How Does Ford Outsell Chevy?

[buyacargetacheck]

How does the F-150 outsell the Silverado when Chevy has 4,100 dealers to Ford's 3,800? Are the Ford trucks really that much better?

[avant1963]

Answer= GMC

[Satty]

The Ford trucks are worlds better than the GMT-800s. A good portion of the people who buy trucks use them as daily drivers and the Fords ride better and have interiors that are about six hundred times better.

Edited February 2, 2006 by Satty

[Flybrian]

The Ford trucks have actually just caught up to the GMT-800s on an engineering basis, notably with hydroformed frames. Most truck users don't care about exposed screwheads and anal retentive crap like that.

But yeah, the answer is GMC because even when the F-150s were brand-spankin'-new, GM outsold them as a corporation.

Both good trucks, though.

[01Malibu]

I bet a higher percentage of Chevy pickups make it to 200,000 miles! Don't take my word. Go to a used car lot and see all of the Silverados/CK pickups with 160-220,000 miles.

[buyacargetacheck]

But yeah, the answer is GMC because even when the F-150s were brand-spankin'-new, GM outsold them as a corporation.

Well, that's what I used to think. But the math doesn't add up.

GMC has about 1,200 dealers and Chevy has about 4,100. So, GM has 40% more dealers than Ford but sells about the same number of full-sized trucks. Shouldn't GM be selling far more Silverados and Sierras than F-150's?

Besides that, GMC and Chevy dealers don't typically share showroom space. So, why would having a separate channel selling essentially the same product have anything to do with Chevy not being able to outsell its strongest competitor with a 300 dealership advantage?

[91z4me]

I think it has to do with spacing. Sure there are more Chevy dealers but that means there is a greater likely hood that 2 are near each other and therefore canibalize sales. I know within the Louisville, KY area there are at least 6 different Chevy dealers. And everyone has to get their cut. The result is less vehicles sold per dealer, lower inventory levels also play a role as less versions of a particular vehicle are instantly available.

[Newbiewar]

How does the F-150 outsell the Silverado when Chevy has 4,100 dealers to Ford's 3,800?  Are the Ford trucks really that much better?

fords are cheaper...

when you want a heavy duty work truck, chevy is better, but you will pay for it...

[mystik]

I remember seeing the truck sales in September. The Silverado/Sierra combined significantly outsold the F-150. But the Silverado alone was behind.

[Northstar]

The F150 is a better truck than the Silverado is right now. The Sierra also steals a lot of potential Silverado sales as others have said, and the Avalanche probably takes a few as well.

Really though, you can't expect an 8-year old model (even if it has significant updates) to outsell a 2-year old model unless the 2-year old model just flat out sucks.

I don't think a difference of 300 dealers really matters... not when you have 3800+.

[CARBIZ]

You are all correct.

The Sierra/Silverado always outsells the F-150.

Dealers will cannabalize each other's sales.

Ford's are cheaper. Someone who is only concerned about budget will buy Ford.

Do a serious comparison with the F-150 and you will see for yourself. Locking differential versus limited slip. No comparison. Check out the construction/design of the bed. No comparison. Engine choices and durability. NO comparison. The only area Ford truly beats GM is in the appearance of the interior, which as has been beaten to death on C&G is GM's Achilles heel on almost all of its products.

[Newbiewar]

You are all correct.

  The Sierra/Silverado always outsells the F-150.

  Dealers will cannabalize each other's sales.

  Ford's are cheaper.  Someone who is only concerned about budget will buy Ford.

  Do a serious comparison with the F-150 and you will see for yourself. Locking differential versus limited slip.  No comparison.  Check out the construction/design of the bed.  No comparison.  Engine choices and durability.  NO comparison.  The only area Ford truly beats GM is in the appearance of the interior, which as has been beaten to death on C&G is GM's Achilles heel on almost all of its products.

yea at our ride and drive, they showed us the locking slip 2wd tahoe had better traction then the 4wd Toyota Sequoia it was quite amazing, and while both the Tahoe was teatering on two wheels and the Toyota was teatering on two wheels all the avalible power was being diverted to the free spining wheel on the toyota, and the chevy was just easily powering itself on one wheel.

[thegriffon]

There's more to it than that. The Gm full-size vans are lightyears ahead of Ford's aging Econoline, yet the Econoline usually outsells both Chevy and GMC combined by a wide margin. This is despite GM aggressively targeting the custom van industry. A lot of these larger trucks are also sold to other companies who modify them in some way before selling them, so the customer is buying not a Ford or GMC, but a Winnebago, for example. That it is based on an F-series or Econoline may be a secondary consideration. Then there are the hordes who have always bought an F-series and will always buy an F-series, ever since there has been an F-series etc. Toyota and Nissan may even help Chevy gain new buyers who had never considered anything other than an F-series before.

[BuddyP]

The Ford trucks are worlds better than the GMT-800s.  A good portion of the people who buy trucks use them as daily drivers and the Fords ride better and have interiors that are about six hundred times better.

Sorry but I have to disagree with the ride, the GM trucks ride way better than Fords. As far as interiors, the new F150 interior does look very nice, however the fit and finish it noticably worse than the fit and finish of the interior of my '03 Avalanche. And the last generation F150's ('97-'03?) had the worse looking interiors of any truck ever made.

[haypops]

, but a Winnebago, for example. That it is based on an F-series or Econoline may be a secondary consideration. Then there are the hordes who have always bought an F-series and will always buy an F-series, ever since there has been an F-series etc. Toyota and Nissan may even help Chevy gain new buyers who had never considered anything other than an F-series before.

I think Fleetwood has a preponderance of Ford trucks, but Winnebago freuently includes Chevy options. Perhps nearly 50% are chevy (workhorse) chassis. Then again, things change and I could be wrong.

[Guest Dave]

The Ford trucks are worlds better than the GMT-800s. A good portion of the people who buy trucks use them as daily drivers and the Fords ride better and have interiors that are about six hundred times better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry but I have to disagree with the ride, the GM trucks ride way better than Fords. As far as interiors, the new F150 interior does look very nice, however the fit and finish it noticably worse than the fit and finish of the interior of my '03 Avalanche. And the last generation F150's ('97-'03?) had the worse looking interiors of any truck ever made.

Boy are you drunk on GM kool aid!! My 97 was had a nice interior and was twice the truck as any GM on the road!

Everyone knows if you want a real truck that you do ANYTHING with you buy a Ford!!

[ccap41]

..GuestDave.. that was a 10 year old post..lol 

 

You should sign up and join the daily community here at CnG! 

[surreal1272]

..GuestDave.. that was a 10 year old post..lol 

 

You should sign up and join the daily community here at CnG!

Hey! Better late than never!

[cletus8269]

[David]

http://i.imgur.com/kw07iGP.gif

[hyperv6]

It is simple.

#1 Brand Loyalty. People buy the same brand no matter how good or bad it is. Blind faith. 

#2 yes some of it is the GMC thing. 

 

#3 Ford makes more models and variations. Note they count them often as F series trucks and that takes in from 150-550 to anything else with a F on it. 

 

#4 Ford does a ton of fleet sales and focuses on these. That is why they are seen so often with names on the side. 

 

#4 Creative accounting on Fords part also adds to this at times. 

 

Each model has their good points and bad and trade them back and fourth with ever new generation. To argue that one is better than the other is like arguing who can piss the farthest.in the wind.  In other words pointless as both are good in their own ways and both have issues all of their own too. 

 

The bottom line what I have listed above no more no less. 

We have to remember when GM got out of the heavy and Medium truck segment when money was tight. Well they are getting back into it again. That is a large number of F series sales that go un answered right there. 

 

So you can stop all the boyish banter back and fourth and posturing as both are doing fine and they both have arguments to being the best truck. The claim normally goes to the latest model not so much by brand.  

[riviera74]

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

[ccap41]

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

No clue.. lol 

 

Ask somebody who bought a Ram. 

[El Kabong]

Speaking for myself, I bought a Ram because GM didn't offer air suspension or diesel on half-tons. You can have the best fundamentals and still let some demographics slip through the cracks.

[hyperv6]

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

Rams and Dodge trucks have long has a history of a lower price. Back when they were total crap you got what you paid for. Today quality is better but brand loyalty is hard to break. 

 

Today they are still a little better bargain and offer different styling and odd options the others don't have. It holds appeal to some and to others no appeal. 

But still price is their main trading card and with the trucks being better it has been less risk. 

 

Ford at one time was the same way on their cars. You got a better deal up front new but less trade than the GM. A GM car used to be more upfront but you got a better resale value later. My T bird was a perfect example. I got it in 95 for the price of a Sunbird but got nothing at time to sell it. 

 

[FAPTurbo]

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

 

Because RAM wins in appearance, which trades higher in suburbia than tradesman fundamentals such as reliability. Since Twister, RAM's had the 'edge,' featuring bulbous design and jutting grilles.

 

Then the 02 RAM's appeared and Dodge traded on equal parts commercial Aerosmith'esque boomer machismo, and the mid-2000's hip-hop scene. Few brands could merge the 18 - 25, 25 - 34 and 34 - 55 gaps so effortlessly and RAM still reaps the residual rewards today. 

[Drew Dowdell]

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

 

Ram's got a Hemi.... and even given its age, is a great engine in that truck. 

Ram's got a light duty diesel.

Ram's got a fantastic 8-speed.

Ram's 3.6 V6 is pretty darn good too as far as V6 trucks go.

Ram's air suspension is superb. 

Ram's got a Rambox (but to be fair, Chevy did it first and then gave up up on it)

Ram's got the best highway ride even without the air suspension. 

[hyperv6]

 

OK. Then why does anyone buy Dodge trucks or Ram trucks at all when Chevy/GMC is obviously better?

 

Ram's got a Hemi.... and even given its age, is a great engine in that truck. 

Ram's got a light duty diesel.

Ram's got a fantastic 8-speed.

Ram's 3.6 V6 is pretty darn good too as far as V6 trucks go.

Ram's air suspension is superb. 

Ram's got a Rambox (but to be fair, Chevy did it first and then gave up up on it)

Ram's got the best highway ride even without the air suspension. 

 

 

A lot of it still comes back to price. They generally are cheaper and have more incentives to draw in more new buyers. But then again they also have the lowest percentage of repeat buyers at Chrysler in the industry to. 

 

If it were not for some of the special features they would be in a world of hurt. But even these options you list are not something you see on many of the trucks sold as most are gas with conventional beds and suspensions. 

 

Ram trucks are a good value in features for what you pay but what you save is not coming back at resale as they generally have lower values on trade. 

 

This is a very loyal segment and price is one of the few things in this high price segment that will temps some but they often go back to Ford or GM in the end. I see it every day at work.