First Truck

A couple buddies have had them, they're pretty rattley after getting that many miles on them. I own a reg cab shortbed silverado and like small trucks but wouldn't buy a colorado.

I own a 2010 Colorado and I like it BUT...I would avoid the first few model years(04-06) of the Colorado as I have read they have numerous weird electrical issues. In general I like to avoid the first couple model years of any new model or total redesign.

Do some extensive internet research on the 04 Colorado and see what you find.

Get a toyota Tacoma.

Get a standard cab GM 1/2 ton with 6 ft bed. That's a small truck. Better quality vehicle. I'd probably pick a Ford Ranger over the Colorado.

X2

Extra cab short bed would give some storage room inside . Gotta have that. We have a standard cab for a shop truck and I can't handle the lack of room inside.

I'll second the Tacoma. Hard to beat in its class.

I would never buy a pickup without at least a extra cab. , just my opinion. You will need room to haul stuff ,

Between my dad and I, we've put over 500k miles and 20 years on Nissan frontiers. No major problems. One clutch, wiper motor, and a window motor. Otherwise just tires gas and brakes. I have a a four runner now, and I'd think the taco would be a solid ride too

A local guy I buy bolts from has a couple of Frontiers that he has his salesmen drive. He always asks me how my Colorado is doing as he is thinking about replacing his Frontiers someday. HE SAYS EACH FRONTIER HAS OVER 300,000 MILES on the odometer. He seemed put out that he had to replace the clutch in one of them.

I tell him there is no way in hell my Colorado will last that long and that he should just go buy a couple more Nissans.

Get a Toyota. Colorados are ok but not a Toyota. Ford rangers are the worst driving of all the small trucks. I hate my ranger! Will be sold soon. Looking for a Toyota even if its an 80's version over this 98 ford.

I may look at Nissan but there aren't that many around here.

I have a Silverado 95,000 miles. I can't imagine how bad it will drive with 120,000. Our Camry with 130,000 drives great.

I have an 06 Colorado, single cab, 5 speed, 5 cylinder Z71 4wd. I bought it last December for work and have put 50k miles on it since then. It currently has 145k miles. The 04-06 (mainly 04-05) have some problems with bad heads, so If you can get maintenance records on the truck that would be a big plus. The single cab colorado is surprisingly roomy, It has a much larger cab than a single cab ranger/dakota/tacoma.

Main things to look for:

-Cracked exhaust manifold (you will need to remove the heat shield/02 sensor to check for this, I pulled mine off and it was cracked, I ordered an aftermarket header.)

-Warped head issues (If the truck has a check engine light on, see if it is pulling this code http://www.355nation.net/forum/i4-i5-engine-drivetrain/18551-p0302.html

-Soft leaf springs, I had to add air bags to my colorado because I was always carrying around 1000 lbs in the bed for work and the truck would be almost bottomed out. If you don't plan on hauling heavy stuff all the time then you should be fine though.

Small issues:
-Make sure the levers for the seat adjustments aren't broken. Two of my handles were already snapped off and the wheel for adjusting lumbar support was stripped out.

-Tailgate handle, check and make sure it isn't broken. Also check and see if the key will actually lock your tail gate. Mine won't,


In the past 11 months I have owned my colorado, I have been extremely pleased with it. I had to get it towed one time when my wheel bearing went out on the interstate, but other than that, it has handled many miles of pothole filled gravel/dirt roads very well. I would buy another if I had to.

In the past 50k miles, the only things that went bad and HAD to be replaced were the following:
-Wheel bearing
-All the U joints
-Exhaust manifold

My truck has 4.10 gears and is 4wd, and during the summer completely empty it will get an honest 21-22 mpg running 70 mph, but it has quite a few mods on it. Stock it would get around 20 mpg empty running 70 mph. In town it drops to around 17-19 depending on traffic patterns.

If it has an auto tranny it probably has 3.73 gears and will probably get you somewhere close to 24 mpg highway.

I'm happy with mine, and I would buy another if I needed to. There are a lot of 5 cylinders with high mileage and with proper maintenance they should last you quite a while.