FenwickHockey65's Great Thread of GM Knowledge

[Stew]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

I think a V8 small truck is cool, but really there is no point in my opinion. If they wanted to build a true "Extreme" version of the truck, lowered, and handled better, with a V8 that would be awesome, but otherwise I don't see a need for it.

The 4.3 or a small diesel in this truck would be more than adequate. Again...these small trucks NEED to have a worthy difference in price and mpgs to be relevant...otherwise why bother? Even the 3.6 would hall/pull plenty good for what I'd want (and get decent mpgs), but yes the 4.3 would be the better work engine and as a bonus the 4.3 will shut down to 4 cylinders, so it might even better the better FE option.

You start asking for V8 engines and large towing capacities and your basically killing the idea of what makes a small truck good. Most people that really want a small truck feel the current midsize trucks are too big. I feel the size of the current colorado is big enough, just right for today's market...why make it any bigger? I hope these aren't, but from the photos they look like they might be which is disspointing to me.

Why don't small/midsize trucks sell well? B/c they aren't what they are supposed to be...small/cheap/reliable/efficient (or some combination of that)

i agree here, in the 90s/early 200s when gas was still decently cheap a V8 midsizer was a fine idea. It offered towing and hauling in between the compact and fullsizers and still offered a lower price. What killed the midsizers is the fuel mileage and they just got to big and too expensive. A small 4 cylinder/V6/small diesel pickup with at least a few grand lower price than a comparable fullsizer would be great.

[dorfmac]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Why don't small/midsize trucks sell well? B/c they aren't what they are supposed to be...small/cheap/reliable/efficient (or some combination of that)

And this is exactly why my dad loves his 2002 4-Cylinder Toyota Tacoma. Every time he brings it in for service the dealership tries to convince him to trade it in and offers well above Blue Book prices because there is a significant demand for these.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by Stew

A small 4 cylinder/V6/small diesel pickup with at least a few grand lower price than a comparable fullsizer would be great.

100%. Perfect pickup workhorse with the additional torque. I'd be all over that. I don't need a fullsize.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by snizzle

I don't think people wanted to spend 30K on a V8 Colorado.

Fen,
How well did the V8 Colorados sell?

Not sure, but probably not exactly well.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

I think a V8 small truck is cool, but really there is no point in my opinion. If they wanted to build a true "Extreme" version of the truck, lowered, and handled better, with a V8 that would be awesome, but otherwise I don't see a need for it.

The 4.3 or a small diesel in this truck would be more than adequate. Again...these small trucks NEED to have a worthy difference in price and mpgs to be relevant...otherwise why bother? Even the 3.6 would hall/pull plenty good for what I'd want (and get decent mpgs), but yes the 4.3 would be the better work engine and as a bonus the 4.3 will shut down to 4 cylinders, so it might even better the better FE option.

You start asking for V8 engines and large towing capacities and your basically killing the idea of what makes a small truck good. Most people that really want a small truck feel the current midsize trucks are too big. I feel the size of the current colorado is big enough, just right for today's market...why make it any bigger? I hope these aren't, but from the photos they look like they might be which is disspointing to me.

Why don't small/midsize trucks sell well? B/c they aren't what they are supposed to be...small/cheap/reliable/efficient (or some combination of that)

Agreed. My thoughts on offering a V8 would be as some sort of performance/sport model. I personally favour an off-roader instead of a street truck. But either way, I would be way more receptive to using the Colorado for the base of such a truck than the Silverado.

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by dorfmac

And this is exactly why my dad loves his 2002 4-Cylinder Toyota Tacoma. Every time he brings it in for service the dealership tries to convince him to trade it in and offers well above Blue Book prices because there is a significant demand for these.

Tell me about it!!

I am currently in the market for a small/midsize crew cab truck. Colorado/Canyon, Dakota, Tacoma, Frontier. They each have their up and down points....I'd take a good one in any of these, although the 04 - 06 Colorado/Canyons are kind of off the list because they are prone to cylinder heads failing, and the Dakota is kind of a low runner b/c it gets the worse mileage, and I don't care much for the looks. Anyways....

I am wanting to stay in the 14,000 - 15,000 MAX price range (hopefully less!) but there ain't CRAP out there in any of those models in the 2005+ years. Everything in that range has right around 100 thousand miles on it...its just ridiculous.

What would people have thought 10 years ago if they knew we'd be paying that kind of money for a high mileage truck that isn't even full size??

The used market right now is high I know, but I think its pretty plain to see the pent up demand for this market. It is there.

My goal is to pay for this vehicle out of pocket..no more loans for me....so I will keep on looking.

[FenwickHockey65]

By the way, those spy shots reveal the front fascia is NOT a copy/paste of Silverado. It appears to be the global dual port grille, but it's wider and not as tall.

[ssrs396]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

By the way, those spy shots reveal the front fascia is NOT a copy/paste of Silverado. It appears to be the global dual port grille, but it's wider and not as tall.

Agreed, so far I like the lights as far as I can see them.

[Dave McFly]

my turn, how come the current full size cross over SUV (traverse, arcadia, etc) need 6 lug wheels, and also ditto for the last of the GM min vans (Uplander, Relay, etc)?

[FenwickHockey65]

No idea. Just one of those things I guess.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Dave McFly

my turn, how come the current full size cross over SUV (traverse, arcadia, etc) need 6 lug wheels, and also ditto for the last of the GM min vans (Uplander, Relay, etc)?

Its more or less a function of GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) I imagine. Number 3 should know for sure.

[NASTY99Z28]

So these trucks will be fwd?

[FenwickHockey65]

They're RWD/4WD BOF.

[Scrappy Doo]

I just hope that the hp and price make the smaller/midsize truck worth it.