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Chevy Colorado four door s

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-05-14          153678



We do a bit of commuting to a vacation home with our Chevy 1500 Silverado standard cab pickup to tote a bit of cargo back and forth. The wife wants us to trade for a fourdoor shortbox, which would have Grandkid room and haul all the stuff we have to haul rather than the full 8 ft. I have a small two wheel trailer we pull now and then but never haul more than maybe a lawn tractor. We haven't went looking yet, but the Colorado fourdoor is a nice looking small pickup. Any opinions on them? Frank.




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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-05-14          153680


No personal experience with them. When I was researching small trucks I found one guy who was a big fan of them - but he bought a Ford. They don't hold their resale well and the consumer sites like Edmunds.com don't like them much. There are lots of consumer reviews there if you'd like to read up on them. I like to buy American when they're competitive quality wise but for a four door light truck I'd probably go with a Honda Ridgeline (even though they're really ugly). ....


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
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2008-05-14          153685


The Chevy Colorado has a 5 cylinder engine that I've heard is not that great for mileage. It is rated at 22 highway and have heard they are barely getting that.

I've been told that the fuel economy of the full size and price of the full size is about the same as the Colorado. So, it doesn't seem to be worth it. I understand a full-size chevy 4 door with the electonic shut-off from 8 to 4 cylinders gets about 20 actual on the highway.

What about a mini-van or cross-over. The new Dodge 2009 Journey SXT model FWD with 3.5V6 is rated at 23 mpg on the highway and is supposed to get about 26-28. It has a 3,500 lb. tow capacity. Sticker is about $23,500.00.

The Ford Taurus X has about the same mileage rating but only a 2,000 lb. tow capacity. I'm currently looking at a used 2008 Eddie Bauer with 9,000 miles for 23,500.00.

The Dodge Grand Caravan SXT mini-van with 3.5 engine also has a 3,500.00 towing capacity. It is also rated at 23 highway with actual being in the high 20's. You have lots of dry cargo room and fold down buckets.

For light duty towing it would seem OK. Most lawn tractors are about 800 lbs and with the trailer it is under 1,500 lbs.

I've also looked at the Saturn, Buick and GMC cross-overs (Outlook, Onclave etc.) They are very pricey but nice. They have highway mileage ratings at about 24 but priced in the high $30,000.00's. A Chevrolet version of that is coming out in the fall.

If you have dirty nasty stuff, haul it in the trailer. Better stuff can be stored inside the van or crossover. I have a rubber mat with sides that fits in the Ford Explorer that stops spills from leaking onto the carpet or mudd and stuff from the dogs can easily be rinsed out.

At our house, we do not shop beyond Ford, GM & Chrysler. (period) ....


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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2008-05-14          153686


Hardwood,

You might want to investigate the Toyota Tacoma Prerunner.

It's got four doors, a short box, and a 4.0 liter 6 cylinder engine. You have your choice of either a 6 speed manual, or a five speed automatic transmission.

Consumers have provided 42 separate reviews of this truck, giving it an 8.9 overall rating, out of a possible 10.

Click on the link below.

Joel

....


Link:   Toyota Tacoma Prerunner

 

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-05-14          153687


Frank, you may wish to visit your county libary and look at Consumer's Report annual addition I beleive it is. This is a paper back book and it will give rating from real owners on about every vechile made. I have always found that to be great advice.

YP, I used to only buy Ford and then Dodge. Then Ford fell in love in a certain life style I can not support and I wanted mileage and more dependable than my last Dodge gave me. So went to Japanese auto built in USA. So I have USA built with good standards. I really understand the desire to buy the old USA labels and do so if reasonable. kt ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
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2008-05-14          153688


... and you can read my review of the Toyota Tacoma right here on TP! ....


Link:   Tacoma Review

 

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-05-14          153690


Thanks guys for the info. I've also heard that they aren't much better mileage wise than the Silverado's My current 07 plain jane standard cab 4X4 1500 W/small V8/auto tans has tickled an HONEST 21 in a calm day no air contitioner several times on an interstate day long drive. About 16-18 on day to day town and back drives. A friend of mine has a new body style 07 1500 with the 8/6/4 engine with every dodad known to man and probably some no man has heard of. I could have already solved all this if I just would have split for a four door when I bought the one I have now, but the old conservative mind set wouldn't let me spend the extra. I have no problem with other brands long as it is GM/Ford/Dodge, absolutely no foeiegn cars in my shed. I'd have to have a real good reason to stray from Chevy simply because of the dealereship I buy from. they are a small town dealership that started in 1946 and probably rival the volume of the big timers, and they don't even have a showroom. Just good honest people. Frank. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-05-14          153691


Frank, understand and will throw out one other suggestion, Avalanche (hope it is spelled correctly). My brother has one and really likes it. Per him the mileage is better than pickup and the ride is very decent. I think you can get different set ups some with reasonable towing if desired. I have driven it a few hundred miles on interstate and city and for a Rock it did fine. Believe they offer a lot of the truck type options such as 4 wheel drive on this also. Don't they make a four door Hummer with shortbox? Not sure if they get bigger as the number does of the other way. kt ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-05-14          153693


Yes, I have looked at the Avalanche, not sure if I spell it correctly either, and do like their "Midgate" feature that allows a shortbox to be turned into to a longbox or even a bit more I think by just opening a gate between the front of the pickup box and folding down the back seats. I don't think the Hummer would be a go with the Mrs., she leans toward the smaller side. In my prior post about the friend who has the 1500 four door with the 8/6/4/ engine. I've really never asked him about fuel mileage, his normal objective is to "Get There NOW". ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-05-14          153694


Frank, there have more than one size Hummer now. I think 3, now do they have the short box style you want in all 3, have no idea. But the smallest Hummer just seeing on the road is at least a Mid size if not smaller SUV. kt ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-05-14          153702


Thr Mrs. just don't want a Hummer, I didn't know they built a small one, but she says no, so end of that story. We're still mlles from any decision, and haven't had time to do any looking yet. ....


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kthompson
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2008-05-15          153704


Frank, if she does not like the Hummer, you are wise to move on. Very wise. And Happy! kt ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
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2008-05-15          153705


KT; From what little I've heard about them the Hummer's seem to be a good solid machine, but a bit pricey. The wife says they have too muuch of an "Armored Car" look. Frank. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-05-15          153706


Frank, I know very little about the Hummer. Have a client who drives one and did drive a dually Ford diesel. Probably are correct on pricey and for the biggest one in looks it does truly look like an armored truck. What little bit I have seen the smaller models which has only been on the road they don't seem to appear that way as much.

I think it is Honda that makes what my wife calls "a Hummer wanta be". If it were not for price of gas, my wife would like a Hummer. For that matter she would be happy with any Monester SUV sitting high, feeling safe as you can.

Frank, I have a friend who has the GMC pickup like you began asking about. He does a lot of traveling with his business am sure 99% is paved roads by himself only. I called and asked him: he has 105,500 miles on it, no real problems other than they can not get the front end where the inside of the tires do not wear heavy. Gets 21 to 22 on the road. He said it has plenty of power and speed to receive tickets with. We are mostly a flat to some hill area and he is normally hauling himself and luggage mostly. It is the 5 cyl. kt ....


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
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2008-05-15          153709


According to one of the guys in the office that has one, he says H3 Hummers are under powered with the 5 cylinder engine. They have horrible performance and mileage is also poor. He does better with his Silverado.

Maybe getting the Colorado is your best choice afterall. ....


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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2008-05-15          153710


While I appreciate those who refuse to purchase a foreign made vehicle, the truth is that even the U.S. auto makers now use a whole number of foreign made components in their vehicles.

Buy a Ford....spend half of the purchase price on imported parts. The wiring harnesses are made in Mexico. The engines may be made somewhere in Europe. The drive train may be made in Japan. Half of the bolts are metric, because the Chinese make them for about half the cost of U.S. made bolts. The hitch might be fabricated in India, or France. Even the tires are probably imported from a U.S. based company operating overseas.

Even Toyota trucks are now assembled in the U.S........and that's about as close to a domestic vehicle as one will get, no matter which brand is purchased.

In today's world, there is no such thing as a domestic vehicle. Even the local Ford salesman is probably "imported" from somewhere.

The truth is, it's all but impossible to purchase a domestic vehicle, no matter what country you might live in today. To emphasize this point, we need only look at the military hardware we have in our current inventory. Many of the U.S. military's weapons are now purchased from foreign companies.

It's hard to accept, even for me, but there just isn't such a thing as a domestic vehicle anymore. Studebaker went out of business in 1966. The truth is, most every other auto maker would have gone out of business along with them, if not for the fact that they started importing cheaper components, made in other countries.

Joel ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
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2008-05-15          153714


Joel, that's the way I see it. The Toyota Tacoma was designed in California and is built in Texas. Much of the profit that finds it's way to Japan is reinvested in the US.

But I did like the Japanese Tacoma's better (size was smaller, quality was better and they were a LOT more rugged). ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
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2008-05-15          153716


KT: I think you are right, we are right back where we started. The Mrs. is a small person 5' 1'' so even the fullsize Silverado I have now kinda overwhelms her, so I think it is a Colorado.
Joel; Yes you are correct probabaly more of my Silverado was built in Mexico than any other country. But here is the stigma that keeps me domestic. I never served in the military, so to do my part besides having "Old Glory" flying proudly in my front yard 24/7 LONG before 911, I just refuse to so to speak "Salute" another flag except ours by having a foriegn car in my garage. Frank ....


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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2008-05-15          153718


Frank,

Well, Sir, I joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17, with the noble goal of learning how to defend my nation in the event that we should someday be invaded by a foreign nation.

Much to my surprise, most of my military duties were geared toward overseas involvements. Never once did I serve in defense of the U.S. I spent most of my time learning how to invade and conquer foreign nations.

Even in the most patriotic of duties, I found myself being involved with foreign adventurism.........something our Founders are likely rolling in their graves over.

Don't feel bad for not serving in the military. There are much more patriotic duties to become involved with. Helping a little old lady up a flight of stairs is now the most patriotic thing any American could possibly do.


Joel ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
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2008-05-15          153719


Frank, forgive, I live near a resort area and this is Harley time, it will soon be the other type and younger I can do anything males to show up. Telling you that so you will understand...get you a full size four door truck and put a small side car on it for your wife. Ok, I have had my good belly roll. :)

I understand and appreciate your beliefs and love for this Country. Same for you Joel. Now Joel are you helping Mrs. Clinton across the street for her benefit or Obama's? :) :)
kt
....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
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2008-05-15          153726


Joel; You have your opinions and I have mine. As you will recall we have never saw things on the same level, but your statement that helping an old lady up a flight of stairs is the most patroitic thing I could do is the most anti patriotic statement I've ever heard for anyone claiming to be a true American say. Nuff said, end of story, PERIOD!!! ....


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JSCHOFLD
Join Date: Jun 2008
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2008-06-10          154475


As for four doors, have had two Avalanches, 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton and both were exceptional trucks. The ability to turn them into something that can haul 8' items very quickly even surprised me the first time I did it. Ridgeline is too small....just my personal opinion after looking at both of them 2500 was a great hauler here in the mountains of Colorado! ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
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2008-06-13          154575


Frank,

If its not too late, have you considered a diesel? Not sure if the Misses would go for that but with fuel prices being what they are and you appear to be needing or at least wanting a full size vehicle, a diesel may be a good choice.

Once the Cummins was broken in good it has always gotten 23 mpg highway and about 20 mpg local. A friend and I recently installed a set of 90 hp EDM type injectors and an Edge EZ and the milage went up another 2 to 4 mpg depending on the driving conditions. (that is of course if the driver maintains discipline over his right foot :O)

Mind you the new 6.7 liter Cummins engines get significantly worse fuel economy during their break in period but gradually improve to near to very low 20's mpg. If you can find a 2007 model 5.9 liter, they still get great fuel economy. With a few other mods such as an exhaust brake, bypass oil filter, and a set of good gauges, the costs of maintenance goes way down.

Another nice thing about a diesel is that it can burn a wide variety of fuels if need be in the event of a shortage or SHTF.

Another thing is that Dodge has an $2.99 a gallon fuel offer for 3 years/12,000 per year. IF diesel continues past $5 a gallon, this might be a nice cost savings as well. If you can find a new 2007 5.9 liter. Even with a 6.7 liter, that is not a bad deal IF you are in the market for a NEW vehicle.

Diesels are not for everybody but for some applications they can't be beat. ....


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