the back tailgate down and thought, I need a step ladder just to reach into this think.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Joey, arent there some states that require the locked up gun to be outside the cab?
Maybe if there's no "trunk" in the vehicle, the cops OK the box inside the cab ??????
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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You're living in the past Glenn, That happened to most all manufacturers during the late 80's early 90's. It was what they were allowed to use as the EPA was on everyones back. You should remind yourself of what was offered also as a rust repellent during the late 70's from Ford and Dodge and how many vehicles you've seen with rust through during those years.
Have they found a cure for flooding down your way yet? I wouldn't put my trust in it.......
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Joey's right. I got a new paint job on the '88 after 4 years and 70k miles. The test was: Put 6 inches of masking tape on the hood, peel it off. If it had paint on it, you were good to go.
It was nice getting a new paint job after 4 years...
-------------------- Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Not a fan of Ford... most times the people that drive them are arrogant, have accidents, try to control the road, tailgate, the list goes on and on. When a Ford is near I stay away, or give them room, let them pass, what ever, caution flags go up.
Hope you do not drive a Ford, I mean no offence, just my experience and what I see.
I've liked many of the Fords looks during the years but will never own one and would sell it if given.
quote:Originally posted by Craig Sjoquist: Not a fan of Ford... most times the people that drive them are arrogant, have accidents, try to control the road, tailgate, the list goes on and on. When a Ford is near I stay away, or give them room, let them pass, what ever, caution flags go up.
Wow.
-------------------- Dan Beach Cylinder 9 Designs 1650 Glassboro Rd Sewell, NJ 08080 Posts: 625 | From: South Jersey | Registered: Sep 2008
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and Friday we had a cop car ... you guessed it ... a Ford and today we had ... not 1, but 2 Ford vans.
maybe its a conspiracy. maybe its mind control. And as I look at the schedule, I see tomorrow we have another (FFFFFFFOOOOOOOORRRRRRDDDDDDD) van. If you hear they had to take me away, you'll know why! It was a case of Fordophrenia.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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