17' TRD OR DC tech pack or Colorado Diesel Z71, same price, anyone else contemplate this?

Hi guys,

I am still in the market for a new truck. Some of you may recognize my name, but I previously had an order for a Taco back in 16' they got my order wrong and the dealer treated me like crap. So, I bought an F150 2.7 Sport crew. A couple months ago it got totaled. Really liked the truck, but insurance screwed me on what they gave me for it and I lost thousands in equity. I honestly had no problems with it and loved the truck,l but did find it to be too big at times.

Now I cannot get a new F150 for what I was able to pay for it last year. Price of the truck went up and not as many rebates. So, I went back to looking at the Taco. I love the truck, like the looks and like the way it drives. However, I live in Pittsburgh and its all hills. Took it for an elongated test drive, looked for the common issued and it had none. However, it hunted for gears like no other in suburban driving and on the highway it never stayed in 6th. The mpg was like 16.8 after about 30 mins of a test drive.

I didnt pull the trigger yet. I am getting an amazing deal one though. It has a sticker of $38833, TRD OR DC tech Pack no JBL, door sill and carpets. I can get it for $35205 before tax. That is a great price and two dealerships will honor that price until the end of the month. However, they dont have the color I want, they sold the one I wanted. Only one left in one of my color I like is silver.

Now I can also get a new 17' Z71 Colorado with the Diesel in the exact color I want for $35381 before tax. They only have one left. I think the seats are better as well as rear leg room for company. However, the Taco Infotainment system is much better, the look of the truck is better, resale is better. However, the driving comfort def goes to Colorado as well as on the test drive it never hunted for gears nearly as much and it averaged 27mpg on a 35 min test drive of highway and city. So basically you get 10 more MPG in the Colorado. Diesel is about 20-30 cents more than gas around here. PA also has some of the highest gas prices in the nation too.

I am not trying to start a fight, just asking for real opinions form people who have drove the two or contemplated the two before. I am not looking at the gas Colorado. I would take the taco over that in a second. The diesel for the same price as the Taco is what really is of interest. Thank you and let me know.

 

first of all, are 30-35m test drives common?

i was on the same boat. i went with the taco for resale value especially since i was able to track down a pro.

 

I would only consider the chevy if I was planning to tow often...I would probably end up getting a fullsize truck instead.

So between the 2, the tacoma no doubt. Diesel will cost you much more in the long run.

 

I was going to go longer actually, however, I feel I got a good feel for the vehicles with both on the highway, city and suburban traffic. When I got my F150 I had taken it on a 1hr test drive. The guy just gave me the keys and said try not to drive more than 30 miles please. Resale is def a big thing, hwoever, I feel the diesel will keep its resale better than a regular gas Colorado. Also, nice pick with the Pro! I cant afford that, lol. Love that Cement color.

 

that's amazing. in southern california, the sales person sits along and the test drives usually last about 2-3 miles or less.

 

Where in PA are you?... Philly here.. go with the TACO. Son has a 16 Chevy Pickup already having trouble with the transmission... @ 20K miles.

 

yikes, how do you even get a solid feel for a vehicle in that time frame? Let alone make a $30K+ decision after 2-3 miles and maybe 5 mins? You are the buyer, you tell the salesperson how long you want to go. What are they going to do, kick you out? lol. I just tell the person how long I want to go and if I am familiar with the area, I tell them where I want to go to and back. I also dont let them dictate the route I go.

 

Easy.. I took my truck around the block.. I told the sales guy "sold" and I was still in the parking lot and still in first gear! 20K trouble free miles and loving it.

 

Im in Pittsburgh. However, my wife is from Philly and we will be moving there in a year or so. She has a much bigger family and we will have kids soon, so better decision to go with the bigger network. We will be moving to Haverford if you are familiar with that area.

 

wow that's peanuts for the diesel. I thought initially the diesel MSRP was like 42k?

 

the colorado zr2 duramax will be 42k

 

Yup real close we are in Chestnut Hill... getting house ready for sale... wanna move out of this rat race, heading to Upstate NY hopefully. Haverford is a nice area... still suburbs = crazy taxes! I'm in the City so for us its the city or the country. No want ass-hat neighbors complaining about my flowers or something silly like that... in the country... shotgun and posted.

 

Probably looking at 2wd. That's the only way he can be getting it at that price.

 

That chevy is soooo ugly, nope

 

2wd in PA is not a good idea. I don't think I would ever own a truck that's not 4wd.

 

I had 15 Colorado crew cab Z-71. Now have 17 Tacoma double cab off road. Like the tacoma better, Colorado may have more comfortable interior, but I prefer Tacoma.
My Colorado engine would ping especially in summer, also I tow ATV trailer with 2 ATV,s. Colorado engine would ping very bad when towing. GM dealer re-flashed computer, but engine still had pinging issues.


Tacoma looks better, drives better, no problems with my 17. Minor issue was passenger side dash speaker rattle, dealer fixed no problem.

 

My 15 Colorado has gas engine, not diesel.

 

I wouldn't get a Tacoma for that.

You can find a 2016 leftover Ford with ecoboost without hardly trying, and the incentives are great - and Ford offers 0% APR for 60 months on the 2016s.

So, I'd go that route. If not, no way would I buy a Tacoma and get 16 MPG unless you just love how it drives.

 

No harm is asking for opinions however most of the answers here will be biased towards the Tacoma. I suggest checking the Colorado forum and post the same question as well. See if the folks over there can get you some more info

A big part of my decision was definitely based on resale value. At the time, I did not do a lot of research on the Colorado, but I did test drive it. The engine/tranny combo is definitely more responsive - the truck was definitely quicker than the Tacoma. But then again, I'm buying a truck - "fast and quick" were not expected. The interior design definitely goes to the Tacoma but the seating comfort to the Colorado. Other than that, they are the same. Also, the price of the Colorado was a bit more expensive back then so that helped a bit in deciding.

In the end, resale value wins it for me ... however, I see that the 2015+ Colorados are holding their value too.

EDIT: Yes the MPG sucks on the TACO .. even when it was completely stock

 

Close enough...get what you want, regardless of cost.

That said, which is worth more 10 minutes after you sign the paperwork? 10 years after?

Which will have a higher cost of ownership?