New Truck thoughts for 2011 Eagle

[buckland]

I have had my 2011 Eagle on my 2001 extended cab Tacoma with Firestone air bags (great) and and extra leaf on the suspension. It is a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder. It's done well by me though I wish at times I had a few more squirrels under the hood going up hill. The 2001 had it's troubles. I am the poster boy for frame exchange having had 3 put in over a year and a half.... they could not get it to be level... I gave up and accepted the last one as good as they could get it. I love this truck despite. I have had other corrosion issues with the gas tank and differential (did I mention I live in New England?). It has otherwise been bullet proof. Oh yeah I did have to replace front and rear chrome bumpers to pass inspection as they were rotted out too. I do my own work as sweat equity. I know though my days are numbered. I only have 150,000 on the dial but I am thinking that the radiator will go and perhaps the clutch next. I like how it handles, seems more like a sneaker than a boot. I have gotten through some incredibly difficult terrain with the Taco and just like the size. I don't want more truck than I need. I used to live overseas and really like the diesel Hilux but if I wait for that I'll be dead and gone. I hope to get the next truck too see me out... that said I want to really like it.
So I have been starting my search for the next beast to carry my home around. I have been researching the positive statements and trying to read between the lines of all the glossy bells and whistles. I am not impressed by shiny hubcaps if it won't get me through the mud.
I have come to you all to help in throwing it all up in the air and seeing what people think by experience ... that is ..I wish I had done otherwise thoughts.
I have, due to the size of the truck limited my search to just two to start. And due to some of the spec's I am reading about torque and RPM I am considering my first automatic (!). This is a great article on the new V6 Tacoma engine 2016, stating at the end about the clutch concerns with a big load.

http://www.exploringoverland.com/overland-tech-travel/2015/8/20/the-new-tacomas-new-engine

I am also impressed with the specs on the new Colorado V6. It too has a lot to offer but as I haven't owned a GM since I was 17 (an old Buick La Sabre... wow V8 and 17!... gas 29¢/gal!) I haven't a clue on the value longterm as I am the Tacoma.

So I beseech those of great knowledge and wisdom to tell me your ideas. I want to carry my Eagle to the ends of the earth and not get stuck unless by my own stupidity. I attach a shot of my current set up for the sake of nostalgia and faithfulness.

 

[Argonaut20]

The smaller Tacomas were great and the biggest problem I have with the newer ones is the increase in size (and dropping the ability to open the rear wing windows on the extended cab). Otherwise, my gen 2 Tacoma is great. Good power, automatic tranny is good, comfort level is good for me (rides like a truck - duh!). I had an extra leaf installed (TSB program) and Firestone bags. The truck is a stock TRD Off Road with towing package. With the camper on, I could count on 14 - 16 mpg unless doing mountain climbing or fighting a BIG head wind. Got down to 12 (uphill with head wind into Flagstaff) and up to 19 (downhill with slight tailwind). I am very satisfied with my present 2006 Tacoma. I do not load heavy or travel at more than 65 - 70mph.

The new Colorado is a good looking truck and about the same size as the Tacoma. I think it is worth a close look, but I would like to see how it does for a year or two before thinking about a purchase. I wouldn't have the same doubts about the 'new' Tacoma as it is built on a platform with history in its favor.

 

[Texan76]

I would take a hard look at the Colorado. There is a reason it is the Motor Trend truck of the year. It exceeds and outperforms the Tacoma in almost every aspect. With the new diesel option coming out, it will tow over 7000 lbs and get over 30 mpg. Plus, the new Colorado has a way better payload capacity to carry the camper. If you look up articles online that reviews the Colorado vs the Tacoma, you will see how the Colorado is the clear winner.

In the past, Tacoma was the small truck leader, but with the new Colorado, this is no longer the case. The Tacoma may be a reliable vehicle, but Chevy has proven reliability as well. Though the Colorado is new for North America, it has been sold for several years in many other countries and is proven. Plus, from being a lifelong Silverado owner, I can attest to the legendary Chevy toughness.

Look up those articles, go drive one, and make an informed decision. Don't just go blindly buy a Tacoma like most people do without research just for the sake of "it's a Tacoma, so it has to be good."

 

[buckland]

Good thoughts. I too suffer from a bias as I really like and so lean toward the Tacoma. It does appear to be that Tacomas were getting by on their deserved reputation of a very good motor and in doing so I think weren't in a hurry to change anything. My 01 gets 22 mpg on average w/o the camper and incredibly 18-19 mpg with the camper. (people say it's the east coast gas formula?).
Regret is a terrible waste of time and I want to be sure when I make the leap. I will wait t\for the snow to fall (flurries yesterday!) and test drive both in nasty weather. I agree that the Colorado looks great on comparison charts. I would also love a duramax diesel.... though not sure if the 2.5 or the 2.8 is the right one. The only diesel I am familiar with is in my tractor. I am starting this search early and will have this year to investigate. I had some hopes that Jeep would start making a truck with a small diesel but the on line discussion of that has gotten into fairy tales and pure speculation.
Thanks again for your detailed advice... I am listening and hope to learn as much as I can.

 

[JHanson]

I understand your dilemma, as a longtime Toyota owner. There can be no doubt that the company has coasted for some time on its rock-solid reputation for reliability. Nothing particularly wrong with that, but lately that coasting has come to a nearly complete stop, while other companies motor on past, at least in terms of technology and features.

The 2016 Tacoma is nothing but a refresh of the previous version. The open-channel frame under the bed is still there (I did a piece on that here), as are rear drum brakes (ranted on here). The port/direct-injected engine is theoretically state of the art, yet its torque peak is absurdly high for a truck, and the new Colorado bests it in horsepower and equals it in fuel economy, according to a comparison in the current Car and Driver (which the Colorado won). The Colorado has a fully boxed chassis and four-wheel disc brakes—not to mention the availability of that 30mpg turbodiesel.

That leaves the question of reliability, and it is a big question. You won't care about rear disc brakes and a boxed frame if the truck is at the dealer for warranty repair every month—or indeed if it leaves you stranded somewhere. American vehicle reliability has advanced hugely in the past couple of decades—almost entirely due to competition from the Japanese—but whether the Colorado can match the Tacoma in that area is a question that will not be answered for several years.

I would definitely recommend an automatic transmission if you decide on a new Tacoma (or a Colorado for that matter). The traditional reasons for choosing a manual are rapidly disappearing with the advent of hill-descent control and multi-speed automatics. An automatic will help to attenuate the effects of that 4600rpm torque peak.

 

[buckland]

I am beginning to crack. I was also leaning toward the diesel but I have heard bad news that the extended cab 4WD Colorado will not have the diesel option, only the double cab. That would bum me out. I sincerely hope that that is not true. However... if "forced" to go with the V6 I still think it would be okay. As stated above, it's the dependablity issue. If the Multinational parts assembled into the Colorado end up being a quality control issue that could be a fiasco. It is all going to boil down to taking the test drives on all models and then just going on that and a prayer. The article links were great especially as I am reading from people that know FWC in the boonies and not just a pretty truck on the highway. I have gotten myself into some nasty predicaments and I like as much "support" as I can get. I do tend at times to overload the truck for the conditions. I guess we will see!

 

[buckland]

Not to go off track on this topic.... but
After reading I clicked on the website link for Overland and the homepage photo was of Torres de Pine in Southern Chile. In 1979 I was stationed in Paraguay and took a few months to travel into the wilds. I spent a month in Southern Chile hiking climbing through the glaciers. It was a very wild place at the time. No roads that I can remember. I sure wish I was back there with the FWC. A shot included.

 

[JHanson]

In 1979 I was stationed in Paraguay and took a few months to travel into the wilds. I spent a month in Southern Chile hiking climbing through the glaciers. It was a very wild place at the time.

Nice! And a great photo.

The color of those lakes has to be seen in person to be believed.

 

[97grandby]

The new Nissan Frontier is due out pretty soon. Not sure when their diesel cummins engine will go along with it, but I think they are great options. I owned a 2012 nissan frontier pro-4x and it was a fantastic truck. I found it 6k less then the same tacoma but I felt it was over all the better truck. They hold their value so well, one of the few trucks in my mind that should be purchased new. Good luck on the truck hunt!


Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

 

[buckland]

I'll add to the list of test drives. That was not on my radar. Funny how different areas of the country favor different vehicles. Mts be some psychology research project there.

 

[buckland]

Being a Toyota lifer. to date.. I am clueless of the difference between the GMC Canyon and the Chevy Colorado. A dealer near me said they are the same but GMC is more expensive ... what? This is the stuff that makes me hate shopping in general and specifically auto. There is a palatable feeling of being "taken to the cleaners" ...a shadowy deal making. I have to admit i like the grill of the GMC more... is that what it is about? Well I am not all that worked up about it ...much more in life to fret about if you are lucky.
I'll just keep on trucking

 

[JHanson]

Traditionally, I believe GMC trucks were aimed slightly upmarket of Chevrolets, with more luxurious standard interiors—sort of like the difference between a Chevy sedan and a Buick. I don't know if that's still the case.

I believe only the Nissan Titan is getting the Cummins diesel, not the Frontier, sadly. We drove a Nissan Navara through South America—virtually identical to the Frontier except equipped with a superb four-cylinder turbodiesel. An amazingly powerful engine—floored at 1800 rpm in second it would plaster your head against the headrest.

 

[CALIcamperdad]

I'm a Toyota guy have had three SUVs since the 90s. To be perfectly honest looking at my repair history they weren't exactly cheap or over the top reliable. I'm really interested in the diesel canyon. The range would be really nice. The interior would pass the wife test. I've never owned a GM product ever. But todays Toyotas are not the toyotas of the past. I think my current Toyota SUV shares more GM design and shared pattents with GM SUVs than most people realize.

I like the Tacoma but have never been convinced its a good enough value to buy one. I almost bought a Frontier though.

The Colorado/ Canyon are very interesting. They drive really nice, and have pretty good payload numbers.

 

[buckland]

I am beginning to think that too....but.... I have been to 3 GMC dealers and get mixed messages about them. I have an Eagle and need an extended cab not the 4 door as the bed is not long enough for the camper. The 4 door bed is absurdly short. That being the case the extended cab won't have the diesel option from what I am told. I would like that if possible...why do they make it so difficult ?!
There was only one Colorado at two dealers.... it worries me that these either aren't in demand or of no interest to GMC.... there are tons of Sierra's and other monster trucks that are not my line. It is such a huge expense for me to get a new truck... not done on a whim. I want to think this is a truck I can live with for 15 years...might sound crazy but my Tacoma is doing that now.

 

[CALIcamperdad]

I was told GM cant build them fast enough. The negative is that any GM dealer with a product that sells its self is viewed as gold and the dealers get really weird. I think GM has upped production twice and dealers are still complaining they cant get enough of them.

 

[buckland]

Well from the website reviews and the photos it sure looks and sounds like a great truck...just right for the Eagle. It comes with so many more real features that Tacoma hasn't come close to. I will keep patching this ole truck for as long as possible and hope the extended cab Canyons will be diesel come next year.

 

[radarcontact]

Buckland....although it doesn't directly correlate with your topic, I wanted to relay to you that I own two trucks, both Chevys. One 1/2 ton and a 2010 Colorado 4x4. The Colorado has 105K on it, extended cab. It's only a 4-cyl manual transmission. I didn't buy it to put a camper on its back, but I wanted to tell you that truck has given me absolutely NO problems whatsoever. One of the best vehicles I've ever purchased. I have friends who had the 5-cyl model, and they were just as happy.

I think there's an inherent Japanese bias out there, in certain circles, justified by past US auto reliability (or the lack of it). When the Japanese dove full steam into the automaking world decades ago, and pried an opening into US markets, they looked at American technology and figured out how to make it better. Far East countries are pretty good at, and encourage, the economic idea of "apeing" - that is, copying something, tinkering with it and improving it overall. The one difference between 30 years ago and now is that American manufacturers have "aped" Japanese know-how and ingenuity, and the result has been a marked improvement in US autos. So, for what it's worth, don't shy away from American trucks. IMO they're very good. I've owned three and been happy with all of them.

 

[buckland]

Like most opinions they are based on a truth that though old just keeps one thinking the same thing. I am no doubt stuck in that rut on lots of stuff. The Tacoma was bullet proof for it's time and then as most might do leaned on their laurels and did not improve on what they had. I am hearing more from non-Tacoma owners than folks like me. I think there might just be a few more feeling the same way but stubborn in their support. I do love driving the 2001 Tacoma. When they were working on replacing my frame (3 times..I kid you not) they stood by their product and loaned me a new model to drive.... I hated it. I could't wait to get my old truck back. That is a bit sad but true.
I will have to just wait until the snow flies here (soon no doubt) and take one out for a test drive. I am looking forward to the experience.

 

[CALIcamperdad]

Being a Toyota lifer. to date.. I am clueless of the difference between the GMC Canyon and the Chevy Colorado. A dealer near me said they are the same but GMC is more expensive ... what? This is the stuff that makes me hate shopping in general and specifically auto. There is a palatable feeling of being "taken to the cleaners" ...a shadowy deal making. I have to admit i like the grill of the GMC more... is that what it is about? Well I am not all that worked up about it ...much more in life to fret about if you are lucky.
I'll just keep on trucking

Buck I looked into it when the first Colorados started hitting the dealers. Its the same truck but GMC shoots for a higher trim up market look and interior. The GMC interior is more typical modern style with passenger power seat / lumbar support etc vs the colorado interior reminded me of my cousins 85 Pontiac fo leather strips with cloth sewn in between etc. The mechanicals / packages are more or less identical. I like the exterior of the Colorado and modern interior of the Canyon that and the wife would nix the Colorado as soon as she saw the interior and lacking lumbar on the passenger side. Canyon would be my only choice. The Taco is too Jeep like and interior would fail the wife test. Lol

 

[buckland]

Not to mention the heated seats!