Deciding what vehicle is best for them is one of the bigger decision people must make in life. Vehicles are costly, you will be using it almost every day, and the process to find one often takes a lot of time and effort. This is why it requires high-level decision-making skills in order to come to one singular conclusion. When it comes to the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs the 2018 Ford F-250, these are some of the best pickup trucks this nation, and this world has to offer the public. They are both strong, stylish, smart, and reasonably priced. So, how do you pick just one? This is where decision-making psychology will come in handy with a few strategies that should at least give you some additional clarity one which of these beasts to bring home.
Single-Focus Decision-Making
Single-focus decision-making is a strategy that is all about taking one factor and putting it above all else. This method is extremely helpful for that that get too wrapped up in the details or are too scared to take the plunge and take way too long making a final choice. It can really help focus your mind and give you that final push you need to just do what needs to be done.
Now, when it comes to choosing an vehicle this method may not always be the best since there are so many essential factors that should take priority. Power, safety, and affordability are all intertwined in a way that can’t exactly be separated into a single point because they all work together as a way to determine overall quality. That being said if you are about to bang your head against the wall, or already have, then it may just be time to use this strategy.
For example, you may say the towing potential is all you care about in your next truck. If that is the case, then your choice is easily the 2018 Ford F-250 over the 2018 Sierra 2500, considering the F-250 offers 18,500 pounds of towing potential compared to the 18,100 pounds of the Sierra 2500. But, if your top priority is style, you may just consider the Sierra 2500 a more attractive option with its mix of everyday boldness and refinement and decide to go with that instead.
Point System Decision-Making
A point system strategy is probably one of the best ways a person can make a decision. The first thing you do is assign a positive point value to each item you find essential, and a negative point value to those you find unattractive. You then go down the list and see how these options add up. This way not only helps you keep track of everything by making one simple list, but it also allows you the freedom to prioritize as needed. This strategy helps you easily organize your thoughts, customize what is important, and is all about simple math and logic so that there is no debate.
When using this strategy to decide on a new vehicle, you can add things like adding five points if it offers an infotainment system or minus five points if it doesn’t have over 300 hp. If you are just comparing two models, you can even give points to the one that has more features. It may also be helpful to divide the list into multiple sections such as exterior, interior, mechanic, and safety for convenience.
For example:
2018 GMC Sierra 2500
Exterior:
- High-grade Steel Frame +15
- LED Lighting +5
- Large Mirrors +5
- Clean styling +5
Interior:
- Heated and ventilated seating +10
- Infotainment +15
- Wi-Fi +5
- Bose Sound System +5
Mechanical:
- Towing Potential 18,100 pounds +10 (400 pounds less than F-250)
- Diesel V8 +10
- 445hp -5 (less than F-250)
- 910 lb-ft of torque -5 (less than F-250)
- 6-speed transmission +5
Safety:
- Standard rearview camera +10
- Sway control +5
- Blind Spot Monitoring System +10
TOTAL: 105 Points
2018 Ford F-250
Exterior:
- High-grade Steel Frame +15
- LED Lighting +5
- Large Mirrors +5
- Clean styling -5
Interior:
- Heated and ventilated seating +10
- Infotainment -5 (MyLink > Sync3)
- Wi-Fi +5
- Sony Sound System -5 (Bose Preferred)
Mechanical:
- Towing potential 18,500 pounds +15
- Diesel V8 +10
- 450hp +5
- 935 lb-ft of torque +5
- 6-speed transmission +5
Safety:
- Standard rearview camera +10
- Sway control +5
- Blind Spot Monitoring System +10
TOTAL: 90 Points
This is a short list example of what you can get from these two trucks and what you may prioritize in them. You would most likely want a more extensive and personalized list than this, but it will at least help you get started and hopefully once the points are added up you will get the answer to which you feel is best.
Elimination Decision-Making
A third strategy for decision-making is just to eliminate all options until only one truth prevails. This option is extremely helpful at the start of the decision making-process when there are a large number of options that just seem to blend together and confuse you. In a way, this is sort of like multi-step single-focus decision-making. You pick one thing that matters a lot to you and throw out all options that do not meet that requirement. You then go to the next important factor and do the same. You then go for a third and fourth or even a fifth factor until you are left with only one option.
When it comes to cars the elimination process will be highly based on what you find important, but generally buyers start with a body type, remove all above a certain price point, cancel out all that do not have the safety features they require, then finally get rid of any that don’t have the power output they are looking for, especially for trucks. You will also find those that will eliminate any cars that do not have the infotainment system they desire, comfort features they need, or style options they love.
When it comes to the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500 and the 2018 Ford F-250 these two will most likely end up being your final two in the epic showdown after you have eliminated all other heavy-duty trucks.
Making the Final Choice
Sadly in life, we can’t always have it all, and difficult or nearly-impossible choices must be made. These strategies may seem like common sense, but when you have just been overwhelmed by a plethora of options or are struggling with two options that just both seem equally amazing in their own way, your mind can sometimes just shut down on you. The 2018 GMC Sierra 2500 is a hardworking, stylish, and highly efficient heavy-duty truck that offers drivers all a list of features that leaves nothing to be desired, at a reasonable price. The 2018 Ford F-250 is also a force to be reckoned with when you consider its best-in-class toughness and commanding attitude. With two choices such as these, you will need all the help you can get when trying to make up your mind on which will best suit your driveway. So be sure to try one or maybe even all three of these strategies the next time you find yourself stuck in the middle.
