3 years of Colorado

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
10/22/2017 at 19:00 • Filed to: Colorado, my truck is best truck

3 years ago tonight I picked it up from the dealer. No regrets. Post pics of your faithful steeds.

Such a nice little truck...

DISCUSSION (35)

Nibby > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:04

Nice! How many km on it?

Kinja'd!!!

Today I cleaned it thoroughly + removed some scratches on it thanks to work parking lot.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:07

Kinja'd!!!

I’ve had mine for half as long as you have had yours.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:08

Kinja'd!!!

mazda616 > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:09

Just hit 2 years with my 6.

Kinja'd!!!

21,000 miles on the 6.

Will be 5 years this December with wifey’s CX-5.

Kinja'd!!!

Almost 49,000 miles on the CX-5.

AestheticsInMotion > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:22

Kinja'd!!!

Rain or shine, city traffic or twisty mountain roads, this little jellybean always puts a smile on my face. Two years now

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:34

Congrats on the milestone. It looks like a great truck.

I picked the Twingo up a bit over 4,5 years ago. It’ll probably stay with me for a long time, if not forever. In the 4,5 years it has carried me all over the Netherlands, 3 times to the Nürburgring, and 1 time over the Nürburgring and Spa. I know it is supposed to be this cheap and cute city car, but I just love the way it handles like something way more serious.

Kinja'd!!!

InFierority Complex > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 19:54

Didn’t even know there was a v8 Colorado. Looks like you’ve had some fun adventures over the last 3 years

shop-teacher > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 20:00

11.5 years, and all but the first 26 of 126k miles were put on by me.

Kinja'd!!!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > shop-teacher
10/22/2017 at 20:42

Nice! I almost bought one of those, but I couldn’t find one without rust in my initial price range.

So far I’m at 107,000km. Started from 63,000. Not a very busy 3 years, but fun.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > InFierority Complex
10/22/2017 at 20:44

Absolutely. I wanted one of these from the day they were announced, never thought I’d ever snag one though. I was still over a year away from driving and several more of being able to afford one... well, things worked out :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 20:49

Kinja'd!!!

Negative five days of ownership, so excited to pick this up as my trusty steed on Friday!! Way too clean for me but it’ll be nice to have something shiny.

Kinja'd!!!

Three years of miata has been fun. It will be exciting to drive this across the country, mostly just primer instead of paint lol. Might get the paint done on time but schedule will be tight! Either way, I’m super pumped to Canyon carve in my new home with this.

Kinja'd!!!

Approaching a month with this hooptie. Currently trying to sell. Decently quick for a Neon and less shitty than I thought it would be. Very fun to laugh and say “ehhh it’s just a dodge” anytime something breaks. It’s expected to break and be crappy so the fact that it’s somewhat reliable now is kinda nice.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
10/22/2017 at 20:49

It’s a horrible truck. It’s a great truck. I have no idea, but I enjoy it a ton. And it’s a keeper. When I bought it I fully expected to drive it for a couple years and flip it in for the new model. I’m not interested in that anymore. And sometimes if it’s flaws begin to wear on me all I have to do is rug it and listen...

Looks like you found a keeper too!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > AestheticsInMotion
10/22/2017 at 20:52

That’s really all that matters (provided it’s not constantly in a cloud of smoke at the side of the road of course). I couldn’t live with this truck if it didn’t have things that make me grin like an idiot. It does have a ton of flaws. But character out the wazoo,too.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mazda616
10/22/2017 at 20:53

Such a pretty car. REALLY want to see a Speed6 version... sadly I doubt that’s coming down the pipes.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/22/2017 at 20:55

Long may it last!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 20:58

Tis the plan. 3-4 more years of daily driving before it becomes my dedicated fun car for autocrossing, rallycrossing, and track days.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Nibby
10/22/2017 at 20:59

107,000km at the moment. Had 63,000 when I got it. Hasn’t been the busiest 3 years, but fun as frig...

I need to do a good wash+wax. As far as scratches go I’m at peace with it. Wasn’t perfect when I got it, and imo you can have more fun when the vehicle isn’t flawless, especially in a truck. Of course, all that being said I’d have the head of the guy who put the first scratch in it if I’d bought it new.

Also, damn those Rams look so good

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 21:02

Saabaru? Niiiice.

And there’s something to be said for a vehicle you don’t give a damn about. Can have a lot of fun if you’re creative enough.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 21:07

Kinja'd!!!

‘Humdrum’ - my trusty, if basic, 2009 Hyundai Accent. Bought used in April 2013 with 54,000kms on it. We’ve since traveled 72,000 more in the last 4.5 years without her letting me down once. One or two minor issues, and the usual maintenance stuff, but that’s it...never stranded me whatsoever. :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 21:10

Yeah I understand the value of a beater now. I wish I bought it earlier, plenty of winter days where driving that would have been more enjoyable than my Miata. But I won’t have winter anymore in LA, at least for the Daily grind so it’s fun cars always!

And yes SAAAAAAAAAABARUUUUUUUUU! First car I’ve financed but it was too good of a deal to pass up. I’m gonna pay it off in like two months but it should help my credit anyways. 3.75% interest for a 11 year old car ain’t bad at all.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/22/2017 at 21:24

The question is... do you wish it would hurry up and DIE already, or does it have character that you’ve fallen for? :)

The last part is actually a serious question. What’s it like to you ?

Nibbles > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 22:29

I haven’t had either for a year yet. Picked the truck off the lot in February

Kinja'd!!!

And just tripped over 13,000 miles. Had 13 when we got it. Camping mostly and of course the trip to Seattle and back.

Bought this Eldorado in July and, save the disintegrating petcock, it’s been a worry-free ride.

Kinja'd!!!

There’s something to be said about a 295 hp 4.6 pumping through a 4-speed auto to the front wheels

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 22:36

I’ve had my Silverado for 6 months as of last Sunday and that’s absolutely insane to me.

Kinja'd!!!

It’s due for an oil change and fluid changes on both diffs and the transfer case, plus the tires need balancing so that’s always fun.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 22:37

Kinja'd!!!

It’ll be 5 years in February. Best thing I ever bought, excluding I suppose my wife’s engagement ring.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 22:41

Kinja'd!!!

About 2.5 years with this one (over 37k miles). Been to autocrossing, drifted in snow (will have the first set of winter tired mounted by this time next week), and hauled a motorcycle, a TV, wood, leaves, just generally the light duty stuff I wanted a light duty truck for. And, to be honest, does way better at being a fun toy than I expected. Also I’ve averaged over 24mpg so far.

Kinja'd!!!

Coming up on 10 years in just a matter of months now, and over 107k miles in that time. Been to road courses, road rallies, a handful of different states (and across the border to Canada, eh), even one trip of about 950 miles with only stops for gas (2), food, and bathroom. Shockingly reliable, with no issues that caused her to be garaged. Sat for a while after I got the truck because she’s paid off and the truck isn’t. Passed 140k miles this summer, and I’m thinking she’ll be back in more regular rotation after this winter and we’ll get back on that path to 200k.

Kinja'd!!!

Hard to believe I’ve already had this little bugger for over two years. I have so far spent more dollars on making her fun than I have put on miles enjoying the time! I think a mild top-end rebuild is in order for this winter. But you know what they say, “GM cars will run poorly longer than other cars will run at all.” Seriously, though, this is a fun, if slow, toy. I love her simplicity.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 22:41

People harp on Hyundai and Kia’s cheaper cars as being boring appliances. I won’t dispute that - my car is a base model ecobox with literally NO options (no ABS, no cruise control, no power windows, no power locks, no remote keyless entry, no power mirrors, no traction control/ESC, no A/C), and it’s no supercar, so I won’t pretend it’s a performance monster.

That being said, however, I quite like my little car. There’s something refreshing about the simplicity of having no nannies of any sort, or fancy shmancy features. Less to go wrong, for one (my manual windows have never been hard to open in the winter, if needed, compared to the power ones on my old Subie). As for driving it, it’s no sports car. BUT, it’s a 5-speed, so rowing your own gears is fun enough in regular driving and the manual vs. auto makes it feel quite a bit peppier. The shifter isn’t buttery smooth or Ferrari levels of precise, but it has never felt rubbery to me and has a pleasant chunkiness to it in that the gears engage with a mechanical-feeling notchiness. 110hp (woo...), and it’s not TOO heavy as it’s a 3-door hatch, so I’ve never found that it’s felt overly slow. You can wring it out and not be breaking many laws, which is always amusing.

Handling? It actually would handle fairly well, I think, if I had some half decent rims and tires on it. It has good old-fashioned hydraulic steering, so it has fairly nice steering feel and decent feedback in your hands. As for utility/comfort, I can flip the rear seats down and get some fairly large stuff back there. The seats are definitely economy car seats and I find after a long drive (1.5/2hrs) they can get a little uncomfortable, but not ‘OH MY GOD I WILL NEVER WALK AGAIN’ levels of uncomfortable, so I can easily live with it - no side support to hold you in place at all though. The back seat isn’t bad for a 3-door, and it’s pretty easy to get back there and surprisingly roomy as well. I imagine if I had the car filled with 5 people it would be a bit cramped, but 2 up front and 2 in the back isn’t bad at all.

The interior materials are definitely cheap, hard plastics everywhere, but they are fairly well screwed together. The only rattles are from interior panels that are a little loose from when I had either removed them once or twice to get at things (replacing the rear license plate bulbs requires getting to them from THROUGH the rear hatch from the inside, for example, so taking all that interior trim off) or from when I had a $1300 accident the other year from some black ice that the collision place had to take rear-right interior panels off to fix some large dents.

Overall, it’s been a solid, reliable and fun enough daily - $6900 CAD all-in from the Mazda dealership I bought it used from was definitely a pretty good deal as far as I’m concerned! I do wish there was a bit more of an aftermarket for it though. I wouldn’t mind lowering it a little bit...not a lot, but just a bit for a bit better handling. There are some lowering springs for it available with 1.5" drops, but I would prefer more like 1". Hyundai did make some performance parts for it and there was actually a sporty version sold here in Canada called the Accent SR....short-throw shifter, sportier suspension and the like. Some of those upgrades would be nice!

If somebody were looking for a DD, I would DEFINITELY recommend one (and I have done on several occasions here on Oppo!).

shop-teacher > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/22/2017 at 23:18

It legitimately breaks my heart that the rocker panels are starting to rust. We’ve been through so much together. New career, new towns, new jobs, the first date with my now wife, drove away from our wedding, brought both our kids home from the hospital. I really could go on and on. Perfect my truck is not, but it’s been reliable as the day is long. Never once have I questioned if my truck would start, or get us to our destination safely. It’s taken everything I could throw at it, and asked for more.

I’ve said many times, a short bed crew cab truck is like a good multi tool. It’s not the best tool at any one job, but it can do so many things. Being a gearhead, I legitimately considered trading it for something else as early as three months into owning it, and many times since. But the damn thing is just so good. It’s my noble steed, that never lets me down. I’d be a fool to get rid of it. I’m not the sharpest spoon in the shed, but for less than $22k out the door, buying this truck remains the best purchase I’ve ever made.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/23/2017 at 05:27

Kinja'd!!!

silver Lancer in background.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > shop-teacher
10/23/2017 at 07:38

With so sooo much on that second part. Crew cab short box trucks get so much undeserved hate sometimes... No, it’s not your idea of a full-blown work truck. What it is is possibly the best compromise vehicle you can get.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
10/23/2017 at 07:40

It’s been said before but you need to paint the Fiero yellow :)

shop-teacher > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/23/2017 at 09:13

Yep!

“Ugh! Trucks should all be single cab with an 8' bed!”

Yes, because no scenario could possibly exist where I need/want to carry both children AND a bunch of stuff!