QOTD: Is This Truck For You?

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

It’s NAIAS week in Detroit, signaling a parade of press conferences and more shrimp than what’s found in all the North Atlantic. While buzzwords this year are “mobility” and “disruption,” the Detroit Three still found time to show us new versions of machines in my favorite segment, the full-sized pickup truck market.

Chevy showed off a new Silverado with an octet of trims, Ram dropped its new non-Freightliner pickup, and Ford promised an oil burner for the F-150.

Now we’ve seen them all, here’s my question to you: if forced to choose one, what would you select?

And, no, you can’t say “none of the above.” This is not a first-year civics course at community college. Nor can you jump on the Nissan or Toyota bandwagon. Those two trucks are capable contenders but they’re not the focus of today’s QOTD.

Jeez. I think that’s the first time in my five-and-a-half years of writing here I’ve ever deployed my Dad Voice. Anyways. Let’s run through your options.

The new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V6 churns out 250 horsepower and 440 lbs-ft of torque when stuffed under the hood of the Ford F-150. Hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the new PowerStroke enables the diesel F-150 to tow up to 11,400 pounds.

Chevy refurbished the new Silverado to the height of utility, with more bed acreage than previous iterations and trick storage solutions inside the seatbacks of the rear bench. It, too, will be available with a diesel in the form of a 3.0-liter inline-six. I am anxious to hear its exhaust note.

Ram has jumped into the deep end of risk by jettisoning the in-yer-face big rig look on which it traded for nearly 25 model years. It’s still plenty aggro, especially in the Rebel trim shown above, but this author thinks this styling decision is as much of a departure as the new-for-1994 Ram was back in the day.

So there’s your choices, B&B. Whatever your yardstick — styling, powertrain, or something else — what’s your pick for a full size truck from the Detroit Three?

[Image: Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Ernest Ernest on Jan 15, 2018

    I'm thinking car enthusiasts don't represent the full-size pickup market very well, reading the comments. Last year, 2.3 million full-size pickups were sold, and, if my math is right, 41% of them were Fords. That being said, I'd go for the Ford Supercab, but I'd like mine with the 5.0 please. If cost was no object, I'd just go for a Bright Blue Raptor and call it a day.

  • Jfk-usaf Jfk-usaf on Jan 16, 2018

    I actually think that Ram fixed their look. The old grill looked like an actual pig with the two holes up front. I'd choose the Ford. FCA vehicles are constructed of crap parts so Ram gets a Hell no! GM is a little better and does look good but still a no. Maybe I'd lease one and keep getting rid of them before things start to go wrong. GM just doesn't age well. Of the three I have the most faith in Ford. You only buy the others if you don't want to (or can't) spend the money on the F-150.

  • THX1136 Always liked the Mustang though I've never owned one. I remember my 13 yo self grabbing some Ford literature that Oct which included the brochure for the Mustang. Using my youthful imagination I traced the 'centerfold' photo of the car AND extending the roof line back to turn it into a small wagon version. At the time I thought it would be a cool variant to offer. What was I thinking?!
  • GregLocock That's a bodge, not a solution. Your diff now has bits of broken off metal floating around in it.
  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
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