Considering a Tacoma TRD or Colorado LT

I'll definitely need to test drive a Tacoma 'way before I seriously start shopping. The seating position and seat comfort are a major factor in which truck I'd want. I did a short test drive in a Colorado WT 4x4, and the seating position and comfort felt fine.

 

Pretty little thing!

 

I came from a 2013 Sierra duramax and a 2015 Silverado duramax, Both were outstanding trucks and never had one issue ( although I did delete the DPF and EGR on both) I bought the 2017 Tacoma thinking it would be great to downsize. Well you miss some things like storage/power/economy/towing capabilities...

I would look buy the ZR2 Colorado with the duramax then delete it with efi live. I might still consider it when its available. That way I could at least have power and towing options.

 

Doesn't the ZR2 Colorado actually have lower towing/hauling ratings than the normal Colorados?

 

I am not sure, GM had not released a whole lot of info on the truck. I cant find anything on the GM website.

 

I thought the V6 ZR2 had decreased to 5000 lbs due to suspension changes, so I'd expect the diesel to go down as well.

 

Seating position is so important. I got use to seating after about 500 miles on it. I drove M3 and GTR my daily.

Seating with my friend Ram full size truck and he said it looks like bigger and taller on his truck.

 

I was going back and forth between the Frontier and the Tacoma when I bought mine. Had a rental Frontier for a week but it had little things that annoyed me.

The Tacoma resolved a lot of the issues I had with the Frontier, but the seating position bothered me at first. Felt like I was sitting in a hole in comparison. I got used to it within a week. I find now that it's more comfortable overall than the Nissan was. Nissan's seats are terrible (my lower back killed me after an hour drive in that truck) and having your legs out somewhat seems better on a longer trip to me. The Frontier gives you the illusion of sitting higher, but the cab floor is low so I think the Tacoma's seat is actually higher overall.

 

Maybe 500lbs but defiantly not 5000.

 

Huh? Can't imagine they would put it on the market with a tow rating lower than a Prius...

 

Never mind I thought you were saying they took 5000lbs off the towing capacity lol, in the diesel I would think 6500lbs instead of the 7000lbs

 

I think it may be 5000 just like the gas. They are saying they dropped it due to chassis and suspension changes, so if that is the weak point I'd be surprised if the diesel helps it any.

 

Nice thing about my 2008 Duramax is it doesn't have either of those new-fangled mileage/power/emission doo-dads (as far as I know!).

I really don't need the diesel in the new truck, as we would only occasionally load it up with kayaks and my motorcycle trailer a couple of times a year for a 800 mile trip. I suspect I would not use the truck over 8k a year. So the fuel economy and towing capacity of the Colorado Duramax doesn't meet my needs. I think the diesel is about a $3500 option, and I would never recoup that charge over the gasoline engine. I have to admit, if I could shrink my Duramax down about 30% and add the some of the new technology (BlueTooth, no-key start, etc) I'd do it in a minute. The Duramax is such a great truck!

 

Good to know you got used to the seating position. I suspect I'd be the same. I do like to wear my "cowboy" hat in my big ol' Duramax; but it would not fit into the Tacoma I'd guess. But then, probably not in any of the mid-sized trucks. I'll have to try that on one of my test drives, although whether or not it fits is not really an issue.

Hate to show my ignorance: What are M3 and GTR?

 

Honestly just keep your truck, you will be much happier in the long run, any mainstream diesel will hold value just as much as a Tacoma besides a ford. I would buy a Colorado if I had to do it over. Or if you wanted to buy a used 2nd gen.

That being said I have a 14' cummins black out package now and it gets 25mpg and has lots of power and will hold its value for many years because of that stupid C badge lol.

 

I would keep the Duramax, but I cannot fit it into my garage, and it's a royal PITA parking it at WalMart. Just too big for my needs. I realize in the long run I'd be financially better off keeping the Duramax, but sometime I make decisions not based on financial reality.

Why do you say you would have bought a Colorado if you had it to over again? Just for the diesel engine option? If I anticipated high yearly mileage I'd do that in a minute.....but I rarely drive our truck now....it's a 2008 and has all of 45k miles on it! It would get even less once I sell our RV, as the only reason I own that beast is to pull the other beast!

 

Yes the diesel engine. Anything diesel will retain its value WAAAYYY more then a gasser. Compare your 08 duramax with a 08 gasser. You said you wanted to keep the tacoma/colorado for a long time but I would like to know what I buy is going to retain its value years later. When you buy one with a duramax its going to retain its value for many years. Given you will pay 3-4k extra for it but the advantages with the diesel mpg wise and the resale plus if you plan on keeping it for a long time the diesel with give you savings in MPG that will equal the amount you paid extra for the duramax package.

Ive owned about 40 plus rigs over a 15 year period. Diesels are a better investment. If someone says the cost of ownership is more that is correct an oil change is about 20 bucks more over a gasser and cost of fuel filters every 30k. Change the oil, fuel filters when they are due and you wont have any issues but you already know this. Besides emissions equipment... but I take that off after the first 500 miles.

I suspect a Colorado with efi live could get a highway of 35+mpg

 

I'm 70 yrs old and probably won't be driving in another 10, so any long term relationship to justify a diesel is not probable. Remember I have been driving at most 8k a year in my current truck; probably less because most of the 45k miles on my 2008 Duramax were done towing our RV. Once the RV is sold, followed closely by the Duramax, I suspect I'll realistically put maybe 5-6k on my mid-sized truck yearly. I cannot justify a diesel, although I know the resale would be higher, I don't believe I'd recoup the initial investment.

For nearly anyone else, you make a good point. If I were planning 15k miles a year, and hoped to own the truck for 10+ years, I know a diesel would make sense, especially if I were towing anything like a heavy boat trailer, etc. But for my needs it doesn't make sense.