GM 5 Cylindars?

[wadu1]

I'm looking at replacing an older S10 Blazer with a smaller truck. I'm seeing a lot of Colorado and Canyon's on the market in my price range almost all have the 5 cylinder engines. What do the Hunt-Wa truck gurus think of them? I don't need a 4X4 in the little one, I've got a 2500 HD 4X4 when I need it. I will be towing a 5X10 trailer with a golf cart on short trips.
Thanks

[Dan-o]

I have an H3 as does my daughter, my hunting partner and his wife....  That's 4.
They are all 2007s, various mileage.
(yes, it was a group buy)
All are still on the road with original engines.

All have the 5 cylinder Vortek.

No real complaints.  Engines seem to hold up.
you won't win any races unless a Yugo pulls up next to you.

[lewy]

I believe the early ones had some issues but the later ones were better, look into it a bit

[Lumpy Taters]

We have had 2 as work trucks.  One was an early model and had head gasket problems the whole time we owned it (65k miles).  The second one worked just fine until we changed it out.  We only keep them for 100k so no experience after that.

[Humptulips]

I have a 2005 Colorado that has the 5 in it. Great engine except and this is a biggy. The engine has a design flaw which causes head problems at about 80 to 100 thousand miles. I love my Colorado but it has 220 thousand and is on its third head. I would steer clear of them if I were you because of this one very expensive issue.

[Sandberm]

Stay away from the 2004 to lets say 2008 Colorados.

As mentioned, they had head issues as well as electrical gremlins that go unsolved. I believe in 08 or 09 they went from the 3.5 liter I5 to a 3.7 liter I5 and solved the head issue(I think).

I have a 2010 4x4 Colorado with 97k miles and i really like it though i never tow with it. I also have a 2003 4x4 S-10 with 242K miles (both trucks I bought brand new)so i can tell you the difference you will feel between the 4.3 you have in your blazer and the 3.7 I5 in the Colorado. The Colorado accelerates A LOT faster than the s-10 as it has 220hp vs the 180hp in the s-10. HOWEVER, and I cant remember the exact number, but both engines have roughly the same torque. The 4.3 feels like it has more pulling power, whereas the I5 engine feels, "zingy" for a lack of a better word. It feels like a hopped up 4 cylinder. That being said, it should pull your golf cart around with no problems.

I get around 19-20 mpg, 22 on the highway.

The only problem I have had with my Colorado is the instrument gauges. The tach went out at 45K miles and the temp gauge is wonky. So I bought a Scangauge($120ish vs $800ish for a new instrument cluster) that I mounted under the dash so I can watch the temps.

There are other subtle differences i can talk about, but thats the biggies.