GM vs ford vans??

[steve g]

I was wondering which company you guys think makes the best cc van, I think the motors are likely similar in quaility however its the transmissions that I wonder about, back in the mid 90's everyone I knew that had a GM with a v8 (pick up or van) in it had to replace the trans well before 100k, also the isuzu npr's ran chevy engines and trans, I never saw a trans in an NPR box truck last more than 35k before grenading itself. so I am a little shy on GM's and after the fiasco with the 99 ford windstar I owned I am pissed at anything ford. when a trans goes out its just as expensive to fix as the engine

 

[Dolly Llama]

LOL, what a question.

I like Ford trucks/vans

I'm not "anti" Chevy.
I've owned a couple. A GMC 4x4 and a Caprice.
I'd buy another Chevy "if" the price was right.
Other wise, It's a ford truck/van for me.

My experience with them has been excellent.
We've run 4 over 200K miles with little to no major repairs.
Only one suffered tranny probs.....at 256K mile mark.

don't compare your aerostar to Ford's full size trucks.
they're a whole nother animal


If you looking used, I go with the best deal.
(told you I'm not anti-Chevy)
If new, I'd go with a Ford every time
I think they make a more durable van.
I think their pay load is heavier too.
A 3/4 ton E-250 Super Cargo has a GWV of 8450..

..L.T.A.

 

[SRI Cleaning]

I am not anti-Ford either, but i have to say that i like chevys. i have a Suburban with 160k..only replaced the water pump and powersteering hose. A gmc 3500 extended van with 220K and only replaced 1 ball joint and a radiator. A chevy 3500 box truck with 140k ish. only replaced radiator and thermostat. i have never had a trans or transfer case problem. And they all drive like a caddy!

 

[SRI Cleaning]

And i have had like 15 people pilled in the suburban many times. Drive it on the beach and have had it airbourne off a sand dune!

 

[packfancjh]

As far as cleaning vans I prefer GMC/Chevy over Ford. I find that they have better suspension, handling and towing power. Installing is a bit easier on them too. As far as trucks Ford is better than them.

 

[The Great Oz]

Don't have any current opinion of Fords. They were crap in the early 90s and the dealerships didn't care, and when I started shopping to replace the discontinued Dodge the Ford dealers still didn't care. Everything goes in cycles though, so they could be the best van today.

We buy our GMCs with the big engine to make sure we get the big transmission, and order a tow package to get the tranny and PS coolers, although I understand that GM has cured the problem. The lighter transmission on the older GMs would overheat while it hunted between third and overdrive, but you could cure this with a shift kit or just driving it in third.

A tranny cooler would likely help the lighter transmission as well. We use FUSO box trucks that use the same JATCO transmission as Isuzu. FUSOs never have tranny problems because, unlike Isuzu, they come with a transmission cooler.

 

[Glynn]

GM- Good Motor

Ford - First On The Rubbish Dump.

At least that's what I thought the letters stood for....

 

[Guest]

I cant wait til Toyota comes out with their new commercial
van next year

 

[Bruce Humphrey]

I don't think any of the big 3 have anything better then the other . I always hated the looks of Ford and still do, but I have a 91 ford van that just rolled 230k and just rebuilt the trans 10k miles ago. The reason for the trans rebuild was because I threw a the drive shaft and cracked the trans housing. It seems to be how you treat your vehicle, I know some people that can't get 3 years out of a vehicle, yet I have a 6 year old Dodge Quad Cab 4x4 with over 100k miles on it that still looks brand new and drives like new.

 

[Desk Jockey]

We have mostly Fords, but when we went to price them for a Butler a few years ago, the Fords were several thousand dollars higher than the Chevy.

So we bought Chevy, (I'm cheap) we now have 4-Chevy's. I like the looks better than the New Ford's, I think they ride a lot smoother, but they look as well put together as the Ford's.

Which isn't very well! :x

 

[TimP]

All I have to say is I think they both are lacking. However there isn't anything out there that is better in cargo vans. Either way you go you take a gamble. I've had relatives go through 3-4 suburbans all with problems. It seems their latest one is problem free....I can't say I would keep buying them if I were them but they do. Anyways when we were buying a larger vehicle we bought honda and haven't had a problem with them.

Now there isn't anything out there right now that is heavy duty enough to do what we need so we are stuck. It would be awesome if Toyota brought something to market to make chevy and ford stay on their toes. The way I understand toyota makes a good truck if not better than chevy and ford in their class. However I don't know if they have ventured into 1 ton vehicles. Of course there are always cab over diesels but then you have the fuel consumption problems and the over priced diesel. All I can say is you need to pick your poison.

 

[packfancjh]

Toyota trucks are way above and beyond what Ford and Cehvy are building. They are so simple to work on it's amazing. The capabilities of modifiying them are endless and easy to do. It would be great to see them come out with commercial vans.

 

[SRI Cleaning]

i have heard that the reasons for ford butlers costing more is 2 fold. Butler is mostly using GMC's so fords are more "custom". Also, supposedly there are issues with fords main bearings not taking well to the added side load on the front of the crank. So I assume that has to be addressed as well. In my opinion, Chevy has made some of the best engines out there.

 

[Brian R]

I like the look of the Gmc cargo vans over ford.
It's all about image baby! :mrgreen:
Haven't seen a newer Ford cargo lately so not sure but the older ones look like they were welded together by a 12 year old.
What the hell were they thinkin?

 

[Scott S.]

This is an easy one. just open the hood of each and take a look. primarily the same, but if you pay attention to details. you will probably go with chevy. they are more "backyard mechanic freindly" more room to fix stuff yourself if anything ever does go wrong.

lets throw a in a monkey wrentch.


Why are you not considering a DODGE? 100 mile warrenty on most all of them now. and they are build just as tuff. they dont have the problems they used to either.

 

[Brian R]

Why are you not considering a DODGE? 100 mile warrenty on most all of them now. and they are build just as tuff. they dont have the problems they used to either.

I don't think Dodge makes a comparable cargo van do they? Just the Sprint right?

 

[Scott S.]

sprinter is what i had in mind. i'm not sure if they make a big cargo van. but figured i would throw it out. the sprinters have tons of room, and you can stand up in them no problem. they can also be bought with dual sliding doors (sliders on both sides) and come in 3/4 ton and larger. i was looking at one last week. i like them to bad they are so expensive. $40,000 for deisel, and a 100,000 warrenty.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Ours are all Fords, our favorite being the Powerstroke diesel E-350 extended (one ton).

 

[ruff]

I had a Ford Econoline 250 in 1990. and now the E-250 2002.
I will never buy a Ford again!
The 1990 was trouble and the 2002 were supposed to be better.
The 2002 had warped pistons. Had to be taken multiple times to the dealership and fight with them till they fixed what was clearly a defective engine. Then after 40,000 miles had to put a new automatic transmission.
They treat you like ..... in the dealership. Their union mechanics try not to do A THING because "it is the carpet cleaning machine that is causing the problem."
This fool will not be shamed three times.
Can't wait till Toyota comes out with their van.

 

[Mr.V]

I like the power of the Powerstroke,,,,never had any problems with my 7.3

but the suspension held out better on my old G20 but I REALLY don't like the savannah's and express vans

if i were to buy new i'd go Ford even though i'm a chevy guy

 

[Dolly Llama]

Andy!!!

good to see you here
hope all is going well up there in Canada..eh

..l.T.A.

 

[Chris A]

I'm ordering a new CDS in January. I am 90% sold on the Ford. My Chevy has gone through a number of sets of tie rod ends, bushings, etc. and I've heard the Fords are more durable. And have you seen the new front ends on the '08's? Awesome.

 

[Numero Uno]

Love my Ford ,very pleased here...

 

[SRI Cleaning]

I do have to say that front grills on the new fords look awesome!

 

[Desk Jockey]

Is this it?

I hope not, she is pretty ugly.

Looks like Scooby and Shaggy should be in it.

 

[TimP]

I'd drive that bad boy if I it was reliable, fuel efficient, and could handle the load.

 

[Mr.V]

looks kinda small

 

[Scott S.]

it probably seats 10 china men

 

[Brian R]

I would say buy American but who the hell knows what's American anymore. Sheesh.

 

[Terry]

Ford Vans have always served me well.
I have either the 1st or 2nd HM cds installed in a 2000 ford 350. Had some inital hiccups ( i was a guinea pig) but local distributor thru hM sorted it out. Flew out to seattle and drove it cross country back to MA. The northwest is so beautiful!
155,000 miles and over 4,000 hours on engine and machine.
Just put another cds in a 2008 ford van.


Terry