Well I've been a lurker for a few days.

I now currently have a 2000 S-10 ZR2 4x4.

I am on the market for a new truck. I have been eyeballing a new 2003 F150 FX4 ext cab that is LOADED, and a 2003/2004 Silverado Z71.

In comparison, which do you like better and why?

Any problems I should expect out of the FX4? In my zr2 the front ends are weak : ball joints, idler arms, pitman arms, etc. Always a problem.

Any input is very appreciated. I'm going to test drive an 03 FX4 today that I fell inlove with, we'll see what happens.

Thanks!

 

I'm really interested in seeing the replies about an FX4 vs Z-71 comparison on f150online.... let's see, that's f150online. I'll bet the ford supporters will outnumber the Chevy supports 100 to 1.
Just a guess though, could be wrong!

 

I think the 03 F-150 was the best pickup at the time, and the 04 F-150 is even better in many ways. I had a 99 Extended cab that I loved. Probably should not have sold it, but I upgraded to an 03 Supercrew.

 

Just ask ANY mechanic.........He'll tell ya that he makes more money on Chevys. I've got a couple of die-hard Chevy mechanics here at work. It KILLS them to say it, but they'd buy a Ford truck over a Chevy. Ten years ago, Chevy all the way but presently, they'd buy a Ford.

Check out any of the truck reviews.....I cannot remember the last time that Chevy was in the top 3. Last one I saw on TNN shocked me, #1 was the new Titan, #2 Ford, #3 Dodge, #4 Toyota and #5 Chevy.

 

I had a '98 F150 and I sold it and got a new '03 about the time the new '04s were hitting the lots. I just was not that impressed by the looks of the '04 and it being the first year of a redesign I felt I would do better with an '03. The '03 has 6 years of tweaking to get it where it is and they look better in my opinion, plus I got such a good deal on it I couldn't pass it up (2/3 of the sticer price aint too bad). I have had NO problems out of either truck except for the first one I did have the door crack issue which has been resolved. I live in a pretty diehard chevy town and that is what most of my friends drive. I have seen many that have had rear end and transmission problems. Also, my parents both have chevrolets, a blazer and a minivan. They both have had electrical problems as well as some of the interior pieces falling apart. They still run but they dont seem to hold up as well. I will say that the chevy probably has a stronger engine that gets better gas mileage, but it has problems with a lot of the other details. From what I have seen the Ford does everything good and while some other brands may have some better strong points, the Ford is going to be the more dependable in the long run. I cannot comment on the dodges but from everything I have heard they have drivetrain problems and I wouldnt even consider an import when buying a full size truck. Just my 2 cents...

 

I got rid of my 01 GMC Highrider (GMC version of the ZR2) because it was a piece of crap. (Atually GM bought it back.)

I bought a F150 SCrew because it took GM 9 trips to the shop, 18 weeks collectively in the shop, paying two of my truck payments for me because the last two months I owned it I didn't see it, and a call from my attorney before they would admit they couldn't relocate their heads from their rectums and fix it.

The dealership I had been working with offered me an '03 GMC 1500 HD crew cab 4x4 loaded up, 0% interest for $75 per month less than the SCrew. I told them to shove it. After that affair, I'm likely to never buy another GM product again. I've had 12 cars in the past 12 years, all, but for two Jeeps and a Honda, were GMs. Their loss. Time for Ford to make some money off me.

So I would, and did, go with the Ford.