Colorado/Canyon vs. S-Series

pacodiablo · February 5, 2004

Many have complained that the new Colorado and Canyon are taking a step back in development compared to the S-10. What do you think?

Honestly, I would take a Colorado/Canyon over a '94 - '04 S-Series any day. The engine lineup looks great and the design is a well thought out one. Yes, the tow ratings have gone down, but look at what small trucks have always towed...wave runners, small boats, small trailers...they are not towing travel trailers or anything like that. The twins could probably easily handle all of the loads that the average S-10 owner tows.

brettmeyers · February 5, 2004

The Colorado all the way!

The S-10 was a great truck, but needed changed. Check out this pictures of the Colorado/Canyon.. you can't tell me that they don't look good. http://www.canyonfans.com/album.php

99-2door · February 5, 2004

I think GMs move toward drivablility rather than towing ability is a step in the right direction. The physical size of the small trucks is their limiting factor on towing ability rather than weight rating anyway. Their short-wheel bases and small track make them poor tow vehicles for anythign larger than a small trailer. If you need to tow much weight you need to move to a fullsize.

rtay2004 · February 5, 2004

I love the new look of the Colorado and Canyons. I also don't have any ambition to tow a d**n thing with them. I am a truck guy who loves trucks. I wouldn't use it for work or to tow things but just to get me from point A to point B. Yes I know some people won't agree with me but O'well, people get cars because they like them and I get trucks cause I like them..

The only thing i wish they wuld do it get rid of that d**n 4L60E tranny, I have one in my Blazer that was already replaced with a Cert tranny at 78k and then worked on again to replace gears at 120k. But I will be looking at buying a CC Z71 Sometime next year, I want them to get any bugs out of them within this year.

Frank S · February 5, 2004

Sorry,but I don't see the improvement at all.

The entire point of a compact/medium sized truck is to make a vehicle that can be used as a truck when needed and what GM successfully did was make a car with a bed on it,not to mention that they took a step backward by reverting to rear disc brakes and God forbid you have to try and change a brake rotor on a Colorado/Canyon.

IMO,it's not an improvement at all,rather a side step by gaining a few non truck things while sacrificing other truck like features.

Greg · February 6, 2004

My son has an '02 S-10 that I've driven a lot and I've taken a test drive in a Colorado. I like the new interior, but I'm not sold on the 5 cyl. engine over the 4.3.

rhilton · February 6, 2004

I'd rather have the 220hp I5 instead of the older V6. But what would really be cool is if chevy put the 4200 vortec in a colorado. That would be awesome.

SnakeEyeSS · February 6, 2004

they could have just bored/cammed the 4.3 and given it better ECU management.

if they put more low end grunt on the I-5, I think everyone would be happy.

but overall, I think yes.

sschevyz71 · February 6, 2004

I'd rather have the 220hp I5 instead of the older V6. But what would really be cool is if chevy put the 4200 vortec in a colorado. That would be awesome.

i am with you

Frank S · February 7, 2004

Well,I guess any vehicle will make some people happy but I'm really pi$$ed about the replacement for the S-series trucks.Look at what the Colorado/Canyon is competing against and what does it hold an advantage over them on?

Towing? Hardly.The Colorado/Canyon series isn't even rated as much as the S10 was so that should tell you all you need to know about your new "truck".

Fuel economy? I'm willing to bet that Toyota and Nissan still do better in that area,not to mention that a DOD Vortec V8 could get about the same mileage as the I5 and make the "truck" more capable.

Passenger room? Yay!Buy a freaking car if you need passenger space and a vehicle that's not really a truck.Besides that,throw 4 people in a supposed mid sized truck with an I5 that makes most of its power in the upper RPM ranges (4k+) and what do you have?A slow car.

I love the way it looks and I really wanted to like the truck because I was considering trading up to one since I now have a daughter and would like a crew cab.Since I've looked at it and done comparissons I'll say "No thanks,I'll keep my S10 since it's almost paid for and the daughter doesn't need to ride in it very often".

SilveradoWV · February 7, 2004

I see how GM is thinking because more "car people" are buying trucks now but come on, it should still be a truck. Alot of people like smaller trucks because like my self, I do alot of city driving. But I like ext cabs and crew cabs, there is no way I could fit a crew cab or ext cab in alot of places I have to go around town and on campus. I still want the ability to tow my ATVs and anything else that may come up, so I got a reg cab Silverado. 3 people up front is kind of cramped, for the middle person anyway. I was hoping GM would have something to compete with the Dodge Dakota. I like the looks of the Colorado, but with no V8 and a whopping sticker price for an I5 car with a bed, its just not worth it for me to even consider one to replace the Silverado. If GM wants to go that direction, why not spend a little extra time and money to allow for a V8 Option, but I would hate to see the price tag on that. The crew cab I5 that was at my dealer had a sticker of $39K and some change, I could have 2 of my V8 4x4 Z85 Silverados for that price!

rhilton · February 7, 2004

I feel that if you wanted a truck for towing, you would just go ahead and get the bigger truck. An I5 is certianly not going to outperform a V8. That's like saying a pony needs more pulling power than a Clydesdale. Get a Duramax for towing.

I'm just concerned with a truck that's got more get-up-and-go than a 95 Ford Ranger that's easy to maneuver.

But a 4.8L V8 option would sure light up the Colorado, even the 4.2L would.

Just get rid of those rear drum brakes...

99-2door · February 7, 2004

Just get rid of those rear drum brakes...

That's funny, the guys on the fullsize forum all bitch about the rear disc, and you guys are griping about the move back to drums

Greg · February 7, 2004

... The crew cab I5 that was at my dealer had a sticker of $39K and some change, I could have 2 of my V8 4x4 Z85 Silverados for that price!

I think you're off by about $10K here. The crewcab Z71 LS 4wd Colorados sticker for about $29K and max out at about $32K with leather. The crewcab Z71 Silverado 1500, 2500, or HDs will all reach $39K.

Tex2kZR2 · February 7, 2004

That's funny, the guys on the fullsize forum all bitch about the rear disc, and you guys are griping about the move back to drums

That's because people like me have driven 4300lb 4x4 S-10's with the ZR2 offroad package (which include 31" tires like the Colorado Z71) and have experienced firsthand how much drum brakes suck in stopping distance. When you go through your first set of front brake pads at 18K miles, I think that shows how much the rear drums are helping.(read NONE)

Now my 2002 ZR2 on the other hand which has 4 wheel disc, the brake pads are not even half worn at 28K miles and my truck stops on a dime... well maybe a quarter. But it stops a hell of a lot better than my '97 ZR2 with disc/drum ever did.

I am not advocating that all Colorado's need 4 wheel disc. But I believe it should be standard for 4x4 models and should be an option for anyone who wants it.