New Chevy Colorado mega-thread

Tail lights? They can only change so much imo.

Bumper? They all kinda look the same. Maybe they have a bumper w/a step in it option. But again, they can only change so much.

 

I think more tech will sell it much better than a new look...

 

I have heard the same, this will not be a complete new platform but rather same gen 2 bones with new sheet metal and interior.

 

If they change out the power plant and add the electronic goodies consumers seem to want these days a generation 2.2 truck will sell well.

 

Why on earth would they refresh only the looks this late in the game? That wouldn't make ANY sense to re-tool the factories for what....a 1-2 year production cycle?

Tacoma has been on a 10 year generation cycle thus far. First gen was introduced in 1995 and ran till end of 2004. Then in 2005 we got the 2nd gen. Now guess what, it's 10 years later. It's time.

 

Yeah I don't understand why people are saying that the tail lights and bumper look the same... Everything on the back of the truck from what I can tell tell in the teaser picture, looks like an entirely new design.

 

I'm pretty sure that it will be a pretty significant redesign. I think it will include a new body design, new interior, motor changes, transmission changes (auto 6spd) for gas mileage. If toyota doesn't make a full redesign, that would be very shitty of them, considering most other manufacturers change every 4 years or so.

 

I would hope for a new platform as well, but most auto sources rumor those of us wishing for that will be disappointed. We will find out soon enough. As for the long life cycle, everyone complains the Tacoma was run to long etc. Trucks typically have long cycles before the platform is changed, that's all brands. Every article I read about the new Colorado bash the Tacoma for not being redone yet, guess what the last Colorado ran from 2004-2012 before they threw in the towel.

 

Yup, we will see. IMO the tacoma was run too long with this particular body style. On top of that, there are issues still present in these trucks that didn't get addressed. I guarantee that most trucks do not run for that long of life cycles. Frames probably, but exterior and interior asthetics and technology changes are present in other models much more frequently than 10 yrs. The taco doesn't even have power seats, lol.

 

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/why-the-2015-toyota-tacoma-trd-pro-is-a-cool-idea-with-1670461402

Pretty savage review, but not entirely unfair.

 

Completely fair IMO. Some new trim pieces, a new badge, and some aftermarket suspension do not a brand new truck make. The review is right in that there is no reason to get a Pro when you can get a used one that's exactly the same where it counts (engine, suspension design, layout, etc).

I didn't know the "Pro" line also extended into other models besides the Tacoma. Looks like they've taken the idea from BMW putting a "M trim" on anything they can while offering very little substance over the regular models.

 

The problem is, you're forgetting how big a sales base there is out there for trucks without them.

Stripped down, basic fleet trucks are a HUGE market. Hell, I'm on my third. If something breaks I can fix it or finagle it with u-pick parts much of the time.

Cheap, reliable, dependable, and strong. There's a reason fleets and utilities have tons of them.

I'll stick with my manual roll-up windows, non powered and non heated seats, and manual zip-stick parking brake, thanks. You get right on with your bad self paying 38K for yours. I've gotten three for that much.

 

Most work trucks in my area have gone from base models to one level up. You rarely see a Ford/chev/dodge xl/se/sl, instead all the companies are now giving out XLT/SLE/SLT trucks because they only cost a few hundred more at fleet prices. With warranty and lease fleets companies don't care if the gadgets go bad after 3 years. They renew there fleets every 36 months anyway. If the backup camera or sensors save one life on site (even just on paper) the cost is more than worth it to corporate.

 

I'm not sure what company you know of that refreshes every 36 months but I work for a utility company and we don't refresh that often at all. If they're still mechanically sound you'll the early 2000 body-style chevies driving around still.

 

The point I was making was that other manufacturers make "updates" to vehicles more often than Toyota has on the Tacoma, whether it's new body styles, motors/trans to improve mpg, etc. I also think though that manufacturers shouldn't kick their feet up and not improve vehicles just because they sell, which seems to be your logic. That's like saying since Ford has had the best selling truck, the F150, for like 30 years, and we should still be driving the same model with the same technology from 30 years ago. You probably still use a rotary phone, lol. And no, I did not pay anywhere near 38k for mine.

 

Agrium, Exxon, Huskey, Exova, CHS, and Fortis (Fortis does line maintenance here) are just a few of the companies I know that renew there fleet on a three year term. Between just those companies you're looking at a fleet over 10,000.

Driving a vehicle any longer hurts a company because of a reduced depreciation tax writeoff. It's cheaper for large fleets to renew there fleets on a rolling 36 month lease than to run truck into the ground, plus it looks much more professional to the customer when your truck isn't an early 2000's base model beater.

 

I've noticed pge has new fords all the time. (With the exception of their heavy duty power pole trucks/baby semi/things)

 

Didn't take long for someone to drop a V8 in one of these trucks:

 

If you got the money

 

^Supposedly it's a built race motor that costs more than the truck.