If you are in the market for a new vehicle, what sort of ride do you have in mind? A hybrid? A sedan? A roadster? Or something else?
One segment of the passenger vehicle spectrum that took a beating in 2008 is rebounding in 2009 thanks to lower gas prices and several new models offered. Yes, the large pickup truck segment is back and is certainly something you’ll want to consider if you are a contractor, sportsmen, enthusiast or family person who needs the room and portability of pickup.
These days, there are five models of trucks being sold in the North American market, six if you include the GMC Sierra, a twin to the Chevrolet Silverado. Let’s take a look at the Big Five, in order of annual sales:
Ford F-150 – For 32 consecutive years the Ford F-Series has been the best selling truck in America. Heck, for the past 27 years it has been the best selling passenger vehicle, period. And for good reason: the truck is well made, offers more than 40 different cab and trim configurations, and has excellent towing capacity as well as off road capabilities when the 4×4 model is selected. The Ford was redesigned for the 2009 model year.
Chevrolet Silverado – Too bad that General Motors simply doesn’t drop the Silverado’s twin, the GMC Sierra, and makes Silverados available at GMC dealers. If they did, the Silverado would outsell the Ford. But, they don’t so the Silverado must be content with being in second place. However, the truck isn’t necessarily inferior to the Ford as it offers good fuel economy, a nice selection of engines and transmissions, and is a real workhorse for no matter who drives it, Mom or contractor. The twins were redesigned for the 2008 model year.
Dodge Ram 1500 — Who said third place is a bad place to be? Years ago, before the Ram took on its big truck persona, the truck was barely a blip on the radar. Today, Dodge sells more than 300,000 Rams annually thanks to its unique rear coil springs, RamBox storage compartment, comfortable interior and very good handling. Nice engine choices are available including a 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel for heavy duty models. The Dodge was redesigned for the 2009 model year.
Toyota Tundra – Before its most recent update, the Tundra was a wannabe in the highly competitive big truck class. No more. Today, the beefy Tundra matches up against all comers in areas of towing, braking, off road use, hauling, etc. Sales aren’t what Toyota wants them to be, but the quality is there and with discounts, the price may just be right. Toyota redid the Tundra for the 2008 model year.
Nissan Titan – Available in either crew or quad cab, the Titan is a much more limited model than its competitors. Only one engine choice, a 5.6L V8 is available, and it has fewer trim configurations than what competitors offer. But, the interior is quite comfortable and the engine is a beast. Nissan introduced the Titan for the 2004 model year and is expected to base its next generation model on the Dodge Ram platform.
Perhaps the best option for consumers today is to shop around. Cut rate financing and cash back options make buying a pick up truck an attractive option, one that could provide just the right amount of utility for families, sportsmen and workers.
Comments are closed.