Chevy TrailBlazer

[skinnyd]

Hi Guys

I am looking at possibly getting a Chevy TrailBlazer. Any one have anything good or bad to say about them. (would be replacing a Nissan Pathfinder)

Thanks
Ken

 

[JHZR2]

I understand the engine is one of the best rated by wards or similar.

The police in the USVI use them exclusively. Talk about severe service - those hills are rough: easy to overheat the engine or boil out your ATF.

Id guess the trans/diff is bulletproof, and I havent heard of anything bad about the engine either.

JMH

 

[skinnyd]

Thanks for the reply JHZR2.
Looking at the capacities it looks like the 6cyl engine holds 7qts of oil. That should make for an interesting OCI.

 

[JHZR2]

that is really good capacity, glad to see that.

If it runs at RPMs similar to my ZR2, itll be really easy on the oil, and so long as you get a reasonable amount of highway use, Ill bet you can easily do 10k+ mi OCIs with syn oil.

JMH

 

[cousincletus]

My wife drove one a few months ago and complained about the lack of power compared to the Durango. But the Durango is a V-8 compared to a six. Haven't heard of any reliability problems though.

 

[skinnyd]

Looks to have a fair amount more hp than the current truck. It will see a fair amount of highway time going snowmobiling in the winter. Four hours each way up and back. cuple times a month during the winter. Should pull the trailer better than the Nissan its lacking on some of the hills.

 

[JHZR2]

I find it funny how people complain about lack of power in 6 and even some 8 cyl vehicles. Not just cletus's wife, but lots of folks. Is it the 'feel' of power due to torque, or is it true acceleration?

My 300D made 120 HP at full boost. It is like a brick. My 318i is a lot lighter, but has only about 134 hp. Miniscule by modern truck standards.

Somehow I make it out onto high speed merges, 85 mph roadways, and aggressive driving situations in the NYC metro area pretty well.

My chevy 4.3L has plenty of power to go up with a decent load in the back and a couple mountain bikes on the back (pretty big aero drag). It makes about 190 hp and 250 lb-ft and does great. I can only imagine how well the trailblazer does.

JMH

 

[skinnyd]

The current pathfinder does fine until its loaded up with all the gear. Some of the hills its laboring. Hook the trailer up to it with the sleds on it and hit the same hills and it feels like its going to need a push (haha). If it wasnt for the trailer it wouldnt be as bad. The Trailblazer has 275hp 275ft-lbs. The pathinder is rated at 170hp and 200ft-lbs.

 

[cousincletus]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JHZR2:
I find it funny how people complain about lack of power in 6 and even some 8 cyl vehicles. Not just cletus's wife, but lots of folks. Is it the 'feel' of power due to torque, or is it true acceleration?

My 300D made 120 HP at full boost. It is like a brick. My 318i is a lot lighter, but has only about 134 hp. Miniscule by modern truck standards.

Somehow I make it out onto high speed merges, 85 mph roadways, and aggressive driving situations in the NYC metro area pretty well.

My chevy 4.3L has plenty of power to go up with a decent load in the back and a couple mountain bikes on the back (pretty big aero drag). It makes about 190 hp and 250 lb-ft and does great. I can only imagine how well the trailblazer does.

JMH

---

I agree. I drive a tractor trailer for a living and my OHV Cavalier feels like a racecar (also a gocart) after driving the big truck for a while.

 

[Cutehumor]

wait until winter 2006 and get the 06 trailblazer SS
391 horsepower corvette engine
06 Trailblazer SS

 

[TheJMan19]

My parents have an 02 Trailblazer and after driving it a few times, I'll say I'm not a big fan of it. The transmission is terrible, mushy shifts and occasional slippage, even though it was rebuilt under warranty. The 4.2L engine is very fast and quiet, but all the power is on the top end. Compared to my 5.0L Mountaineer, which is rated at 60 less horsepower, the Trailblazer feels pretty gutless under 3k RPMs. The ride is soft, and is a matter of preference whether you like a soft ride or a truck ride. I prefer the truck type ride.

The fan clutch went out at only 38k miles and was close to $600 to repair. Two headlight connectors also melted but were replaced under warranty.

Me, I'm not a fan of the Trailblazer. I'll keep my Mercury.

 

[Ryan00TJ]

I have an 03 Trailblazer and have had no problems with it since new. The 4.2L DOHC I6 is very smooth and pretty efficient. Usually get 20-21mpg on trips. Ride is very quiet and soft. Comes stock with nice Bilstein shocks all around. I due agree about the motor being a little sluggish below 2500rpms but get above that and it really pulls hard. A little lower gearing like the trailer package includes makes up for it nicely though.

The 02's being the first year had their share of bugs but the newer models seem to be pretty reliable.

 

[JHZR2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheJMan19:
The 4.2L engine is very fast and quiet, but all the power is on the top end. Compared to my 5.0L Mountaineer, which is rated at 60 less horsepower, the Trailblazer feels pretty gutless under 3k RPMs.

---

Guess thats where my question pops in... the TB may feel gutless, but which one is actually faster? I am totally unsure, but my bet would be the trailblazer. The mountaineer feels faster becauce it has more torque down low, but in reality, thats just perception.

Thats how I see it and may be totally off. Ive jjust always been curious about how some folks can percieve certain cars as not powerful, when in reality they may be faster than other similar 'torquier' cars.

JMH

 

[JHZR2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by cousincletus:

---

I agree. I drive a tractor trailer for a living and my OHV Cavalier feels like a racecar (also a gocart) after driving the big truck for a while. [/QB][/QUOTE]

LOL, I always got a kick out of feeling what was percieved as 'neck snapping' acceleration from, say my mothers plymouth breeze, which has a whopping 134 hp, compared to my good ol diesel

JMH

 

[SteelheadGuide]

My Father-in law drove a TB a week ago. He rented one when his family was in town. He said the 4.2 seemed pretty strong,but can see how some say its underpowered. He said it was so smooth that it didn't "feel" like it was doing much,when in reality it moved the TB nicely.

Isn't the 5.3 liter V-8 an option in the TB? I have a few friends with the 5.3 in 1500 series 4x4s. On the freeway its common for them to get close to 20MPG. If you're not going to pay a big mileage penalty with the V-8 I'd rather have the extra 30HP that come with the 5.3.

 

[blupupher]

Had one for almost 2 years. Not a bad vehicle, just not one I fell in love with. As several have said,the I6 has power, but is above 400 rpm, almost like a turbo kicking in.There is also an optional v-8, have no idea how it performs.

 

[MarkC]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ryan00TJ:
. The 4.2L DOHC I6 is very smooth and pretty efficient.

---

Am I missing something? How can an inline six have a double overhead cam? I admit ignorance, not sarcasm. Looking on Chevy's website I saw no mention of the engine being DOHC.

 

[skinnyd]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the comments.
Yoes you can get the TB with an 8 cyl, but its in the larger EXT TrailBlazer.

Under the features/specs, specs,engine it lists the 6 as a dohc. http://www.chevrolet.com/trailblazer/specifications/
Also under standar options, engines/chassis, click on vortec 4200 v6 and it pops up some more info on the motor.

Thanks again for all the comments.

 

[joatmon]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkC:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ryan00TJ:
. The 4.2L DOHC I6 is very smooth and pretty efficient.

---

Am I missing something? How can an inline six have a double overhead cam? I admit ignorance, not sarcasm. Looking on Chevy's website I saw no mention of the engine being DOHC.

---

DOHC means that the cams sit on top of the piston (block) in the cylinder head and there are two cams: one cam for intake and one for exhaust valves.

Jack

 

[keith]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkC:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ryan00TJ:
. The 4.2L DOHC I6 is very smooth and pretty efficient.

---

Am I missing something? How can an inline six have a double overhead cam? I admit ignorance, not sarcasm. Looking on Chevy's website I saw no mention of the engine being DOHC.

---

One cam to operate the intake valves, one for the exhaust valves. Inline DOHC's are fairly common, especially with 4 valve per cylinder designs.