New Chevy Colorado mega-thread

You put mirror temp over frame rust? Maybe you should go to Chevy

 

Toyota is losing share to Nissan already. What can Tacoma do to still be more popular truck? I think it will have to fight the war on two fronts don't you think?

Here is one opinion: http://www.torquenews.com/1083/can-toyota-tacoma-win-against-2015-chevy-colorado-and-2015-nissan-frontier

 

Look at how long the Tacoma has been around and just Toyota trucks in general. It'll survive. Hopefully it'll light a fire under Toyota's ass to add more features to their trucks.

 

I hope so too, but you know in these days of fast and advanced technology the length and history doesn't mean winning always. We see huge companies or products being discontinued. Remember Blockbuster? Look where they are now.

I hope it will survive. What do they need to do?

 

The Tacoma will certainly survive, but it is going to face some stronger competition. As highly anticipated as the Colorado's are (I'm pretty excited to see them myself) I think it'll take some time for people to really switch over. Nissan, well, they just don't have the reliability of Toyota IMO, and they never will. Toyota needs to up their game though and start upgrading a lot of components to their Tacoma, especially engine-wise I think there could be some good tweaking to make them more efficient but also increase torque.
All in all, the Tacoma will survive. But Toyota certainly needs to give it a little more focus again instead of just spitting them off the building block.

 

Great points JRGMann, Would you like to further specify what Toyota basically needs to do? Exterior? Interior? Tech upgrade? besides engine.

thank you

 

Oh look, another Torquenews Tacoma/Colorado article!

 

Well, it'll just be my opinions.
But I'd say the Tacoma seats certainly need an upgrade. I don't know as much about the newest models of Tacomas so bear with me.
I'd say they should go ahead and offer front and rear locking diffs standard on their 4X4 models. The new Colorado will have that, which is a big plus. As dumb as it is, I think for the manual Tacoma's, the E brake needs to be a handle like in cars or something... The twist and turn technique is stuck from the 80's. Exterior is probably due for an upgrade, as they really haven't changed the body style since 2005. I understand that you go with what looks good and people like, but to keep people interested, you have to change it up a little. No offense, but I don't really count the 2012 change as an upgrade. I'd like to see what Toyota can come up with as far as a new body design.
Some people may disagree here with me, but I think Tacoma's can always look into their stock suspension and frame a little more. I know there's a lot of people who still have problems with newer models have rust frame problems.
And certainly Tacoma needs to offer a Diesel here in America. The Colorado Diesel is really going to be an awesome truck, especially if they end up offering a Turbo diesel, which I don't think they are.. First year trucks will have some kinks, they always do, but they'll get them sorted out and Chevy will most likely do pretty well. Tacoma has the name and the history that people will hold to, but there will be those looking for something more or something different and Chevy will call their name.

 

Thanks JRG man, very valid points. I really appreciate it.

 

No problem man. Happy to offer my thoughts. This is something I've been researching a bit. I love Chevy. my first truck was a 96 Chevy 1500 that I could 0-60 in just over 6 seconds. Timed it with several friends. Since then I've had a 4Runner and now my current Tacoma. I love my Tacoma, I plan on keeping it. But when the day comes that I can get myself a Chevy again, I will. Possibly a new Colorado depending on how they do, but for sure a full size Chevy again.
I know that's totally off topic, but oh well.

 

I think it'll do fine against Colorado hands down.

The Nissans that's different. They last every bit as much as a Tacoma and then some.

I have had 2 one had 245k on it and I sold it still running. The other 160k and some idiot totaled it for me. Neither used or dripped any fluids.

Looks though Tacoma all the way which is why I am here today

 

I second jmaack. IMHO the Colorado/Canyon has a huge problem out of the gate, in that it's a GM product.

No, I'm not a "government motors" kind of guy, and I do think it's a great looking truck. But it's a GM product.

The previous Colorado/Canyon, Envoy/Yukahoeburbalade suffer from serious quality lapses after the 5 year mark. Dexcool, grenading instrument panels, deteriorating Fisher-Price interiors, and numerous other maladies were (and continue to be) issues.

Maybe GM has changed, but I wouldn't take that bet with my $30k.

Not hating on JRG, just my $0.02...

 

No hate felt man. I'm honestly just really curious to see how things are going to play out. Everyone has their opinions about different car companies, and honestly, that's probably the single biggest factor in deciding what car someone buys. For every good experience someone has had a bad one. I think Tacoma will probably stay at the top of the market, and in fact, stronger competition from GM may push Toyota to do some upgrades that they've ignored for who knows how many years.
The other option is that everything is going to blow over and absolutely nobody is going to care. Haha.
If you don't agree with me, don't feel you're hating on me. I just wanted to state my thoughts like the OP had asked. Your right is to do the same.

 

You have any sales numbers to back up this claim ?

 

Yes!

 

At the end of the day, most people are brand loyal. Example, no matter how great apple products are, Android fans will continue to buy that. Same or vise Versa for Apple vans to Android products.

Vehicles are no different, that new Colorado could have 1000 hp and get 100 mpg's and out wheel a purpose built rock-crawler in stock form and I'm still going to take the Toyota everyday of the week.

The new GM midsized trucks look promising, and I can't wait to see them on the road. But as far as spending my hard earned cash on one? Forget it.

Same goes for Nissan, they may drastically improve the next Frontier, but Nissan will never market the truck appropriately. 90% of the Titan's failure is lack of branding it or marketing it appropriately. Nissan only cares about small econoboxes, and niche market vehicles. IMO Nissan could have been more successful, had they scrapped the GTR program and had brought the Cummins/ Titan out 5-7 years ago.

For what it's worth, one observation I have had, is that Nissan Frontier drivers seem to give the least damn about owning a truck. I believe 50% of Frontier buyers, or would-be Frontier owners would rather drive a Ridgeline, or they are Tacoma rejects, that couldn't spend the money to get a Tacoma in the first place (Thinking they would save a buck) by buying the generic truck.

 

Since I am new here I didn't want to be seen as flamebaiting...

My baby mama has a 2003 GMC Envoy which is the bane of my existence with constant breakdowns and other "WTF?" things that have issues. I keep telling her it needs to go to the Crusher but she loves it for some odd reason... Hence part of my vitriol for GM... (lots of other reasons too but no need to list them)

But all that aside, I really *do* hope that the Colorado/Canyon serve as a wake up call that the Taco needs a refresh. Look what happened to the Ranger when it was left to wither on the vine...

 

The fact that people actually trust Chevy is beyond me. People who want a quality truck that they can depend on will buy tacoma's.

 

Well, the Ranger's problem is that Mazda makes it...

Personally, my experience with Chevy has always been a great one. I love them to this day. However, GMC Envoy's..... yeah, those are horrible. You should make it disappear somehow.. haha.

 

Had a 2008 GMT900, 2500, 6.0 gas a few years back. One of the biggest POS's I've ever owned. Bought it new and the power-steering gave up the ghost at 7,000 miles. I'm convinced it left the assy line with a rear-main seal leak. Had multiple little nussiance issues with it, squeaked and rattled like crazy, 10-11 mpg.

Dealing with Chevy service, is a lot like dealing with the check out cleark at your local Wal-Mart. Actually got my truck back one time for a failed passenger door lock, they replaced the working driver side. Another instance, I took it in for an oil pan leak, got it back with two bolts missing from the oil pan.

This kind of thing just doesn't happen on a Toyota lot.