DeWalt vs Makita Impact Driver: Which One's Worth My Money?

Alright fellas, I'm in the market for a new 18V impact driver. Been using my old Craftsman for years, but it's on its last legs. I'm stuck between the DeWalt DCF887 and the Makita XDT131. Both seem solid, but I wanna hear from guys who've actually used 'em. My main gig is framing and some deck work, so I need something with balls but also reliable. Any thoughts?

I've got the DeWalt DCF887 and I love it. It's got plenty of torque for driving 3-1/2" screws into studs all day. The triple LED lights are sweet when you're working under a deck. Only gripe is the belt clip placement, but that's minor. I've dropped mine from 6 feet onto concrete and it still works like a champ. So yeah, I'd say go DeWalt.

I'm in the Makita camp. I run a crew and we've standardized on Makita brushless tools. The XDT131 has never let us down. It's lighter and more compact than the DeWalt, which matters when you're driving overhead or in tight spots. The variable speed trigger is super responsive, helps with precision. Plus, Makita's battery tech has been rock solid for us. DeWalt makes good stuff, but for my money, Makita is the workhorse. Just my two cents.

Thanks for the input guys. I've been leaning Makita actually, just 'cause I've heard good things about their impact drivers. But I'm a bit worried about the trigger - some say it's too sensitive? And what about battery life? I've got a lot of miles on my old drill's battery, I don't wanna have to buy new ones right off the bat.

Battery life on the DeWalt has been solid for me. I can drive a couple hundred screws on a single charge. And the trigger on the Makita - I've used it, it's not bad. It's got a nice feathering touch for when you need to be gentle. But if you're used to a more aggressive pull, it might take some getting used to. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. Just pick the color you like more, lol.