Comments on: 2008 Holden Colorado First Steer

By: adam

adam — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:38:04 +0000

to mark e
would like to hear ur thoughts if u have bought the colorado as i pick mine up in a month the ltr 4×4

By: mark E

mark E — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:14:19 +0000

have just put deposit on one,
to be picked up next week.
got a ripper deal thru the sales…
holden dealer has a nice attitude towards the colorado…so we are going to give it a go.
mind you, we currently drive a 89 holden jackaroo..thats never missed a beat! Brilliant 4X4 with the isuzu motor!
Thank goodness we have found this site…there is a definate lack of details, etc or even attitiudes of people towards such a new car/truck…
thanks for allowing me to read your responses…
ill respond when i drive it for a while! :)

By: Tony B

Tony B — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:43:47 +0000

Chris,

I have to agree with you. I am currently still driving my 1994 Holden Rodeo 4×4 dual cab and still loving it. The only mechanical problem I have ever had was a broken exhaust manifold stud, twice ( one closest to firewall ). Apart from this, it has been bullet proof. I have done everything from city driving to some pretty extreme off road driving. It performs extremely well off road and can carry a lot of gear in the back.

Saying that, I had a look at the new Colorado and was a little dissapointed in the build quality. I haven’t had a test drive yet.

By: Bret

Bret — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:47:28 +0000

Andrew I do “drive past your local horse racing track”.
In fact I visit regularly, often twice a week. And in amongst the trucks you find a few 4WD’s and a stack of Falcon/Fairlanes. Funny thing is, the ratio of Falcons to 4WD’s has gone back up of late – probably due to fuel prices and the heavy cost that that brings to the 4WD brigade.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:44:59 +0000

bret,
just drive past your local horse racing track.
not many jap utes to be seen there either.
yep, comfort is one thing, and then there is the lack of grunt the jap utes have.

yep even the kluger would do a better job than the jap ute, but if its the FWD version, forget it.

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:57:36 +0000

Andrew, agreed….mostly.
There are plenty of vehicles that I would use to tow up to a 2t caravan, Falcon being one of them.
Territory is now a really common choice for the grey nomads wanting out of the Pajcruiser trucks.

Kluger up to 1800kg is OK. Technically on of the “jap” utes shuold be fine too, but you just don’t see them in the caravan parks – probably something to do with lack of comfort for long distance touring.

I agree over 2t it does get a little more serious.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:56:15 +0000

i agree with most.
all vehicle ratings are seemingly over rated.

3 tonne on the back is one hell of a load.
if you have ever had 1 tonne of sand on the back of a 1 tonne ute, you will wonder why they are allowed to rate them so high.
and if you have ever towed 2 tonne, you will wonder why 1.5 tonnes isnt the limit.

and then the other factor is, having to have the power to pull 3 tonnes on the back…..
one thing is putting it there, and the other is moving it.
any more than 1 tonne on a trailer, and you really start to notice it.
at least they have one thing right, and thats if your trailer wants to tow more than 750kgs, it must have brakes.

i choose to tow with a falcon because it has more grunt than even the jap diesel utes. it is also more comfortable and its bigger wheel base and track means it isnt thrown around the road as much.
sure the falcon can tow 2300kgs, but have you ever tried it??
the biggest unbraked load ive had on would have been easily at the 1.5 tonnes mark.
the brake pedal just goes instantly hard putting you into lock up (its not much fun)
sure it pulled the load fine, but its missing the body mass.
anything over 1.5tonnes shuld really be put on an F Truck as already said.
there is no replacement for body mass and massive wheelbase to keep you sure footed.
sure these light utes will get you out of trouble on that odd day you need to pull 2 tonnes (eg car trailer), if you are a full timer at the 2 tonne mark, you are mad to even think its suitable as a day in day out exercise in a ute

By: Fenno

Fenno — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:31:20 +0000

I’m not saying I’d prefer a hilux… I’m just saying that Toyota are not quoting silly numbers to get sales. (just asking silly prices).

Caravan manufacturers will always tell you which is their preferred vehicle based on which dealership nearby flicks them the most business.
Ie- A Caravan Dealer in Ipswich Queensland has a KIa dealer attached to it and the sales staff there will swear black and blue that the best car to tow with is their new KIA Sorrento…
Kedron (northside of Brisbane) recommend Toyota etc etc.

Agree on the F-truck though. Could tow a block of flats with one of those.

By: JEYKL AND HYDE

JEYKL AND HYDE — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:29:25 +0000

FENNO,NO ARGUMENT YOU SHOULD TOW 2 AND NOT 3 TONNES IN ANYTHING LIKE A DUAL CAB UTE.MIGHT POINT OUT THOUGH THAT ALOT OF THE BIGGER(20FT-24FT)CARAVAN MAKERS ARE RECOMMENDING D40 NAVARA FOR THE JOB.(MAKE MINE A F250 ETC)DONT KNOW WHY YOU’D PREFER A HILUX.KNOW I FEW BLOKES WHO HAVE STRENGHTENED THEM JUST TO TOW A NORMAL LOAD.

By: Fenno

Fenno — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:33:39 +0000

Caps-lock king…
You just said it your self.
“As a rough rule you can tow your vehicles GVM”
I wasnt actually referring to the carrying capacity, the tare, or the GVM but in fact the silly GCVM (Gross combined vehicle mass) that manufacturers are quoting these days to get you into THEIR product instead of a Hilux (2.25 towing – A sane number in anybodies language for the size of the class)
I was making an observation which you confirmed with your reply. 3 tonnes (towed) on the back of a vehicle weighing in at 2 tonnes is a case of the tail wagging the dog. If I needed to tow three tonnes, I wouldnt be doing it with a Colorado, Triton or Navara. (BMA went through that exercise a few years back by buying Nissans and most of them broke in half from the strain – hence why they’re back into hilux’s).
I would be towing with a Patrol, Cruiser or even a Disco if the need arose.
Sorry to confuse with my initial (and vague) comment.

By: JEYKL AND HYDE

JEYKL AND HYDE — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:01:09 +0000

FENNO,BACK TO SCHOOL MATE!!.IF YOU DONT KNOW,YOU TAKE THE TARE WEIGHT(THE VEHICLE WEIGHT)FROM THE GROSS VEHICLE MASS(OR GVM) TO GET ITS CARRYING! CAPACITY.FOR MOST SINGLE CABS THATS ABOUT 1 TON.MOST UTES CAN TOW! 3 TONNES(THINK DUAL CAB UTE ON A BIG TRAILOR).AS A ROUGH RULE,YOU CAN TOW YOUR VEHICLES GVM.AS FOR 3 TONNES ON THE BACK…PUT IT ON YOUR UTE…

By: Fenno

Fenno — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:43:44 +0000

3 tonnes on the back of a ute like this (specially a single cab?)
Sounds like a case of the tail wagging the dog.

By: Itsnoteasybeinggreen

Itsnoteasybeinggreen — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:14:16 +0000

I bought a new single cab ute last year and settled for the Diesel Rodeo. Test drove all the others, The Triton was slow off the mark with on go until about 2000rpm. The Navara was the old model at the time so was out of its depth. The BT50 was very good but the ride was harsh and the claimed fuel economy put me off also has a smaller cab. I liked the Hilux the best but couldn’t justify the extra $6000. The Rodeo has 30,000km on it now averages about 10.7lt/100km, farm and highway driving which is only .4lt more then my ‘97 Rodeo but has so much more go. Only problem I’ve had was a squeal coming from the front which turned out to be a dry seal and repaired under warranty. The Rodeo was definitaly the uglest of the lot but I sit inside when I’m driving and see the back when it’s parked in the shed. The Colarado will be a good ute, much better looking and at a good price.

By: Kenn

Kenn — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:14:17 +0000

Andrew M, GM has been in financial trouble for while. GM sold part of Isuzu to Mitsubishi heavy industries & Toyota. Since neither Toyota or Mitsubishi heavy industries has a controlling share of Isuzu still the old commitments continue. Also Isuzu trying to establish it’s own products in many markets, from what I have heard Isuzu will start to introduce it’s own products to the Ausie, it would probably be an Isuzu rode. GM has also sold it’s share of Subaru to Toyota. Navara & Hilux r the oldest in the segment BT50, Ranger & Triton r relatively new.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:01:08 +0000

Having owned a Rodeo from 2003 to 2005, I can say with some authority that the Rodeo is one tough truck and has earned it’s solid reputation. I worked the Rodeo hard and it never let me down, those engines are bullet proof.
I’d buy the new Colorado in a heartbeat based on that.

By: Watto_Cobra

Watto_Cobra — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:55:54 +0000

Dead-on about poor fuel economy in a 4WD 4cyl jap ute Andrew.M.

My brothers 2000 Hilux is 2.7L petrol, he’s very happy if he gets over 500kms for 60L. Woeful. I have never done worse than 570kms for 60L (often 700kms) in my large 6 cyl family car for similar driving.

And it just crapped the rear/left wheel bearing (right one went a few years ago).

By: Dlr1

Dlr1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:16:24 +0000

I wouldn’t say they are the worst of the lot, but they aren’t the best. The 2.4 engine in the 4×2 is about 10 years past its used by date and it will probably continue to be outsold by every other 4 cylinder ute as at $19,990 it is lousy value. While the V6 has a poor reputation for fuel consumption, it’s current resale values are abysmal. They are a reasonably robust vehicle, but not outstanding in any way.

By: ultimatefarmer

ultimatefarmer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:35:16 +0000

The Holden colarado is a great ute
Toyota have ta defiently fix up there current model hilux
& it is defiently no match for the BT50 or triton, even for that matter the D40 navara
The best thing about the colarado ute is ya can put a massive big steel tray on it, great for cartin hay
heaps of room inside & not a massive big cd player thats in ya face like in a hilux.

The reason for high price in a hilux is that wen ya go ta trade it in a get a much higher premium price over other makes, which makes it more attractable buy.

& GWM is not going to last in australia, to poxy, not going to able to have enough featues for average farmes or tradies at all, same goes for mahindra piece of rubbish

Go the colarado !!!

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:57:58 +0000

i agree Adam,
Richo,
the rodeo/colorado is no worse than its competition.
they are all as good as each other, but if you had to pick the worst one, it would prob be a massive surprise to most as the Hilux would fall to the bottom. (but try telling a hilux owner that)

if you complain about bad turning circle in a rodeo, then i assume you have only ever driven the rodeo from this segment.
all jap utes have something like 40 turns lock to lock coupled with a non existant road feel due to the over powered steering.

and if the reviewer was shocked by the high consumption in the base 4cyl, then welcome to the jap ute segment.
all japper utes have shocking economy (bar the diesels) due to the gutless engines needing closely geared ratios.

S.G.J.T,
i dont believe it was that GM sold their share in Isuzu, but rather more like Isuzu wanting to buy their share back to become more self sufficient.
Toyota recently bought into Isuzu to enable them to partner in some diesel technology

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:08:04 +0000

Nice update, and for the money, I can see its appeal over a Triton which looks crook, and a Hilux which is way overpriced. But the D40 Navara is best in class when you factor in performance, looks and value for money.