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Japanese or American

1280 Views 23 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  wmshay6
Guys I currently have a 2003 F150 4x4 that's been very good to me but I want to get something that can tow more.

I'm looking at the 2005 GMC 2500 or 2005 F250 - both 3/4 ton trucks.

Hadn't really considered Japanese so ...........

I looked at Autotrader and there seemed to be a lot of folks trying to sell these Titan trucks. How good are they really versus American Iron and what are they like for towing. Also what are the maintenance costs like versus American.

I'm not anti-Japanese in fact I've had a few Jap cars - the last Mazda 626 that I had just wouldn't break - sold it with 240k miles on the clock and it's still going.

Any honest advice would be appreciated.

Mick
:huh: :coolsmile
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mickboyle said:
Guys I currently have a 2003 F150 4x4 that's been very good to me but I want to get something that can tow more.

I'm looking at the 2005 GMC 2500 or 2005 F250 - both 3/4 ton trucks.

Hadn't really considered Japanese so ...........

I looked at Autotrader and there seemed to be a lot of folks trying to sell these Titan trucks. How good are they really versus American Iron and what are they like for towing. Also what are the maintenance costs like versus American.

I'm not anti-Japanese in fact I've had a few Jap cars - the last Mazda 626 that I had just wouldn't break - sold it with 240k miles on the clock and it's still going.

Any honest advice would be appreciated.

Mick
:huh: :coolsmile
Your American trucks are probably made in Mexico or Canada.

The Titan and Tundra are made in the USA.

Sheeesh. . . .

Go for a test drive. And choose after that.
You need to do a little bit of research on where the Nissan and GMC trucks are actually manufactured.
If you are looking for a 250 than the titan is not going to tow or haul as much as it is only a 1/2 ton. But I think it is a much better truck than the "American" trucks, or I would not own one.
No unusually high maintenance cost, not like owning a Mercedes/Jaguar/BMW or something like that. A KC tows upto 9500, and a CC can tow 9400. 08 year has a pretty high payload, about 1850 or so. But I will not tell you it is in the same class as a 2500 Diesel, it is not. But it does out tow our GMC 2500 P/U at work, so it may be what you're in need of.

The only engine, is a 5.6 L. It is currrenly rated 317Hp/385TQ, excellent numbers. Beats almost anything from the Big 3, except the 6.0 GMC, and that is a close one, and a major cost upgrade too! Great engine, powertrain...Outstanding value, best 1/2 ton you can buy.

Reliability is tops now. Can't find a smoother tranny than ours either. :)
Guys thx for the feedback however I don't care where the Titan is made - I'm simply trying to work out whether to buy Jap or American and also how good the Titan is for towing.

Thx

Mick
mickboyle said:
...... I don't care where the Titan is made - I'm simply trying to work out whether to buy Jap or American
If you don't care where the Titan is made, what difference does it make whether it is Japanese or American made? :rolleyes:
Because as stated in the first post I'm looking at GMC / Ford and Nissan
I have an 07 as well as my dad and he tows his Bobcat 863 skidsteer around when needed. He has a heavy duty trailor and the skidsteer weighs 7045 lbs (looked it up) plus a trial machine and toolbox in the bed. He says it doesn't pull as well as his F-350 7.3L Turbodiesel did but much better than his 05 chevy did. Only thing I've pulled with mine is my boat which doesn't weigh a whole lot and I forget its attached. A buddy of mine has had the same comments and thoughts but is sold after a few rides in it. We went to look at one last night.

My dad has always been Ford or GM. He still has an 05 Chevy C4500 that he uses to pull his Excavator around. Before that an F700. For his personal business trucks he's had a F-350 Super Duty in the early 90s and then traded for the F-350 Turbodiesel above. I loved that truck as well (lots of power). It became more costly than it was worth (the injectors needed replaced and the axles leaked fluid off and on a lot). He bought an 03 Silverado, traded it for his 05 Silverado (5300 Vortec), sold the F-350 for the C4500 (duramax). Then the 05 silverado started blowing oil out the exhaust and the tranny started slipping at 53K miles. He started looking for a new truck and we test drove the 07 Chevy/GMC and Ford (he doesn't like the dodge looks). The Chevy was nice but felt too much like a Caddy and not enough like a truck (really soft suspension), the GMC was the same except more expensive, the Ford felt like it was really struggling and underpowered. He wasn't too happy with his choices so I mentioned this Nissan truck that I had heard about. He decided to give it a test drive and was sold instantly. And now I have one just like it as well. Got mine 4 months later. As far as I am concerned, I'll never own another brand unless Nissan really screws something up. I am dying to get into a Diesel when they come out and from what I hear it'll be an International which makes the wait even harder. I really loved that International 7.3L TurboDiesel in the Ford.

Besides, it is a Nissan man, the damn things last forever. My dad is now also the proud owner of a 07 Camry Hybrid. Uh Oh, we've gone foreign... there are a lot of hot asian chics you know, do you never want to take them for a drive because they have a foreign influence? ;)
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So really you're trying to figure out if you should buy American or American... or possibly American? Or is it American, Mexican, or Canadian?
Buy Jamerican. I had silverado up untill this titan i got last year. Best truck ive ever owned! Itsso much fun to drive and so much tq for a gas motor stock. Tows awsome. If i needed to tow more i would buy a duramax. If you need a 3/4 ton for work or because your towing A LOT ALL the time.... dont get the Titan, a 1/2 ton will never compare in that aspect even if it had 1000hp.... the wt would be too dangerous.
The titan is nice because its just as reliable, or more reliable from all my truck history and all my friends with there domestics. Also Nissan doesnt sell as many titans as ford, chevy etc, so they are priced cheaper and with more options. I got a 2006 kingcab (extra cab) LE withleather, bucket seats, tow pkg etc for 24 out the door. Best bang for the buck and cheaper mantinence and registration than a 3/4 ton.

go test drive
and make a decision
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Leadsled - thx for a reasonable response .......

The 5th wheel Toy Hauler that I'm looking at buying weighs 7200lbs dry. The racing motorcycle sidecar weighs 800lb with spare engine.

Will the Titan be able to handle that kind of load 9 times per year ?

I'm currently towing a 5500 dry Travel trailer with my F150 1/2 ton and that handles fine.

Mick
mickboyle said:
Leadsled - thx for a reasonable response .......

The 5th wheel Toy Hauler that I'm looking at buying weighs 7200lbs dry. The racing motorcycle sidecar weighs 800lb with spare engine.

Will the Titan be able to handle that kind of load 9 times per year ?

I'm currently towing a 5500 dry Travel trailer with my F150 1/2 ton and that handles fine.

Mick
Hmmm, well i dont usually to near the limits, hang around and somone that knows more about towing and wt distributing will chim in. It definatly has the power, but you dont want to be at the limit and worry about rolling over and stuff. Also how far are you towing... Big inclines/declines..... it all depends. I know there is people here that towed more, even over the limit and claimed no prob, but if somthing happened they could get pinned with the fault for being over the limit if an accedent occured. figure out what the most would be when everything loaded
The titan has plenty of power and tows great. The only thing to worry about is maxing out the GVWR. Payload has been increased for 2008, so it is less of a problem. Also 5th wheel might not work on a Crew Cab with the short bed.
This guy is clearly an idiot. "Jap" vs. "American"...good lord...it isn't the friggin' 1940s

Your Ford/GMC/Chevy is actually Mexican, so there
How unreasonable can most of you guys be .......

I couldn't give a rats arse where the truck is made, what color it is, or whether it was designed by Ghandi's grand kids.

I just want to know how good the Titan is and how good it is for towing.

How friggin territorial are you clowns ...... you're starting to sound like European football hooligans ..... it's just a truck .... get over it.

I guess that there's boneheads on every forum - I was expecting more from this one.
I love my titan to death. Roomy comfortable handles great when towing also. The styling of the F150 I do like a bit more but when I test drove one It was a heap, Gutless wonder. not a hard decision after that.
mickboyle said:
How unreasonable can most of you guys be .......

I couldn't give a rats arse where the truck is made, what color it is, or whether it was designed by Ghandi's grand kids.

I just want to know how good the Titan is and how good it is for towing.

How friggin territorial are you clowns ...... you're starting to sound like European football hooligans ..... it's just a truck .... get over it.

I guess that there's boneheads on every forum - I was expecting more from this one.
The Titan has a great powertrain (aside from the small rear end), the question I would have is the weight you want to pull. I personnally would not be comfortable to pull a trailer with the Titan on long distances more than around 8000lbs or any other half ton truck. Now with that said some guys do. My brother just purchased a new toy hauler, when loaded will weigh nearly 10K and asked if I'd pull it. He was pulling this trailer with his 05 Ford 150 and unloaded approximately 6500lbs was having some struggling issues. Lucky for me he purchased a new diesel and will not test my truck on pulling his trailer loaded.... Hope this helps.:cheers:
mickboyle said:
How unreasonable can most of you guys be .......

How friggin territorial are you clowns ...... you're starting to sound like European football hooligans ..... it's just a truck .... get over it.

I guess that there's boneheads on every forum - I was expecting more from this one.
Some in this forum are just sensitive because so many that love the big three rag Titans and Tundras as Jap POS.

My advice. Test Drive them all. See what kind of prices you can get from the dealers. Chances are you'll end up with a Titan. I used to drive Chevys but when you consider price, value, fun, etc., Titans can't be beat.
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