Why should I buy a Titan?

[mmulcahy1]

Okay, here's the deal. I am now driving a '96 Ford Ranger XLT Ext. Cab w/88,000+ miles on it. I have three kids (only had one when I bought the truck) and space and lack of sufficient power is an issue. I'm going to try to hang on to the Ranger for my son and we'll make it a project truck that he can learn on... It'll be cheaper than him buying something else in three years.

During the summer the Titan really grabbed my attention so I began checking it out. I went to two different dealers during a month's time and test drove a Titan LE CC 4X4, then a Titan XE CC 4X4 and last, a Titan SE CC 4X4. Each one I loved but the Titan SE, to me, was really the best of the three... (especially when we were at a stop light and some twenty-something kids looked at the truck and you could clearly see the driver mouth "Cool truck!"

To be fair to myself and the future of my money, I also test drove the new Ford SuperCrew- It drove very heavy and squishy (for a lack-of-better terms), the Dodge Ram Not-Really-a-CrewCab - way too small in the back seat and rides like a Buckboard to boot, GMC - Liked it, but too expensive for what you get and becoming out-dated... Not crazy about GM anyway.

During my research phase I found and downloaded every possible thing written about the Titan: Car & Driver, Motor Trend, 4 Wheeler... the list goes on. In many of these publications the new entry Titan came in 1st and ended up blowing away the competition. I thought, "Hey, this is the truck for me." Then I found this site and couldn't believe all the cool, and some times disturbing, stuff being written about the Titan.

I'm really concerned about plunking down a big chuck of change and having constant brake problems, possible rear-end problems (Dana 44), door handle falling off, radio not working, blah, blah, blah.

But I still come to the same (probably emotional) conclusion. I really like this truck. Any honest opinions out there?

[GETSOMZ28]

I came from a '96 Ranger myself! Honestly, I dont have any of those problems except the crappy radio fade (though I end up replacing the stockers anyways). It is a great truck. I drained both front/rear diff when I got it to swap out the fluid for synthetics, so that wasnt an issue for me either. Guess it depends on what you want. You test drove the Titan and liked it...Why dont you try out the competition to see which one fits you best. All vehicles are not without minor problems, just check the respective forums.

I love mine and wouldnt have it any other way!!

[rarjar]

Like you, I loved the Titan, but was concerned about buying the first model year, as well as seeing many problems experienced by other Titan owners. Then someone reminded me that these forums are a natural place for all of the problems to get discussed. Add to this the fact that the problems you read about on these forums are a minority compared to the number of owners (such as myself) who have experienced little, if any, problems. Finally, I suspect you will see no better experience from owners of Fords, Chevys, Dodges and Toyotas if you go to their respective forums. Personally, I am glad I picked the Titan. Good luck on your decision.

[rawze]

you have to consider this is a forum and a place for people to talk about problems. you also have to figure out of all the titans sold there's only a handfull of people with problems. i love mine and not had any problems(knock on wood)

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by mmulcahy1

Why should I buy a Titan?

There are just so many great answers to this question. For me it boils down to the great engine and amazing drive train.

Like rawze said, this is a forum, you have to find your own way in the search for truth. People like to complain when something is wrong, and yet people in general don't seem to go out of their way to tell the world things are going just fine.

When the S2000 first came out it was the same way on that forum, all we heard about was window relays failing, tires wearing out too quickly, alignments not holding, sparkplugs having to be recalled, knocking in engines, grinding gears during 1 to 2 shifts, rear diff failures, and on and on and on. One day some guy posted a thread that was called "My car is just great" and went on to say he was tired of all the bad posts and we needed a good one, well let me just say, that thread became damn big in a short period of time!

Buy an '05 Titan; kick that little Ford out of the driveway...

[caltitan]

Originally Posted by mmulcahy1

...Any honest opinions out there?

It sounds like you've done plenty of homework and now you are trying to get information straight from the horses mouth. So here is my "honest opinion."

If you were to buy another truck would you still have the same concerns about having problems after forking out the dollars? I bought my Titan because it met all "my needs" for a new vehicle. It sounds like the Titan Crew meets all of yours and now you are doing exactly what I did before I bought mine - trying to predict if your decision will be the right one. But after I finally bought the Titan, I was having so much fun driving it that when I did develop the brake judder and the radio fade, it did not make me feel that I had bought the wrong truck. There was so much that I liked about the Titan that those issues were easy for me to stomach and move on. Since having those two things repaired under the TSBs, the truck brakes just fine and the radio also sounds fine. There is always that slim chance that no matter what truck you buy, you might get a lemon or wanna-be lemon. I feel bad for those people that bought Titans and then had a host of problems. They thought they were buying the right truck and then probably ended up regreting that decision. Ford, Toyota, GM, Dodge...it doesn't matter what owners' forum, you will find similar regrets among their members. Good luck with your decision. Chances are you'll love the Titan and so will your family.

[mmulcahy1]

oops!!!!!!!

[HackinHound]

Right now I only have about 5,000 miles and so far so good. It's still too early to say how these trucks will hold up but I'm counting on this Titan lasting me a long time without any major problems.

I use my trucks as tools. Because we own horses we are always off to some kind of horse event almost every weekend. When I went looking for a new truck I had 5 requirements: 1. Pulling power
2. Four wheel drive
3. Room for my family
4. Reliability
5. Customer service

On my quest for a new truck I thought about a 3/4-ton diesel but the cost was just too much and besides I really didn't need it.

My previous truck was a '92 GMC ext-cab with the Z71 off-road package. Had it for 12 years and never any problems pulling a trailer except I was constantly replacing the front breaks about every 20 to 25,000 miles. There were a few other problems too like the radio reception and the door hinge bushings always needed replacing, but my biggest beef was that the paint started to peel off, in large quantities, after only 5 years. The dealer did absolutely nothing to correct any these problems. Finally had to get rid of it because the steering column started to fall apart and they stopped making the parts that I needed to repair it. On the good side the engine was bullet proof and the transmission lasted 125K miles before I had it rebuilt. But, needless to say, because of poor/non-existent customer service they lost my (and my family's) business for good.

I looked at the Dodges but the 4-door model's back seat wasn't any better than my previous extended cab. I liked the fords, but my brother was always having problems with the transmission/drive train on his 2001. Toyota's didn't have the power I was looking for. The Nissan seemed to have all 3 of the things I was looking for and because of Nissan’s reputation, I believe my forth (reliability) and fifth (customer service) requirements will be met. So far I consider this a great truck value with lots of power and plenty of room in the crew cab for everybody.

[TnTitan1]

I did all of the same research and I came from a 00 F150 Supercab XLT. Believe it was hard to hear all of the negative stuff about the Titan and then go buy one. But like others have said think of all the people that have had NO problems. It's always the squeaky wheel that gets oiled. Believe me I have had my truck for a month now and I love it more each and every day. I thought I had to have the new F150 but after driving my Titan and compared the two it wasn't even a competition. And most people that ***** most about the Titan do have an early production Titan. By now I think most of the bugs are fixed. And the radio fade I have not experienced like many others have. I believe the radio fade is actually a feature of the radio, SSV - Speed Sensitive Volume, the faster you go the louder it plays, therefore it fades as you slow down. All I can say it drive it and love it. I would not trade my Titan for anything, except maybe another Titan.

[caltitan]

Originally Posted by TnTitan1

...I believe the radio fade is actually a feature of the radio, SSV - Speed Sensitive Volume, the faster you go the louder it plays, therefore it fades as you slow down...

I agree that the SSV doesn't operate with consistency that is pleasing to the ear, but my main problem with the radio I had was reception fade not volume fade. I always had the SSV off and still had the reception fade problem (switching between mono/stereo) along with the volume discrepancy between CD and radio.

[Mont9]

I just bought my TITAN on the 17th when you posted your question. Though I've only had it a week, it's been great. I did tons of research, and went from a 1990 Dodge Ramcharger to this, so driving a trike would have been an improvement. However, my LE CC off-road, drives like a car, yet I hauled a load of concrete 30 miles the other day, exceeded the payload, so I took it easy. It handled the load okay, I won't load it that much again, but was impressed. Yah, you got a figure what you want, but everyone told me to buy a GMC or FORD, and I just "wanted" this. My 16 and 13 year old sons, think it's awesome, and no radio fade here in Montana. I'm going to upgrade to a satellite radio deal just for fun...do what you will, but I say, buy a TITAN..you won't be sorry.

[IMADOGMAN]

Originally Posted by Mont9

I just bought my TITAN on the 17th when you posted your question. Though I've only had it a week, it's been great. I did tons of research, and went from a 1990 Dodge Ramcharger to this, so driving a trike would have been an improvement. However, my LE CC off-road, drives like a car, yet I hauled a load of concrete 30 miles the other day, exceeded the payload, so I took it easy. It handled the load okay, I won't load it that much again, but was impressed. Yah, you got a figure what you want, but everyone told me to buy a GMC or FORD, and I just "wanted" this. My 16 and 13 year old sons, think it's awesome, and no radio fade here in Montana. I'm going to upgrade to a satellite radio deal just for fun...do what you will, but I say, buy a TITAN..you won't be sorry.

They got radio in Montana ??? ???

[Choc-Thunder]

MMULCAHY1, I am doing the same research your are doing now and I see no reason not to buy the Titan. I agree with eveyone else, you will find these same problems with whatever model you buy. I say just buy the Titan and enjoy it. Just my 2 cents.

[ek5858]

I bought my Titan back in December the first weekend it was for sale. I have over 23,000 miles on mine and have not had a single problem. I have the Fosgate stereo and it is awesome with no problems. I have had no problems with the power windows and I smoke and probably roll it up and down more than anyone. The motor has been flawless and when I conserve on my driving it gets nearly 18 miles to the gallon. I traded in a 2003 F150 Harley truck on this and have not been disappointed at all. My only complaint is the truck is so darn big it barley fits in my garage. I test drove the 2004 F150 and was no impressed, lack of power and just plain boring. I was offered the x plan on the new Ford but turned it down for the Titan. It is a great truck and you would not regret your purchase.

[TitanKing]

I am a bit of an obsessive compulsive person about some things. One of those things is high dollar purchases. I have done exhaustive research on the internet, read the magazines and considered their opinions and advice. But more importantly I have driven all of the 1/2 ton pickups out there. But where I differ from most people (I think) is that I have gotten on these and other message boards to find out WHAT TYPE OF PROBLEMS the vehicles are having. All vehicles have problems. But what I have found is that the TYPE OF PROBLEMS that the Titan is having are not major. Little things. Now go check out the new Ford F-150 and see the TYPE OF PROBLEMS it is having and compare. Look at the reliability ratings between Japanese and American cars and trucks and compare. Look at the quality and compare. Toyota Tundra was the only truck that had the reliability I was looking for. Now look at Nissan and Infinity. They are all a step above American vehicles in quality and reliability. But for me the Tundra was just to small and not in the same class as the rest of the 1/2 ton`s. I am going to purchase my 05 Titan in December. I am fully confident without owning a Titan that I will undoubtedly have made the right choice.