Because Ford knows better than to f*** with a winning formula. I still believe that had GM stayed with the S10/15 package instead of building the larger Colorado/Canyon, it would have continued to sell well.

 

I'm surprised to see Ford and Dodge beat GM (percentage wise) on the HD trucks. I'm guessing that HD trucks bring in a higher profit margin than a standard 1500 truck, so GM can't be happy about that.

 

That's seriously a good question. With the amount of trucks I've seen on lots, that could be a possibility? Maybe they've shut down for the new truck and it will be here sooner

Ford has a pretty darn good following with their HD trucks with contractors. Dodge, well, the Cummins is just a bad *** engine.

 

Ford sell because they are cheap, that is the winning formula. I've never heard of anyone buying a Ranger over a Colorado because they wanted something barely smaller.

Ranger (reg cab 4x2)
width = 69.3"
height = 67.7"
length = 189.4"

Colorado (reg cab 4x2)
width = 68.6"
height = 67.6"
length = 192.4"

Again, I just don't see how the Colorado is too big. How is making the bed smaller or interior tighter going to help sales?

 

Thank you. I am still baffled by this idea that the Colorado is so much bigger than the s10.

 

Not only that, but check out the fuel economy numbers.

4x4 V6 Ranger = 14/18mpg
4x4 I5 Colorado = 17/23mpg
4x4 V8 Colorado = 14/19mpg
4x4 V8 Silverado = 15/21mpg

Fuel economy is terrible in a V6 Ranger. I can't figure out why anyone would ever buy one other than a low low price.

 

Compare those dimensions to the reigning champ in the small (midsize?) pickup market

Toyota Tacoma (reg cab 4x2)
width = 72.2"
height = 65.7"
length = 190.4"

These trucks are all pretty similar in size; I don't understand where this notion that Colorado is huge comes from either....

 

I'm sorry that's what I meant. Most small truck buyers just want a cheap truck. When you added luxury items and start getting close in price to the base full size trucks, you may as well spend a little more and get a bigger truck.

 

Not to split hairs but that really wasn't your original argument.

Interesting to note that Colorado and Tacoma are pretty similarly priced throughout the model range - and Ranger actually has a HIGHER base MSRP than either! Ford must be laying a LOT of cash on the hood of Rangers, because otherwise they are not cheaper. I was shocked when I looked up prices (Edmunds.com).

Here's a thought about Tacoma's success and price - perhaps Tacoma leads the segment because Toyota's full size pickup is such a non-player in the market that Toyota people who want a pickup opt for the smaller and better truck of the two, regardless of the fact that a loaded Taco approaches the price of the Tundra.

 

Toyota is not the cheapest and it's not smaller. So I don't think that's what the colorado's problem is.

Toyota has made a great small truck with awesome resale value for what like about 30 yrs now? That's why people keep buying them.

The S10s weren't the most stellar pickups IMO. So if youre a domestic guy, you might as well spend 2g more and get a nice 1500.....

 

And those 2G's used to be spred over 3 years. Now it's 7 and the sting isn't as bad.

 

You nailed it! My brother is a die-hard Tacoma owner. Back in the early 1980's I worked in a lumberyard and our little Toyota 1-ton was the die-hard do everything truck in the fleet. It took everything we threw at it and never gave us any problems.

Personally, I have only owned Chevy/GMC full size trucks. (Save for the Blazer my wife already owned when we got married.) My dad converted to a Ford guy later in life and we used to have epic discussions as to which were the better trucks. Personally I prefer the roominess of the full size cab; however these days a small truck would be more than enough for me, and certainly more versatile than my Tahoe for hauling cargo.

 

The Colorado/Canyon had three things working against it.

The first was before a potential customer knew much about the truck.
The I5.
I think a lot of people were turned off to the truck when they learned that it had an I5. People are scared of change and new things. Not many Americans are familiar with I5 engines. Therefore, they stayed away.
The Colorado should have had a V-6 option to compete with Toyota's & Nissan's V-6s.

The second was when a potential customer saw the interior. Nothing more to say about that.

The last issue was price. A loaded Colorado 4wd crew cab ran, what? 30-35K?
You could get a full size for almost the same price.

 

Thank you both.
My sentiments exactly.

Where did this idea that the Colorado was too big come from anyways.
The truck is a perfect size. Not too small, not too big.

 

Yeah. I am not a huge fan of the I5 myself. The main problem is you don't save enough money over a fullsize and the mileage improvement isn't big enough.

If it got 20/25 mpg and you could get a well equiped crew cab for 25k I think I would have one.