I'm looking for opinions on the Dodge V10 vs Ford V10 vs 454 (all around model year 99). I'm thinking of trading my F350 for one, I know, why trade a diesel for a gas, but I only keep vehicle for a year, so if I don't like it, it'll only be around for a year or two.

Obviously, mpg isn't a concern and I couldn't care less about off-road performance. I'm looking for durability, loaded/unloaded performance, etc. I'm leaning toward the Dodge V10 (hey, might as well get the biggest).

I wouldn't worry so much about durability if you're getting a late-model truck & are only gonna keep it for a year.

Seems like the '99 Ford V10 was a little short on power compared to the '00 & up trucks (they upped the HP from 265 to 310 or something like that). I know Four Wheeler tested one of the very early Ford V10's against the 454 & the 454 literally ran away from it loaded & unloaded. Whereas the current 6.8 seems only slightly off the pace from the 8.1 GM. But, you'll be able to tell when you test drive 'em if they'll be enough to keep ya happy for a year.

I say drive a couple, see which one you can make a good deal on, and which you like best, and go from there.

TEX

Brandon - maybe some time soon you can test drive my 00 V10 Crew cab and see how you like it.

Having had both 99 and 00 V10 trucks - I cannot tell a horsepower difference myself.

I am currently working on getting my V10 fuel mileage records up on my web site, so you can see the difference in the two trucks.


My biggest problem with the Dodges till now was the lack of a crew cab - which they fixed this year.


BTW - for other's reference, here where Brandon & I live I have found that diesel is general $.20 higher per gallon that the lowest grade gas... so keep that in mind ;)

I also should mention that if I really like it, I'll keep it more that a year. I've had my F350 for 18 months now.

P.S. As for gas vs. diesel per gallon cost, I noticed this morning that at the Flying J, diesel was 1.17 and gas was 1.23 (87 oct). Gas prices seem to fluctuate more than diesel, sometimes it's cheaper, sometimes higher.

The company I work for has a 99 Dog I mean Dodge 1 ton 4x4 with a stick shift and V10 and it is a real POS. We (try to) pull a goose neck trailer with aprox 10.000 lbs on it and you can only go about 45 mph and that is in 3rd gear. If the trailer (tandem dually) is empty you can get it up to 55 in forth but forget about fifth, it just falls on its face. I don't know whats up with all that but it just doesn't seem right. We had an old Ford with a 460 before and that thing would pull the trailer with no problem. As for the Ford V10......my Dad has one (99 4x4) and when he hooks up a goose neck trailer with a small (9000 LB) backhoe on it you can hardly tell it is back there and you can pull it 80 mph down the interstate with no prob at all. Can't speak for the Chevy.Also I would not put much faith into what the mags say about the testing of anything. Just my .02 worth.

Originally posted by DRM
Brandon - maybe some time soon you can test drive my 00 V10 Crew cab and see how you like it.

<snip>

Thanks David, I'll have to do that. I want to drive a Dodge too but I'm having trouble finding a one at a dealer. I'd like to try the 8.1 Chevy, but the new one's I've looked at are major $$ and the dealers aren't willing to negotiate.

Originally posted by bwright


Thanks David, I'll have to do that. I want to drive a Dodge too but I'm having trouble finding a one at a dealer. I'd like to try the 8.1 Chevy, but the new one's I've looked at are major

Have you checked the Dodge dealership in Columbia? Thes seemed to have a decent selection of the newer Dodges last time I drove by there...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DRM
[B].


My biggest problem with the Dodges till now was the lack of a crew cab - which they fixed this year.


Come awn David, you can't call that a TRUE crew cab. I admit it's better than the regular ext cab, but nowhere near the size of a regula CC. Just look at your's :flipoff2: Now when Dodge decides to make a real cre cab, sign me up. I want one!

I really don't care about the difference between crew or ext. cabs, the truck I have now is a std. cab. Even with the manual tranny stick all three of us (wife, daughter, and I) can travel comfortably. That being said, I'm going to upgrade to an ext cab in my next truck.....and I'm going to get a 4x4 this time.

David, I'm going to call the dealer in Columbia latter today. I've looked in Dickson and Nashville, but the only Dodge's I've found are either diesel or 360 gas. Who knows, I may end up with another diesel.

Originally posted by DRM
Brandon - maybe some time soon you can test drive my 00 V10 Crew cab and see how you like it.

Having had both 99 and 00 V10 trucks - I cannot tell a horsepower difference myself.



Isn't your '00 considerably heavier though? Crewcab 4wd vs. X-cab 2wd? If they seem to have similar power, I'd guess that the '00 would in fact have more.

Having said that though, even with the weight difference, if you don't feel it in the seat of the pants, the difference probably isn't all that great.

TEX

Originally posted by Blue 84
Also I would not put much faith into what the mags say about the testing of anything.

Actually, I wouldn't put ANY stock in it. So, perhaps I should clarify. They claimed to like both trucks "the same". However, the raw data showed the GM to have way more power at the dyno & also much, much quicker acceleration times loaded & unloaded, even though the GM was a crew-cab dually while the Ford was a Crewcab SRW shortbed. And again, this was an early '99 6.8, not the "enhanced" later version.

TEX

Here are the two trucks:

#1
1999 F250, SuperDuty, SuperCab, 2wd, V10, auto, short bed, 3.73 gears.

http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/f250-01.jpg


#2
2000 F250, SuperDuty, CrewCab, 4wd, V10, auto, short bed, 4.30 gears

http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/dodge/dodge-01.jpg



Seat of the pants - the 2wd wins HANDS DOWN. That thing would flat out MOVE :cool2:


Brandon -having just gone from the SuperCab (Extracab w/ the little reverse doors) to the CrewCab - there is no comparison in how much more room there is in there. Of course - we are having to make arrangements for yet another car seat some December ;) so the SuperCab was just not enough roon for 2 adults, 2 babies, and all the associated gear it takes to support them :p

Originally posted by DRM
we are having to make arrangements for yet another car seat some December ;)

Congrats!!!

TEX

Originally posted by TEX


Congrats!!!

TEX

What, you didn't see the posts about this already in chitchat? :p

Dec. 4 is the due date for mini-me #2 :D:D:D:D

Originally posted by DRM


What, you didn't see the posts about this already in chitchat? :p


Nope. Haven't been on here every day lately.

TEX

Originally posted by DRM


What, you didn't see the posts about this already in chitchat? :p

Dec. 4 is the due date for mini-me #2 :D:D:D:D

David, at that rate you're going to need an Excursion before long ;)

I have driven all 3, they felt the same to me, the only i notcied was the dodge V10 became very unreliabe and a POS around 100k, but then aging you said you not keep it that long ,so it not really a big deal

Originally posted by bwright


David, at that rate you're going to need an Excursion before long ;)

If we could afford one - we would already have one :D:D:D:D

i love my V10 ford... i test drove all 3 before i bought mine and the ford drove nicer than the rest and felt like it picked up speed a bit smoother...

i hate the look of teh dodge's and the seat's suck ass... and chevy's are IFS and even with a 6in lift your capped @ 33's, but the real deturant from chevy's was my step dad get's a new one every 2 yrs and he bitches more about his 00 than any one he's ever had, it's got more squueks rattles jingles and creeks than anything he's ever driven

Originally posted by DSI
the real deturant from chevy's was my step dad get's a new one every 2 yrs and he bitches more about his 00 than any one he's ever had, it's got more squueks rattles jingles and creeks than anything he's ever driven

Does he have the X-cab? Going to 4-doors with the rears suicide doors adds squeaks compared to a more solid platform. The old 2-door & 3-door X-cabs were more solid, ditto for reg-cabs & crew-cabs that have the extra post.

TEX

Originally posted by DRM


What, you didn't see the posts about this already in chitchat? :p

Dec. 4 is the due date for mini-me #2 :D:D:D:D


i missed it too, congrats.... december 3rd is my b-day


buy which one ya get the best deal on... then sell it in 2 years..

Originally posted by TEX


Does he have the X-cab? Going to 4-doors with the rears suicide doors adds squeaks compared to a more solid platform. The old 2-door & 3-door X-cabs were more solid, ditto for reg-cabs & crew-cabs that have the extra post.

TEX

I agree - my 99 w/ the rear suicide doors just plain sounded like a door was always cracked open when you were driving down the road...

I don't see why you don't get another diesel.... nothing pulls better than a diesel.. But,,,

My father in law has the v-10 Ford and pulls a 24' gooseneck loaded and it pulls good enough i guess, but if he had a diesel he could pull it as good and have the ummph to go even better.

My dodge CTD pulls like a mutha and it still has the giddy up even in 5th, pulling up a hill....if its a money issue and you have to go with the V-10, I would say the Ford, but otherwise I would stick with the diesel,

I think you will be happier, especially if you have one now, I think you will be disappointed when you first pull with a gas motor after having pulled with a diesel...JMO...

kerryp

Originally posted by kerryphillips
I don't see why you don't get another diesel.... nothing pulls better than a diesel.. But,,,

My father in law has the v-10 Ford and pulls a 24' gooseneck loaded and it pulls good enough i guess, but if he had a diesel he could pull it as good and have the ummph to go even better.

My dodge CTD pulls like a mutha and it still has the giddy up even in 5th, pulling up a hill....if its a money issue and you have to go with the V-10, I would say the Ford, but otherwise I would stick with the diesel,

I think you will be happier, especially if you have one now, I think you will be disappointed when you first pull with a gas motor after having pulled with a diesel...JMO...

kerryp

You're probably right, I just want something with a bit of tire roasting take-off power. I love my PSD, but it just doesn't have that kind of power. Most of the towing that I do now, most 1/2 tons could handle. It's not a money issue....mainly I just want something different and I've never had a large displacement gas powered vehicle before.....it looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of test driving tomorrow.

Originally posted by bwright


You're probably right, I just want something with a bit of tire roasting take-off power. I love my PSD, but it just doesn't have that kind of power. Most of the towing that I do now, most 1/2 tons could handle. It's not a money issue....mainly I just want something different and I've never had a large displacement gas powered vehicle before.....it looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of test driving tomorrow.

With a few mods it will. A friend of mine has one he pulls his race car with. It will haul ass pulling a trailer even. All he did was put bigger injectors on it. You can also put propane assist on them and that helps a lot too.

I heard the new dodges will be available with the viper's v10 by the end of the summer. Should haul a$$ but still wouldn't pull like a diesel i'm sure.

Originally posted by bwright


You're probably right, I just want something with a bit of tire roasting take-off power. I love my PSD, but it just doesn't have that kind of power. .

Chip that PSD and it will run like a raped ape. :)

just curious as to why your bailing on your f350? (obvoisuly $ is no issue)

What milage you got on it? My F250 PSD crew/long bed didn't start making full power and best gas milage till about 11-12k milage. I had it since aug,01 with over 22k on it now and I can't even consider going to a gas engine on a tow rig. Plus i get a consitant 17-18 DD milage. (3.73/auto) Granted its not a barn stormer off the line but it will tow all day long at 80mph and get 16mpg...

And as far as power the chevy/ford keep trying to 1 up each other. All are just big air pumps that can easily be tuned to make what ever you need from em... (btw: I don't dislike the ctd just didnt care for whole truck...imho the ctd is already tuned to make power to play with the other kids, and that said a stock truck will give better long term trouble free performance/reliability so 6 of one...) Glad to see ford is releasing a better auto for the SD line...Im sure ill need one in a few years...


-yag

Well I am looking into replacing my aging 97' Dodge Ram 4x4 w/5.9L standard cab, short bed, 4x4. Although it has not givin me too much problems i am little scared of the transmission, because of there history i will not buy another Dodge. I test drove a 02 Ford V10 2wd, crew cab, long bed and was not impressed at all, the interior was very bland. It felt more like a bus than a truck. I then tested a Chevy 8.1 w/ 5 speed Allison 2wd, extra cab, short bed. It handled much better and had much better pick up and go. The seats were comfortable and handled very well. I felt very confident to tow my truck and trailer with it. After i finish paying the bills for my wedding i will buying one of these bad boys.....

Originally posted by zukipuke
just curious as to why your bailing on your f350? (obvoisuly $ is no issue)

What milage you got on it? My F250 PSD crew/long bed didn't start making full power and best gas milage till about 11-12k milage. I had it since aug,01 with over 22k on it now and I can't even consider going to a gas engine on a tow rig. Plus i get a consitant 17-18 DD milage. (3.73/auto) Granted its not a barn stormer off the line but it will tow all day long at 80mph and get 16mpg...

<snip>


-yag

I get between 18-20 mpg from my PSD (4.10/6spd) , it has 77K miles....I think it is broken in. :) But, like I said, I don't really care about fuel mileage anymore (I bought a small truck to commute in).

And as far as modifing the PSD. Yes, I could do that, but why pay a high premium for the diesel engine and then have to spend more to make it run like I want it to? I bought the truck I have now because at the time I was towing heavy loads (livestock,tractors, etc.) almost every week as a side job. But I've since quit that (not enough $ in it), so I don't need the diesel (but I still want a 3/4 or 1 ton).

FWIW - I have been shopping for a new DD/tow rig. I drove all 3 of the big gas engines, and can honestly say the Chevy 8.1L V8 felt more powerful than the Ford or Dodge V10. This was just my opinion of "seat of the pants" in town and freeway driving. No idea of towing differences.

I just really was not impressed with Chevy's interior and wonder about the Allison tranny (being the first yr out). I'm going back to Ford to look at a PSD this weekend.

My B in law owns a Dodge v 10. About a 97 I think. Just blew up the 4 th engine in 150,00 miles. Yes 4 down going on 5. All lost the no 1 cyl. The dealer told him that was common due to cooling problems in the front of the block. the truck is now sitting broken down. He bought a new power stroke.
I would stay away from the dodge. Can't speak for the others.:)

I have a 99 v10 and like it alot have not had any problems. As for towing I pull 12000lbs and it will climb any hill at 60mph and on the freeway there is no limit. As for all the tranny problems I here about the diesel and the v10's my brother has owned diesel dodges since 89 to the present time they were all four wheel drive and autos he tows farm equipment around 20000lbs and has never had a tranny problem in 13 years. Im now that trans do go bad on dodges but I have heard of a lot of chev and fords also.