First new Colorado encounter today.

I'm ready!

 

Got to be the first Chevy I've seen without a trace of chrome though. Almost impossible to get a Chrome-Free Silverado.

 

yep, reccalled for air bags even before the first sale.

 

Since this 62 year old is looking for a truck to pull an extended road trip, this could be important. A Colorado is on my list to try next spring.

 

What!? But that's why I bought mine.

 

Yeah but you didn't have to actually buy one to participate in that, you could have just joined the forum.

 

What if it was a Tacoma owner test driving it that wanted to see how it stacked up against a Tacoma in acceleration? Haha.

 

Just from a quick five-ten minutes of sitting in the driver seat from behind the wheel, I could see where the Colorado/Canyon would be a much nicer highway machine to spend an hour or more.

We do equip installs for builders, banks and investors all over Nor Cal, so I'm at times in my Tacoma for 1-2 hrs on the highway. While it's ok, my lower back and torso are typically fatigued by the time I get to my job site. The Sport seats in my Off-Road are about a 25% improvement over the base seats that were in my PreRunner, but that metal bar is still ever present below the lumbar area digging into my back still.

That is just a minor gripe though, as if I'm going on a trip that requires 3 or more hours of driving, I'm taking my other car. That's not why I got my Tacoma though, but if it was to log a lot of miles on the open road, I would have choose a 1/2 Ton full size, for the more comfortable cabin, seats, better hwy mpg's than any mid sizer with a V6.

Still love and prefer the Tacoma demensions, Swiss Army knife like do all capability (Jack of all trades, master of none except re-sale value) Love the Off-Road do-dads. Had a Chevy '08 Silverado 3/4 ton for work a few years back, and liked the G80 rear locker, but didn't love it. I like that with the Tacoma it's on or off with a switch.

Chevy's G80 locker actually required a few revolutions of wheel spin, to trip a torque sensing devise that automatically engaged the unit or disengages the unit. That's great, but also leaves little margin for accidental or premature failure.

 

Nice write up OP; shows a true unbiased opinion. I would never purchase one though (like you). My brother and father are HUGE Ford and Chevy fans...the make fun of my "foreign" Taco, despite the fact that it's built with more american parts than their buckets. I just laugh to myself when they tell me they have to bring their trucks to the shop what seems like once a month for something or other. My '06 Taco that I had for 8 years only had wear and tear maintenance.

 

One other thing, I think that the Colorado is going to be an extremely "hard sell" to the avg GM or general domestic buyer. This truck is for all intense purpose 80% a Silverado. But it will cost as much or more when you factor in all the money sitting on the hood of the Silverado.

There is a much greater difference between a Tacoma and Tundra. The Tundra is gigantic by comparison, and comes with substantial capability over the Tacoma. But Tacoma still fills a niche market of being one of the last ultimate off-road vehicles right off the lot. And that appeals to a broad audience.

The Colorado appears on face value, to have no greater off road prowess ability over say a Silverado. In long bed config it is just as long, there isn't any more ground clearance visually. Like I said, I hope they move every one of them, and they will likely be leaps and bounds better than the previous versions, but I don't see a compelling reason to run out and purchase one unless the discounts "Run Deep" like their advertisement campaigns.

 

Must be nice to have $23k to scratch your ass with.

 

Actually got it for $20k OTD. Had 38k miles on it, dentist traded it in for a new one with an Automatic. Truthfully I had the exact car on a poster over my bed as a kid, always wanted one. So I figured if one ever came up for the right price, was going to get it.

 

Niche market? Ultimate off road vehicle?

 

What else can go where a TRD-Off Road can go, off pavement (stock for stock) that doesn't cost $100k?

I'm going to go get some popcorn and come back and wait for your answer.

Let's see?
Toyota FJ (Out of production as of MY2015)
Jeep Wrangler? Yes, but not as practical, worse mpg's??, how reliable? Also Fiat/ Chrysler CEO recently announced that the next Wrangler may take a different direction, than the current, with an emphasis on meeting EPA and fuel economy requirements.
Toyota 4Runner? Yes, but to get Tacoma capability you need to buy a $40k+ Trail Edition.
Nissan Frontier Pro4X? Is nice but not nearly as much stock clearance?
XTerra? I think it's questionable wether or not it is as capable as a stock Tacoma.
Ford Raptor? Perhaps, put I could fit my Tacoma on a tighter trail, since the Raptor is like a mile wide.

No body else, makes something as capable Off-Road as a Tacoma for $30k. That for all intense purposes qualifies the vehicle as fulfilling a "niche segment "as far as I'm concerned.

 

No manufacturer is building trucks for hardcore offroad enthusiasts. The Tacoma offers a good platform to build a real off road vehicle but that's not what it's designed for. They have not sold over a million of these trucks because of their off road ability. The niche market is a buyer who cares about off roading. Most don't give a crap and the ones who do need 4wd are usually people who live where it snows. It's hilarious how you went from your 4 banger to the "off road" and now you brag about how good it is off road. Have you ever been off-roading, how do you even know if it's good? Did you read online on TW how badass it is? I bet your truck has not even been off road, don't count some dirt or gravel road either. What's the percentage of Tacomas sold that are 4wd? The Tacoma does not fit into a niche market and sure as hell is not some off road weapon.

 

Nice! Beautiful car.

 

First off dude you really need to chill. You are acting like I'm trying to pick a fight with you, and frankly I've been ignoring 99% of your snarky and mostly disrespectful posts towards me.

I'm here to do one thing, and that's share a similar enthusiasm for the 2nd gen Tacoma. I'm not here to say that these trucks are the end-all answer or Holy grail to Off-Roading, but I probably have a crap-ton more experience behind the wheel on-road or off in these trucks. My first vehicle ever was a '92 bare bones reg cab 4x4, 22RE that I wheeled more times than I can remember. I later got a hand me down '96 Grand Cherokee Laredo V8 from my folks after I totaled my 22RE. I eventually lifted and wheeled that ZJ extensively along with a laundry list of other 4WD vehicles I've owned.

One thing you are correct about, is that my '14 TRD hasn't been off pavement once, has never been in 4-hi and I've never used the diff-lock button. Might make you continue to hate even more, but I may never use any of that stuff. But I got it because I wanted it, nothing more nothing less.

Also you state no manufacture builds a purpose built hardcore off roader out of the box? WTF is the Ford Raptor? What is a Ram Powerwagon with locking front and rear diffs? What are the Tacoma TX Off-Road & TRD Pro models?

You sir clearly don't understand what niche means, as the fact that until recently the Tacoma has stood alone in its own niche segment. Several journalist and reviewers have used the same discription and reference. Do not bother responding to my post, as I am officially putting you on ignore, as nothing you say is ever relevant, or useful towards discussion.

Either you are purposely looking for a fight? Have a hard-on for me (sorry I'm married and straight) Or you are just trolling TW? I for one am done responding or acknowledging your posts going forward.

 

All your examples are of trucks with added bling. They did not engineer any of those trucks to be ultimate off road trucks. They offer one model of the truck for a niche market. The Toyota Tacoma and your off road is not a niche market like you claimed. No one here is impressed by you and I'm not the only one who realizes your full of it. You can ignore me if you like, I'm just simply pointing out your BS.

 

Let's be real though, aside from the glitter and bling. Those are still extremely capable trucks from the factory.

Just to play a simple game or scenario, if the Zombie Appocolypse began in a week. And you could only chose one vehicle to get you anywhere you need to go (Must me a model year '15, new and bone stock), not over say $50K what other vehicle has more capability off the lot than say a TRD-OR, TX Baja, TRD-Pro?

I'm not brand loyal to anyone or anything, I would by a Ford in a heartbeat. But still I think the 2nd gen Off-Road, TX Baja and Pro models are the most capable and practical vehicle you can get.

As a bonus, we probably have the largest aftermarket aside from the Jeep brand to play with to make them better.

Just saying.

 

FAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAP TACOMA