Ford or chevy? Gas or diesel?

[Toivul]

Long time lurker looking to get some opions on what truck to buy. We are looking at a 4 door fullsize pickup for a family of 4. Our budget is about $8k-$10k for the truck with plans to upgrade in the future. I would like to use it as a daily driver, 6 miles round trip, but it would also serve as a weekend get out of town and road tripper, WY to northern MT.

Currently I'm considering a 2000 Ford F350 7.3l with 6 speed manual for $5000 with an alleged $3500 in new parts. Has 250000 mostly highway miles. Or a 2000 chevy 3500 with a 454 for $3000 with unknown history.

I plan on doing all mechanical work myself, how else do you really learn your vehicle? I have very little experience with diesels, but I know how to Google and I have friends who are mechanics. I do plan to pull a small camper or boat and have future plans to get a popup.

I've also been considering 80's and 90's f350s but kids are in carseats still and wife wants to be safe, otherwise I have a 1977 bronco. Anyone who has every towed a trailer with a 77 bronco knows how bad that can be.

Pros cons of diesel or gas? Older vs newer as far as carseats go? I'm not really picky about make. Anyone with experience with either truck mentioned above?

Thanks for the input guys and gals.

 

[gtbensley]

The 7.3 Is a great motor, but for the price point and short commute distance I would go gas. Maybe fine a clean, lower mileage Chevy 2500 or 3500 with the 6.0 gas. Those run for forever and are cheaper to buy than something with a diesel.

 

[IdaSHO]

6 miles round trip?


Gas, all the way.

You'd kill that diesel with a 3 mile commute.

 

[Buliwyf]

You'd have to get the 7.3 on the Freeway once a week. But it doesn't get nearly as messy as modern engines. You can get pretty nice 7.3L Fords around here, if you don't mind monster miles. Which I don't. There's plenty of guys rebuilding them cheap in Akron Ohio. Plan on rebuilding the transmission. $2000-2500.

I'd avoid the GM 454 and keep on looking for a 502 or 5.7 or 6.0, although $3000 is just about free, I'm a 454 hater. 8.1's rule.

 

[Toivul]

Thanks for the replies. Would the daily drive be the only reason to get a gas over diesel? I've got a couple of other options for the daily driver.

End goal is to a get a truck that I can build on and end up with something a family of four could comfortably explore in for maybe a week at a time.

 

[Tex68w]

I'd go diesel if you are planning on using it in an overlanding fashion and if you intend to tow and/or keep it for the long haul. That said, diesel would need more use than a 2-3 mile daily commute, but if you can get it out on the freeway/highway once a week or more and open her up for 10-15 minutes then I think you'd be ok. I personally can't stand any GM product let alone a heavy duty use truck with a gas engine or IFS. They have their place, but you'd never find one in my possession.

 

[Buliwyf]

I'd go diesel if you are planning on using it in an overloading fashion and if you intend to tow and/or keep it for the long haul. That said, diesel would need more use than a 2-3 mile daily commute, but if you can get it out on the freeway/highway once a week or more and open her up for 10-15 minutes then I think you'd be ok. I personally can't stand any GM product let alone a heavy duty use truck with a gas engine or IFS. They have their place, but you'd never find one in my possession.

+1.

The really nice old Dodges and GM's with solid axles in my area turned to dust many years ago.

 

[p nut]

I'd imagine a gas option would get you a newer truck with lower miles for the same or similar price. Personally, that's the way I'd go. With a 6 mile round trip for daily use, I'm assuming you don't need mega pulling power. And occasional weekend trips? Even if you're pulling a load then, I couldn't justify a diesel for that reason alone. Why mess with all the hassles of diesel ownership? Get a nicely maintained gas truck and enjoy. Don't forget, newer trucks could mean better interior amenities and overall less wear on other parts of the truck. Engine isn't the only thing in the truck.

 

[Tex68w]

I'd imagine a gas option would get you a newer truck with lower miles for the same or similar price. Personally, that's the way I'd go. With a 6 mile round trip for daily use, I'm assuming you don't need mega pulling power. And occasional weekend trips? Even if you're pulling a load then, I couldn't justify a diesel for that reason alone. Why mess with all the hassles of diesel ownership? Get a nicely maintained gas truck and enjoy. Don't forget, newer trucks could mean better interior amenities and overall less wear on other parts of the truck. Engine isn't the only thing in the truck.

OP is looking at two trucks from the same year model. Sure, he could spend the same amount on a gas engine truck a few years newer but from that time frame there were no significant changes in design, drive train, power, or reliability amongst either one of those models, so I am not sure what he'd gain?! You talk of the "hassles" of diesel ownership but aside from maybe more oil, and an extra battery I am not sure where the massive differences would be in this comparison short of major overhaul costs. Now the OP did not provide the mileage of the Chevy gasser but regardless I'd much rather have a diesel that's 17 years old than a inefficient, high milage gasser from the same year. Different strokes and all but the only reason I would personally advocate for a HD gas engine truck in this scenario is due to the relatively short commute the OP laid out.

Im not sure what the actual numbers are in terms of how many diesel HD trucks are sold in comparison to gas versions of the same model, but down here in Texas where one in five of all trucks in the US are sold, the diesel is king. You can go to any dealer and I guarantee the ratio is no more than one or two gas engines to every eight to ten diesels. This rolls over into the used market as well where you'll find that the values of the used Gas HD truck is far lower than that of a diesel unit.

 

[2025 deleted member]

He needs a truck with little to no value at his price point so it's the gasser all the way. Resale will be no concern, but cheap repair and maintenance will be it sounds like. A diesel is a poor fit in this situation. Really unless you are pulling heavy I see no purpose for a diesel in any truck nowadays especially with what appears to be a long period of time with low stable fuel prices.

 

[ClovisMan]

Man, I'm in the same boat. I was looking at Suburbans but found that getting a 2500 with a 6.0 is not very easy. So I started looking at Excursions. The come in gas and diesel flavors with the diesels getting better mileage but with more maintenance. I'm still browsing through Craigslist even more confused on what to get now. I've been looking for about 2 months for an Expo project...

 

[superbuickguy]

3 mile commute.... get a bike, buy a new 'burb. I'm always entertained by the question - the answer is always, your truck sucks my truck rules but functionally they're about the same. Buy what you like - that said, Suburbans are more numerous then Excursions so pricing tends to be better for the 'burbs. Tends. But why would you buy something you don't like? I'm also a bit surprised at your demand for a 6.0 - but in that vein, look at Denalis and Escalades. The only 'issue' with those is they tend to come in AWD form rather then with a t-case that has low range (changeable, yes, but something to consider). As for gas v. diesel - I can't imagine paying the premium for a diesel when you'll never realize the benefit of it. Then you add to that all the issues that can come from a diesel (or features, if you're me).... good luck.

 

[p nut]

He needs a truck with little to no value at his price point so it's the gasser all the way. Resale will be no concern, but cheap repair and maintenance will be it sounds like. A diesel is a poor fit in this situation. Really unless you are pulling heavy I see no purpose for a diesel in any truck nowadays especially with what appears to be a long period of time with low stable fuel prices.

I admit, I drank the diesel koolaid a few years ago and was desperately searching for one. Then came to my senses and realized the net gain would be zero, or in the negatives. There is no doubt you get a better deal with a gas engine, which is the direction I ended up going. I don't tow much, which sealed the deal for me. No regrets so far. Until I see an F250 on the road and get jealous of the gobs of payload.

 

[superbuickguy]

Buy what you like, we'll help you keep it running.

~internet

 

[ChevyPit]

I was in the same boat some years ago for a work pickup truck. I don't tow anything so the extra torque from the diesel was useless. I needed payload and large bed. Finally ended up getting a 2500HD 6.0 regular cab, long bed work horse, and has been fine (water pump, gas pump, spark plugs). I just drive it about 10,000 miles a year, so the cost of gas vrs diesel vrs maintenance and mpg didn't add up for the diesel. I get about 13 mpg.
At the time I was buying, a friend of mine bought a Duramax and other friend bought a Cummins. Both had the bad luck of needing new injectors 2 years later, they spend between $2000-$3000. One tows, so he didn't feel bad about it. The other one just has the truck for fun, so he was a little mad.
It really depends on your use, if you are towing, miles per year, payload. All trucks have their good and bad side, but if used correctly you'll be a happy owner.