Used 2017 F-350 Platinum or New 2018 GMC 2500 Denali

IFlyEm · Aug 29, 2018

So I am a little torn between 2 trucks. I am debating between a new 2018 2500 Denali or a used F-350 Platinum. I have had a 2011 F-350 and a 2012 F-150 but the only GM I have had was a 2009 Yukon XL. Here are the details on the trucks:

2017 F-350 Platinum
20,000 miles
Price: $65,000 (Original MSRP around $80,000)

Notable features:
- Platinum Ultimate Package
- 18K 5th Wheel Hitch Kit (Pre-Installed)
- 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Hitch Prep Package
- Adaptive Cruise Control & Collision Warning
- LED Light Package
- Auto High-beam Headlights
- Blind spot sensor: BLIS warning
- FX4 Off-Road Package
- Hill Descent Control
- Lane-Keeping Alert
- Rain sensing wipers
- Snow Plow Prep Package
- Speed-sensing steering
- Twin Panel Power Moonroof
- Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System

2018 GMC Denali
MSRP $71,190.00
Sale Price $60,000

Installed Options
Suspension Package, Off-Road
Duramax Plus Package
Gooseneck / 5th Wheel Prep Package
Switch, High Idle
Lamps, Smoked Amber roof marker
All-weather floor liner

The Ford is a beautiful truck. The negatives against it are:
- It's used (although slightly)
- It's a 350 with the snowplow package so the ride is going to suffer and I have no intentions of pulling a 5th wheel at this point.
- I am not sure if I really like the purplish brown leather seats.

The GMC is also a beautiful truck with a good year end discount on it. The negatives against it are:
- It lacks many modern features that the Ford has. i.e. push button start, BLIS, adaptive cruise, 360 degree camera system.

Right now I am leaning towards the GMC. I am 100% not brand loyal.
I try to buy the best I can within my budget regardless of brand. So without starting a brand war which would you buy and why?

deanross · Aug 29, 2018

The gmc. It’s brand new. There are some benefits of owning a truck right out of the gate. You will know all the little details and bugs it has from the start.

IFlyEm · Aug 29, 2018

deanross said:
The gmc. It’s brand new. There are some benefits of owning a truck right out of the gate. You will know all the little details and bugs it has from the start.

I do agree. Never know about a truck that was owned a year for 20k miles then traded in.

KSH · Aug 29, 2018

Which cab do you like to sit in?

I'm a GM man, but I have had all the different one tons for work.
Buy the one with the cab you like.

I'm sure you could find a new Ford in the right price range.

JMO

IFlyEm · Aug 29, 2018

That's just it. Each rig is pretty much equal when driving. Generally, I am pretty adamant as to what I want. But in this case I am make equal arguments for and against each truck. I am right at 50/50 on either. Maybe 55/45 for the GMC.

KSH · Aug 29, 2018

I think your leaning towards the Ford.

Your comparing a new vehicle to a used truck with 20k on it that's 5 grand more.

summ8rmk · Aug 29, 2018

I prefer the look of the Ford inside and out, definitely the outside. Just looks like a "mans truck".
That being said.
I choose the Denali, mostly because the Ford is a first model yr....
Now if it was 18-18, i would most likely choose the Ford.

Mafesto · Aug 30, 2018

Which dealership do you like more?
Ask to visit with the master diesel tech at each store..
Just a tip, give a gift certificate as a token of appreciation to each tech as well.
This is a relationship that could make your life easy or chaos.
This person will likely make your choice easy.

Reg2view · Aug 30, 2018

Full warranty on the GMC. You could also drive the GMC for two years, and if you take care of it, will be in a better financial position to flip it.

If you're not 5th/goose pulling, the 2500 won't let you down. Performance-wise, the Denali will provide a better ride with equivalent tires, the Ford has a tougher front axle and locking hubs if you're ranching and can be lifted easier. No real programmers out there for the L5P, yet, but your warranty is hosed as soon as you program, anyways. Platinum is a nicer package, and the more electronics the higher the chances of issues out of warranty, but its used for more money. Money-wise, the GMC is a better deal. You won't do better price-wise until end of year, and then you'll only save another 1-2K. I know, I was there last year. I do have a 17 CCLB 3500 Duramax Denali with Z71, and looked hard at the F350. I do need the 5th and goose, GMC just has a better exhaust brake, and it's a long haul towing machine. My Denali has been flawless, my buddies 18 F350 CCSB Lariat gets a couple MPG better overall fuel mileage. Nice truck. Denali beats it in ride, both running the exact same tires, BFGs, exact same size. Assuming you know the service history of the F350.

tadder52 · Aug 30, 2018

KSH said:
Which cab do you like to sit in?

I'm a GM man, but I have had all the different one tons for work.
Buy the one with the cab you like.

I'm sure you could find a new Ford in the right price range.

JMO

I'm all about this one as well. Buy the interior you want in your price range.

My buddies love to buy the 2500/250s put air bags in them and run em. Oil field money, but do have to say they ride better that way.

IFlyEm · Aug 30, 2018

Reg2view said:
Full warranty on the GMC. You could also drive the GMC for two years, and if you take care of it, will be in a better financial position to flip it.

This is kind of where I am at. This may end up being a filler truck. I have had Fords. Loved my 350 didn't love my 150. Probably because I got it on the heels of the 350 and it just felt like a step down to me. I love the looks of the Denali and I would like to try one. So I am thinking about giving it a shot and see how it treats me for a few years. Then I can keep it, get the 2020+ Denali (should have all the options I am missing on the 18 that the Ford has), or get a F-250. So the one that puts me in the best residual after 2 - 3 years would be a big bonus.

Butta · Aug 31, 2018

Tough choice, both are great trucks. I had a '13 Duramax, now a '17 F350. The technology in the Ford is lightyears ahead. I absolutely LOVE the adaptive cruise control, and really enjoy the 360 deg camera system. The vented seats are a lot more effective than my GMC were as well. Bigger cab, one hell of a motor. I don't see any degraded performance from the exhaust brake when towing my 5th wheel toy hauler, either. All in all, I don't regret my F350 purchase, and I just turned 36,000 miles....no issues whatsoever.

Bubba · Sep 3, 2018

There all good but do the gmc. it takes about 7000 miles to start getting good fuel Millage. at least mine did the power is great and the ride is good my heated and cooled seats work great. and electroinc's system is think is great but i trucked for years so cameras as far as backing up what would i need them for. my wife said she would like cameras for backing the pontoon in the water. you will like it they are a good machine. and its brand new.

AndrettiDog · Sep 3, 2018

Even if they were both new I'd still take the Duramax. I've had three of them and they just work well for me. I don't like the solid front axle because I'm not hauling 4 tons of payload. Ford finally got their diesel motor working but now the Duramax is the HP king.

Seriously though...you might as well be asking if we prefer blondes, redheads, brunettes....We are all going to be biased.

summ8rmk · Sep 3, 2018

445hp- 910tq GM
450hp- 935 Ford....
Hmmmm
Hp king?

AndrettiDog said:
Even if they were both new I'd still take the Duramax. I've had three of them and they just work well for me. I don't like the solid front axle because I'm not hauling 4 tons of payload. Ford finally got their diesel motor working but now the Duramax is the HP king.

Seriously though...you might as well be asking if we prefer blondes, redheads, brunettes....We are all going to be biased.

AndrettiDog · Sep 4, 2018

summ8rmk said:
445hp- 910tq GM
450hp- 935 Ford....
Hmmmm
Hp king?

If it changed, I didn't realize it. I always felt that the Duramax put power down better. Maybe because the Ford's were always so heavy.

I can't find a 2018 Ike Gauntlet test, but here is the 2017. Spoiler: The Ford sucked, the Dodge swallowed and the GM won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GxztJit22A

turboless terry · Sep 4, 2018

I'd get the duramax and I own an 18 platinum that I paid 65k new. It doesn't have adaptive cruise, sun roof that I wouldn't use or all the extra cameras. Nicest truck I ever owned. The gmc is new and 1 year newer.plus 5k cheaper. Take your payment by however many months it takes you to put 20000 miles on it and add that to the equation. Makes the ford look even spendier. I put 35k on a year so I would be out of engine warranty in 2 years with the ford. Both look like awesome trucks.

justinkredible56 · Sep 5, 2018

summ8rmk said:
445hp- 910tq GM
450hp- 935 Ford....
Hmmmm
Hp king?

Ford initially launched the third gen scorpion power stroke with 440hp and 925 ft/lbs of torque in 2017.

In 2018 Ford bumped their rating to 450/935.

The L5P duramax has always had 445/910.

Ford did something similar in 2011 when they announced the first gen scorpion 6.7.

GM announced the LML later that year with better HP numbers so Ford immediately bumped their numbers in response and offered a flash for any customers who had already taken delivery.

So for the OP the 2018 duramax does in fact have more HP than the 2017 powerstroke but not more torque.

It’s freakin sweet these companies keep going back and forth! The power they are cranking out these days is ridiculous!

Bubba · Sep 5, 2018

To stay with the dmax in power ford needs 40 more hp. its the way its always been nothing bad about ford but when there close on hp the dmax will always win. ford may need a new dyno.

summ8rmk · Sep 5, 2018

Bubba said:
To stay with the dmax in power ford needs 40 more hp. its the way its always been nothing bad about ford but when there close on hp the dmax will always win. ford may need a new dyno.

I think Ford and Brp have similar powertrain power loss.
Kinda Like going from a TH350 - TH400, sure it is a lot stronger but it will take more HP to turn it. Lose a few tenth's in the quater....

Used 2017 F-350 Platinum or New 2018 GMC 2500 Denali

Which would you buy?

2017 Ford F-350 Platinum - Used w/ 20,000 miles for $65,000

2018 GMC Denali - New w/ 20 miles for $60,000

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Steering Wheel Holder

Well-known member

Steering Wheel Holder

Most handsome

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Most handsome

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Most handsome

Similar threads