Originally Posted by xp8103

Having just spent the weekend in Daytona (helping out some friends, not at the 500), I have come to realize that we are barely even a blip on the radar down in the south. NE may be GM country but the south is Ford country (can someone tell me where Dodge country is?)
I would easily say that 80 out of every 100 trucks were Fords and further at least 60+% of those were very late model F350s and new Super Duty duallies. I was astounded to say the least. Further complicating the fact was that I was IN an '08 F450 with three other Ford truck owners (there were 4 of us, one annoyingly militant about the fact that every truck was a Ford and not a Dodge). I saw a couple Big Horn 3500's and a couple Mega Cabs but when I say "couple" I mean it.
Since we drove straight thru from Maine, I had my opportunity to get some time behind the wheel. First the bad. There really isn't any. We all know that Ford has it all over our rides in terms of cab space and design. The 4 of us had MORE than adequate leg and head room in the crew cab. Passenger-wise my two complaints would be 1) the seat back in the rear is a little too upright for my like on a long drive and 2) the dash drops too low into the footwell so you cannot even come close to straightening out your legs. Driving-wise, the steering wheel sensitivity takes some getting used to given the VERY tight turning radius these trucks are capable of (Dodge had BETTER take a look at what Ford as done in this realm as the capability here was SUPER useful in wheeling a rig this size in parking lots and such.) I also felt the steering was a little disconnected, like I was doing something and couldn't feel anything. The unloaded ride was fair enough. The cab is car quiet and the engine is barely audible even on the outside. Power is always on tap given the 4.88 gears. But we struggled to make 11 mpg at anything resembling highway speeds. At 65-70 we were in the low 8's hauling a 6x12 single axle enclosed trailer empty. Keeping the speedo at 60 and we could make 10-10.5. I had to fly home yesterday and they are driving the loaded rig home now. The trailer now comes in around 3500# and there is easily 3000 pounds of tools and tool boxes and chests in the bed. The report from them is 10.5 mpg keeping a steady 55-58 mph. I guess given the size of the rig and all that isn't bad.
As for the good, well the truck in all black certainly get attention and the vocal compliments were numerous. The truck cuts a BIG profile for sure.

Originally Posted by TreeFarm

Sometimes it depends on the dealers. In one Florida town I am familiar with, the Ford dealer is fair, honest, and very well respected. The Dodge dealer is an outright crook, and there is no GM dealer. You see a lot of Fords there.