No way, for a small truck you want the extended cab, hardly anyone wants a crew cab in a small midsize truck, we all know how well the explorer sport trac sold or ridgeline for that matter.

Regular cab trucks don't have nice porportions compared to extended cabs, same with crew cabs, just doesn't look right.

 

Okay then drop the regular cab.

I'd still argue if you want people to buy these mid sized trucks in volume, you need a very compelling crew cab. The masses would want to use them to haul people too, and that's why they need to also be refined.

IMO, the explorer sport trac wasn't refined enough, fuel efficient enough, or have a big enough bed. That's what made it fail.

The Ridgeline wasn't fuel efficient enough and wasn't perceived(fairly or not) as a "real truck".

 

An S-10 sized and priced S-10 would do well in the market.

A potent little 4-banger like a DI Ecotec... maybe with a longer stroke... would do fine as long as the truck itself is small enough.

In other words, don't build a midsize Chevrolet truck for the same price as the fullsize Chevrolet truck right next to it on the same lot.

 

See, that's where I would fundamentally disagree. I do not think a "cheapened" small truck will sell in volumes (or give good margins). IMO, the only way to go is to keep the same price point mid sized trucks are now, but raise the refinement level and have the MPG improvement set it apart from a more expensive but lower optioned full sized truck.

 

Wow, if true, this is truely disappointing... and STUPID.

My DD is a reg cab 99 S-10. I kinda love the little booger. 2.2L (with some light performance mods) with a 5spd and I can do whatever I want with it, just drive around, haul light loads, etc, and with 22-23mpg city and 28-30 hwy (depending on A/C, speed...) Yesterday I brought home a new washing machine in the bed. No need for a fullsize. I also own a ex cab Z71. Both trucks have very different purposes, I like having the Z71 when I need it (for hauling my boat and cars), but I really like the 10mpg better the S-10 gets. *Most* people don't need to haul boats and cars, they just need to get from point A to B with the capability of bringing home stuff from Lowe's for weekend projects, hauling away old leaves, brush and tree branches, or just going to the dump.

I've been saying for a couple years now that a GMT900 QUALITY Colorado (I think GM should stick with the name, no more stupid name changes) would SELL WELL.

The only reason fuel mileage is even "close" with the full size trucks is because everyone went midsize and the still small ranger is like 20 or 30 years old That blurred the lines too much. Marginally better fuel mileage for almost the same price as a full size. Go back to basics. Small WILL sell. When gas is $4, $5, even $6 per gallon, GM and Ford will be kicking themsleves in the *** for not having a small pickup. A lot of businesses use small trucks too, like Napa, Autozone, Advance, all of the pest control businesses in my area, etc... A lot of them use the Colorado (and S-10) or Ranger.

 

It's not about "likes", it's about "needs". When gas prices go back up, people in America will gravitate to smaller, more practical vehicles that get better MPGs, and that includes smaller trucks.
Think about what the fastest growing vehicle segment is now - the crossover/compact SUV. People still like their SUVs, but now they like them smaller and more fuel efficient. The same thing will eventually happen with trucks too. If the "Big 3" don't continue to roll out a competitive compact truck, it will be a mistake of epic proportions.

 

Back in early 2006, I was looking for a new vehicle. I came VERY close to buying a brand new Colorado. But to get one that performed as well as I wanted and had the options that I wanted, the price was getting very close to the price of a brand new Silverado. The capabilities of a V8 powered extended cab Silverado, plus the price that I paid for mine pushed me to buy it.

Now if a V8 would have been available in a Colorado, it would have been VERY difficult to pass over that!

 

That is why the Colorado has faded out. When you can get $6000 incentives on a Silverado, the Colorado becomes a moot point. I leased my current Silverado, but if I had bought it - between lease loyalty, regular incentive, and bonus cash - I could have bought it for $23,500+tax. That is extended cab, 4WD, 20" wheels, flex fuel, remote start, etc. You couldn't touch a Colorado with those options for that much money.

-Geoff

 

That's why the small trucks are going away. The big trucks sell in such large volumes that they can sell for about the same price as the smaller ones. Those huge volumes allow the manufacturers to afford much more development dollars for improved fuel economy.

Then add to that the fact that imported small trucks can't sell here due to diesel and tax problems....

If Mahindra actually goes on sale and makes money, then maybe others will bring back the small truck.

 

The market has proven you decisively wrong.

 

Subaru Baja?

 

I gotta disagree with you on that 1 point. The Sport Trac is the only midsize truck with IRS and optional full time AWD. The Adrenalin package provides a nice uptick in styling and the 300 hp 4.6 and 6 speed auto combo make it top of the class in powertrain. I plan to get one of these in a few years as my DD and fully expect to have it for an extremely long time.

I think the biggest issue for the Sport Trac is that nobody knows about it. Seriously how many times was it left out of midsize truck comparisons? Did it ever get used? When was the last time you saw it advertised? I think if the public would have known about it then it could have done well. Instead it (and the current Ranger) will be replaced by the T6 Ranger designed in Thailand. I am sure it will be a great vehicle but it will likely not have the refinement that the current Sport Trac does (back to SRA).

 

I had thought about that. The Sky/Solstice use the transmission from the Colorado. It would be nice to have a mid sized truck like the Colorado with a LNF like motor in it. Right now I have a Sky RL and a Silverado. I need the Sky for the distance I drive to work, plus the parking in the city and the Silverado for the stuff around the farm and hunting. If I could get a decent mid sized truck I would have one vehicle instead of two.

I need a medium sized truck with good power and mileage. The current Colorado gets the same fuel mileage as my Silverado 5.3 and costs close to it.

 

I loved my 05 Colorado. I'd like to see GM build that GMC concept from last year.



Awesome styling and class leading fuel economy and they would have a winner.

 

Little trucks have a lot of advantages over their bigger brothers, parking is far easier, handling is better, it's much lighter and narrower so you can take them down hunting trails that a full size truck could only dream of going down. Hunting alone is the main reason a lot of people have smaller trucks because they have better off road capabilities when the trails get narrow which they tend to be here in the South.