Rented a Colorado.

So my truck is in the shop getting an encounter with a mailbox repaired and Enterprise gave me a fairly new Colorado as a loaner.

Right off the bat...Jesus this thing stinks of cigarettes...but you get that in rentals. I rent a LOT...it happens.

As for the Colorado...

Why can't the brakes in the Tacoma be this good? Seriously...they feel like a revelation after driving my 2015 OR. No mush...no slop. Just stop.

The other highlight is the handling. Which is great on road. I do have to wonder how it would do off road. I will find out this weekend and report back.

Low lights. The engine has a lot of torque but just falls apart as the revs rise. And the interior has these pockets and such that I can't figure out what on earth you could put there.

Seats are better than expected for a Chevy.

But may the worst thing of all is the headlights. this is an LT package and the headlights are freaking abysmal. I have seen cars with a 6v system with better illumination. I don't know if the step up to the projector headlights means HID's...but it would be mandatory. My wife asked me several times if the headlights were even on, it was that bad. Thank God the brakes are good.

 

Superior taco brakes here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-2006-tacoma-brake-upgrade.652471/

 

Brake pedal feel was my only serious gripe about my 2008 Tacoma, so it appears Toyota hadn't fixed the design by 2015.

I don't know what it would take to fix our brake pedal feel, a Tundra master cylinder? Bleeding the brakes doesn't fix the problem...heck it was like that the day I drove it off the lot in 2008.

 

You see way more Tacoma's around here than Colorado's, thanks for sharing!

 

My wife - not exactly a tech inspector - got one of the Enterprise / Colorado rentals for a week. When I asked about driving it - she said "don't bother" not worth the aggravation....... I took her word for it.

 

My neighbor has one, every time he starts it up I wonder what the heck kind of engine sounds like that. It sounds awful.

Brakes on on Off Road feel different than the other models. My wife's 4Runner brakes are super squishy feeling compared to my Taco.

 

Wow, they must really suck! I've never had a soft brake pedal like my Tacoma in any of the 30 automobiles I've owned, or the 100+ automobiles I've driven unless there was air in the lines. My Tacoma has the worst brake pedal feel I've ever experienced.

My 94 Yota Truck had a much better brake pedal feel...night and day better!

 

What pisses me off is how great the breaks are on my wife's 2019 4runner OffRoad. Why not just make that system standard on all 4wd Tacomas?

 

I have read and read and read about brake upgrades. The problem is the Off Road model. Throw that into the mix and it instantly means squishy brakes.

I have bled them, and then had them re-bled by the dealer using the correct machine. It improved (greatly) but I would not say they are great.

I also owned a 94 extended car 4x4 Toytoa PU. The brakes were much better in that. I really miss that truck.

 

My brother has a Colorado. Not sure which trim, but it's pretty nice on the interior. He really likes it and it is a sharp looking truck. Definitely wouldn't trade my Tacoma for it though. His son (8 years old) loves Tacomas and even knows the different trims so he gets super pumped when he gets to go off roading with uncle Thunder Fist.

 

OP what tacoma do you have.... ill bet you have a model that is not an 09+ TRD OR 4x4 (or 05-08 with the rare vsc optional package). Reason i say that is, you likely have a vacuum boosted brake setup like most tacomas have which result in the squishy vague brake feeling. Get in one of those taco models i mentioned above, and ill bet the first stop you do you just about lock up the tires thanks to the electric boosted master cylinder.

Looks like the new colorado has either an electric boosted master, or a hydraulic boosted (off the power steering pump) like many a GM of the past.

 

I put 5th gen 4runner calipers, rotors, and pads on mine (2011 DCLB Sport). It stops pretty good, but the pedal is mushy. From what I understand, the 4runner piston is bigger and the Tacoma master cylinder doesn't push enough fluid to mimic the pedal feel in the 4runner. I'm probably going to just go back to Tacoma components next time. I had Hawk calipers and rotors on it before and was pretty pleased with them. I put a lift and 255/85/17's on it toward the end of the life of the Hawks and attributed more to the bigger tires than worn out components. If I had it to do over again I would have just stuck with Tacoma components and the Hawk pads and rotors.

 

Updated my profile to reflect my truck. But its a 2015 TRD OR. I would be happy to swap out master cylinder and all to make the brakes better. I

 

Brake pedal feel and ability to stop are not really the same thing. I don't consider my 2018 very squishy, and my 2012 felt pretty similar. I haven't had to stop fast in the 2018 yet, but the 2012 stopped really well when I had to get on it.

My wife's 2017 4Runner has a way softer pedal, but it's a Limited which is kind of cushy compared to other trims, so the soft pedal makes sense. It stops just fine, just feels different.

 

My taco stops pretty good with stoptech pads but the brake dust will be my demise. Gets annoying after a while.

 

4x4 or prerunner? if prerunner this is why you feel as though you have to push on the pedal moreso than the colorado due to the vacuumbooster on your truck. Its not possible to upgrade to the electric master cylinder

 

It’s 4x4.

I replaced the pads and rotors with stoptech/TRD. It did help...but it still feels like it could be improved.

 

I have a ‘13 prerunner and have no complaints of the brakes. I wouldn’t say they are super tight, but they are responsive throughout the pedal travel. I almost lock up my wife’s Kia Soul every time I first get into it. That one is like on/off brakes which I don’t prefer.

 

I have to agree. I finally got fed up and did the Stoptech 6-piston calipers and pads upgrade. All good now.

 

F chevy. They can have nice brakes but there is a post of a Colorado breaking in half from a tiny trailer and dirt road