The Tacoma is gaining popularity

The 3rd gen Taco is a great truck and of late has really seen a surge in sales against the Colorado (another truck I'm intrigued with). For whatever reason, the Colorado seems to be loosing some of it's mojo in the sales race, at this point (1st 2 months of 2018) even the ancient Nissan Frontier is running neck and neck with the Colorado...very interesting. I've link the story from the site Pickuptrucks.com where these figures were compiled. Despite some of the teething problems the 3rd gen Taco had have apparently been corrected by Toyota.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2018/03/pickup-truck-sales-breakdown-february-2018.html#comments

 

Regular Colorado drives like a crossover/minvan. The ZR2 looks sweet, but I don't have that kind of money and I don't trust a chevy engine to hold up.

The Frontier is proven and the cheapest option around for a capable midsize.

 

I've owned plenty of Chevrolets, Most anything in a RWD configuration GM makes has a pretty good drivetrain..... especially in the 90 degree V engine department. The 3.5L I think is a 60 degree engine, but it'll probably go 300K with regular maintenance.

 

Interesting, what you do you think of their offered diesel?

 

Chevy motors are strong, its the rest of the vehicle that might be a little questionable.

I know my previous bowtie vehicles served me well. And thats an understatement.

 

And to the OP, I would not say “gaining”, more like sustaining.

In the midsize truck market, there is no other choice, Tacoma or bust. Although the ZR2 is also pretty sweet.

 

Gramps ole GMC V8 keeps on tickin, thats for sure.

 

Bought my first Taco ~2 years ago. Seems like it's every other vehicle on the road now that I'm paying attention.

 

I got no experience with diesels..... especially not something new with all the latest emissions stuff. Do those things use DEF? It's made in Thailand, I got no idea.... it's probably a decent unit at lease mechanically, the other stuff may be issue.... Maybe Isuzu background.

Now that 5 cylinder monstrosity they had in the 1st gen is an issue. What a piece of garbage. File that with the Aztec.

 

If I could afford a second vehicle I would easily buy a Frontier S manual. You get a ton of truck for under 20 grand and I bet it'll still be kicking long after the Colorado or Canyon is ready for the scrap yard.

 

Haha. That's what my buddy suffered through. Maybe thats my bias.

 

The Colorado diesel was designed in Italy and built in Thailand. It does use DEF. So far it has been reliable, but only time will tell.

 

I do have to admit that I do prefer the older LS platform, as opposed to the newer LT stuff.

 

I had a 2002 S10 prior to the Taco. It was a really great truck. I've got no bad things to say about it except the 3rd door handle kept breaking... The engine was great. Definitely got more low rpm grunt than the Taco, but the Taco has got way more up top. It had 251K on the clock and ran fine when someone paid me money for it. It did need a front end rebuild, but I live in Louisiana where potholes are the norm.

1st Gen Colorado I'm not a fan of.... maybe the V8 ones would be fine.

2nd Gen Colorado is a much better truck and is probably a decent truck. I do prefer the Taco though.

 

My employee has the 5 cylinder model. He leaves his keys on the vehicles dash everywhere he goes hoping someone will steal it from him

 

Not true. I looked at the Tacoma , the GM twins and the Frontier. I ended up with the Frontier. I will grant you the Frontier is dated. What I didn't like is how Toyota and GM made the trucks bigger. One reason I purchased the Frontier is it is basically the same size as the 06 Tacoma I had. I keep vehicles 8-10 years. So resale is not a concern.

Frontier had the best bang for the buck.

 

At least it has 4 wheel disc brakes.

 

I looked at the Colorado ZR2 a few times when I was truck shopping. For what they cost, I'd expect an upgrade from the interior that seems to be designed by Kitchen-Aid. It just felt cheap on the inside. Not that the Tacoma's interior is by any means luxury, but for a truck in the 50k realm i'd expect some upgraded materials. Plus at the end of the day, to me its a lot of money for a midsize truck. My boss just picked up a loaded 2016 Silverado with 40k miles for 30 grand. If i was in the market again, that's the route i'd go for a bowtie. I'd say im not alone in feeling that way.

But the real deal breaker for me was no 3rd pedal. So it was an unfair fight from the beginning.

 

Cool ad that is one I have not seen in the Southeast.When I get another truck (and no I'll never part ways with my 99 Taco) I'll most likely "chicken out" and buy another Taco they just run, and run, and run, and run