Torn between 2017 tacoma sr and chevy silverado

I don’t like Chevy trucks, but the company I work for has a fleet of 140 mostly Chevrolet trucks, from Colorados to 5500’s. We do purchase 5/100 extended warranties on them and cycle them out around 95K miles. Generally we aren’t seeing too many consistent problems. We end up with one transmission per year on higher mileage trucks that tow heavy, some typical starters and alternator replacements, and occasional dumb shit that breaks. Some of the trucks have a shudder in the trans around 50K miles but keep working for as long as we own them. Our trucks are used hard in construction, I’m actually surprised how well they are holding up. I’m currently doing an audit to see if purchasing the extended warranties still makes sense. My hypothesis is that it will be cheaper for us to self insure on a fleet this size. The Chevys are proving to be reasonably reliable. Resale hasn’t been bad recently, but everything is really high right now because of low inventory and high demand. Generally I’m getting $18K for a 4 year old truck with 95K that had an MSRP of $45K, but my trucks are beat and dirty when I trade them. If I was trading Tundras I think I’d be getting $5K more per truck on a similar MSRP. My buddy just got $31K (plus the sales tax offset) in trade for his 2015 Tundra Limited with 31K miles he originally paid $39K for new. I might switch to Toyota’s if the next Gen Tundra is better on fuel.

On the mileage thing, any of our V6 1500 Silverado’s get better mileage than my Tacoma does. I drove a V6 1500 double cab for the first month I was on the job, it averaged 22.5 mpg for me. Many of our 5.3 V8 1500’s are getting similar mileage unloaded to my Tacoma. The new 2020 1500 Ecodiesel I recently put in the fleet is slaughtering the Tacoma MPG, averaging 24 mpg loaded with at least 1,000 pounds of tools in the bed and top of bed toolboxes.

I really like my Tacoma, but aside from reliability and resale it does leave some things to be desired.

 

Try posting on a Silverado forum the same question.

 

I am pretty sure if I posted the same question on a Chevy forum they would just trash the Tacoma because its a smaller truck. I know we are comparing apples to oranges because they are totally different trucks. I am going to get a tacoma because I care about resale and reliability. I like the look more of the blacked out Silverado but I can't base my entire decision on looks. I also don't really tow anything which is a big advantage with the Silverado.

 

I had a 2013 Silverado. Biggest piece of junk ever made.
Had the hood painted twice
The dash cracked
Oil pressure sensor went out
3rd brake light seal went out, had to have a new headliner put in
Charcoal canister stayed clogged up( .13¢ of gas at a time)
Rear differential seal went out also and left me with smelly gear dope in my garage
...with 80,000 miles when I got rid of it.

 

Not sure about the 2017 chevy silverado, but a neighbor had a 2015, and recently got rid of it because chevy couldn't fix the chevy shake issues it had. After 5 years and nearly 40k miles, plus several trips back to the dealer he had enough.

 

Many choices based on looks don't really play out well. Or at best are a waste of money.

Proceed with caution.

 

If you're mostly basing the Silverado off of looks and probably won't use it for the advantages that it has like towing or hauling you might as well just get the Tacoma.

 

Sounds like you top off your gas tank to the max every fill up?

 

Follow the money, better resale for a reason. My 2nd gen sold in about 3 weeks. For much higher return than Chevy in the past. For better or worse, people look to buy Toyota. Chevy not so much

 

guy with the 17 Tahoe that thinks its great.. just wait your day is coming.
locked up struts/ leaking cooler lines/ stuck lifters /bent push rods/ scored cam. transmission fluid pump failing if 6spd. torque converter shudder if 8 spd. seat motors going out. radio screen freezing up. defrost tabs coming off glass. rear door garnish panels flying off as you go down the road...

 

dam almost forgot! a/c condenser leaking. rear a/c lines leaking. a/c compressor locking up...

 

He is just out of factory waranty, so time bomb is ticking lol

 

I own both a Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd Silverado and a DCLB TRD Offroad: Two different trucks, for two different task purposes, although I started out Overlanding with the Chevy, but find the Tacoma better suited for that. The Chevy has now been relegated to strictly hauling livestock and flatbed trailers, and farm work.

 

Would they have the same gas mileage though? I'm sure the weight of the Silverado makes a difference. If this is a daily driver, not having some basic features the SR lacks (fog lights, intermittent wipers, heated mirrors, etc) while okay, may get under your skin over time. If you're looking at a 2017, it will have none of those things. While the Tacoma will have better resale value, the Silverado will likely have a faster resale timeframe. But I buy vehicles for me, not the next guy.

Anyway, a lot of good advice here. Just post a pic whenever you purchase either vehicle.

 

The mileage differs greatly. First and foremost, the Chevy is far heavier, load range "E" tires, heavy duty everything (skidplate, and set-up for snow plowing without blade), and gets about 8-10 MPG when towing, and about 13 on the highway (4.11 gearing). The Tacoma obviously gets better mileage (17-18.5 average both street and highway). I always purchase vehicles and keep them till the fall apart, so resale value is not a factor for me: Functionality, and prime purpose of said vehicle is key. At my age, both should carry me through for what I need them for till I say "Goodbye".....

 

Based on the looks of that Chevy in your picture, I don't think you will like the Tacoma. That Chevy is more a street truck, while the tacoma is more of a dirt road truck. I have had 2 chevy 2500 suburbans, two 1500 suburbans and a tahoe, all for work. Worst 4wd system in the 4wd kingdom. Traction control sucks and my 2010 tried to kill me by locking the front passenger wheel on the freeway causing the truck to wanna turn right. I got that same truck stuck in 3-4 inches of hail. I had to use my jeep to pull me out. I would never use my own money to buy a Chevy truck. Sorry.

 

My vote would be a Tundra if you want fullsize

 

No. Bought the truck with 20k never topped it off.

 

Full size is not better than mid size and vice versa. It all depends on your wants and needs. Why would anyone buy a Tacoma if they know it won’t do the job and why buy full size when a mid size will do? It just requires a little thought and research.