Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon

[USSkoval]

The best part of this truck is its mechanical construction! The Colorado/Canyon was a joint venture with Isuzu, and lots of engineering was put into it. The engine is very strong! There was a bulletin from GM listing cylinder head issues in a run of them, but these have seemed few and far in between.

Figured out the Izuzu influence the first time I had to work on one. In general, they are a PITA to repair. I've had to change a lot of alternators, u-joints and outer door handles, but not much else. Did have one that came in with a hole in the block though. Overall, they drive nice and the 5 cyl is peppy, but I'll take my comfortable, rusty, trusty, old S-10 any day.

 

[cerberus1969]

Figured out the Izuzu influence the first time I had to work on one. In general, they are a PITA to repair. I've had to change a lot of alternators, u-joints and outer door handles, but not much else. Did have one that came in with a hole in the block though. Overall, they drive nice and the 5 cyl is peppy, but I'll take my comfortable, rusty, trusty, old S-10 any day.

no way?! thats hard to believe! i've been in a gm dealer for the last two and a half years and have never seen problems like that! customer must have run it into the ground i guess ha ha!!

 

[buffblazer]

cerberus, what gm dealer do you work at in fort collins? is it dellenbach?

 

[USSkoval]

no way?! thats hard to believe! i've been in a gm dealer for the last two and a half years and have never seen problems like that! customer must have run it into the ground i guess ha ha!!

Well, to be fair, most of them have been fleet trucks from the same company. And oddly, all the bad u-joints have been in the extended cab trucks with the 2 piece shaft.

 

[cerberus1969]

Well, to be fair, most of them have been fleet trucks from the same company. And oddly, all the bad u-joints have been in the extended cab trucks with the 2 piece shaft.

ha ha okay that makes sense, although thats really goofy about the ext cab...hmm...

...and buff-- fort collins AREA... im currently in windsor

 

[buffblazer]

ha ha okay that makes sense, although thats really goofy about the ext cab...hmm...

...and buff-- fort collins AREA... im currently in windsor

ah ok gotcha

 

[supersize75k5]

craig I have had mine for just over a year now, got it last january and ive clocked right at 18k on it.


mine is a 08 2wd 4 door with the 4cyl.

Power wise I am happy, I carry an easy 300-600 lbs in mine daily and i have no issues with it in that department. Off road or on washes, high speed it seems to do well. Had it up to the gas pedal going though sand and water, did ok where a bronco in 4wd and a f-150 both got stuck.

Every one who has been in the back seat was impressed with the room, dash looks nice decent lay out. As mentioned the arm rest on the door seems useless.

I can say I literally drive the ever loving hell out of this thing, I am foot to the floor loaded down, down shifting to pass and I hit right around 16-20 driving like that. Seems driving it really hard I land on 300-330 miles per tank " 18 gallon fill up" when I have tried to drive nice and also unloaded there is just no big change in the milage. I have been near 360 miles with 18 gallons thats only 20 mpg. I was very disappointed with the gas milage from the start and its one thing that soured me about the truck from the start.


Oil changes are easy but ive only changes mine twice in 18k, the 1st time the oil light finally came on after 16,000 miles, oil was hideous and reflected my driving. The second time was a result of a fist size hole in my oil pan I can say you can have a loose hitch ball on your stock bumper and tow a fullsize blazer down a wash board road and survive.

I have so far only killed a few items

-oil pan..50mph and multiple whoops do not mix
-tail gate..wrong size trailer ball
-front lower valance below bumper.. result of whoops
-fog lights..see above
-auto tranny shifter..ran over debris in road
-windshield <--nothing exciting here
- 3 tires.. j-turns, donuts, 5k neutral drops, rocks, curbs..the usual
-battery..eh ran it dead, pulled it out, placed on white trucks bumper to go get it charged and forgot about it..


I firmly believe the drive train is solid, and even though im used to my other truck there is no need for the 5cy. The 4 banger is PLENTY! must have done an easy 100 plus n-drops and plenty while loaded. The front suspension seems plenty stout I would say. Its held up very well with only alignments needed.

dislikes..

-wheel hop, when i do my 5k neutral drops in can be annoying

-turning radius.. worse than my 99 sub, and worse than my white truck

-sex appeal.. truck is boring, honestly that the main thing that bugs me about it, I feel numb driving it. The only excitement I get from it is pulling a turn onto the free way at 60 mph and trying my luck with hitting the concrete wall and totaling the damed thing. I ****ing hate it, I love just beating the hell out of it but it wont die. This truck says nothing about my personality. The truck is also surprisingly long, yes its a 4 door.. still surprised though.


I would NOT recommend this truck. For the gas milage I would much rather have bought a full size half ton 4 door with a v6 or a single cab 4.8 or 5.3 truck. A full size would have a better resale down the road, look better and are over all more enjoyable. The extra 1-3 mpg just does not sell me over when the price was the smile off my face. I enjoyed driving my old 97 ford ranger much more.

 

[00integrals]

I've had my '08 4 dr 2 wheel drive 3.7L for just under a yr now and I can't say that I like it. Compared to the rest of the mid-sized truck market it is by far the best choice IMO, but that's not really saying much. I've had zero issues with anything on the thing. My main complaint is that I have yet to get near 20mph in town or on highway (I know, I know ... it's a truck). Plenty of power when it's needed, but only when you turn traction control off. The bed of the truck can't really handle too much of a serious load due to it's much smaller size constraints when compared to a full size. The turning radius on it is HORRIBLE.

That said, if it was being purchased for a teenager or as a second vehicle for small trips around town ... I'd say consider it. Outside of those two things, go with a full-size or SUV.