all new Chevy Colorado... among other choices...

[Kraftwerk]

Okay who has one? Time to revive and create a new thread the on the Chevrolet Colorado 3.6, or that similar GMC product, the Denali. The C/C has been reconfigured.. the only thread I found dedicated to it was from 2007, it is a different beast now and deserves discussion.. by us.. The new version seems to fill a market that wasn't even there before .. a true mid-sized p.u. truck and I think it looks great as does the GMC.
Can you tell? I have serious truck envy r/n.
Reason for reviving this is purely selfish: I am now -slowly- looking for a 2x per week driving / sometimes towing vehicle which can tow give or take 7500 lbs. I will be towing a boat that is about 3,600 lbs. For ease and safety, ideally looking for a vehicle with DOUBLE the tow-rating of what I am towing, just from what I have read and experienced this is good advice. Boat and trailer combined are around 4,300 LBS all up (? never weighed the trailer actually, so guessing..) I need something that is not 'horrible to drive' and tow with occasionally: 3x per year short distances of 10 miles.. and 2x LONG distances 100+ miles. For ease and safety, ideally looking for a vehicle with about DOUBLE the tow-rating of what I am towing, just from what I have read and experienced this is good advice. Boat is a sailboat, so MOST of the weight is in the keel ie.low & centered. Boats tow a bit better than big box-ed trailers as they are aqua-dynamic.. and therefore a bit more areo-dynamic.. I have towed this boat over 100 miles with a '99 Tahoe and it was almost like nothing was there and I have also towed it 8 miles with a underpowered Ford Ranger and we all suffered the whole way. (...I still feel bad for that truck...) Have considered everything from a used Cayenne, ultimately too pricey to buy and repair (but:Mmmmm Turbo!) and the old FJ Cruiser but since they stopped making them they have gotten collectable/pricey and the tow-rating is not fully double of what I need but right around the limit... Haven't ruled out a used Toyota Tundra, but they too are pricey, even 2009's with 130,000 miles on them ! Advice is welcome I am open to opinions. I also read here that diesel-anything is not needed unless I am towing over 8,000 pounds and I will only be towing 4,200 or less.

So I open the floor the the Porsche brain-trust.

[vash]

i heard that platform with the tiny diesel is very very cool.

i have only seen this motor in a ZR2 packaged chevy truck and it was visually cool looking. the owner said it is a rocket. he wouldnt let me near his keys.

the non ZR2 on is nice as well. i have seen that motor in a GMC version. but i cant get past that spare tire. it rides under the chassis and it looks like it is hanging down so low.

i think my next truck will be a half-ton. i've towed with my tacoma and it isnt enjoyable to me. i am not a pro-tow guys. i dont have a lot of towing miles under my belt. but my tacoma felt so small, and the brakes were lacking. i felt that i wanted a longer wheel base for some leverage to keep the load steady.

[ZAMIRZ]

After incentive, a full-size truck is not much more. If you're into the "lifestyle" the Colorado's a good choice, but for doing truck things, I'd go with Silverado or F-150.

[Oracle]

My thoughts:
Don't buy the Colorado. Same price as a full size and less capable. Then the resale is as bad cause frankly nobody wants a "weak" truck to begin with. One day you'll want to tow something a bit bigger from lending a hand to upgrade your boat..
Those mid-trucks are just a toy. (I know, I know.. more capable than 1/2 trucks 20 years ago, etc..).

My FIL chose the Canyon (GMC Colorado) and he's regretting that.. Towing is almost maxed out and fuel mileage is nowhere near as it was advertised..

In my opinion, get a full size truck and be happy knowing that no matter what you throw will handle.

[legion]

I'm seriously considering getting a base model Colorado for $16,500.

[Instrument 41]

Look at the Tacoma instead......

[Kraftwerk]

Thanks guys, yeah a used Tacoma is in my sights and I believe the current Silverado body style is a future classic. From a design standpoint it has very solid lines and not a lot of "visual-noise "

[LakeCleElum]

Well, since you asked:

I used to always be a small truck guy because they fit my needs and I usually only tow a max of 2 snowmobiles. Had one Datsun, one Toyota and 4 Mazda over the years.....Latest Mazda was 4.0 V6, extended cab 4x4.....And then I did what SeaHawk did:

Bought a 2015 Tundra for $22,500 at 2 years old. (I admit to having a bias against Detroit rigs) I wanted a wider bed, so I could get a Snowmobile or ATV between the rear fenders. Could close my tailgate with my dual-sport MC. Larger cab is nice on a long trip.

Only bad you hear about a Tundra is fuel mileage........so, I opted for the 4.6 which is plenty of power for my needs........It's geared higher than the 5.7, so fuel mileage is the same as my old 4.0 Mazda.........Seems none of my friends really never gave any respect to the smaller pickups I had before.

Just my .02 cents for my needs....

[masraum]

I was curious. I checked the dimensions of a 1970 Chevy 1/2 ton, 2018 Colorado and 2018 Chevy 1/2 ton. THe new truck isn't as much bigger as I expected.

1970 C10
Wheelbase 115" short / 127" long
length 186"/206"/216"
width 78.75"
height 71.25"

2018 Colorado
Wheelbase 128.3"
Length 212.7"
width 74"
height 70.6"

2018 Chevy 1/2 ton
Wheelbase 119" short / 143.5" long
length 206"/230"/240"
width 80"
height 74"

I suspect a lot of trucks are much taller than these would indicate because most of the newer stuff comes with huge upgrade/aftermarket wheels and tires. Also, a lot of the stuff that I run into here in Houston is 3/4 ton or larger.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by legion

I'm seriously considering getting a base model Colorado for $16,500.

The loaded up 4x4 with fancy roll bar I looked at for kicks was about 50K.

I think they are much larger than the old S-10 models, but still more parking space and parking lot friendly than a full sized pickup truck.

I really don't think any normally sized person can get stuff over the side of a full sized truck, gotta go out the tailgate, and even then a step ladder might help.

Originally Posted by masraum

I was curious. I checked the dimensions of a 1970 Chevy 1/2 ton, 2018 Colorado and 2018 Chevy 1/2 ton. THe new truck isn't as much bigger as I expected.

Thanks for looking that up. I have long suspected this was the case.

[Scott Douglas]

My brother is considering getting either a CC or a GMC. I was up north at his place last week so we went and test drove a GMC. He's looking to downsize from his 6.5 Turbo Diesel dually which is a tad big for in town work.
The Canyon was nice but he couldn't see the added cost over the Colorado. He'll be getting a 2-whl drive one as the tow rating on the 4x4 is less. He's looking at getting an aluminum trailer after selling his steel one to lessen the load some. He'll flat tow his 914.
I think the Colorado would be a no brainer if it could be optioned with a small (4.8 or 5.3) V-8.

[Kraftwerk]

Steve, That's one of the things I like about the Chevy & the GMC.. they remind me size-wise of older full sized trucks.. Sometimes I really miss my '71 F100..

[ZOO]

I ended up with a 2016 F150 -- it was less expensive than the Colorado diesel we were looking at, and better equipped, too. It is big, but it certainly rides and drives better than any other body on frame truck I've ever driven. The super-crew configuration is so useful. The flat floor almost makes it like a minivan when the seats are stowed. Tons of useful room inside, plus the bed.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by ZOO

I ended up with a 2016 F150 -- it was less expensive than the Colorado diesel we were looking at, and better equipped, too. It is big, but it certainly rides and drives better than any other body on frame truck I've ever driven. The super-crew configuration is so useful. The flat floor almost makes it like a minivan when the seats are stowed. Tons of useful room inside, plus the bed.

This is the problem with the current compact trucks. For the same money you can get a 1/2 ton that is way more capable in every possible way. I spent a week in Seattle with a new Tacoma 4x4 crew cab, the only thing I preferred compared to my F150 was the ease of parking. For a small truck it drove big, it wasn't all that nice inside, it was slow and buzzy, and the feature content sucked. All from a truck that sells for F150 money.

Personally I would not want to tow nearly 5,000 lb of tall sailboat behind a compact truck. You'll really feel the strain of the smaller engine options, it's not just the weight but also the aerodynamic drag of towing a tall boat behind you. That same boat won't even challenge any 1/2 ton modern truck, the difference in towing ability is pretty significant. I tow about 9,000 lb and over 30' of boat and trailer approximately 200 miles round-trip nearly every weekend in the summer behind my 2013 F150 Ecoboost, no issues at all.

[vash]

my tacoma excels at one thing. the one thing i will miss when i move up to a fullsized.

off-road maneuverability. for a truck, it rocks. maybe not as nimble in the rough stuff as a rubicon wrangler..but when it comes to "hmmm..i wonder where that jeep trail goes?".. the next words are" cliff, start the truck!!". i have scraped it down some narrow places. it fits. this one trail in Idaho..man, i had one wheel on a log bridge the other, gripping a hillside as a i crossed a small ravine. it would have taken a backhoe to rescue my truck..my backseat passenger got out and walked it, fine by me. i couldnt have him in my truck crapping himself. he didnt even have the decency to video me.

a fullsized..not so much.

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by legion

I'm seriously considering getting a base model Colorado for $16,500.

What is this 16.5 truck, special discount? Base is 20.5 and just about any options at all and you are 30+.

[Kraftwerk]

Yeah, at $16,500 that sounds like a pre-2016 model or older..

Matt J. : Good advice on using a full-sized truck for the nearly 5000 Lbs.. I like the idea of the engine and transmission not being under any strain, ever. There are enough things to worry about when towing or simply driving ..especially where I live.

[911 Rod]

Pretty rare hearing from someone that regretted going to a full size truck.

Get a Tundra and never look back.

[vash]

my wife sees a bassboat in my future.

i swear, i almost fainted and called the cops about the human imposter shape shifter that took over my wife's identity.

[pwd72s]

Might wait for the new Ranger to begin making showrooms, do some comparing.