'04+ Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon I5
I vote for either of them two,only cuz they are the latest newer trucks i have drove.I found them to be a pretty good all around mid sized truck.
Im in the same boat. Currently I have a 2001 S10 4 cyl but its time to upgrade. I have never been a fan of the colorado’s from the interior/ exterior to the price tag. Ive been looking into the Frontier’s or Tacoma’s and thats the way I would go. But as stated from other people you can probably pick up a full size for the same price tag but then your sacrafising MPG.
I Will +1 on the colorado having no balls at all, it has the power of a cavalier lol
maybe talk to ultradriver10000, he has one… it might have the V8 in it too? but not sure
the interior on them is kind of meh, but ive only driven base model and next grade up, never a fully loaded one
i would also consider perhaps an 04/05 F150 as well
I have been researching this type of vehicle lately too. I have different goals as far as what I want a truck to be. I want something 4WD with an manual trans and probably a 4 cyl for the best fuel economy. I don’t want my truck to be fast, and think all truck should be manual transmissions. It’s a truck for Christ sake!
Colorado/Canyon
Best fuel econ with the Vortec 2900 and 5 speed. Like 25 Highway.
Also, GM updated the interiors and made them much nicer. If they came up with a good lease deal, I’d strongly consider it. I wouldn’t want to buy one because of the lousy resale and fear of it breaking after the warranty is up. Extra bouns, the I4 and I5 are made in Tonawanda.
Tacoma
The 2.7 4 banger is tested and true. Resale is amazing. You can get a manual trans in pretty much every configuration. The TRD Off-road is pretty awesome with it’s locking differential, but is only available with the V6 and heavily optioned. Give me a regular cab TRD off-road with crank windows and a 4 cyl! Also, this truck is made in Mexico. I’m not thrilled with that fact.
Frontier
Can’t get a 4WD with a 4 cyl. Nor can you get a regular cab. Lame. They are leasing out really well right now, and look awesome.
Ranger
It’s been unchanged forever and that’s a good thing in my opinion. You can still get a basic one with rubber floors and crank windows. Unfortunately, you can’t get a 4 cyl with 4wd. Both the 3.0 and 4.0 V6s are pigs, but run forever. I would do one if it leased out right.
Dakota
I agree with you that it’s ugly. Can’t get a regular cab or a manual trans anymore. Plus with all of the stupid issues Chrysler has with it’s powertrains, I wouldn’t do it.
I realize what I am looking for in a truck is a bit different than what you are looking for. I just thought I share my findings. Good Luck!
BTW, If you aren’t planning on off-roading it, why are you planning on lifting it? It just makes it handle worse on road.
Do NOT buy an S-10…
suzuki equator…
The Nissan and Toyota are a class above the domestic small trucks as far as quality goes. But that also means you’ll have to pay for it, whereas you could get a screaming deal on a domestic truck. Choice is yours.
As for wanting a quad cab small truck for hauling people and gear and towing, but not an SUV, you’re a jackass. I still love you though. But unless you want the pickup bed to haul loads of dirt frequently the SUV will be far more useful and actually be able to haul more stuff. Unless you could still fit a motorcycle in the bed???
Keep in mind the Xterra has an awesome hard rubber trunk and the back seats fold totally flat in 0.25 seconds. Insanely useful. I do understand the appeal of the pickup though. In terms of pure “want” trucks are just cool.
The Xterra shares its platform with the Titan and Frontier (F-Alpha) so here’s what I can say that applies to the frontier:
-The VQ40 feels more like a small V8 than a V6. Gobs of low end torque (rated 285 peak at the crank), though it doesn’t fall on its face on top like, say, the V8 in the Dodge Dakota I had for a rental last summer does. You’ll forget that you’re towing shit. I love this motor.
-The ride’s pretty comfortable, but you can barrel over railroad tracks and potholes with ease. Should be fine for minor offroading. Overall it’s comfortable, but it still feels like a truck.
-After 33,000 miles I just had my first problem of any type with the truck. Bad fuel sending unit.
-The best MPG I’ve seen is barely 20 on the highway in the summer. But the worst it ever got was 15.5 towing a couple thousand pounds of kitchen cabinets in a 12’ enclosed trailer back from Ohio.
I’m happy with it. If I got in an accident and totalled it I’d probably just take the insurance check right back to Nissan for another one, if that tells you anything.
Next time you’re home let me know if you want to take my Xterra for a spin. :burnout:
I def dont mind the newer frontiers. Fry is right on about the V6 in them, surprisingly they get out of there own way. Similar deal in the Tacoma, IMO the nissan overall feels a bit more rugged though. Are you dead set on a smaller truck ? in that price range you could get a used Titan. I <3 Them. Oh and I find the newer colorado/canyons to be god awful little trucks. Everything rattles and feels like shit, they are horribly under powered and sound terrible to boot.
Colorados are GARBAGE. Absolute GARBAGE.
Tacoma’s have RIDICULOUS resale. A 3 year old Taco is about $4,000 less than new one. 
I have no opinion about the Nissan, for I have no experience with them. I would find it hard to beat the Tacoma though. Such a high quality truck with a ton of nice features. It would be the only small pickup I would want to consider owning.
My 2008 Colorado is the I5. They only offer the V8 in the crew cab 4x4 and the extended cab 2wd. Those two models only.
I’d have to say I’m nothing but happy with my Colorado. The 04-06s do have the older somewhat not as nice interior. But for the price these pull I’d say it is a great trade off.
I’m not sure what you guys are talking about under powered or bad MPG. My wife averages 20mpg right now and we’ve got 23 before on the highway. Pulling a 4K lb trailer it still got 15 mpg. The colorado doesn’t have a problem smoking the 31’s down in first, and in the rain even chirps second, all stock!
Just recently we’ve had a problem. The CEL came on as a cylinder misfire #2. I check the plug and it was fine. Took it to the dealer, and they looked into it. Ended up being that the intake valve was messed up. They are installing a brand new head on it as we speak. They gave us a car to use and we should have the truck back this upcoming week. I can’t really complain about that though.
Rangers don’t come in crew cab correct?
Dakotas plan old stink.
I’ve been in a frontier and I wouldn’t pay more for one then a colorado.
Suzuki will be way too much money.
Tacomas resale value kills it for me. When you pay the same for a 2000 tacoma as you will for a 2006 domestic I can’t get behind that.
Prices:
2007 Crew Cab 4x4 Colorado Canyon ~50K miles ~$15K
2005 Frontier 4x4 Crew Cab ~50K miles ~$15K
2005 Tacoma 4x4 Crew Cab ~100k miles ~15K
2005 Dakota 4x4 Crew Cab ~50K miles ~$15K
2008 Ranger Extended Cab 4x4 ~15K miles ~$15K
have fun doing brakes too. the rotors are press fit on the hub and a simple brake change will cost you 8-900.00+ You have too totally dissasemble the steering knuckle too remove the hub too press the rotor off.
IMHO, one truck that is actually pretty easy too work on and is pretty stout is a Ranger, and you can get the 4.0 5 Speed 4wd combo still
Really. Only GM would do something like this.
Umm have you ever done one before? I’m guessing not because you don’t have to press shit.
The rotors do require you to remove about 10 additional bolts. There are 6 on the rotor face and 4 on the back side of the knuckle. Any moron can change the fronts in less then 3 hours. No press no nothing besides sockets.
I know for a fact you can get new front rotors and pads installed for $350 out the door.
Wow. A two year old truck needs a new head? That really sucks.
Anyhow, my choices would be:
- Tacoma
- Frontier
- Ranger
- Dakota
- Colorado/Canyon
How does a Ridgeline fit in there? Are they way more pricey?
Discard the Ranger, Dakota, and Colorado/Canyon (all on the same level IMO) and Id have to agree.
I guess it would suck if there wasn’t a 5y/100K warranty and they didn’t give us a new truck to use until it was finished.
They could replace the valve, but they are just swapping a new head in. That seems reasonable to me.
Truck has 27K miles on it, which shouldn’t wear anything in the head. They seem to think it was a fluke bad valve.
When you produce xxK trucks per year your bound to get a few errors.
Ofcourse theyre all on the same level, because they’re domestic right? :cjerk:
buy another 328… sissy.
Add a hitch and be done with it…
IB4heyimmovingwannahelpmeout
I thought that the frontiers brakes were set up very similar.
I have changed brakes on canyons quite a few times and i have to say if u have access to air tools it should only take you 2 hours max, 4 hours w/o air tools.
Not what im judging upon, but it is what they all share. They just dont stand up to rivals from Nissan and Toyota IMO. They are cheap though I’ll give em that. I know Paulo pretty well though and i doubt thats ultimately what he is after.