Talk me off the ledge or just push me!!!!

A lot of good info here and exactly what I expected a ton of biased answers which is fine. Lifting the truck is not going to make it more unsafe on the road that is just silly. It's not gonna be long travel with sway bars removed etc just a simple couple inch suspension lift with some bigger tires. We all know that a truck performs much better offroad lifted, that is if your not a cheap ass and buy suspension that's worth a shit. I do a lot of camping in Mexico in the middle on nowhere with out the wife also so that's why the vehicle will be lifted as most roads are not maintained and 60 mikes long one way. It must be a truck due to my in bed pop up camper I recently ordered. The vehicle to transport it is open as I put a hold on the build. If you do your research and read about all these vehicles stated above like I have they all have there own issues, even the Tacoma you'll find engine, tranny and even some electrical issues. We all know the taco is a reliable truck but no vehicle is guaranteed bullet proof off the line. The trip was we did 3400 miles as stated above with a camper on the back of the truck which weighed about 1500 lbs. Gas was expensive just put it that way. The baby duramax was surprisingly powerful and fast for being a 4 banger. Lots to think about def gonna test drive ever vehicle on the market!

 

I like the idea of the Colorado Diesel. However, the break even point is way in the future. Diesel maintenance is more expensive, not to mention DEF.

Find a nice low mileage 2nd gen and call it a day.

 

Even if you move over to a double cab you're not getting much more room. We have a car seat in the back and the passenger seat is pushed up pretty far. It's a no go to sit there if you are 6'4" or over like me. I mean you can do it for short trips, but it sucks. So I drive my wife's truck all the time, but then if I have to drive around 3 full grown adults the truck is pretty much an uncomfortable pod. Probably more interior room in a Prius. Get a full-size and never look back. These trucks are perfect for the single guy with a dog that likes to go camping and doesn't need to do any real work with the truck. Except go to home Depot every now and then and get a couple 2x4s.

 

Here's what I've experienced from a diesel Colorado:

My buddy just moved states and hauled a 7k lb uhaul trailer (uhauls sit really low so not as much drag as conventional trailer) and he got 16mpg over 300 miles (flat roads, barely any hills) in his diesel Colorado. He gets 26mpg daily driving it. I sat in the back for a couple hours and at 5'10 and 185lbs it wasn't that bad..definitely wasn't roomy but my knees weren't hitting anything. I don't really care for the seats in the chevy..my 2nd gen buckets felt way better for a guy my size. Chevy is a much smoother quieter ride than the taco. Obviously the chevy won't get anywhere near the resale value as a taco but with the diesel it'll help keep the resale up compared to the gassers.

I have no loyalty to any brand, ha. I've owned every single brand of truck and each truck has been great to me. I just bought a 5.0 F150 and for what I do it blows a taco out the water. That being said, I loved my Tacoma and if it's gonna be a midsize I'd stay with the taco (2nd gen though, 3rd gen styling doesn't do it for me).

 

Yeah the style doses blow!!!! I'm 5'10" so being 6'+ is not one of my problems lol. The full size truck is more appealing and that way I get a lil bigger camper too. I'm still not sold though. The cost it's initially on every full size truck starts about 50,000 if you don't want baseline which I don't. Creature comforts are amazing especially on those longer trips. I actually preferred the seating in the chevy but that was just a test drive. I did consider keeping her but that means no camping for 2 years as the kid has to sit backwards for that duration at least in cali.

 

I have been looking for a second gen double cab 4x4 auto with low miles and they are impossible to find with less than 3 owners or halfway across the country. Not to mention everyone values there emotion in the price. I am happy to say I have until the end of the year to figure it out. Due dates not till christmas

 

I used to carry my twins as infants in an extended cab. It was a very tight fit for us all.

 

I couldn't even imagine!!!

 

I wouldn't waste your time with a 1/4 ton. just get a half ton for the same price as a new tacoma

 

DIESEL ALL THE WAY

 

The only reasons to buy Diesel are for longevity and power, nothing else. Diesels cost A LOT more to maintain than gas. So it negates any gain in mpgs (plus don't forget diesel is usually 10%+ more expensive per gallon).

If you want a nice liesurely road trip machine, get a full size. The Tacoma is an absolute pig on the highway at high speeds. An F150 will get better fuel economy and will be a better ride. Plus you can add heavy armor with less ride comfort and fuel economy impact. This is really my biggest complaint about the Taco. Transmission gearing sucks so it sucks to road trip in.

Plus a Tacoma is not a family vehicle. A double cab will be fine until your kid is about 6.

 

Actually..

Get a 3/4 ton diesel. Do the deletes. Get 20+ mpg. A few suspension upgrades will get you where ever you wanna go camping and tow whatever you want. One up off-road and super duties go together like hookers and blow

 

It's all relative I think. Road trips in my Tacoma are far more enjoyable and comfortable than they were in my old Matrix. I suspect though, as you say, full size would be even better.

 

Sooo. Here is a persepective from a guy who is thrice removed from a Tacoma, but I sitll lurk on the threads from time to time. I had a 2013 Tacoma Sport DCSB and it was a great truck. Drove it from Atlanta to Anchorage in the dead of winter without fault. However, I was bitten by the new car bug, and glossing over the self-imposed near-death WRX I had I found myself in a 2015 Colorado Z71 because it was several grand cheaper than a comparable 2015 Tacoma. So here is my thoughts, or if you will the Cliff Notes: 2015 Colorado, looks good, comfortable, good power (3.6L V6), almost no aftermarket support, and I wanted to burn it to the ground every time I drove it because of the terrible transmission.

I did enjoy my Colorado for the first couple of months of ownership. I would drive it and when I wanted to accelerate between 25 - 35 MPH, the fuel economy minded transmission decided it wanted to stay in the higest gear possible. The engine would literally stutter before the transmission would go to therapy about why it was asked to change, determine that it needed to change and then finally change down a cog to let me accelerate. After the first couple of months, I realized that the transmission wasn't going to learn how to drive properly. So, after about a year and a half I traded my Colorado for a 2016 F150 and I am MUCH happier with how my new truck drives.

To give GM the benefit of the doubt, I have heard that GM released a new program for the transmissions in the Colorados, and the 2017+ Colorados have a different box than my 2015 did. That being said, I have not driven a 3rd Gen Tacoma yet but I doubt that I would have as many bursts of rage due to a transmission as I did in my Colorado.

So, in summary, if you want to stay in a mid-size pickup spend the extra cash and get another Tacoma! Or wait a year and Ford will release the 2019 Ranger. Of course, if you're open to a full-size, I'd put in a plug for an F150. My Crew Cab has a gigantic back seat and the 3.5TT V6 is a beast! Tons of power and I've seen 23 MPG on the highway.

 

I recently drove a Subaru Outback on a 6 hour trip. That thing drives 85mph like its nothing. My Tacoma probably could not do 85 in overdrive. It would be full throttle in 4th gear. Lol

The Tacoma would do much better with a 7 speed trans I think. Would cure the problem.

 

Keep the Tacoma and pickup a used 4Runner? I was going to trade my Tacoma in on a 4Runner but need a truck. So Im going to trade in my Prius next year on either a 4Runner or an Outback (this more likely). We have 3 dogs and a having a kiddo next year.

 

If you've come here looking to be swayed between a Taco and Colorado.... You already know your answer...

Find yourself a 2015 Double Cab...

 

I think the Colorado has a better interior and is a better daily driver and would do ok for lite whaling, but the Tacoma is by far there standard for off-roading and durability and I believe no other midsize truck holds it value like a Tacoma.
what would the truck do 80% of its life?

 

I think the Canyon looks a helluva lot better than the Colorado, almost like a baby Sierra. Not sure if it would hold its value any better though.

 

ahhh hookers and blow