Buying a Used Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon

Baweaqu · December 6, 2019

So life has changed some and I'm going to sell a fun car and replace with a small pickup with either extended or club cab. First word out of people's mouths is going to be, "Toyota," so please, resist the urge. I know all about Toyotas and especially how much they cost on the used market. I know other people think they're "worth it," and to them, they might be. To me, for what I need, they're not. I don't want a Toyota thread. I know all about Toyotas already; I literally just came in the door from doing a brake job on an '07 Tacoma, and I have another '07 coming in for work in a couple days. I don't need to hear anything about Toyotas. I hope I've made this clear.

I'm buying a little truck that my wife can bring me tools and stuff to jobsites and can putt around town in when necessary, and I don't care to spend a ton on it. Not jacking it up, not going off-roading, etc. Jobsites, gravel roads, paved roads. It'll be 4WD. Don't care about interior quality, shiny wheels, or snobby stuff; I'm buying something to work, not something to wash and wax every weekend. I do not want a full-size pickup for this, I don't care if the fuel mileage difference is minimal. I hope we're clear on expectations.

I'm going to spend $3500 to $7000 on this truck.

Have heard pretty good reports of the small GM pickups from some of my friends who are in the car business, and they're not GM dealers. I'd like to hear from people here who own one or have personal experience with one. I've already read, exhaustively, on the internet about them and am familiar with a lot of the stuff that "can" happen to them. Including head issues with the 5-cylinder especially through 2006.

What has been your experience with them, either from a driving or working-on-them standpoint? I'm particularly interested in how they are to own once above 150k miles. I rarely buy a vehicle with less than that mileage, and don't care to start now. I work on my own stuff, and although it's mostly high-mileage, it's still surprisingly reliable. Even, shudder, my now-17-year-old F350 with that hateful modular 5.4L jammed up under the cowl.

Alright, off to a job and won't be back until sometime this evening or tonight. I look forward to reading some of your thoughts when I get back.

diyer2 · December 6, 2019

I've already read, exhaustively, on the internet about them and am familiar with a lot of the stuff that "can" happen to them.

Donstar · December 6, 2019

I'll bite. With your budget and needs why limit your search? An older pickup, SUV or sedan of any size would meet your needs. (An old two wheel drive with a good set of tires would also be added to my list.) I don't know how an exhaustive search could possibly narrow your focus to this specific brand and size. I was once in a comparable situation in the 90's and bought a 20 yr old K-car. (high mileage, 4dr., 4 cyl., FWD sedan.) The places I went, and the items I packed into that car, probably exceed what you will expect from your quest! I recommend that you broaden your search or increase your budget.