"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/14/2015 at 14:03 • Filed to: Truck buying, Car buying
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"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/14/2015 at 14:03 • Filed to: Truck buying, Car buying | 1
| 26 |
I’ve written about this before. Full size trucks have gotten crazy expensive. I need a truck use a truck enough that it’s worth owning one to me. For now, and the foreseeable future, I will be sticking with my trusty ‘06 Sierra 2wd crew cab, that I practically stole for less then $22k out the door brand new (including everybody’s favorite, an extended warranty). Being the enthusiast that I am, I am still always thinking about the next vehicle. I am strongly interested in the new Colorado. I think it looks good, and it’s certainly all the truck I need. While it is not small by any means, it is a good 5-6” narrower than a full size truck, and that makes a big difference in your average parking lot. The catch is, the Colorado ain’t exactly cheap. It seems like for just a bit more, you can have the bigger, more comfortable, and more capable full size truck.
I priced out a full size from each of the domestics, plus a Colorado. For all four of them I spec’d a 6’+ bed, their most potent gas burner, four wheel drive (no, I don’t need it, but it sure would be fun to have again), the second lowest trim level, a towing package (which all required/included a locking rear diff), and a spray in bed liner (except for the Dodge Ram, because I couldn’t find that on their configurator). I also spec’d blue, even if it was an extra cost item, because I like blue and if I have to spend another decade plus with yet another silver vehicle, I’m going to slash my wrists just so I can see some color. A million internets to you, if you got the Louis Black reference there.
Silverado 1500
So, let’s start with the full sizers. Chevy comes in as the budget choice among the big boys at a still hefty $42,890. It’s a really nice truck, and IMO looks the best out of all of them.
!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!
The
Dodge
Ram comes in shortly behind the Chevy at $42,965. For that price it does not have a spray-in bed liner like the rest, but it does have the much lauded 8-speed transmission. For some reason the only blue I could find is gadamn Smurf blue. This one is neck and neck. If you’re between the Chevy and the
Dodge
Ram, just get the one you like best. For me personally, that’d be the Chevy.
Ford F-150
The Ford being Ford lately, is the most expensive by a lot. It’s the most different of all the trucks here. Between the aluminum body and the twin turbo Ecoboost motor, this thing is a high tech wonder. I think we all know by now that these motors are all boost and no eco, but that torque curve is pretty addicting. Still, I can’t help but wonder for people like me who keep their trucks a long time, how much are those turbos going to cost me 10 years down the line, when a my LS/LT/Hemi motor will need is plugs and wires. Aluminum repair expense is also an x-factor that concerns me a bit, although the extreme lightness of an aluminum tailgate is VERY compelling. The Ford may well be worth the extra cost, but the jury is still out in my opinion. Looks wise I’m very disappointed in the Ford. To me it looks almost exactly like the previous one, with an uglier front end on it. Their blue though is the best blue. Ford really knows their blue!
Chevy Colorado
Finally we get to the Colorado. A touch over $36k doesn’t sound cheap, because it’s not. However, when you compare it to even the cheapest of these full size trucks, it’s nearly $7k cheaper. That’s a lot of cheddar! I think that is a compelling amount of money to save, for those of us who do not need the extra size and capacity of a full size truck.
Now, obviously, I’m comparing sticker prices. We all know that nobody pays sticker price, and nowhere is that more true than in the truck market. It is impossible for me to compare the ever-changing incentives on trucks, and your negotiating skills (read: willingness to walk away) affect your actual purchase price tremendously. Real world results will vary. By how much, I have no idea, but the Colorado is certainly worth a look.
BeaterGT
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:06 |
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Where does the Canyon fall in line? The new one looks so good on the road (and probably off it as well)
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shop-teacher
> BeaterGT
10/14/2015 at 14:10 |
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About $1600 more. Annoyingly they didn’t have blue, so I spec’d green.
HammerheadFistpunch
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:19 |
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I’m just guessing but I’ll bet you could negotiate a fs truck for less than a Colorado. Margins on fs trucks are way higher
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BeaterGT
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:25 |
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Man, I love that green too. But I could buy stuff way faster with $37,780!
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shop-teacher
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2015 at 14:25 |
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I’m sure you could get a FS for less then the Colorado’s sticker, but I also bet you could get the price of the Colorado knocked down quite a bit. I’m sure the actual price difference will be less than the sticker price difference, but by how much I have no clue. $3k? $4k? I don’t know, but the sticker prices are far enough apart to make shopping the Colorado worth it.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:31 |
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In my mind they’re really not comparable. Take the F150, for example; you’re getting a much more powerful engine and more “stuff” than the Colorado. More importantly, you’re getting the wider pickup bed that can carry more payload (both in size and weight).
IMO a better comparison would be either with equal powertrains or both base models.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:34 |
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Have you shopped for a Tundra? They are giving those away right now. I know you aren’t in the market right now but there are good deal to be had and they are good trucks...if a little ugly.
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:36 |
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IIRC Chevy has an “Easy up, Easy down” tail gate that’s a lot lighter than the old ones. It was pretty cool. You could even just open it and let it fall and it’d go down slowly rather than just free-fall open.
Luc - The Acadian Oppo
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 14:49 |
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Trucks are cheap in Canada.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/why-are-trucks…
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/if-i-was-buyin…
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/not-a-bad-plan…
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shop-teacher
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/14/2015 at 15:06 |
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I haven’t because they’re ugly and out of date. I’ll never tell somebody not to buy one, but they don’t interest me.
Textured Soy Protein
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 15:06 |
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I prefer the Canyon over the Colorado because it’s got full-time 4wd, but even a top-trim Canyon SLT crew cab long bed 4x4 is like $41k as long as you stay away from unnecessary accessories, which is well under the base prices of the full-sizers you posted.
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shop-teacher
> BeaterGT
10/14/2015 at 15:07 |
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It’s an option, but one that I did spec. They are nice!
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shop-teacher
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
10/14/2015 at 15:10 |
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Fair point, and I thought about that. The reason I didn’t compare that way, is if I’m going to go to the trouble of dealing with the size and expense of having a full size, I’ll spend just a wee bit more and get the bigger motor.
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shop-teacher
> Luc - The Acadian Oppo
10/14/2015 at 15:19 |
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Wowzers! Those are a bargain!
citizennick
> BeaterGT
10/14/2015 at 15:24 |
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There's a guy in town that has a Z71 Colorado in that green. Looks sooooo good.
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citizennick
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 15:25 |
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The Tundra seems to be consistently finishing last in all the truck comparosin reviews.
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shop-teacher
> Textured Soy Protein
10/14/2015 at 15:32 |
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The Canyon is very nice. I have no issues with the pay a bit more and get a bit nicer GMC (obviously, since I own one), and I generally like the current GMC “look”. For me, the swoopy cab works better with the Colorado styling much better than the Canyon styling. Ultimately, the look is why I would personally pick the Colorado.
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BeaterGT
> citizennick
10/14/2015 at 15:34 |
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Have you seen a green C7? Stunning.
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citizennick
> BeaterGT
10/14/2015 at 15:40 |
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Not in person. I’ve always been a huge fan of anything like British racing green. If only the 2016 Camaro was offered in that color, like the first gen.
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shop-teacher
> citizennick
10/14/2015 at 15:42 |
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The Tundra mainly sells to people who will only buy a Toyota, or to people who are willing to put up with it to get a good deal.
BigBlock440
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 15:48 |
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Holy shit, that’s a factory color. I saw a lifted 2500 on a dealer lot and assumed it was a custom job, but I guess not.
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citizennick
> shop-teacher
10/14/2015 at 15:50 |
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While my dad and I were cross-shopping trucks this spring we actually got a much better deal on a 2015 F-150 Crew Cab XLT Sport w/3.5 EcoBoost than a similarly equipped Tundra. It was kind of shocking.
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BeaterGT
> citizennick
10/14/2015 at 16:00 |
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Same here. Really hoping my next car will be green but it’s a dying color.
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shop-teacher
> BigBlock440
10/14/2015 at 16:08 |
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I was surprised myself!
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shop-teacher
> citizennick
10/14/2015 at 16:10 |
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Wow! That’s a no-brainer!
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citizennick
> BeaterGT
10/14/2015 at 16:21 |
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Yeah it sucks. I considered a Chevrolet SS just because it comes in that nice shade of green. And the Mustang has that nice Guard Green. IMO, Mustang color choices>Camaro color choices.