Shopping for a pre-owned vehicle can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There are so many brands, dealerships, makes, and models that it can easily make someone’s head spin. When narrowing down your options for a used car lot, consider what your driving lifestyle is like and your budget. Do you just need a commuter vehicle for the week? Do you have the extra allowance for something more sporty? Consider how important technology is to you as even used vehicles now come with advanced infotainment options.
Two major manufacturers in America build some of the most popular pre-owned vehicles. Ford and Chevy are both US-based companies and have reputations for reliable, hard working, and versatile cars and trucks for drivers of any background. For pre-owned shoppers and future drivers near Lexington, there are lots of reasons to find a pickup truck, such as the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. These reliable and super tough trucks have well-earned reputations, but you need to know what each of them offers so you can make the best decision on which used truck is the right one for you.
Used Ford vs Chevy
If you ask 100 people whether Ford or Chevy is better, chances are you will get 50 people for Ford and 50 people for Chevy. For one reason or another, drivers get behind the wheel of one of these brands, and something clicks. Ford and Chevy both have excellent reputations for being reliable, hard-working, affordable, and long-lasting vehicles. Their durability gives them incredible lifelong value long after they have first rolled off the lot, and their hardy construction means they retain their capability when the gleam has worn off the price tag.
There are small differences between Ford and Chevy, which become more important when you really begin drilling down on your budget, needs, and personal preference. Whether one is better than the other, we leave entirely to you, but what you need to know is what sets these two manufacturers apart in broad terms. To compare these American titans of the automotive industry, we can use the F-150 and the Chevy Silverado 1500, the two most popular pickups in America.
F-150
The blue oval from Ford has a lot of brand power and with good reason. Ford is the original, blue-collar all-American manufacturer that invented the moving assembly line and helped develop the vehicles that drove the soldiers of World War Two to victory around the world. With such a powerful pedigree and a consistent track record of quality and consistency, it is no wonder that generations of drivers have remained loyal to the blue oval.
All of that history and past achievement is great for history books, but you are looking for a used vehicle, and you need to know how a used F-150 holds up. The F-150, from year to year, is one of the highest-rated, most popular pickup trucks in its class. The F-150 is somewhat synonymous with pickup trucks, and for years they have had some of the best towing and hauling figures among the competition. While the trucks at your local used car lot may not have all the capabilities of the latest Ford models, they will still provide real muscle at an affordable price
If you want reliable, high-performance strength year after year, it is hard to beat the classic F-150. With advanced EcoBoost technology as a Ford stand-by as well as lots of engine options from V6 to V8 and even a few turbo-diesels, the F-150 has it all. The 2016 F-150, for instance, sports a best in class for that year in towing and payload, with an impressive 12,200 lbs when properly equipped vs the Chevy Silverado’s 12,000 lb towing in that same year. This is a trend looking back through the years and has become part of the Ford brand. They don’t say Ford tough without reason.
Silverado 1500
Chevy has a long and proud history as one of the top American automotive manufacturers with a fiercely loyal fanbase and fleet of incredible vehicles. The Silverado 1500 is the brand’s full-size pickup truck and has always seemed to be the bridesmaid and never the bride when it comes to being at the top of the class. Ford regularly outpaces the Silverado on towing, payload, and overall performance, so where does it stand as a contender against the F-150?
Where the F-150 has a track record of being best in class, Chevrolet has always been hungry to dethrone their greatest rival. This has led to a pattern of Chevy always being willing to introduce new technology and options that can really push certain builds and configurations over the top. Where Ford has excellent engineering and top-notch design, they do tend to change slowly over time, sticking to what works best until they have a new innovation finely tuned and ready for prime time. Chevy provides slightly more affordable options and also tends to offer more advanced technology for infotainment and trailering.
When searching for a used Chevy Silverado, a few model years really exemplify some of the best steps forward the brand has taken to make the truck the best it has ever been. The 2014 model got an upgraded standard engine of a 5.3-liter V8 engine with larger options available. This was a big year for towing capacity as it marked the Silverado breaking the 12,000 lbs mark the F-150 had held. The 2015 model is notable because it replaced the older 6-speed automatic transmission in the 2014 model that had prevented the Silverado from achieving its maximum potential. The new 8-speed transmission helped pull the Silverado out of the mire and back into the races. However, pay just as much attention to features like the standard 7-inch infotainment display found in all trims of the Silverado from 2018 onwards.
Verdict
At the end of the day, these trucks are remarkably close, and your preference is going to be based on personal feelings. Over the years, both models have presented tons of excellent engine options, top-tier performance, and affordable prices with cheap parts that are easy to replace. The Chevy models often offer more advanced tech and features, while Ford presents a line of classic heavy duty work F-150 trucks that are reliable and top of their class. The Ford can be a touch more expensive at higher levels, so if you are looking for luxury features on a tighter budget, you may be better served searching for a Chevy.
No matter which brand you decide is right for you, a pre-owned vehicle from such well-regarded manufacturers will hold up for a long time. With top quality materials and industry-leading engineering, Ford and Chevy both provide vehicles that are meant to endure the test of time and hard work. This does not only apply to their full-size trucks either; Ford and Chevy put just as much effort into building their full range of models from SUVs to performance cars. Finding a model that fits your needs and budget isn’t the hard part – it’s just choosing the one that is perfect for you. So do your research and visit your local used car lots to find an excellent vehicle at an unbeatable price.
