Popular trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Ram Face Off
Big trucks do hard work. When it comes to heavy-duty pickups, there are only four brands to consider: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Ram. And over the past year, Dodge and General Motors Co. have significantly upped their game when it comes to their big rigs. GM’s Chevy and GMC heavy-duty trucks have been rebuilt from the ground up — adding a frame that can absorb even more of a beating.
Chrysler Group LLC rolled out a bigger diesel engine and a whole new heavy duty pickup as well, borrowing from the best of the redesigned Ram 1500. The vastly improved interior moves the Ram from construction sites to fine dining.
Ford also rolled out a new Super Duty truck and built its own diesel engine and it upped its power ratings to 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque, after GM out-muscled Ford in the spring with improvements to the bullet-proof Duramax.
This one-upmanship only helps the people who need these big trucks for work and for fun. In the heavy-duty pickup world, absolute power provides bragging rights over beer.
But picking the best? That’s tough. These heavy-duty trucks are all excellent. You could go and buy any one of them and drive away completely satisfied. Though figuring out exactly the right truck you want is difficult: Short or long bed? Crew cab? Single or double rear wheels? You’re better off describing the work you’ll use it for and go from there. There’s bound to be one that fits your needs.
Pickups have followings like no other vehicle in America. A Ford owner only sees the world through Blue Oval spectacles. A Chevy guy believes in the bowtie and a Ram man is still trying to figure out why he can’t call it a Dodge.
If you make your living off the back of your truck, and many heavy duty owners do, then the going couldn’t get much better. All of the trucks have extremely capable capacities for the above average person. They can tow houses — some slightly bigger than others — but houses nonetheless. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which makes comparing them a little more difficult.
General Motors Sales Rise 25 percent in July
General Motors posted its 10th-consecutive month of year-to-year sales increases in July, with existing vehicle sales jumping 24.6 percent.
The Detroit-based automaker made particular gains with sales of its Buick and Cadillac brands, which both doubled. Buick sold 16,799 vehicles in July, a 137 percent increase from last year. Cadillac delivered 14,919 units, up 142 percent. Sales of Chevrolet vehicles were up 12 percent, and sales of GMC vehicles rose 27 percent.
General Motors has about two dozen dealerships in the Sacramento region, and the automaker has about 12 percent market share statewide, combining all of its brands. Front-runner Toyota commands about 22.5 percent of the market.
“Our July results again reflect that each of our brands has contributed significantly to our gains,” Don Johnson, vice president of U.S. sales operations, said in a release. “The size and scope of the U.S. market demands a strong portfolio of well-targeted brands. The success of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac month in and month out indicates that the new GM’s brand strategy is sound.”
General Motors has discontinued several brands since last year, phasing out Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn production. Overall sales at GM, including the discontinued brands, still rose 5.4 percent in July.
GMC Dealer Locator
GMC Dealer Locator. You pick the Model, Type and Year and they will show you a list of GMC dealerships in your area that carry it. You can look for new and used car dealerships.
Chevy Caprice Cruiser is Back
After announcing the model’s return last year, General Motors is now offering police departments the option of using the Caprice sedan in addition to the Impala for law enforcement.
The Caprice, an Australian import based on GM’s Zeta platform (that also birthed the Pontiac G8 and the current Chevy Camaro), comes with rear-wheel drive, an attractive option for police work due to more even weight distribution and better road handling.
GM Posts 11% Sales Increase in June
General Motors posted an 11% sales increase in June over last June — as well they should be since GM spent last June in bankruptcy court. It was GM’s fourth consecutive month of year-over-year increases of more than 20%.
Overall industry sales for June are expected to show a slowdown from May, according to J.D. Power, but still up from last year’s recession sales. This time last year, though, GM was selling eight brands, so it’s notable that it posted its increase without the departed Saab, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac. If you strip out those brands from last year’s sales data, GM’s numbers look even better for June: The four core brands posted a 36% increase.