[snizzle]

Originally Posted by Evergreen6

tl;dr Drove a new Colorado yesterday...'24 Trail Boss with tech, advanced trailering, safety, convenience packages I and II.

Impressions:

The first thing I noticed was the ride quality: very good. Wasn't impressed by the transmission, but my basis for comparison is the ZF 8-speed which barks off lightning-crisp shifts up and down and IMO should be the bar for all 8-speed automatics. The GM 8-speed is a little more....relaxed, but it still feels competent. The 2.7 feels slower than what I'm used to as well in a turbo 4, but it's still plenty powerful. 3.42's are a pretty tame gear ratio. I can appreciate the balance of scoot and economy that GM is trying to achieve. Overall, the impressions it gave me were very good.

Given crazy MSRP's as of late, low 40's doesn't feel like a horrible price for a capable 4x4 pickup, the Trail Boss. The truck looks good in Trail Boss trim. There was a 2wd LT parked next to it. The TB just looks so much more robust. And that's what most of us want these days, i think.

Then again, it's fairly easy to see where GM is keeping cost low on the TB. Remote start is nowhere to be found on any of the window stickers in any of their Colorados on the lot, although a ZR2 was not present for comparison. Apparently, $425 adds the option as a dealer accessory. The TB's headlights are....halogen. Heated seats don't appear to be available on the TB. And the seats themselves are basic and feel a little cheap. The bed is unlined. And while I appreciate the simplicity of black plastic trim, it weathers horribly over time.

The heated seats are a big...dammit, GM. Not because my lily cheeks get cold, but because I work hard and get sore and have old sports injuries, and on cold days my body practically turns to stone, and it hurts. I get it...choose the Z71 or ZR2 instead but I really like the TB, and $55-60k for a ZR2 is kind of missing the point. Nice truck, but, I don't need or want that at almost $60k for a midsize pickup. Gimme a damn heated seat in a TB. Please.

But the TB is still on my mind. This wouldn't be my first Colorado, as I've owned a 1st gen and 2nd Gen. IMO, this gen is the best gen. I have too many vehicles, but the perfect number of vehicles is always n+1. And I do not have a truck right now.

People are still confused about the packaging and I get it. The Trail Boss was intended to be a stripped work truck with off road bits. Folks are expecting a Z71 with a more robust off road package which they didn't get. Then the Z71, historically a more capable off road slant, is packaged as a street truck almost, larger wheels, narrower, less sidewall. I don't know. Buyers are getting into the TB thinking GM interiors are still cheap as always. Journos complaining about it as well on the press vehicles.