I'm not sure where to put this...
After reading posts stating that all brands have their issues, implying that there's no real reason to choose Ford over another brand than personal preference, I want to point some things out.

When you sell 6 or 700,000 units of a model per year, ten percent of those having problems is going to be more problem vehicles than some of the competition even sells. That doesn't mean your odds aren't better.

Laying aside real or imagined powertrain issues, there's no arguing that Ford has built a stronger from the ground up truck for many years when it comes to work. Leaf spring widths, bolt sizes, frame strength, axles, etc. Pre 97, tailgate opening widths were wider than GM.

 

The reason i drive a ford is simple. I want a truck that is reliable and not going to leave me on the side of the road. I have never been left on the side of the road in a ford. Can't say the same about GM.

When i was in high school (98-01) i had a old 80 F100 with the 5.0 and no telling how many time the odometer had rolled over.. It was tuff as nails and never let me down even after i wrecked it with a offroad adventure.

I bought a 91 ford ranger.. Once again ran the dog crap out of it and it never complained. A girlfriend wrecked it one day when we were skipping class and cratered the passenger side and also bent the axle. Drove it for another 6 months and sold it to a guy that was taking cars to Mexico.

After that i bought a 95 Ranger and took care of that one, put 70k miles on it within 2 years and it had somewhere around 225k when i traded it in on a 01 F150 Ext Cab 4.2. Drove that truck around 20k miles before trading it for my beloved 03 KR.

The 03 was the best truck i have ever had.. Only thing i did was plugs & Ignition coils (since i decided to powerwash my engine) Thermostat and rear shocks in 80k miles. Traded it off with 148k miles and the truck still looked new.

Then had a 07 XLT, 07 FX2 and Finally my EB.

Most Fella's here know how much i love me EB.. Ford hit a home run with this engine and so far after 50k miles in less than 2 years its been great.


These trucks are the daily drivers. Have owned several other trucks as play toys or work trucks Including a 95 F150 5.8 (325k miles) 97 F350 Powerstroke (300k), 99 f250 V10 Crewcab along with several Crown Vics, Lincolns, Mercurys and a Taurus. Once again all have been great.

 

I'd like to say it is because of quality, etc... But I fall into the vast majority of consumers. I buy Ford because I grew up with Fords. Positive memory reinforcement, and its what I know and am comfortable with.

That being said, today's vehicles are amazing, and I constantly find features and design components from all manufacturers I like.

For instance, test drove a Toyota, the rear window powers down. That's pretty awesome! Test drove a new Charger, loved every minute of it. Spent a week with a Camry hybrid, and was blown away with it.

But, I'm back to Ford because its what I know, and what I like...

 

Haha I had to



Honestly I've driven all of them and still end up coming back to ford. I have my reasons for why and things I prefer on other trucks, but a ford suits me best.

 

Many years ago when I was 16 I was given a 79 F150 with a 351M engine as my 2nd vehicle. The truck ran great and had tons of miles on it. It would have continued to run great had I not gotten my inexperienced mitts on it, but we all start somewhere, right? It only left me stranded once and that was from a bad fuel pump. I had some overheating issues once after a rebuild of the engine but it turned out to be a head gasket put on backwards. Mechanic error on that one.

I raced a short bed Chevy one time and lost miserably. Rather than face the root of the problem (I had an 8ft bed farm truck, not a Nascar) I sold it and swore off Fords for 20 years. Yeah, I know. Stupid kid.

Fast forward many years past a 95 and 98 Silverado and I find myself at a Ford Dealership looking at a 2008 Escape for my wife and while she was test driving I found myself looking at a 2008 Reg Cab STX with the 4.6L and dark blue pearlcoat. I test drove it and was immediately sold on Ford as a brand again. I loved that truck. She was made for me, and I still miss her. I keep looking on the streets for it to show up but not sure if I want to see her for fear she is being abused. I hope and pray her new owner is being good to her. I Only got 39k miles on her before trading for my current 2014 but she never once let me down. Nice ride, strong, and highly reliable.

My new truck has not failed to impress when given the chance. I have 0 issues with it since day one. I have almost 1300 miles on it now. I am a semi-aggressive driver and like Mr. Scott from the Enterprise, she gives me all she’s got when I ask for it, no questions asked. Powerful, quick, cab space, and bed space. All that I need and she does all that in one sexy *** package. What’s not to love?!?

 

If you go look at the nitty gritty details deep in the J.D. Power ratings of almost any year and most engines, and focus specifically on powertrain longevity/reliability, you will find Ford trucks consistently rated a star or two above GM, Dodge, and Nissan. Competitive with Toyota.

I'm aware that Ford has a black eye the last couple years after enjoying top domestic brand status with Japanese Supports-I mean Consumer Reports for a while, but when you dig into the details, it's the MICROSOFT powered Sync that is skewing the stats. I'm firmly in the camp that radio issue don't decide my vehicle choice, and I'm much more concerned about the breakdowns that could leave me or my wife and family beside the road.

Has anyone seen the test where they drive every brand fast over a washboard course?

 

Trying to figure that one out myself...I have had a love/hate relationship with my 05...it has left me stranded twice (while still making payments)...

I really wanted a Tundra when I got my 02, then again when I got my 05...but the Tundra was way more expensive when comparably equipped...+ Ford had rebates on top of the lower price...

If you have ever worked on a mid 80's Camaro, you would steer clear of GM. and Dodge scares the h*$l out of me...Just leaves Nissan...Nissan has always made pretty good cars..but no appeal...They were kinda over priced compared to Ford...

Regards!

 

Well I will say I'm brand loyal. I grew up with ford vehicles most of my family drives fords. I will say they all break no matter what brand. Yes some are designed pretty crappy from each manufacturer. Stuff wears out over time and no matter how good the vehicle has been maintained it can still break down. A few ford's I've owned have been on a flat bed. My parents bought a new fusion car didn't even have a couple thousand on the odo and fuel pump went out. It's the luck of the draw, you can get a good vehicle and last forever with normal maintenance.

 

I'm not brand loyal, my 03 is the first truck I've ever owned but not the first Ford vehicle. I bought it because I needed a truck and it was equipped the way I wanted and the price was right. However, over 8 years and 120k miles later, I've been more impressed with the quality and reliability of this truck more than any other vehicle I've owned - and that's somewhere around 30. Has it been perfect? Nope, not even close, but everything is relative. 8 years is longer than I've ever kept a vehicle before.

 

I guess I should also say I'm interested in what will last 250-300,000 miles without a rebuild. I've put those kind of miles on numerous Fords.

 

The cabbies are getting 400k out of Dodge Caravans.

 

I'm not disputing your statement, but I will say that they must have come a lo-oo-ong way from the pieces of junk they used to be.

However, typically consistent fleet maintenance does make a difference.

I've taken a 94 Ranger 3.0 to 279,000. It was still going strong and did for several years later till I lost track of it. I hauled and pulled hay and 14' stock trailer. (I'm not endorsing the stock trailer as full as I had it for safety reasons.) The only "major" expense I had with it was a clutch at 160k, and at 260k. Both time I got stuck with a trailer hooked up in the pasture.

Took 95 Aerostar 4.0 to 290k. My nephew blew a head gasket at 295 in it when he continued to drive after a heater hose y broke. It had no major repair, and had towing package which was used. It was an extended length, and would run neck and neck with son's 91 Chevy 350 sw with headers etc. Would jump 01 4.8 GMC to about 40.
Those are just a couple of several...

 

When you look at the springs and frame under the F150 of the last ten years, the Toyotas and the others look fragile by comparison.

 

Grew up in a GM family and started out as a Chevy fan, but the poor build quality drove me away. Tried one Toyota P/U, but the cost of parts (and the nearly constant need to replace them) led me to buy my first new Ford and I've been a loyal customer for thirty years now.

 

As a kid my dad had mostly fords and for a while when I was in first and second grade we lived in an apartment that was literally right down the street from the Cleveland engine plant, where they used to build the 351 clevelands and now build the 3.5 L ecoboost. So I guess after smelling the fumes during my formative years from the casting plant where they cast the blocks and heads, I guess I'm brainwashed now and can't buy anything other than a Ford.