My dad contracted at Borg Warner in Muncie for many years when they made Ford transfer cases(or at least the transfer cases that went into Fords). So while I was growing up, we always had Fords. Dad would say they were keeping a roof over our head and food on our table, so they were getting our business. Just kind of stuck with me
Chevy. Been Bow tie my whole life. Had a few Fords and they were very good at what they did. GM does it just as well and looks better IMHO.
Just like the GM styling.
I have been a die hard Chevy fan boy for years (my first was a 77 heavy half) and am now in negotiations to trade in my 2009 for a 2013 Dodge. I looked at the Toyota, but with the fuel mileage and looks I could not bring myself to even talk with a sales guy. But it seems the Chevy I have is ok, it's got bad quality issues, Wind noise in the rear window, rattles, flimsy panels, etc...
But I drove the Dodge I drove today is sweet.
edit: Plus the last 2 trucks I bought I had MAJOR dealer issues. Which is the main reason I am changing brands.
I have had all of the big 3 and Ford is the only company that gets my money now. The 3/4 ton Chevy was a joke. The dodge wasn't bad. The cummins was stong but the tyranny issues were just to much. Ford is the only truck that has lived up to being a truck. And I'm not talking about city truck life either. These truck were used on a farm. The Ford always gets the job done and then some.
I've owned three Dodge rams, one 95 2500 w/ 360, a 2002 2500 w/ the CTD, and a 2008 1500 w/ a hemi. I currently own the CTD and the Hemi, both are great trucks. If I were to buy a different brand I would probably buy a Ford, driven a few of them and they are nice trucks too. Never really cared for th Chevy and GMC trucks.
I've got an '03 GMC 2500 HD gasser that I really like, but previously had an '07 Chevy 1500 Classic and that thing was junk.
Also have a '79 Ford 150, that though it's showing its age, I love driving. In addition to the '07 chevy, I had and '83 chevy 2500 which was decent but had nothin on the '79 Ford. Also had a '90 and a '99 Ranger, both were good trucks. I paid $450 for the '90 as an old AEP truck that was as old as I was, and ran the hell out of the it high school, then sold it for $600 to a friend of my dad's when I went to college, and last I heard it's still going as the guy's daily driver. That truck really built my confidence in the Ford name.
None of today's pickups really trip my trigger due to the weight for MPG trade offs made by manufacturers, I think the newer trucks have lost alot of the durability that makes them desirable. But I think Ford has the best truck for the money right now, they seem to me to be somewhat higher quality then the chevys, and drastically better than the dodges.
As for diesels, the new Ford manufactured diesel is really going places in my opinion and will give the cummins a run for its money (especially being paired with a dodge tranny.)