*flamesuit on*

Why can't they just reduce the size of the Silverado to more "Canyon" like dimensions?

Just get rid of the Colorado/Canyon, and reduce the size of the Silverado. It's already too much truck for the average individual. They can keep the 2500/3500's with the duramax for the more specialized consumer.

You kill two birds with one stone. You improve fuel economy/CAFE due to the smaller size of the truck, and you reduce the number of models in the lineup.

I'm sorry folks, but most people don't "need" a truck the size of a Silverado. Most of us could get by with a smaller truck.

 

Would make sense if the sales numbers of the Silverado & Colorado were flipped.....

It wont happen but IMO if GM continues in this segment they need to bring back the s-10 and make it a small truck like the one from the early 90's

 

Why do people keep acting like the Colorado is some huge truck compared to an S10?

My Colorado is TINY compared to a full size (which I'll be getting next). Significantly downsizing the Silverado to be closer to the Colorado would be insane, IMO.

 

You're right - the Colorado is only about an inch wider than the last iteration of the S-10. Its trucks like the Tacoma and Dakota which are 4-6" wider than the Colorado.

Ford was thinking about building a truck to slot in between the Ranger and F150 - the F100. Nothing ever came of that though.

 

The Frontier is built on a reduced Titan chassis. Chevy could shrink the Silverado in the same way that Nissan shrinks the Titan. The problem is that the volume would be low, and the basic material cost would not be much less. So it would end up being smaller but more expensive in order to be profitable. Of course, they would probably sell very few, so it would be unprofitable.

 

What I want is something smaller than the last gen S-10. Something more along the lines of the original Chevy Luv, or first gen Toyota Hi-Lux with a sub 2L 4-cylinder with lots of torque, but lots for gears for good highway mileage.

 

I think this is what you are after:

Compact truck

 

No.

However, if it could go 55mph on the highway, I might consider...
http://www.zapworld.com/zap-xebra-electric-truck

 

Or this:

 

I totally agree. I currently drive a 2008 Silverado and it is much more than I need. The thing was, it would have cost me MORE to lease a COlorado, and it would have been cheaper to buy the Silverado compared to the V8 Colorado (whihc wasn't quite out yet). Plus, with the DOD on the 5.3, I still average 15-16, which is about the same as the non-DOD Colorado.

They should put the DI Camaro V6 in the Colorado with a 6-speed auto, that would bring it to life and still get good mileage.

-Geoff

 

Check its dimensions.

I mistakenly thought it was smaller as well... until I realized its about the same size as a Silverado.

 

Really, they need a whole new truck. But what think they should have done was give it the 4.2L I6 that is a genetic predecessor of the I5 and I4 3.7/2.9 and 3.5/2.8 versions. It would have had 270hp out the gate in 2004 which would have been HUGE in the small truck market. I don't know if the motor would even fit, but, in hindsight if it was possible, it would have been a win.

A 6 speed should have been available along with a refined interior about 3 years ago.

 

That would make it even more expensive than the Silverado. You still wouldn't lease it.

 

I have always thought the 05' and newer Tacoma was the perfect "midsize" truck. I do like the idea of someone (maybe GM) making a true "compact" truck again.

In all honesty though, my wifes 07' Tacoma Pre-Runner (or 4x4 if in bad climate/conditions) is all most urban truck drivers REALLY need. It can tow up to 6,500lbs., hold 5 adults, take you back and forth to work and get 20mpg doing it, and its easy to park and meneuver.

I think its funny how GIANT "fullsize" trucks have become. We have 1500 trucks today that can do the work of 2500 and even 3500 trucks of old. Its totally unecessary for all but those who pull horse trailers or giant campers (and most of those guys own even more overkill 2500's or 3500's).

Honestly, other than laying a sheet of plywood down flat in the bed (which you cant do in a Tacoma and is annoying) there is nothing the Tacoma hasn't been able to do. It tows the boat, it makes the lumbar runs to Home Depot, picks up furniture, gets a load of dirt or mulch, and even carried a pallet of rocks (twice) that were well over the payload capacity with no problem.

If thats all you do with a truck, I'm not sure why you NEED a 10,000lbs. towing capacity, V8 powered, 4x4, 15mpg, hard to park, etc. truck.

Now if you WANT one, well have at it. This is America and you should be able to have what you want. However, I would like to see someone, especially an American company, build another "midsize" truck to compete with the Tacoma. In otherwords, an "old-school fullsize" truck.

Red blooded, hairy chested, beer drinking guys come in and tell my how the Tacoma is a girls truck (then again it is my wifes) and you NEED your fullsize.

Oh by the way, I have more heair on my chest and drink more beer than you do, haha.

 

I agree with you 1000%.

However, if you come in here praising anything Toyota, I hope you have your flamesuit on.