Every GM I have owned (including my first car, a '76 Skylark) has been more reliable than the ONE POS Toyota I owned!
Toyota V8s are near carbon copies of GM v8s in how they are designed.
As far as this truck, if I wasn't a Toyota fanboy who buys only used it would punch all the buttons except for a stick shift. Double lockers, diesel, real tires, reasonable lift from the factory. It's about all you could ask for stock. I honestly hope Ford brings a diesel version to the Ranger and Nissan does something to push the market with the Frontier so that Toyota feels the heat and at least drops in a diesel to the Tacoma. In my view the ideal situation is Toyota just starts selling a Hilux for commercial/base buyers. But that's unlikely.
Lots of fan boys on here, touting their respective truck of choice...The fact of the matter is that Chevy answered the call for a true factory mid size truck that, so far, is head over heals better than its competition. The big downside, for me, is the fact that its payload is limited...And slapping on a OME HD kit is not really a option when you have some of the most advanced suspension ever used on a truck from the factory already on it. It would be a shame to not keep the suspension stock. So maybe a light bed rack, lightweight rtt, fridge, etc...Leave the drivetrain, tires, and bumpers all stock. Enjoy it for what it is, a rubicon with a bed, and a diesel. Great job GM.
Interior materials quality still need to come up a touch in the SLT trim.
He may be thinking of the F in the Land Cruiser, which was a pretty blatant copy of a Chevy 235 Blue Flame.I'm no fanboy but huh? Toyota V8s are quad cam 32 valve... GM V8's are pushrod.....
I agree. Brand loyalty can cloud good judgment, sometimes. It's pretty easy to get sucked in, especially with Toyota, as all vehicles I've owned of that brand have never let me down--most with well-over 100k still running like new. Hard to get away from that. And I almost didn't, and had it not been for the last decade of bland iterations of trucks, I'd be driving a brand new Toyota now instead of a Ford.
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Chevy got this one right. I couldn't care less about a manual transmission (enter Clutch, stage right ), but factory lockerS, sliders, good suspension, etc.--all very nice. Payload doesn't even bother me, because it's a play truck. Light, and agile is the theme. I wouldn't want to weigh it down with a ton (literally) with your "standard" expo gear. Some recovery gear, ground tent (don't care about RTT myself), fail-safe cooler (Yeti), and few other items, then hit the trails. Minimalist overlanding. That jives with me................if I didn't have a family.
He may be thinking of the F in the Land Cruiser, which was a pretty blatant copy of a Chevy 235 Blue Flame.
Neither is cheap, is it? I prefer manuals and generally speaking they are more reliable over time. Synchros fail and bearings need to be replaced, but that's about it really. Doing the clutch periodically is an expected expense, too. Automatics seem more involved, hydraulics can fail, pumps, solenoids, bits of debris can clog passages. Toyota has been reflashing the software that controls them over the past few years to get the map right so they don't hunt, get stuck holding a gear too long, lots of little adjustments to make them work for the most people. Where as with a stick there's no need to try and satisfy the majority since we each get to drive it however the heck we want and we're happy. The only reflashing my transmission needs would land me an indecent exposure ticket.On what planet is a manual transmission cheap to fix?
Yeah, Toyota has lost their way...
Hey, I test drove a new Tacoma auto last week...kinda liked sport mode shifter...the best of both worlds....could be lazy...or be...lack of better word "sporty"! I guess the one thing I see missing on the Chevy is to have a joystick like the Taco's or paddle shifters. Though in the end I don't want to see the repair bill on those new autos when they go belly up out of warranty. Another reason I like manuals, cheap to fix.
The other thing, don't like the rear shock placement. Not tucked very well.
... I think they really missed the ball with the tire sizing though. They 100% should have shipped this truck with 285/70R17 Duratrac tires. I know that this would have had a negative effect on fuel economy but it would have positive effect on off road capability. Hopefully GM will realize that this is a preferred tire size and design the tire to fit without lift, wheels, or other aftermarket modifications and allow for owners to spec a proper gear ratio for this tire size knowing that owners will want to switch to this size when they get the truck home.