Anyone have a Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon? How do you like it? I need a little pickup that gets good gas mileage and from what I have read the Colorado/Canyon I5 gets the best. Ive looked at the Toyota Tacoma 4 door, but they are about $5-$6k more and dont get great mileage.
Chevy Colorado-GMC Canyon
- Thread starter Kntr
- Start date
the older I5 is kind of lame in that truck really. look for a newer model I5 if you really want the 5cylinder
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I absolutely love my '06 Colorado. I have a 4WD crew cab Z71 with the 3.5 liter I5. In the year and a half I've owned it, I only had to replace the camshaft exhaust actuator solenoid. I spent $200, and got a tune, and routinely get 18 MPG city / 23 MPG highway. My best was a trip to Beverly, MA earlier this year and I averaged 26.2 MPG round trip. I know a few people who could get 27 or 28 with the I4 engine after a tune, but I like being able to stomp on it and go, if necessary. I test drove the 2.9 I4 last May, and I just wasn't impressed with it's performance.
Some trucks before 2007 had head issues that GM extended the warranty to 100,000 miles. I've had no such issue with mine. From what I understand, if it didn't happen relatively early, chances are you wouldn't run into the issue later on.
I only tested out the truck when my Jetta was in the shop, since it was the only vehicle Enterprise had in stock. A week later, I traded in the Jetta. I've had Mazdas, Fords, Nissans, Hondas and VWs. This truck is my absolute favorite of them all. I plan on running it until it falls apart.
If you have any more questions, check out http://www.coloradofans.com and http://www.355nation.net.
Some trucks before 2007 had head issues that GM extended the warranty to 100,000 miles. I've had no such issue with mine. From what I understand, if it didn't happen relatively early, chances are you wouldn't run into the issue later on.
I only tested out the truck when my Jetta was in the shop, since it was the only vehicle Enterprise had in stock. A week later, I traded in the Jetta. I've had Mazdas, Fords, Nissans, Hondas and VWs. This truck is my absolute favorite of them all. I plan on running it until it falls apart.
If you have any more questions, check out http://www.coloradofans.com and http://www.355nation.net.
They have both gotten horrible reviews. I know a lot of what I read talked about electronics problems mostly.
Only a Chevy owner would consider that a good track record on a truck that new.
I have an '07 Taco, and I haven't done anything but change the oil.
ive heard similar, check consumer reports.
The solenoid was $50, and literally took less than a minute to install with a single 10mm bolt. The tune was $200. I would say that's pretty good. Was the tune necessary? No. But it sure is nice having a truck that can carry more stuff and get better fuel economy than my Jetta.
I have an '05 Z71 4x4 extended cab, purchased new and now its at 107K miles.
Great truck, aboput 19mpg average, outside of oil changes & tires all that I had to replace was a power window motor.
BUT my check engine light is on & I need an inspection so I'm sure that there will be a 2nd item that needs replacing.
As far as the I5 its been great - no problems, no issues, enough power/acceleration for me.
Great truck, aboput 19mpg average, outside of oil changes & tires all that I had to replace was a power window motor.
BUT my check engine light is on & I need an inspection so I'm sure that there will be a 2nd item that needs replacing.
As far as the I5 its been great - no problems, no issues, enough power/acceleration for me.
There is a reason the resale on the Tacoma is higher. You get 100,000 more miles out of the Toyota.
Im looking at a 4dr 04 Colorado with the I5 and 50k miles for about $11,000. Im also looking at a 4dr 03 Tacoma with v6 and 82k miles for $17,000. The Colorado will average about 5mpg better and is $6k less.
HEY BROKENCHAIN
Tell me about this tune. Who does it? Dealer? Also, how is the Canyon for reliability on the forums? Is there anything I should look at on the used 04 Canyon?
HEY BROKENCHAIN
Tell me about this tune. Who does it? Dealer? Also, how is the Canyon for reliability on the forums? Is there anything I should look at on the used 04 Canyon?
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It's not done by a dealer. Some people just do it as a side project. The software used for my tune is called by HP Tuners. Search the Colorado forums to see if there's one in your area. In my opinion, it's the best money I spent. Reliability for the Colorado / Canyon is pretty good overall.
Here's a link to the head issue I mentioned before: http://coloradofans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=26513
No matter what the original warranty on the truck was, GM extended it to 100,000 miles for the '04-'06 355s.
And the exhaust actuator solenoid was $50. I noticed it was idiling rough, and it stalled twice while backing out of my driveway. I got to work, and yanked it out, noticed one of the screens was missing and ordered a new one off the internet.
The only other issue I can think of off the top of my head, and it's really personal preference here, are the seats. They upgraded them in late '06 I belive, but the earlier models can be hit or miss. Mine aren't bad, but I've been in one where my back was killing me after 20 minutes. I'm saving for some seats out of an H3, since they just bolt in.
I have an '05 Taco. The first year they switched to the new platform, so you would expect some teething problems, right?
107,000 miles and nothing but oil changes FTW.
I may have even washed it on average of once per year.
I know nothing of the Colorado except I thought they looked kind of cool when they first came out.
2007 or newer for the I5. the first gen 5cylinders were underpowered and had lots o problems
Had an 2004 z71 and hated it. nothing but issues. Tried to trade it in after 8 months and they laughed at me. I paid $24,000 for it they only wanted to give me $10,000. Finally was able to trade it in after 2 years for a 4 door F-150 and couldnt have been happier
What sort of issues? From what I have been reading, its sort of hit or miss with the Canyon.
Haha. That is exactly what I thought when I read that comment.
I know that this is NOT A CANYON, but i had the 05 sierra extended cab, nothing but problems. I traded it in for a tundra crewmax. when it went in it had a blown diff, 90% shot tranny, super loose wobbly front end that nobody could quite figure out, all 4 brakes were gone (maintenance i know) and the gear shifter was super loose and wobbly(mayb part of tranny?) i dont know alot about this but it was the 2nd chevy in my family nd it was just as bad as the first one, which got totaled at 15,000 miles. All these problems surfaced between 50,000 and 60,000 miles.
-i will add that i know a guy that has the SAME truck as i do, and his is in the 250,000 range i believe. I personally feel that all chevys are hit and miss.
-i will add that i know a guy that has the SAME truck as i do, and his is in the 250,000 range i believe. I personally feel that all chevys are hit and miss.
I have been very happy with my 2004 Canyon. Other than the stock tires that wore out way to fast the truck has been great. With the Michelin ATs(the BFG ATs sucked) the truck does great even in snow with it being 2wd. I average just over 20mpg and around 24mpg on the highway. It is the longest I have owned a vehicle and still have no reason to replace it. I used to by a new vehicle every three years for some reason.
3 front end alignments in under 2 years, was the big thing. Something was wrong from the factory and they could never figure it out. Ended up wearing out a bunch of bushings in the steering linkage also. The truck just felt slapped together, I joked it was a lego truck.
Never had any isses with the engine though
This issue should be fixed now. For some reason, GM gave out the wrong alignment specs, which would cause the issues you had. It took them until mid - late 2006 to release the updated specs. Why it took so long to get the update out there, I couldn't tell you.
funny how they did this right before the new generation came out
the fact that people even respond with issues is enough for me. Having driven Jeremy's truck a ton, I'm going on record as saying that the Tacoma is worth every penny. Heck, the 02 or 03 Tacoma that we used to shuttle in of Ben's at Windrock was solid as an ox too. Tacoma for the rainbow stripes!
right......Is it true Toyotas are so reliable most dealerships dont even have a garage or any mechanics?
It is true, they rust out before service is required.right......Is it true Toyotas are so reliable most dealerships dont even have a garage or any mechanics?
BTW, the Tacoma is (for now) manufactured by a GM-Toyota joint venture called NUMMI in Fremont CA. Does anyone know if the the Canyon, etc. are also manufactured by NUMMI?
Well, I guess Im going to look for a 02-04 4 door Toyota Tacoma. The Toyotas I have found are still $16k+ with almost 100k miles on them. This is a little out of hand. I found a couple 04-05 4 door Canyons with 40k-50k miles for $10k-$12k. I can buy a lot of stuff for the extra $5k-6k Id be saving, but I think the Toyota would be a better truck for me. It will see a lot of gravel roads and a lot of 4x4ing.
I have wheeled the **** out of my 2wd Canyon. I took it up over Imogene Pass(13,000') from Telluride to Ouray. The truck has held up awesome and does great off road. The locking rear diff helps a ton. The approach and departure angles are not the best but what stock trucks are? I did pull off the front air damn to give it more clearance.
hahahahaha
1st things 1st these discussions never really end well because everyone is brand loyal.
I will say this, I have owned 7 chevy trucks with over 100,000 miles on them that were all trouble free of major failures, yes an alternator, or brakes, or a sensor went bad, but that's no biggie. My father has owned 3 over 100,000 mile chevy trucks and currently has two in the driveway, neither are the colorado/canyons, but that isnt the point.
I have owned 1 toyota, it was a cali truck, which is huge here in the midwest since most toyota's rust away with in the first 2 or 3 years of ownership. I thought I got a good deal on a nice well maintained truck.
The motor blew at 125,000 miles. The camshaft lobes were warn down 1/8-1/4", the cylinders had such ridiculous lips warn into them from the rings i had to bore it .30, two rod bearings were spun, and a third was completely wasted.......The frame was rusted through, even though it was a cali truck, the catalytic converter clogged shortly after the engine rebuild as well....yeah that toyota was an awesome truck.....
I was less than impressed with the first canyon/colorado model years, but it was better than the 94+ sonoma/s-10 years. I had the I-5 in an '06 Hummer H3 and although the power wasn't awesome it wasnt bad and mileage at 20 mpg was respectible.
If people are honestly averaging 20+ mpg for a full tank of city/highway commuting I may have to take another look into a 4 door colorado.
I don't disagree, but I sold them all before 200,000 miles.....still doesnt explain my awesome toyota blowing up at 125k.
I've seen 185, 195, 150, 125, etc. before selling them, I like to off them before 200k so I dont take the depreciation hit that comes along with that #2 on the far left.
A buddy of mine had a brand new 2004 Colorado that had both the engine and the transmission completely replaced within the first year of owning it 
Obviously that's a pretty extreme data point, but it does agree with people's experience that the trucks are hit-or-miss.
My '98 Tacoma had the piss beaten out if it. I spent as much time in the woods as on the road, sometimes hauling a thousand pounds worth of people in the truck bed into the woods. The only thing that ever broke on it was a leaf spring on one of the aforementioned excursions with a lot of people in the bed, when I bottomed out the suspension in a hole.
Obviously that's a pretty extreme data point, but it does agree with people's experience that the trucks are hit-or-miss.
My '98 Tacoma had the piss beaten out if it. I spent as much time in the woods as on the road, sometimes hauling a thousand pounds worth of people in the truck bed into the woods. The only thing that ever broke on it was a leaf spring on one of the aforementioned excursions with a lot of people in the bed, when I bottomed out the suspension in a hole.
My friend's father's 2500 had it's transmission or t-case (forget which) completely explode at around the 20k mile mark. The transmission in it now feels like complete ****, too.
yeah my uncle has a 1500 that is on it's second transmission, the truck is an '06 and my uncle is a 65 year old slow paced easy driver. I think he only has 60,000 miles.
It's hit or miss, and your going to hear about it on account of both manufacturers, I think you will hear more stories about bad chevy's for the simple fact there are 2 or 3 or 4 times as many on the road.
It's hit or miss, and your going to hear about it on account of both manufacturers, I think you will hear more stories about bad chevy's for the simple fact there are 2 or 3 or 4 times as many on the road.
Can you confirm that stat?
Sales figures from August 2007 (YTD):
Toyota Tacoma
121,519
Chevrolet Colorado
53,527
Sales figures from March 2008 (YTD):
Toyota Tacoma
39,776
Chevrolet Colorado
15,750
2 or 3 or 4 times as many?
Yes, and no.
In the list below I dont even see the numbers for the toyota tundra (since the silverado is listed) 19,000 sold to less than 7,000 sold. almost 3 times as many trucks sold. Ford Killed it, but that doesnt include silverado's identical twin the sierra.
I could probably search all day to find exact data, but clearly 19,000 trucks with 2% problems equals a lot more people unhappy than 7,000 trucks with 2% problems.
Top 20 vehicles, current month's sales
September 2009
Ford F - Series PU 33,877 3.5 295,426 -24.8
Toyota Camry / Solara 25,745 -12.7 264,357 -25.7
Honda Accord 20,826 -6.9 221,369 -29.3
Toyota Corolla / Matrix 20,741 -2.7 215,038 -23.1
Chevrolet Silverado PU 19,401 -61.5 229,388 -38.1
Honda Civic 16,093 -25.4 207,883 -27.2
Honda CR-V 14,554 -8.6 142,906 -9.6
Dodge Ram PU 13,452 -35.4 143,205 -27.0
Chevrolet Impala 13,047 -51.9 126,856 -39.5
Nissan Altima 12,149 -24.3 154,662 -30.9
Toyota Prius 10,984 1.0 104,794 -19.7
Ford Fusion 10,834 9.0 134,600 14.5
Chevrolet Malibu 10,479 -46.9 118,995 -14.6
Toyota RAV4 10,398 0.9 106,863 0.1
Volkswagen Jetta 9,568 8.5 81,161 7.3
Ford Focus 9,182 -11.3 125,913 -23.9
Ford Escape 8,692 -5.1 126,268 0.5
Lexus RX 8,228 77.4 65,325 3.3
Pontiac G6 8,097 -21.6 69,045 -42.3
Chevrolet Camaro 7,961 0.0 39,151 0.0
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html
If you look at minitruck sales the tacoma is a better seller than the colorado/canyon platform, so in that regard the same could be said for the tacoma, and it isnt being said, I had bad luck with one, but not everyone will.
Truth is the Toyota has always been a better looking truck than the domestic offerings, and has had better quality.
I was referring to the fullsize chevies that had been brought into the discussion. I realize the tacoma is the #1 selling mini, and has been for quite some time.