Hurricane Ike: An Argument for Small Trucks, and Shreveport

[bone]

Originally Posted by Whitesky

I can't tell you how many times people have told me they wish GM still made the little S-10. This is even before gas went up.

I totally agree. The S-10 crewcab is still the sharpest looking small pickup on the road.

[prowlerjc]

Originally Posted by t-rex

People shouldn't discount those little car-based pickups so cavalierly.

They're tough little trucks with beefy leaf rear springs and can carry half a ton (1200+ pounds). Some are sharp-looking too!

I really wish they'd bring something like this over.

[Ming]

I'm a fan of car based pickups for sure, but I've encountered too many floodwater situations where a little extra ground clearance makes all the difference between driving through it and taking a looong detour.

[Puzzel]

I love my 2005 Colorado ExCab LS 2WD I-5 5M, even more after 4 great years and 52k+ miles!

The suicide rear doors don't vibrate like mad when I close the front doors because I make sure the rear doors are securely latched. It looks like a truck, sounds like a truck, rides like a truck, hauls like a truck, handles better than any truck I've had before -- and by golly it is a truck. But its alot more comfortable than my 93 S-10 ExCab 4x4, gets better gas mileage, and has alot more interior space. And all models have class leading/competitive gas mileage -- look it up but compare apples to apples (CrewCab 4wd != Reg 2wd).

And I get 19+ city 25+ hwy with 3.5L 5cyl spd 3.42 gears and 227 hp -- real world numbers.

Originally Posted by bouda

My '99 S10 gets 19 city 28 highway. 2.2L 4cyl 5spd 3.73 gears 120(?)hp. I'd like to get a newer version but honestly I can't get over the Colorado's styling. I can't believe that mileage either, that is crap.

[Code Red]

Originally Posted by SDRacing

_______________


good God, im not one for lowered trucks unless they are fast as hell, but that is one mighty fine Colorado!!!

thanks truck will actually be getting either

A. Turbo the 5 cylinder
B. LS1 or engine swap
C. 5.3 or 6.0 Truck LS based engine and swap top ends for a LS1 or 2 style


just depends on money but it will be getting some speed but right now most of my money is wrapped up in my 68 GTO

[Code Red]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

I've know of a customer who had this done to his colorado:

http://www.trickperformanceproducts....e_colorado.htm

hmm first time I've heard of that kit and not a bad price compared to what else is on the market right now

[Code Red]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

They installed a turbo...the young man brought it in to have install some exhaust, which he couldn't do...I'm not certain if that was the brand though, it's all I could find quickly when googling a search!!!

RK had a supercharger but then discontinued it and then magnacharger scrapped their roots style supercharger last I heard. W2W has one but its around 5 grand US or more.

For turbos. there are a few one off kits, this one, HAHN is working on one and a couple others.

[Code Red]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Not really, the Holden Colorado which is a re-nosed Holden Rodeo are made in a plant in Thailand owned by Holden. Name changed a month or so back due to Isuzu separating from GM - they owned the name since the 70's.

The Holden version is about as different to the 355s as you can get, as it comes with a Holden-made 3.2 litre HFV6, also shared with our version of the GMDAT Captiva (Saturn Vue) or a four or V6 diesel.

Interiors, brakes, driveline, electrics, suspension etc all different.

well I mean as far as in the US they dont show off the colorado like that the US commericals are kinda corny

I dont think they have even done any commericals for the 09 V8 colorados

I wish they had put a engine cover and did something else with the top of the engine but nothing a intake or LS intake manifold cant fix

photos I took at the woodward dream cruise in detroit last month

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by prowlerjc

I really wish they'd bring something like this over.

The South African version of the Chevy Montana/Tornado, the Opel Corsa Utility, is GM's best-selling product in that market and is far and away the segment leader in sales, especially now that Nissan's dropped the ancient 1400 "Champ" LDV.

They're popular with tradesman on a budget as well as being the darling of the surfer set and are popular with under-30 males.

Here's a really clever ad for Ford's entrant, the Bantam...

+ YouTube Video

[t-rex]

But THIS ancient little pickup (it still had a manual choke and carb), which one could buy until just a few months ago, had to be THE most indestructable vehicle on Earth.

I swear you could detonate a hydrogen bomb in one and it'd crank and get you to work the next day...

Here are some wingats (yahoos/hoons/yobbos) "drifting" in a 1400 Bakkie...

+ YouTube Video

[Ming]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Here's a really clever ad for Ford's entrant, the Bantam...

Haha funny stuff. Took me a while to figure out where they were going with it.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by johnriley

You aren't going to drive over any logs with this, but this Chevrolet Tornado is my idea of how you get a small higher mileage pickup. (This was at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa airport - I have no idea what it was doing there. It had Iowa dealer plates.)

GM really needs to offer the Montana/Tornado here, it will attract many new buyers to GM dealers and help improve CAFE ratings.

As you can see by the picture - these pickups are a nice size and do not look out of place even when parked next to a full-size truck.


That being said GM needs to get the Colorado/Canyon replacement here soon and with a high MPG base engine, the "new" 2.3L that is supposed to be in the next Equinox with 200+ HP should fit the bill nicely with (hopefully) a near 30 MPG rating.

[CHASLS2]

Originally Posted by Whitesky

I can't tell you how many times people have told me they wish GM still made the little S-10. This is even before gas went up.

I would love to see the s10 come back, with the Xtreme package and a V8 with 350 to 400hp.

There is not one truck being made by the big 3 i would wanna buy. Nothing but big heavy tanks and 4 doors.

I have a 08 3.7 regcab Colorado, it's been problem free, but it sure needs a LS3 and a 6speed auto to make it fun to drive like my C6 vette.

[CHASLS2]

Originally Posted by tama z71

THERE IS NO VALUE IN TURNING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COLORADO BACK INTO THE S10.

I may be the only person using the internet today who has driven both the S10 and the Colorado (okay, Canyon) with regularity (it seems like it anyway), and I can say on no uncertain terms that the S10's I have driven were GARBAGE.

Apply the new-GM quality treatment to the next iteration of the Colorado and we'll have a winner on our hands. Think for a moment that the S10 is the answer to GM's small truck woes and we'll concretely be a decade behind the competition.

I can't agree about the S10 being junk. I have owned 5 s10's and had a 05 3.5 and now have a 08 3.7 regcab colorado.

My first S10 was a 92 4.3 auto regcab Tahoe, i bought it used in 95 with 50k miles, and sold it in 02 with 130k miles, never had any problems with the truck, never leaked a drop of oil and the trans never missed a beat.

Wished i still had that 92 s10. I now have a 08 regcab auto 3.7 Colorado, truck has been fine, but i wished it was smaller and had a v8.

[JimsZR2]

I still drive my S10 ZR2 anywhere and anytime. I get about 20-21 MPG city/hwy combination.

Although, It has been a very expensive vehicle. I have well over 12k in work that has been done to this thing since I bought it in 02. At one dealership alone it has been there 42 times. It has put me into a financial struggle. Lets say about $15k in credit card debt.

It has had it's ok moments but for the most part it's POS.

Now the oil pan gasket is leaking all over the place and it's about $800 to fix it.

I found another ZR2 locally it's a 2002 with 36k miles. I was looking at it but I just couldn't fathom going through what I just did with my 99.