Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon,any good??

Hey guys,

While I like my full-sized van for what it is I have been thinking about getting a pickup again. I bought the van 2 years ago when we had a 5000lb camper trailer,but now we have a large pop-up camper instead,and I don't need a full-sized vehicle with a V8 anymore. I was thinking maybe a midsized crew cab truck,and the Chevy/GMC brothers seem to be cool little trucks. Would these be suitable for a family of four(two kids in car seats still)? I don't use my van much,so if the seating is a bit tight it shouldn't be that much of an issue. I have only put 9000 miles on my van in the last two years so you can see I don't drive it much,and I doubt that will change any time soon.

How is the 3.5 litre inline 5 as far as towing power? Our pop-up is large,but the GVW is only 3500,so I think the 5 cylinder should work,but I thought I would ask. Are these trucks reliable? Anything I should look for in one as far as common failure points?

I want a two-wheel drive,so finding one at a good price should be easy if I can find a 2wd around here. There is one on ebay now in NY state that intrigues me. It is a 2wd crew cab Colorado in electric blue with 52k miles with a buy-it-now of $10k. Good deal?

Chris

79 RX-7 GS,74 REPU,78 Datsun 510 two door hatch

Before 07, there were problems with the valve seats. Head replacement is the fix, and GM is covering it. There is an extended warranty. I have an 06, with 135,000km and it has been reliable, but its an 06, it should be. Mine is a 4cyl/5spd, and I tow our 9' hard top easily. It pulls my Swift race car without any problem, the exception being long uphills, where I have to downshift. MPG is the same, or better than my 93 B2200 was, and it makes double the power. I got a great deal on it new, but can buy an 09 for $2k less right now. Look new before you look at used. Unless that one on ebay is fairly new, $10k in not a great deal. I would buy another.

I just read that GM is shutting down the 4.2 line to build the Volt engine. They said that engine is dying with the death of the Trailblazer. Isn't that a Colorado engine, too?

I'd think one of these trucks would be reliable and have parts available for years, so buying one, if it fits what you need, wouldn't be a bad thing.

My buddy has a 5 cylinder regular cab 4x4 canyon. I like the truck. He gets 21mpg highway but it requires extremely careful driving. I believe that a fullsize with v8 setup properly could get the same mileage.

The Colorado gets a 4cyl and a 5cyl.

I despised the 4cyl autos we had at NAPA but the one 5 cylinder was a completely different animal.

Have you thought about a 2 wheel drive frontier...I have seen new ones go for around 12k here in ole viriny...

and I really like mine.

I havent been impressed with the colorado/canyon...Have had 2 in the family since 05 really didnt pull well in the hills (as mentioned above) and sagged really bad with about anything in the bed...Our ole 85 ranger handled loads better!

I hadn't thought of the Frontier. I can't imagine a two-wheel drive crew cab V6 would go that cheap,but maybe I am wrong.

Are the gfirst generation crew cabs okay,or would I be best to get the newer larger body style?

Chris

Make sure that the car seats will actually fit in the back. The doors are little on the small side and it seemed a little tight on space for my knees. A vendor I had has one with 105k miles on it. No problems at all.