New Truck thoughts for 2011 Eagle

[Texan76]

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.

The four door crew cab is available with the 6 foot bed. I've seen several of them. It seems to be popular here in Texas.

 

[billharr]

The four door crew cab is available with the 6 foot bed. I've seen several of them. It seems to be popular here in Texas.

Rare here in CA. But this is the 1/2 ton only. Go to the 3/4 ton and the 6 food bed is standard, no super short bed. Not sure why the manufactures went to the super short beds. 1st generation Tundra 4 doors had a 6 foot bed not so with the new Tundras.

 

[ski3pin]

The latest issue of Consumer Reports lists the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado as number 8 on the list of 20 Least Reliable New Cars. Top problem areas are stated as "in-car electronics, climate system, transmission."

 

[buckland]

Yikes how could the reviews be so all over the place?! It was Motor Trends Truck of the Year?!..... How does one cut through the chafe and find a review form a non partisan group. That's where Click and Clack were great... I miss those guys." Now for the third half of our show"

 

[ski3pin]

Consumer Reports is independent, has no paid advertising, and no source of money connected to manufacturers. One source of reliability feedback is from Consumer Union member surveys. I may not agree with what they would like or look for in a vehicle, but I do highly trust their reports on reliability.

 

[buckland]

Thanks for the info. I'll go to the library and see if they have the Magazine (was it fairly recent?). I do not have a subscription on line or otherwise so would have to do paper copy. I (I hope) have time. Maybe a year or 2 ....depending on what next fails on the 2001 Taco. Small stuff I deal with.... but if the clutch goes in winter I am NOT doing that job in my barn in New England! It has 145,000miles and I have done consistent maintenance.

 

[ski3pin]

It is the Dec 2015 issue that came in yesterday's mail.

 

[buckland]

Bingo. I'll check it out...thanks.

 

[fish more]

You might to check out the new Ford Ranger

 

[Texan76]

Consumer Reports is independent, has no paid advertising, and no source of money connected to manufacturers. One source of reliability feedback is from Consumer Union member surveys. I may not agree with what they would like or look for in a vehicle, but I do highly trust their reports on reliability.

Consumer reports is the most biased publication I have ever read. They never report honestly in my opinion. I have owned products that they claim are the best, and they turned out to be the worst, and vice versa. How can they claim the Colorado as being unreliable when it hasn't even been out a year? That certainly isn't near enough time to rate reliability. Motor Trend didn't give it truck of the year for nothing. They punished it before it made the grade.

One example of Consumer Report bias is when Toyota vehicles were killing people with stuck throttles, they still ranked those vehicles highest in safety and reliability! Not very accurate, if you ask me.

 

[longhorn1]

Everyone has their favorite truck and their own opinions. Prior to camper I had a 2001 F-150 that reached320,000 miles, original engine original transmission. I bought a F-250 with 12,000 and then the camper. Have 49,000+. I'm happy with Ford. I believe the write-ups, even with new trucks are based on the re-calls or problems, so the figures and facts are there to support the reason the truck made a negative list. Chevy Silverado made the naughty list due to electronics issues. 2 guys I work with have 2014's and are happy with them.

Find your comfort level and make your decision from there. Jd

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[buckland]

It's like ice cream flavors... Chevy/Ford/Toyota. What catches the eye ... lots of, just as you say, comfort level. My wife's cousin is a Dodge guy ... My father-in-law was a Ford man (but got a bad Ranger and that turned him) I have been a Toyota fan .... I am though wanting not to be blinded by stubborn notions ... if one is too convinced they are 'right' they probably have a blind spot.
Bottom line... I am open to all... I like competition ...I'll take the present best and then wait for someone next time to top it. As my dad used to say ...sometimes you have to test the depth of the water with two feet. ( he also said all decisions are based on insufficient data). I will continue to research up until my present truck dies. I do appreciate having people point out their views based on the design specs ( like rear disc brakes instead of drum and frame design/ rust problems... I know that too well)

 

[CALIcamperdad]

Ford just announced it has signed agreements with UAW to build the Ranger. Seems GM not being able to keep up with demand has peaked interest from Ford. If the Wildtrak 4dr, 6spd mt 3.2L shows up my Subaru is getting replaced. Ha ha

 

[buckland]

My wife has a Subaru and it is a tank in the snow... never gets stuck... but the engines don't last long...seals etc. That said it is 12 years old and I have used everything in the junk drawer to keep it going...one more year probably.
I will wait for the snow to pile up before I start doing my test drives in the growing list of possibilities. If I can get up here to my place in a good snow storm that proves something to me (boonies).
I'll look into the Ford. Just googled the Wildtrak... nice.
Thanks

 

[CALIcamperdad]

GM just made news the 2.8 duramax Colorado/Canyon is EPA rated at 29mpg highway for the 4x4 model and 30mpg for the 2wd. Also they were given EPA approval that it meets or exceeds emissions requirements.

That is a impressive mileage number.

 

[ETAV8R]

Being a lifer Toyota owner I am biased. I like the external appearance of the Colorado but when I went with a friend to the dealer for his wife's car being able to check out the Chevy and GMC I was underwhelmed. The interior is inferior compared to my 2nd gen Tacoma and the 3rd gens. I've checked out the new Tacoma's and will most likely get one but not for several more years. Mine is paid off and I'm not eager to get into payments again. Hopefully in a few years with more diesel motors in the market Toyota will step up and bring in one of their diesels. Time will tell.

 

[buckland]

I am a Taco lifer too... but... I am concerned with drum rear brakes... C open Frame.... a new 6 cyl. that has insanely high RPM for a manual trans. and composite bed... starting to think ...And I love my 2001 Tacoma... they should be improving these things.... not resting on ones laurels.

 

[PaulT]

Maybe they're making that composite bed out of recycled plastic water bottles and plastic bubble packages. You know, the type you can't tear open by hand? Dang bed would be indestructible.

Blame the CAFE standards for removal of weight (and strength) from newer vehicles. I read, somewhere, that reducing weight by 500 lbs adds 1/2 mpg but that might have been an estimate for heavier vehicles and was years ago.

Ford may be onto something by going to aluminum for trucks rather than plastic.

Paul

 

[buckland]

I love recycling and reusing and I know the bed is tough as nails... No rust but FWC charges almost 450 for the kit to put the camper on. I think you are right about the Ford aluminum gamble ... I think it will be a winner ... Not sure. It will ever come down to the smaller trucks but that would be great... No rust for a New England truck!


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[JHanson]

I really don't have anything against the Tacoma's composite bed. It is amazingly tough, and obviously rust-free forever. I just wish they'd put a better chassis underneath it.