100 years difference in age, which truck is prettier?
- Thread starter wwillson
- Start date
Just watched the "Don't buy" video on reliability and sadly Chevy fell into that camp. This was based on reliability scores for 31 brands in Consumer Reports. Didn't see the Model T listed so I guess I would choose the model T.
Seriously, surprising to see so many top brands that sell millions of vehicles and are seeing so many reliability issues. Happy not to be shopping at the moment. However, I will say from personal experience I find I don't always agree with Consumer Reports recommendations or concerns. As far as higher performance vehicles go there is a clear correlation between reliability and maintenance/care. If you ignore service intervals, compromise on materials and don't pay attention to what your vehicle is telling you, you will regret it in the long run. My concern with the general ranking is how they weight minor problems vs major issues.
I know of a known issue with Mercedes parking brakes and was able to fix it myself. Don't see this as a reason to compromise this brand and miss out on an otherwise satisfying experience. Beware - data, data. As they say the devil is in the details.
Seriously, surprising to see so many top brands that sell millions of vehicles and are seeing so many reliability issues. Happy not to be shopping at the moment. However, I will say from personal experience I find I don't always agree with Consumer Reports recommendations or concerns. As far as higher performance vehicles go there is a clear correlation between reliability and maintenance/care. If you ignore service intervals, compromise on materials and don't pay attention to what your vehicle is telling you, you will regret it in the long run. My concern with the general ranking is how they weight minor problems vs major issues.
I know of a known issue with Mercedes parking brakes and was able to fix it myself. Don't see this as a reason to compromise this brand and miss out on an otherwise satisfying experience. Beware - data, data. As they say the devil is in the details.
Last edited:
Names + labels have such momentum.
It's a Model A Ford in the OP's picture.
It's a Model A Ford in the OP's picture.
We fail in the minds eye, to go back in time. Picture this model A at a hardware store or a lumber yard in the early 1930’s waiting in line to load behind horses and wagons and model T’s. The model A was a huge technological leap from the model T and also amazing that it was developed at the beginning of the Great Depression. The flat head V8 was used post WWII, through 1954 IIRC until Ford started using OHV engines in 1955.
Go up to post #25 and swap those trucks' colors.
The '61 will look good in red, but how about the '24 in that blue?
Is it turquois or aquamarine or swimming pool blue? Whatever, I love it.
The '61 will look good in red, but how about the '24 in that blue?
Is it turquois or aquamarine or swimming pool blue? Whatever, I love it.
The answer here is obvious.......
The old Model A isn't going to be appreciated either. Generations today are not interested. I have been to dozens of car museums. The demographics are always the same, older. And automotive museums are closing in record numbers.
As long as it's still in service, it's OK by me.
If that understandably lovely Model A does not have synchromesh gears, then shifting it as a daily driver would be a real PITA.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2022
- Messages
- 1,379
Let's be honest with ourselves... everything about that thing is a literal PITA. It's tiny, cramped, uncomfortable, slow, rides like covered wagon, can't carry any weight, can't pull anything, has no AC, no GPS.... literally nothing about it is better than the truck beside it.
I'd keep one in my garage for sure, but I'd rather daily drive my zero turn.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Far from what Motor Trend says - of course people only trust the site they want to believe …
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
An internet picture is as close as I’d get to something that’s not safe in the world of fast driving - and large vehicles …
I definitely agree with all of your points here. Although, at least there is one silver lining to the vintage truck. That hundred year-old Ford won’t ever throw codes or require software updates. So, there’s that.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2022
- Messages
- 1,379
I definitely agree with all of your points here. Although, at least there is one silver lining to the vintage truck. That hundred year-old Ford won’t ever throw codes or require software updates. So, there’s that.
Spotted the "glass half full" kinda guy.
The Model A was not a toy, and I'd guess that 99% of them did more work than most new trucks, and under much more difficult conditions. On a good road it will do 55 all day, and while it's not pulling a house around at 80mph, it would be interesting to put a modern truck into rural 1928 America and see how it would do? The roughness of the roads, might make going much faster than the Model A a bit hard on the all the plastic stuff?
I've had a short ride around my buddies farm in a model T, and it rides quite smooth down the double tracks between fields, maybe better than a modern 1/2 ton pickup? Certainly better than his 1 ton dually. The soft long travel springs, with no sway bars don't let the axles transmit much vibration to the chassis, and with no roof, it was pretty quiet!
The big brother, Model AA, has some interesting specs, and got the working truck things done in the 1930's
Production Years: 1928–1932.
Engine: 201-cubic-inch (\(3.3L\)) inline four-cylinder, producing 40 horsepower.
Capacity: 1.5-ton rated payload.
Transmission: 4-speed manual (with a low "crawler" gear).
Body Styles: Multiple, including Stake-bed, Express Pickup, Panel truck, and Dump Truck.
Similar threads
