To Taco or not to Taco, that is the question?

Instead of starting my own thread - I thought I'd add to this one. As some of you know me from years past, I'm in the market for a new truck. I've been drooling over the 16 since everyone's been talking about them on here. As time got closer to availability, I've been increasingly disappointed with the options available.

Sooo...... Friday I went to the PA Auto show in Harrisburg to check out the Tacoma, Colorado, & Canyon more closely. Granted - I already know a lot about the tacoma aside from picking around the interior, popped the hood, and took a test drive right there at the show. It was a short test drive - but my initial impressions - not much different than my current truck, just 9 years newer. I've been a Toyota fan forever, and I'm familiar with the reliability..... I get it.

The Colorado & Canyon are similar. The Canyon has more options, better interior quality, yadda yadda yadda. And since I'm looking for the 'top of the line' - I whipped up an excel sheet to compare the Canyon & Tacoma. I had only wanted an Access cab - but after talking, my husband and I are talking about a double cab. So....I'm looking more closely at the Limited DC and Access Cab Sport and the Canyon SLT and possibly the All Terrain package. It wasn't long before I began to see the overall differences and what has become the direction to shoot for.

Obviously, what's important to me...is different than everyone else's So before you bash me to actually liking the Canyon. This post is only for informational purposes only for those who actually care. Believe me.....I'm doing my diligence in researching. I'm learning a lot.

Reliability aside... The Canyon has a leg-up on the Tacoma. Both trucks are similar in overall size.
Canyon SLT V6 VERSUS Tacoma LIMITED/Sport V6

From Engine size: 3.6L V6 VVT VS 3.5L DOHC V6
Torque: 269 lbs VS 265 lbs
Horsepower: 306 @ 6800rpms VS 278 hp @ 6,000rpms
Gas Mileage: 19 - 25 VS 18 - 23
Towing Capacity: 7000 lbs VS 6500 lbs

Features that are impressive on Canyon - Eaton G80 rear mechanical LSD which operates on centrifugal forces to act as a 'locker' when engaged (when one wheel is 100rpms faster than the other, it will engage)

Autotrac transfer case - 4Hi and 4Lo with an AUTO feature that transfers power front to rear depending on slippage.

All wheel disc brakes

And a boat load of standard options that Tacoma doesn't come close.....(again, comparing SLT vs Limited and/or package availability)
Heated mirrors, Leather appointed seats, power seats (including power lumbar), Remote start, etc. There are a lot of other things that I haven't been able to 'confirm' based on the information I'm reading online.

I just need to drive one (Canyon)....... I do have a lot of questions about the Canyon that I'll poke the GM forums for.

I'm not all that 'worried' about the quality here ... we used to own a Corvette and my nephew has owned a Silverado for many years. The quality issues might not be as different as they were 10 years ago. And to be honest....Toyota's quality isn't as good as it was 10 years ago either.

So, we'll see...... Take all this for what its worth to you.

 

I cant afford the SLT Canyon so I paid $36500 for a fully loaded TRD OR DC LB. The Canyon is a nice truck, I hope you enjoy yours.

 

I would never pay that much for a small Pick up.. I would not even pay $35K, Too much for a cab with a crap load of sheet metal and plastic behind the cab.

 

..so buy the car or truck that doesn't and pay $34999.95

 

Cars I will and have paid up for. My 08 Vette cost more than I paid for my Taco. I bought a truck that cost me $33K. That's plenty for a truck.

 

I hear ya. I would rather pay $25K

 

Well in my opinion, you just can't beat the quality of a Toyota. So I'd just go with a Tacoma haha.

 

Thsnks, but I haven't bought one yet. Still need to drive one and research more. It's just a shame Toyota doesn't offer more options especially if people are willing to pay for it.

 

I have all of those 'other options' in my other vehicles. Heated mirrors are worthless (they don't work or I don't drive far enough to find out). Leather seats can be had for $600 as an option (again there just not worth the money). Power seats are worthless (I never adjust the seat after the first time driving) I have power seats in my other cars and trucks and I never touch the adjustments PERIOD EVER! My wife, on the other hand, drives me nuts, adjusting infinitely. Now if your argument is that Toyota should be much cheaper for not having those items, I'm with you!!! There is a difference in reliability, however the gap has closed over the years. My only issue with GM is the cost of ownership. The resale value for those trucks will be in the tank. Toyota is already dominating the sales figures which means GM will offer incentives to move inventory and diminish the value instantly. Additionally, the GM dealerships try to put the wood to customers on trade in value so, if a GM dealer wont give you a hi trade no one else will. So, you find yourself in a downward spiral in value almost immediately. That 70% resale value you see on the twins is a projection and not an actual figure. Again I love those trucks, I just cant afford to own one.

 

Power seats are nice for fine tuning your seating position especially for long trips. We never took the 07 on major trips because it just wasn't equipped to carry everything. This truck? I'm gonna make damn sure I can carry both kayaks and bikes at the same time!! LOL

I had poked around on KBB.com for resale values on Canyon/Colorado. It's very very difficult (impossible) to compare the older generation Canyon/Colorado to this new generation because they are drastically different. What I was able to see...they were lower but not by that much.

At this point in time - The GMC's are selling almost as fast as they are coming in. My local dealer is lucky to have ONE on their lot at any given moment. I'll have to drive 30-40 miles just to find one remotely close to my specs (and be able to drive one) so I can test drive it.

Ever since I've owned truck/cars - there was always upgrades to install etc. For once, I want a truck that has everything in it - that I don't have to do anything to it. I'll still do stuff to it...just other stuff. LOL

 

Just go drive them all and buy the one that you like the most. Everyone has their own needs/wants, and their own reasons for purchasing what they do. I can sit here and tell you why I think the Tacoma is the best truck for me. Obviously I think so, because I bought one (well, ordered, but whatever ... should be here this week ... ). I'd suggest that you write down everything you're looking for in a truck (do you want a manual transmission, V8, diesel, etc.), what your needs are (do you tow 10000lbs all the time, off-road trails, etc.), and then look at all of the options available. Go drive them all. See which one meets your needs the best. Maybe something about one is there that you hadn't even considered. At the end of the day you need to make up your own mind, and buy for yourself not because of others. Life gets a lot better the sooner you make decisions based off of your own needs and desires and not because of the opinions of others. However, at the end of the day, if you end up buying a GM and get pissed off at the shitty interior, poor resale, and a few years from now the truck is falling apart ... well, you can always trade it in on a new Tacoma