Test drove a Colorado

Black03ZR5 · Post by **Black03ZR5** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:05 pm

I have to say I am really only impressed by the exterior looks and larger bed. I drove a sunburst orange z71 crew cab. The interior still felt somewhat cheap, but that could also be related to the fact that I drove one with the stupid rainbow gay cloth seats. When driving the truck you can notice how much stiffer and solid of a truck over the s-10 it is. My only real complaint would the wine of the I-5, other than that it really isn't too bad. The leather steering wheel is thicker and has better quality leather and the truck feels like a slightly smaller Silverado. I am really thinking about swapping out. It really comes down to what I can get for my truck. The dealer said they would give me 19,500 for my truck and would take 3500 off the sticker price of a new Colorado leaving me to pay the remaining 7,000. Doesn't seem like to bad of a deal, I have my real dealer seeing what he could do, as the dealer I test drove at was the only one with a z71 crew cab in around me.
Overall, I think this will make a great replacement and I really like it. But I think that more could have been done with the interior.
Dave

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:26 pm

We need someone to thouroughly examine the front end, maybe snap some pics and show us. lol. Or maybe I can take a gander myself one day. I'd like to know the specs, the real specs. Like what kinda rearend, what kinda front diff, etc, etc.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:31 pm

Can someone say "24 hour GM test drive"

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:15 pm

Theres no room in there, it has that submarine hatch rear door!

ludwis · Post by **ludwis** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 5:47 pm

Got a canyon for a rental while my crew is in the shop for the cv boot repairs. I am not really impressed with the canyon at the moment.

Pros
- Larger bed with 8 tie down points compared to 4 in the S-10 - I took a trip to home depot and picked up 4 sheets of 4x8 sheet rock to test it out. The larger bed made a big difference
- Suspension seems to ride much better (feels more solid like Dave said above)
- Power window and door lock controls are much easier to use. It has the pull back - press down ones.
- Appears to have more ground clearance (seems like I had to take a bigger step out compared to the crew)
- Engine runs much smoother - the crew sounds really rough compared to this one.
- I may be strange but I like the cool sound the blinker makes opposed to the large relay click clack in the crew.
- 4wd seems to shift in and out much smoother - the crew tends to make a clunk when the front diff locks in, the canyon was quiet, just a slight click.

Cons
- Brakes are really strange; the first 4" of travel don't appear to do anything, the last 1/2" is what counts, I found my self being jerked forward alot. Maybe you would get used to it eventually but I felt like I was 16 again driving my dads truck.
- Interior feels cheap compared to the crew (the seat material sucks)
- Steering wheel feels alot smaller
- The truck is wider over all and thus the interior seems to spread out up front. I like the cosy feel of the S-10 where all the controls are driver focused. I also like the right arm rest in the crew. It's much more comfortable to lean on while driving. The hvac and stereo also feel like they are very far away. I like how I can kind of rest my palm on the shifter while I screw with the tuner controls on the crew.
- No headed mirrors (didn't see them anyway)

Thats all for now, going to drive to work tomorrow...more to report

Yellow Hammer · Post by **Yellow Hammer** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:08 pm

How about power? Does the larger horsepower make a difference?

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:10 pm

black03zr6 wrote:The dealer said they would give me 19,500 for my truck

Wow that's a pretty good deal for a trade in, that's just about what I paid for my truck in 2003 when I drove it off the lot. If they still made the CC's that would be almost worth throwing my CC on one of my trailers and driving it to Minnesota for a trade in on a 2006

Steve

BobbleSmitty · Post by **BobbleSmitty** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:44 pm

My brother has a z71 crew cab Colorado with the I5. I'd have to say that it feels like it takes off a little faster than the Zr5, but we'll find out for sure in a few weeks at the track

The Colorados have 225 ft/lbs of torque and 220HP... a stock S10 has 190hp and i think 250 ft/lbs... It feels like our trucks pull alot harder... I think my bro's truck gets to about 48mph in first gear, it revs higher than ours... mine shifts to 2nd at 39... I like the Colorado alot, its a nice looking truck from the outside, but the inside is pretty cheap.

top_sgt · Post by **top_sgt** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:14 am

my fiancee has an extended cab colorado z-71.....as compared to my s-10crewcab...... hers does take off quicker....but i can bark my 30" tires..she cannot bark hers!!!!!! i like the feel of my crewcab with the new shocks and bodylift!!! hers does need better shocks!!!! and maybe a body lift!!

i think my s-10 has a tighter feel as compared to the colorado......and i do not like the colorado seats......mine are more comfortable at driving distances!!!!!
just some info for you all!!!!!

ace · Post by **ace** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:30 pm

I'd have to say a big con is the reduced towing capacity compared to the crew. Once you start deducting for people and gear I would be out of the capacity for even pulling my pop-up.

Coda · Post by **Coda** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:03 pm

I was looking at the new colorados and then saw one in person and i didnt like it at all... so i went one step up and got an 03' Silverado SS

michael_4x4 · Post by **michael_4x4** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:53 am

top_sgt what have you done to your truck performance wise

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:40 pm

Just FYI. The new Hummer H3 shares the same platform as the Colorado/Canyon. Just wish GM could ditch the *&^&$^%$*( IFS. But it would be a good on road rig though.