Today i drove a TrailBlazer!

Zane · May 16, 2001

Well, after my finals today i decided to go and see if the TrailBlazer population has grown at my local dealer. It had, and they now have 14 of them! One of them i just about died for. It was a fully loaded LTZ, Black. Sunroof, 6 cd changer, Bose sound, leather, memorys, heated seats, etc.... So i decided that i HAD to drive it.

I finally got in and they brought it around. Unfortuantly this particualar TrailBlazer had not had the suspension fix done to it yet. So i was subjected to only trolling around the back lot. Fourtunatly the back lot at this dealer is not too shabby!! they have about a 1/4 mile strait-away, and mucho room to playaround in. After 40mintues (yes 40 mintues) i brought it back, thanked them and left. How did i like it? Lets just say i now know what my truck is going to be replaced with in a month or two!

The engine is great! Under the hood, the whole engine package is much smaller than i expected. There was more room inside the bay than i've seen in recent years. Also, the engine is VERY quiet. So much so, you can barely hear it form the OUTSIDE. Inside the only clue the engine is running is the gages, and the slight "engine running vibration". I didn't get above speeds of 45 or so, and even then it was for only 2-3 sec intervals. Handleing is plush, but leans a little in the corners. Over a bump track, the rear end stayed planted, but provided tons smooth ride. Acceleration is more than my Zr2, but still no track star. (hey i'm used to Corvettes and Camaros). The seats are soft and could be adjusted to almost any position. One feature i thought was helpfull was that the seat bottom and back are not fixed together. As you tilt the seat forward and back, the angle you sit at is not affected. CD quality is super! I can truthfully say that it ranks with the sound system in the Corvette. Bass is NO problem for this setting! A 6 dish in dash changer is very convinent. Also, controls are a little hard to understand at first, but quickly become extremely useable. The sun roof is another great feature. Rear seats are manageable, but still a little cramped. Thats ok, the ability for rear passangers to choose there own music via headphones, and to even control the heating/air to their likeing makes up for it. Both are fully independant from the front controls.

I could go on and on, but what matters is that i'm going back this week to get the pricing for the one i drove! Better gas milege, better ride, and more versatility make this a clear winner over the Zr2. Well, time for me to go make the "For-Sale" sign for my truck! LOL

Frank S · May 16, 2001

That sounds like it may be a good vehicle for my wife when we trade the Tahoe in before long.I think she still wants a Z71 though.

ps

I think I'll stick with my ZR2. ;)

General Lee 01 · May 24, 2001

Are you plannig on T-Driving the Bravada, and the Envoy to see if you like them better.

Or you sticking with a Trailblazer?

Zane · May 24, 2001

Quote: from General Lee 01 on 12:45 am on May 24, 2001
Are you plannig on T-Driving the Bravada, and the Envoy to see if you like them better.

Or you sticking with a Trailblazer?

I'm a Chevy man!(Our driveway is ALL chevy) Plus, the others are slightly more expensive!

Shaners · May 28, 2001

Everything I've read puts te old bazers to shame.... 270hp and a super smooth inline 6 cylinder engine with tons of low end torque should make every current body style blazer owner long for this new truck!!

Kania2k1 · May 29, 2001

Sounds like a nice truck, what was the issue with the suspension again?

jgdobak · June 2, 2001

Stereo note:

As the original poster commented, the stereo system (base) on the new trucks is terribly bass-weighted, at the expense of mid/high-range quality. I don't listen to music that gains much out of back-breaking bass, so I think it's terrible, but to each their own. When the kids buy one, they can skip the 'subwoofer' section on their "Mag Wheels, Spoiler, and Tint" checklist. ;P

Zane · June 2, 2001

Quote: from Kania2k1 on 12:57 am on May 29, 2001
Sounds like a nice truck, what was the issue with the suspension again?

I think it was something to do with a lower control arm, in the front. The supplier didn't produce the part to the proper spec.

delphi · June 6, 2001

Is the new Vortec 4200 inline six worth the upgrade over the previous 4300 v6?

So far I've driven the GMC Envoy with the 3.73 final drive ratio. I was NOT impressed. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it didn't feel like a 42% power increase in power over the 190hp v6. In all fairness I didn't run it up to 6000rpm where it supposedly makes all that power, but sinking the gas pedal just didn't bring a smile to my face.

There are three final drive ratios available... 3.42, 3.73, and 4.11. Do I have get the 4.11 ratio before this engine gets responsive or should I expect it to down shift like a 4 cylinder each time I need to get moving?

Has anybody here measured their 2002's actual fuel economy with the new i6? I noticed they increased the fuel tank capacity over the 2001 models. This suggests to me the engineers may not be confident the 2002's wouldn't get the same crusing range on the smaller tank found in the 2001 models.

Has anyone noticed if the EPA ratings are different for each 2002 model equipped with a different final drive ratio? I wonder if the vehicle is given it's rating based on the tall 3.42 ratio and the low 4.11 ratios are not considered in their testing.

Maybe I should wait for a v8 option in one of these vehicles.

Zane · June 6, 2001

Quote: from delphi on 1:07 am on June 6, 2001
Is the new Vortec 4200 inline six worth the upgrade over the previous 4300 v6?

I personaly think it is. Although, i did only get to drive one briefly. I can't wait to get our hands on a TrailBlazer tester so that i can give it a "longer feel".

The main differnce i thought, was the MUCH smoother feel, compared to the 4.3L. I have a 4.3L engine, and although bullitproof, it makes alot of noise doing its work.

delphi · June 6, 2001

I agree, the i6 is smooth, but not "so much" smoother that I just got to have it. For one thing I wish GM would put an electric fan on these 6 cylinder engines. I think they make more noise than anything else under the (including the i6). I would think it's going to rob more horsepower than an electric fan when you consider that engine revs all the way past 6000 rpms.

If I'm not mistaken, the 2002 Trail Blazer is like 400 pounds heavier than the 2001 model. It feels heavier.

If you haven't figured it out, I'm having a tough time deciding whether I should turn in my existing Blazer's lease early (GM program waives the remaining payments).

I'm also wondering if the 4.11 final drive ratio takes a big fuel economy hit. I'm all for more power, but not if the fuel bills are approaching that of a v8. If that became the case, I would simply want a v8 because the 270hp v8 makes 325ft-lbs of torque at a much lower rpm. the new i6 may look like it makes v8 horsepower, but I'm sure this vehicle's performance would be a lot better with a real v8.

Zane · June 7, 2001

Quote: from delphi on 10:03 am on June 6, 2001
I agree, the i6 is smooth, but not "so much" smoother that I just got to have it. For one thing I wish GM would put an electric fan on these 6 cylinder engines. I think they make more noise than anything else under the (including the i6). I would think it's going to rob more horsepower than an electric fan when you consider that engine revs all the way past 6000 rpms.

If I'm not mistaken, the 2002 Trail Blazer is like 400 pounds heavier than the 2001 model. It feels heavier.

If you haven't figured it out, I'm having a tough time deciding whether I should turn in my existing Blazer's lease early (GM program waives the remaining payments).

I'm also wondering if the 4.11 final drive ratio takes a big fuel economy hit. I'm all for more power, but not if the fuel bills are approaching that of a v8. If that became the case, I would simply want a v8 because the 270hp v8 makes 325ft-lbs of torque at a much lower rpm. the new i6 may look like it makes v8 horsepower, but I'm sure this vehicle's performance would be a lot better with a real v8.

You got quite a dilema! :biggrin: I personaly liked the first inpressions of the new trailBlazer. I'm working hard to get us a long term TrailBlazer here to test, and then i can give you a better feeling.

delphi · June 9, 2001

Well, I decided to give it back to the dealer.

Things I liked:

1. interior is wider

2. the 5 link rear holds the road better over bumps

3. the metallic red is a real head-turner

4. ground clearance and tires are definitely better suited for off-road use

5. the leather seats are very nice. they feel very soft and didn't get tacky

Things I disliked:

1. although wider, the interior room doesn't feel substantially roomier

2. braking: the car stops well, but it didn't seem to be any better than it's predicessor.

3. body roll is very noticeable

4. the standard stereo sounds awful. they need to put larger speakers in the dashboard

5. the seatbelts come out of the seat back. this looks nicer than when they come out of the body pillars, but it means the belt closely goes over your shoulder rather than higher up in the car

6. accelleration: this car is heavier and it definitely feels like it. It was difficult to get the RPMs up to where the power could be enjoyed. We laughed at the "270hp" when I burried the pedal and the car made one downshift and barely went any faster. This thing could use a 5 speed manual. It may have 270hp on paper, but it definitely doen't perform like a v8.