In CT, you can actually watch the rust eating the metal, and the Dodges are just as rotted as any chevy up here. Lets not even talk about how bad the toyotas get. I know the doors on these trucks tend to rot off, and I have seen a truck in town with it rust the rear quarter.
The local body shops, even the dealerships call it the "dodge rot" when i asked about getting the doors fixed. i guess since I drive a Dodge, I tend to notice it more.

They salt the roads heavily around here.

The only thing I would want from a chevy on a dodge is their better mpg. Other than that, I am no fan of them.
Ford on the other hand... I do like their F-150's... not their new F-250/350 front ends.

 

Here you usually see them with clear coat peeling sometimes rust but more often just paint issues, yellowed up headlights often with water in them, yellowed foglights, bubbled up chrome on the grill, cracked dashes, either replaced transmissions or having transmission issues, and either having rear end issues or have a rebuilt rear end. Then you also have a lot that need the evap core replaced as it is notorious for leaking. I know lots of people with Chevy's that have had issues and I can't say I like them. I used to hate them due to all the issues my friends had but honestly my Dodge has just about as many or more as do most people I know with Dodges.

 

The Chevy's get better gas mileage and way more power. I really like their 6.0L gas motor. I'd like to have that and maybe the Allison transmission too.

Ford is however the company I like. I love the 97-03 F-150's especially the flare side ones. I don't like the newer ones that much and not sure I'd want one. I however really like the F-250's and 350's I just wish they still used the 7.3L diesel as I don't want one with the 6.0L and not sure how the new 6.4L will hold up. Not sure I'd want a gas motor in a Ford as they seem to be underpowered. The rest of the truck seems to be way better built than a Dodge though. I know a lot of guys with Fords and hardly any have had any major issues. The only person I know had a explorer blow a engine but it was under warranty and another one had a engine blow in a F-150 but not sure what the history on that truck was as he hadn't had it long. I like Fords a whole lot better than Dodge or Chevy but if I was to buy a new truck right now I'd take a strong look at the Chevy's. Maybe even a Toyota. I've yet to see any american company come even close to producing a vehicle halfway as reliable as one of the Japanese companies. I like my Chevy Caprice Classic a lot but it even is a lot less reliable than our Honda Accord. I guess I can't complain since I got it from my grandmother for free with 49k miles on it. I know the complete history and it's been babied. The paint clear coat is peeling on the roof and front bumper. Has had the rear bumper repainted due to that. Waxed fairly often. However, our 96 Accord which has really been neglected in the waxing department although was garaged kept some but still out in the sun a lot has no clear coat peeling. Not good looking paint as never waxed and all scratched up but no clear coat peeling.

 

I don't think a merger with GM is going to happen
or that it would be a good thing for either company (or UAW) if it did
but one thing is for certain:
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz
knows more about Chrysler products
than most Chrysler employees do

 

most rams i see are in awesome condition compared to a chevy. less if you dont take care of it, and you will see those once in a while too, i have gm, i wont buy a ran if gm builds it, i will buy an older dodge if anything

 

+1 Hometheaterman. I agree, my Dodge seemed to have had most of the typical issues, but I guess the argument is that its old, or wasn't maintained by the previous owners.
I used to have fords and took a chance and got a Dodge (based on price and the 4dr option) and lesson learned. I was looking at a Toyota Tundra with the 4.0L and its towing capacity is actually higher than my 98. But... i just don't like the styling. Then I saw an 05 F-150... that I really like. But the one thing that the 3rd gens have, is a great overall truck. I think the 3rd gens are the best Rams (4th gen looks damn nice, but my wallet doesnt). Heck IMHO I think they are the best trucks out there overall. they have great power, great towing capactity and they look great also.

Lately the GM trucks look goofy... and I am not in to them at all. I also like the Titan.

I am just glad the gas prices have dropped. Its at 3.09 near me, and as low as 2.89 in other areas of the state. Thats HOTT.

 

Not always. There are published reports showing how badly designed SUV's have been (not HAVE BEEN) in the area of occupant protection. Also, the underlying reason why I bought my Ram was that the cab was designed better than the same era Ford and Chevy in regards to how much the cab would crush in the event of a front end collision. I've seen pics of the Fords and they aren't pretty.

 

6.0L gas motor and fuel economy is a oxymoron.

My 99 has 125,000 miles on it with a 318 and we have NEVER had a check engine light on it. My dad bought it brand new from the factory in 98 as a custom build and i've put 20,000 on it in the last year i've had it and i beat the hell out of my truck... it just won't break.

but... my paint does look like crap it's a truck though... my seats look brand new though, no tears or anything at all. dash... well haha has been replaced, but looks good.

and the 7.3 diesel is a turd, if i'm going to drive a diesel it's not going to be anything but a cummins.

hell, toyota? i think your on the wrong forum.

 

As for the 7.3L a turd I don't think I'd go that far. I've driven one towing a 24' long trailer loaded down with hay bails and it feels faster than my Ram when towing that.

As for the 6.0L gas motor and gas mileage isn't so bad. A good friend has a 04 Chevy 2500HD and it does quite a bit better on gas than my Ram and has a ton more power also.

As for the check engine light I've never had one since I've owned the truck for the last 50k miles either but I think it did have one before that. However, the CEL doesn't mean a whole lot as it's not engine related stuff that goes. When your transmission goes like mine it doesn't throw a CEL, when your dash cracks it doesn't throw a CEL, when your u joints fail it doesn't throw a code, when your rear end falls apart the CEL doesn't come on, when your pleneum gasket goes it often doesn't throw a CEL. It's just soo many things with these trucks that fail that don't have anything to do with the check engine light. The only thing I can think of major that is a common problem that set off a CEL is the cracked heads sometime set one off for a misfire and sometimes the crappy catalytic converters on these trucks set it off. There isn't much on these trucks that isn't crappy other than the engines and maybe the body but even the paint on the body seems crappy. The front axle and rear if it's a dana seem good too but they aren't made by Dodge they are made by Dana so no wonder.

 

I don't like their trucks and don't think they are what most fullsize truck owners that work with their trucks need but honestly for what most of us on here do they would do just fine and be more reliable. It may be what I look at next not sure. I like vehicles I can get in and drive and not worry about if something is going to break or what I have to fix. I'm tired of american vehicles where you have to work on them about as much as you drive them. Most people I know with american vehicles have had this but I still gave them a chance and I had the same experience. Basically they suck plain and simple. They can not come close to being as reliable as a Honda or Toyota.