Is The 2015 Chevy Colorado In Danger Of Becoming A Failed Experiment?

The Colorado is getting a diesel tho'....

I finding some Ram EcoDiesels around the $30K mark...that seems reasonable to me. Now if you could get a oil burner Collie for $30K...hmmm...


Diesel is real close in price to 91 octane here, heck last summer, 91 was 10¢ more for a couple months.

 

it's gm... of course it sucks lol

 

But it goes to 11

 

GM and reliability go together like prostitution and marriage.

 

but they are reliable.... reliable for scrap metal

 

LOL

 

Sat in a new Colorado yesterday at the NYIAS .... I despise the driver seating position, the dashboard feels very far away, and for me its too car like with too many unnecessary gadgets . Also, the removable front diffuser literally sits only about 7 in from the ground, its just laughable. The driveline refinements are very nice, I wont dispute that, but in refining the driveline I feel they made it too much like a car lol

 

I have had diesels for twenty years....in my tractors. Likewise I work part time for a friend making deliveries with a diesel dump truck. They are a work engine.....no more, and no less. Around here, diesel is nearly $1 more per gallon and I have to keep my tractor plugged in when the temp drops below 20 degrees or let it idle for twenty minutes. I know cars diesels are more economical but not in the USA. They make no sense for towing in a small truck as anything more then 6k lbs done regularly where a diese shines and you should have a full size. Tacoma is doing right by not having one. Why people have this infatuation with diesels in a Tacoma, I don't know. The USA makes so much gas, it exports it. We are awash in gasoline ! That is not the same situation as other countries which promote diesels in smaller vehicles. Diesel is too valuable a fuel to be use here where we depend upon long haul for everything. Fortunatly...Toyota feels the same !

I get it in a GM or Ford as it's the only way you can potentially get a reliable motor as good as a Toyota gasoline engine. They cost way too much to make compliment and they would not be a profit maker for Toyota. It's decisions like, throwing a diesel into a small truck that could line up GM for another bailout.

 

If it's anything like a freind's Sierra, it looks like a lit Xmass tree when the dash lights up at night....no thanks.

 

Oh it does, same with the entire head unit area lol

 

What gadgets are you talking about?

 

I used to operate heavy equipment for a living...I hear ya. I dunno, I am in the heart of farm country here, damn near everything diesel. Fuel prices fluctuates wildly I know... diesel is only 4¢ more than 91 currently. Not necessarily infatuated with diesel...might suit my driving style better than gas...since I tend to be a lugger. High 20's mpg...would nice for range.

 

Here's a little "sample" of the Colorado's electronics, and this just covers the "auto hvac" system...

It's from:
Revision 1.4 - Date: 9/19/2014 2015 CHEVROLET COLORADO/GMC CANYON ELECTRICAL SECTION page 155 / 715
Automatic Operation
In automatic operation, the HVAC control module maintains the comfort level inside of the vehicle by controlling the A/C compressor clutch, the blower motor, the air temperature actuators, mode actuator and recirculation actuator.

To put the HVAC system in automatic mode, the following is required:
1. The auto switch must be activated.
2. The air temperature switch must be in any other position than full hot or full cold position.
Once the desired temperature is reached, the blower motor, mode, recirculation and temperature actuators automatically adjust to maintain the temperature selected.

The HVAC control module performs the following functions to maintain the desired air temperature:

Monitors the following sensors:
– Ambient air temperature sensor
– Lower left air temperature sensor
– Upper left air temperature sensor
– Windshield temperature and inside moisture sensor
– Ambient light/sunload sensor
– Air quality sensor

Regulate blower motor speed
Position the air temperature actuator
Position the mode actuator
Position the recirculation actuator
Request A/C operation

When the warmest position is selected in automatic operation the blower speed will increase gradually until the vehicle reaches normal operating temperature. When normal operating temperature is reached the blower stays on high speed and the air temperature actuators stays in the full heat position.
When the coldest position is selected in automatic operation the blower stays on high and the air temperature actuators stay in full cold position. The mode actuator remains in the panel position and the recirculation actuator will remain in the recirculation position.
Under cold ambient temperatures, the automatic HVAC system provides heat in the most efficient manner. The operator can select an extreme temperature setting but the system will not warm the vehicle any faster. Under warm ambient temperatures, the automatic HVAC system also provides air conditioning in the most efficient manner. Selecting an extreme cool temperature will not cool the vehicle any faster.
The HVAC control module evaluates the information of the air quality sensor and closes the recirculation flap while the air quality sensor switch is pressed, as soon as the concentration of pollutants exceeds a predefined value.
In automatic mode the values of the windshield temperature and inside moisture sensor are used as control inputs for the HVAC control module application to calculate the fog risk on the passenger compartment side of the windshield and ability to reduce fuel consumption by decreasing A/C compressor power to a minimum without causing any fog. The A/C compressor and the defrost mode are activated to prevent or remove fog on the passenger compartment side of the windshield. The sensor will also enable partial recirculation mode in order to improve heat-up performance of the passenger compartment under cold ambient temperature conditions without the risk of mist build-up on the windshield.

 

guess it must be too hard to turn a nob without looking now... according to the hvac crap.

 

I just don't know if the pay back would be worth it. How many more $$$$ would one cost and how much benefit would you get. sure, a diesel might get you a few more mpg on more expensive fuel......but how much more thenthe new motor remains to be seem.

 

More crap to fix? They need to figure out basics before going fancy. But hey - other then that calculation of the fog risk is pretty high on my list.

 

Damn right, and this is what I meant my unnecessary gadgets lol

 

True, but the new Tacoma will offer dual climate control in the higher end. It was standad on my last 4 Runner and is on wife's Venza. Tacoma is now competing with these type vehicles for sales ! The Tacoma crew cab ( and Colorado) has essentially replaced the low end 4 Runner ( and similar vehicles) that can off road a little and tow in that price range....it needs to offer the features.

 

I could go on on my personal experiences (owned few diesel cars in my life) but I am going to start by dropping some science.
Thermal efficiency of Gasoline engine in the car running on Premium is around 30%.
Thermal Efficiency of Diesel engine in the car is around 50%
What that means:

That for every 10 gallons of fuel you buy 7 of those gallons is wasted in gasoline engine. (turn into heat)
In Diesel only 5 Gallons are wasted.
So looking at Gas buddy for Hartford Area.....
Premium Fuel is showing 2.39 at Hess station
Diesel is showing at 2.69 at Sam's club.
So amount of money wasted in Gasoline engine is 7 x 2.39 = 16.73
Money wasted in Diesel is 5 x 2.69 = 13.45
but .... This is calculation assuming Diesel and Gasoline have the same amount of energy. but they are not. Diesel has 10% of energy more per Kg. Also Density of Diesel is 11.6% more than Gasoline (

So you looking at 20% more energy per gallon of Diesel
So 2.69 x 0.20 = 0.538
So actual price of energy in the gallon for diesel is 2.69 - 0.538 = 2.152

So Going back

So amount of money wasted in Gasoline engine is 7 x 2.39 = 16.73
Money wasted in Diesel is 5 x 2.152 = 10.76

That gives you $6 per each 10 gallons of saving. That can be sum up in at least 60% saving on traveling with the same car but equipped with Diesel and we did not even got into the difference of highway and City driving.

In Closing argument:
No offense to anybody, but maybe the reason why the rest of the World is in love of Diesel is because on average the rest of the World is better at math.

 

You are obviously spot on and I get all that. But that is not what the future holds. There's no long term replacement for diesel and we are awash in gasoline. Diesel is a costly fuel to make clean and polution controls will drive the price up......even now, Calif. is looking to ban the use of diesel powered trucks in some areas. Making them more compliment will with a Tacoma. Have you factored it the cost added to a Tacoma and the pay back time ? Btw, it's .90 per gallon difference around here over 87 gasoline...the NORM FOR MOST CAS, not premium.

Toyota will do what it usually does. Let Nissan and GM play with the diesel and figure out the market later. They will let the market play itself out then stick one toe in. Meanwhile, they will still produce a great gas motor that easily outlast it's own body. Again, if the market in creased in diesel demand, the price would skyrocket over that of gasoline.

Personally, as a selfish diesel owner for work vehicles, I don't want that to happen. Long haul trucking affects the price of everything. Let gasoline be the realm of small pick ups. This is more a philosophical justification on my part and why I agree with Toyota in it's reluctance to use diesel here, and has only recently begun thinking about offering it in the Tundra, let alone the Taco.