'09 Colorado gets V8 how does that effect Tacoma?

[Basic Toy]

That's right, 2009 Colorado is officially available with a segment stomping 5.3L V8 and 300 hp/ 320 ft/lbs of torque! An even bigger slap in the face to both the Tacoma & Frontier is that it even gets a respectable 15/21 mpg in 2wd guise and 14/19 with 4WD. Lets discuss..... I personally think the Colorado is way below the Tacoma & Frontier in terms of quality & refinement but 300 hp & 320 ft/lbs of torque could be enough for me to swap for one, the deal breaker is I need a full sized bed and those trucks don't offer that.




More info here to prove it....
http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado/features/
-Ryan

[Nobleswede]

big engine doesnt always mean better. my friend has a dakota with a v8 and hates it cause it slides around everywhere and is just plain shitty

TACO > any other compact truck

[Basic Toy]

Originally Posted by Nobleswede

big engine doesnt always mean better. my friend has a dakota with a v8 and hates it cause it slides around everywhere and is just plain shitty

TACO > any other compact truck

I don't disagree, I've driven the Dakota with the B.S. "High Output" V8 and it's slower than a Tacoma 4.0L truck for truck. And yeah the Colorado is at the bottom of the segment in terms of quality but you can't argue that it wouldn't be a blast to drive. Especially when the sub $8K off rebates kick in, I would get one just to thrash.

-Ryan

[81shark]

other than the fact that it stickers for 8K more than my truck, and doesn't come with a manual tranny with the V8, it's pretty sweet looking

[PGDriver]

If you want big numbers slap on a TRD Supercharger

[sechsgang]

Quality? My Taco has caused at least 10x the problems in 3 years than what my previous S-10 did in 8 years.
Is the Taco more refined? Yes, no doubt.

[Basic Toy]

Originally Posted by sechsgang

Quality? My Taco has caused at least 10x the problems in 3 years than what my previous S-10 did in 8 years.
Is the Taco more refined? Yes, no doubt.

Early 80's S10's were tanks, albeit death traps I know a guy still driving an '85 or something with the old Iron Duke pushing well over 300K, he's only rebuilt the trans and clutch. My MIL has a 2006 Colorado and after riding in it and driving it it feels like a 20 year old Hyundai compared to both my 2007 Tacoma & my 2008 Frontier. With my business I buy & go through trucks every two-three years I've owned them all Dodge, Nissan, countless Toyotas, Fords etc... I'm not a brand loyal kind of guy and out of all the trucks I've ever ran and owned only the Dodges have worn out before the warranty expired or my two-three year turn over. So I'm always game for what ever brand has the best package or bang, utility at the time I need a truck. Only reason a Toyota isn't my most recent purchase because with the state the economy is in and such I didn't want to pay the premium for what I thought a competitor offered as equivalent for thousands less.

-Ryan

[Marty McFly]

Originally Posted by PGDriver

If you want big numbers slap on a TRD Supercharger

I was just going to say that!

I wouldnt drive one of those if it was 5k! what a POS! They feel like they are stuck together with playdoh. And the resale is horrible.

[6shooter]

chevy has not made a car worth driving since 1970. you think a v8 is gonna make me want it? if i want that kind of power, i'll SC my tacoma.

[MikeNH]

I've owned 2 GMs- a 98 Jimmy and a 03 Silverado. I will never own another GM truck again. Horrible, horrible quality.

[HomeGrown]

Toyota is WAY too conservative with engine options for the Taco. If I could get a 300hp V8 in my regular cab Taco instead of a 2.7L 4-cyl and ONLY suffer about 2-3 mpg difference? I'd be SO there. Or better yet a diesel.

I'm not very fond of the looks of the Colorado, and in the few years it's been out, it really hasn't grown on me much. The 1978 Chrysler LeBarron called, and wants it's over-the-headlight turn signals back.

BTW: I've owned 12, yes TWELVE various S-10 based trucks ranging in years from 1984 - 2005. 3 Blazers, 1 Jimmy, and the rest various 2wd & 4wd trucks, and only had real problems with 2 of them. One was used & abused, the other was brand new & bought back by GM. The only reason I'm not driving one now is because I work for Toyota.

[81shark]

Originally Posted by HomeGrown

Toyota is WAY too conservative with engine options for the Taco. If I could get a 300hp V8 in my regular cab Taco instead of a 2.7L 4-cyl and ONLY suffer about 2-3 mpg difference? I'd be SO there. Or better yet a diesel.

I'm not very fond of the looks of the Colorado, and in the few years it's been out, it really hasn't grown on me much. The 1978 Chrysler LeBarron called, and wants it's over-the-headlight turn signals back.

BTW: I've owned 12, yes TWELVE various S-10 based trucks ranging in years from 1984 - 2005. 3 Blazers, 1 Jimmy, and the rest various 2wd & 4wd trucks, and only had real problems with 2 of them. One was used & abused, the other was brand new & bought back by GM. The only reason I'm not driving one now is because I work for Toyota.

2-3mpg difference. yoou are kidding right.

[HomeGrown]

Originally Posted by 81shark

2-3mpg difference. yoou are kidding right.

Wish I was.... by actual ratings, it's 3 mpg difference. The reg. cab 4x4 Taco is rated @ 17/22. According to the numbers that Basic Toy posted, the Colorado with a V8 is rated @ 14/19.

Last time I was in for an oil change, I was looking at a 2wd Tundra double-cab with a 5.7 V8. It was only rated 4 mpg less than my Taco. IIRC, it was something like 14/18.

MPG on that truck is WAY too close to what my 4 cyl. 5-speed Taco is rated at.

[81shark]

i forget what mine is rated, but overall is in the low 23's, and for the past 5 months or so, i've been hitting 25-27 on a regular basis. i doubt the chevy could touch those numbers, but it a nice looking ride.

[J4RR]

5.3L V8 with only 300hp, doesn't seem like a good ratio, I would think that a 5.3L would put out more hp but it might be limited due to the size of the truck and other components of the truck.