Chevy Trailblazer owners?

[fishman]

I figured I should put this under a new heading to more accurately describe the vehicle we are currently looking at (see Chevy Impala owners?). Anyway, we went and drove the Trailblazer and we both really liked it. Seems like a really solid vehicle with power to spare. Not quite as much interior room as the Impala we were looking at, but quite a bit more cargo space.

Potential negatives with the vehicle are few, most notably reduced fuel mileage and a less comfortable ride over long distances. Positives include the ability to tow (although my z-71 has that covered), more cargo space, and a better resale value down the road.

Does anyone have one of these vehicles and care to comment? I am particularly interested in comments regarding the powertrain, ride quality, and fuel economy.

 

[Bird]

John, I don't know a thing about them, personally, but recently visited with some old acquaintances we hadn't seen in a year and they've had one for just a few months and love it. Nice looking vehicle, too. Of course, as with most any of the SUVs, I'm sure it wouldn't be quite as stable as the Impala, but that may not be a concern. And I understand it's a straight 6 engine, but for an old timer like me, nothing under the hood looked very familiar./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[B7500]

My brother and sister in law has one. They love it. Great ride and lots of power. Few minor problems that the dealer quickly fixed.
Hope this helps..
-Terry

 

[fishman]

Yes, I know what you mean Bird. I used to have a chevy pickup with the 250 ci inline, and you could actually crawl up and sit in the engine compartment to change plugs, etc. Try that with a new one!

 

[wroughtn_harv]

We've had the Bravada for a year now. We love it. The mileage is getting better but remember we have the full time four wheel drive.

It's the only SUV that doesn't have the rollover warning on the visor. And take it from someone who drives hard, it handles very well for it's size and weight.

The reason we bought the Bravada is we went to the fair and looked at all three, Trailblazer, Envoy, and Bravada without sales people bothering us. The bravada is just a much better looking vehicle. Also it's stock with stuff the Trailblazer can't get and the Envoy only gets if you find one loaded beyond measure.

I hate the power mirrors. For some reason for driver number two, me, they rotate down when backing up, an option. I hate it, drives me crazy. Ours has some wind noise but I think I've finally found a dealer that can understand and fix it.

It uses no oil after thirty thousand miles. We've taken it on one trip of twenty five hundred miles in seven days and found it very comfortable. The only drawback is I usually take my welding rig and I couldn't bring back any of the treasures I found. It's no truck. My wife likes that.

It does haul butt. That four dot two litre motor pulls to about three grand and then is instantly at six plus. I've dropped in behind some kids in their little psuedo sports cars and hung on their bumper in some curves. They've let me by and haven't tried to follow. I guess the body lean was mistaken for a limit on their part, but not on mine.

 

[Egon]

And here I am of the opinion that power mirrors show be mandatory.

Egon

 

[Bird]

I'm with you, Egon; love power mirrors./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Spanky100]

Fishman

Family has had both 2002 Trailblazer(4WD 4200 Vortec with 3.73 rear axle ratio, std length not Extended length) and 2002 Impala(3400 engine with std axle ratio). We are pleased with the performance, handling, and ride comfort of each of the two vehicles. Truck adds towing capability, 4 wheel drive, and higher ride height to the benefit side. The fuel economy difference as you indicated is the tradeoff. I will give you our fuel economy numbers that we experience. The numbers we calculate the tank actual at each fuel fill. The MPG numbers are the range we usually see. We do not drive aggressive i.e. we are not the the first to get to the next red light in town, but not the slowest either. My highway trip driving is normally at 70 to 75 MPH with cruise engaged on fairly level terrain. City is mixed about 35 percent in town with traffic lights in 25 to 35 MPH zones and 65 percent suburban driving at 45,55, and 65 MPH zones. Trailblazer: Highway 22-24 MPG, City/Suburban: 16-18 MPG. Impala: Highway 29-31 MPG, City/Suburban: 20-22.

 

[beenthere]

I have 30k miles on a 2002 TB, and it has been a fantastic machine, no doubt about it. Has power (wroutnharv sounds like my double), has a great ride (better than my Montana), and only misses a bit by not having the room of a pickup. I have been most impressed with it ride on the highway. Just returned from a trip across Iowa fighting a 30-40 mph cross wind, and didn't seem to be blown about very much. I wish I was getting above 20mph on the average, but can live with getting it when on a trip at least. I put the cruise on about 75mph. No problems with engine and love that power- bought it to pull a bigger trailer and it handles it well (with my 4300 loaded on behind).

 

[fishman]

Great information, as usual /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Thanks to all!
Looks like we might just pull the trigger on a 4wd version in the next couple of days. We started out slightly considering a Malibu, but more seriously an Impala, and now here we are about $4,500 higher than the acceptable version of the Impala. Very similar to my tractor-buying experience where I started at the 7500 (great machine) and ended up with a 2910. Oh well, it's going to be the wife's vehicle, and she really likes it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Fishman
The trailblazer is a well built truck, they do have the longer version of it and a third row seat, optional v8 but the I-6 is a nice package doesn't seem as heavey in the front as the v8, gives a better feel. When it first came out my friends would get some of the guys going at the bar and tell them about the "new" engine that you can drive around with a hole in the oil pan and see if they could get someone to bet some drinks on it. The pan has a tube running through it to help lower the engine for a better center of gravity. The things that the powertrain group come up with. Thats probably the truck my wife will get when she turns hers in.

Cheers
Tony

 

[hazmat]

A good friend has the Envoy, he loves it!

Regarding the rollover comment, I don't have scientific data, but my trained eye would put the center of gravity of this generation SUV much lower than the last one. Just look at the two side by side. Looks like they kept reasonable ground clearance, but then jammed the body down on top of the wheels a few inches.

 

[fishman]

My wife is driving her new Trailblazer today and is happy, so life is good. We couldn't find an acceptable 4wd (too many other options loaded on them), so we went with a 2wd and rear locking differential.

The only reservation I have about the vehicle is the aluminum engine. Perhaps you could shed some light on this Super7? I do remember the Chevy Vega /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif, but have also replaced head gaskets (as have a couple of friends) on cast iron/aluminum head engines. It would seem that the all aluminum engine would eliminate the differential expansion inherent in two different materials and may provide better durability. My traditional self wants iron, but . . . not really a big deal.

Maybe the cylinders are sleeved?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Fishman, just talked to one of the guys that was on the program when it started up. He basicly said the only typical problem that happened to that engine was on the very first ones that came out and that was that the front of the flywheel wasn't mashined rough enough and the front pully would come off. That was only on the very first ones and has not re-occoured. He has a very high opinion of that engine smoothness and hp per displacement. I'm a body stucture and interior engineer not powertrain, but when you ask the right people you can get the answers, kinda like this tractor site. His opinion don't worry about the aluminium vs steel expansion and keep the air and oil clean. From everyone I've talked to you have a very good truck and should last a lone time, not quite the same but my 94' k1500 suburban just pasted the 190,000 mile mark. Like anything take care of it and it should last even up here in the "winter salt belt".

Cheers
Tony

 

[fishman]

Thanks Super7, that helps put my mind at ease. I am initially quite impressed with the smoothness and quietness of the engine. Last night when my wife came home, all we could hear was the crunching of the gravel under the tires as she came up the driveway./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[edt]

Hi fishman i have about 28,000miles on my t/b we love it. i tow a boat with it i love the automatic 4wd system we also got the dvd player in it for the kids they love it also. Now they complain
when we get to our location it's a great rig anti lock disk brakes front and side air bags auto 4wd mine has a bose 6 speaker 5 disk c/d player and onstar is awesome
go for it
EDT