Need advice: Sell the Taco for a Colorado Diesel

Having some second thoughts here...

Bought 2018 OR over memorial day, only has 1500 miles on it.
Enjoy driving it (the A/T doesn't bother me), but the gas mileage is nowhere near what I thought it would be. Only getting around 15-16 mpg per tank.
Also, I bought this truck over the 4Runner expecting that it will be able to tow a 4200lb boat (dry weight on trailer, 21' boat) that I plan on buying next year, but from everything I have read on these forums, the Taco just stinks for towing.

Enter the Colorado Diesel...people on their forums talk about regularly hitting the advertised 28mpg highway, and it tows like a diesel should.

Now, the resale and reliability on the Taco kicks the colorados ass, but I worry about cost of ownership with the crappy tacoma gas mpg and whether the Taco can actually handle this tow job safely.

The off roading stuff on the taco is nice, but I only do light trails, which any 4x4 could do fine.

Got the Taco reduced from MSRP of 38.7k right down to 33k + taxes, total was around 35k. I hope that with the low mileage on it, I should be able to recoup most of my investment on the Taco.

PLEASE HELP!

 

if you get 15 in your taco you’re not going to get 28 in a Colorado diesel. I could take your truck and get 24 mpg all day long. It’s all about where you are and how you drive. I would also say the Colorado won’t tow “safer” it will tow with less perceived effort. Both trucks weigh in the same ball park. The load won’t feel that much different. In my opinion it’s a dumb question but that’s because I’ve owned my 3rd gen for 3 years now and wouldn’t trust a epa friendly diesel for shit these days.

 

Not trying to sound like a fanboy here, but having owned a 2008 Tacoma for over ten years with ZERO problems, and recently purchasing a new 2018 OR, I doubt seriously you will have the same ownership experience with the Colorado as far as maintenance and repairs.

 

You want something that can tow and get great mpg?


Normally not the same thing. Only full size trucks tow good. Mid size just makes due with what it's got.

 

One of my best friends is a Chevy mechanic,his speciality is corvettes and diesel. In his opinion the only diesel worth owning(regardless of brand) is one under a factory warranty. His opinion on the Colorado’s are you either get a good one or one that will be plagued with emissions problems. I absolutely trust his opinion,when I had chevys he was the only person who I would let touch my trucks.

 

If I were you I would NOT trade in your Taco for a Colorado Diesel, having owned more than my fair share of Diesel vehicles there is a lot of additional maintenance and costs of ownership that need to be factored in. Let's do the math below and see where we come out.

18,000 miles per year
17 MPG
$2.86/ Gallon (based on Avg US price right now)
Cost of truck $33,000
18000/17mpg = 1058.82 gallons * 2.86 = $3028 in fuel per year
Cost per year for 5 years = (33,000 + (3028*5)) / 5 = $9628/ Year for 5 years

18,000 miles per year
28 MPG
$3.154/ Gallon (based on Avg US price right now)
Cost of truck $38,000
18000/28 MPG = 642.85 gallons * 3.154 = 2027.57 in fuel per year
Cost per year for 5 years = (38,000 + (2027.57*5))/5 = 9627.57/ Year for 5 years

Interesting.... I didn't know that was going to work out EXACTLY the same for 5 years as far as cost per year of ownership. Now of course if you trade in your Taco your going to get hurt a bit and lose some so you will be farther behind.

Also keep in mind Fuel filters need changing, DEF Fluid needs filling, and oil changes cost a whole lot more. Bottom line, if you want a diesel buy a diesel but don't think your saving money because of it.

Also your truck WILL get better mileage than that, I get close to 18 MPG most of the time, even with mixed off-roading I get more than 16 and I have a 3" lift, 33's, and full skids, sliders, and a 200lb Decked Drawer system installed. Give it time to break in.

Oh and I seriously doubt you'll really get 28mpg out of a Colorado but that would be cool... Now factoring in trade in is tough because who really knows with a Colorado what it will be worth in 5 years... Either way they're neat trucks, but I don't think you'll be retiring early just because you bought one.

Just my $.02

 

I'd say you've pretty much talked yourself into it! So, go for it. If I were forecasting to tow that much when buying a truck, I would never have bought a Taco. When you add fuel and everything you need for a boating trip (including the people in the vehicle), you will be 5K+ in weight.

 

How do you like the decked bed? I really like the idea thinking about getting one and a bed cover.... just think it would be perfect for every thing!!

 

Sounds more like you needed to buy a Tundra as opposed to the Taco...

 

Yeah op if your wanting something that really towes get a tundra or a 3/4 ton truck. The 2500 has Chevy trucks run really good and give little trouble!! The Colorado is awfully junky inside and has very poor resale. If you don’t like your Tacoma choice chances are you will dislike your Colorado choice and take a way bigger hit if you go to dump it after purchase!!

 

Your good negotiating skills killed the cost if ownership argument. I pull a boat or set of jetskis every weekend... No issues. Even long distances, and steep boat ramps.

 

I think you have made good points, but realistically if you wanted good gas mileage a truck of pretty much any type was a bad move.

I also think you are insane for even thinking about selling the Taco for a Colorado. If you aren’t happy with a Tacoma, I find it hard to believe you will be happy with the Chevy.

If reliability is important keep the Taco. If you want to support an American automaker buy a Chevy.

PS I am sure Chevrolet would just love for you to trade in your Tacoma... I am sure it would sell much quicker on their lot than their Colorado’s! Don’t do it!

 

Tacoma's and Tundras are made in Texas?

But I agree with your other points.

Honestly I would take a long hard look at what your actual priorities are. Are MPGs your main priority? Is towing your main priority? Is reliability your main priority? Because in all realness you can't have the trifecta... Either way you cut it for me the Taco will always beat the Colorado, however if towing is more of a priority than MPGs I would look at a Tundra. Can pull a hell of a lot more than a Taco and is just as reliable, but you take a slight hit to MPGs...

If it's your every day driver and you don't tow the boat that often. I would stick with the Taco.

Just my .02

 

It is fantastic, literally no complaints at all. I run a ton of camping gear in it uncovered right now (while I wait for my camper top) and it's 100% waterproof, even through a car wash. It's a great product, just keep in mind it does weigh 205lbs or so empty. I run +660lb Dakar springs out back so no issues what so ever.

 

Very well put. Fuelly has the average mpg for diesel Colorados at 24mpg, 3rd Gen taco v6 is a little shy of 19mpg so in reality it won't even be that close.

 

Toyota still manufactures vehicles in Japan and isn’t fully considered a US automaker or one of the “Big 3”.

Good points on your post other than that for sure.

 

Come back here in 2 yrs and let us know of all the defects and repairs you've had to do on your Chevy truck.

Then sell it and experience the terrible resale value.

That's how I see this going.

 

Let’s hope he gets his wits about him and we can talk him back off the ledge. I can’t say I would never get rid of my Taco..... But I can promise you it would never be for a Chevy. I don’t care if it has a turbine engine on that badboy. I would never do it.

 

One thing to consider if you go the Colorado route, you have to be careful which model you get. The base crew cab 4x4 will pull 7000 pounds, but the ZR2 has a max of only 5000 pounds. The Tacoma max is 6800 pounds. Just some food for thought.

 

TCO...total cost of ownership cacl... love it.

So cost is the same but you are taking on my reliability risk...