RE: SOTW: Chevrolet Blazer

[E38Ross]

MadmanO/T People said:

I'm in the US and I can tell you these things were considered rubbish even by lowly American standards. GM could only shift these with giveaway prices, nearly free financing and huge rebates. The Ford Explorer (hardly a paragon of quality itself) was MUCH more popular.

I wouldn't even buy one of these here. Why on Earth would anyone in the UK buy one?

don't tell that to 300bhp/tonne

[ScoobieWRX]

drivin_me_nuts said:

chevy-stu said:

300bhp/ton said:

Leafs are fine off road, but not as comfy on road. Lives axles are always best unless you are high speed racing when IFS/IRS can show benefits.

Me to.

A live front axle is fine for ultra slow rock crawling or ditch driving. That only accounts for a very tiny percentage of off-roaders, and very specialised ones at that too. They see very little or no on-road time at all.

For all other forms of off-roading where most 4x4 trucks make their own way to a venue and then home again, plus are often used as a daily driver or workhorse, an IFS is perfect. Bare in mind most of these IFS equipped off-roaders see plenty of time on-road, probably 95% of their time, an IFS is preferred.

Having an IFS/Live rear or IFS/IRS combination makes your 4x4 no less capable off-road than having a live front/rear combination.

[Garlick]

MadmanO/T People said:

I'm in the US and I can tell you these things were considered rubbish even by lowly American standards. GM could only shift these with giveaway prices, nearly free financing and huge rebates. The Ford Explorer (hardly a paragon of quality itself) was MUCH more popular.

I wouldn't even buy one of these here. Why on Earth would anyone in the UK buy one?

Because 300bhp insisted we were all fools for dismissing it.

[LesKellet]

Good friend has one in the US, and have been driven many a happy hundreds of miles in it. It's more suited to that territory. Comfy, quite and acceptable.

[LordVader]

300bhp/ton said:

something most Brits think only a Land Rover can do....

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 12th October 10:30

Thats true. I was driving a minor royal once in a Shogun and she said "I've not seen one of these before, which model Land Rover is it?"

[Verde]

As a Yank it would be expected that I would give a thumbs-up to this shedder. But that's anything but the truth. I and many others here in the colony consider the early midi-SUV's to be just trash. Near the economy of a Suburban without the value, capabilities or charm of their bigger bros the Suburban also known as the national fauna of Texas. Ugly, poorly built, poor quality. It's all of the worst stereotypical virtues of 70-90's American cars.
Please remove this one from SOTW immediately!
V

[Papa Hotel]

Verde said:

As a Yank it would be expected that I would give a thumbs-up to this shedder. But that's anything but the truth. I and many others here in the colony consider the early midi-SUV's to be just trash. Near the economy of a Suburban without the value, capabilities or charm of their bigger bros the Suburban also known as the national fauna of Texas. Ugly, poorly built, poor quality. It's all of the worst stereotypical virtues of 70-90's American cars.
Please remove this one from SOTW immediately!
V

I was ready to tell you to "Begone, Yank", but then I looked at your garage. Fantastic car choices, I think I want you to be my big brother.

[300bhp/ton]

Garlick said:

MadmanO/T People said:

I'm in the US and I can tell you these things were considered rubbish even by lowly American standards. GM could only shift these with giveaway prices, nearly free financing and huge rebates. The Ford Explorer (hardly a paragon of quality itself) was MUCH more popular.

I wouldn't even buy one of these here. Why on Earth would anyone in the UK buy one?

Because 300bhp insisted we were all fools for dismissing it.

Thanks Paul, but I didn't say such a thing at all. All I tried to do was point out it isn't big, at least no bigger than Jap/British 4x4's.

So dismissing it as it was either too big, too not a V8 or too American was indeed a foolish stance.

Dismissing it on ability or personal preference is fine.

[Papa Hotel]

Let it go, will you?

[Reardy Mister]

This is a good blazer, an actual PH blazer. I'm going to go ahead and assume it has a proper engine too, around 350 cubes or so.

Top tip:

If one of these comes up in the classifieds for less than a bag of sand, it is not a SOTW on name alone:

Edited by Reardy Mister on Sunday 14th October 22:16

Edited by Reardy Mister on Sunday 14th October 22:17

[ukaskew]

Love it, I have to admit to not even clicking the link when it's some German barge (which it often is), judging by the comments on this vs previous sheds it would appear I'm not the only one.

Variety is definitely most welcome, much like on the morning commute where I would rather see a wonderfully eclectic mix of cars (good and bad) rather than yet another Focus or Citroen C1.

[pSyCoSiS]

300bhp/ton said:

Garlick said:

MadmanO/T People said:

I'm in the US and I can tell you these things were considered rubbish even by lowly American standards. GM could only shift these with giveaway prices, nearly free financing and huge rebates. The Ford Explorer (hardly a paragon of quality itself) was MUCH more popular.

I wouldn't even buy one of these here. Why on Earth would anyone in the UK buy one?

Because 300bhp insisted we were all fools for dismissing it.

Thanks Paul, but I didn't say such a thing at all. All I tried to do was point out it isn't big, at least no bigger than Jap/British 4x4's.

So dismissing it as it was either too big, too not a V8 or too American was indeed a foolish stance.

Dismissing it on ability or personal preference is fine.

Oh give it a fking rest mate. Get the hint - not many PHers like this car. Simple. Fact.

Don't know why you get so aroused when people don't like a particular car?!

Defend it all you like, but it seems as if it is a heap - even memebers on here from the US agree.

My bag of sand would go on either a RR Classic or P38. Yes they rust, have electrical problems, bla bla bla - I don't care - I'd still have one over this Blazer!

[artdealer]

There's a become Jack Bauer on the cheap in here somewhere.

[Gridl0k]

Artie Kull said:

Don't expect Mercedes quality (though having said that, judging by the pics at least, turn-of-the-century Chevy rust protection actually seems superior to that of contemporary Mercs).

Yep, my 14 year old £50K merc is well on its way to what I believe the youth call 'rat look'. As someone said to me, "They said they were going to bring Mercedes build quality to Chrysler but I think they got it the wrong way round".

You have got me thinking about a Blazer or Bronco instead of another Disco for snow-hooning this year.. High teens MPG means I can go V8 instead of TDi

[BigAl80021]

Chiming in from the U.S. and maybe I'm jaded because these things are like a bad rash around here. But no, in every way no. Sh*t build quality, atrocious interior even for a mid 90's American vehicle and I couldn't think of a worse 'off-roader'. And as people have mentioned before, everything in that front end will die as will most of the elecronics but the engine for some reason will soldier on. You can do worse for $1000, but you can also do a hell of a lot better. I'm not what you would call a Jeep guy, but a Jeep would be a better choice in every single category, every single day of the week. Hell, my early 90's Explorer was superior in every way to these piles of trash, and that is saying something. Excuse me now, I need to go throw up. /Rant

[Agent Orange]

Is there an award for the worst SOTW? I may have a nomination.

[ScoobieWRX]

I can't believe this POS is still meriting comment. About time this thread was flushed down the loo a bit like this Blazer should be!! In fact someone should set fire to it so it's a proper Blazer!!

Please hurry up next SOTW!!

[AUDIHenry]

crostonian said:

If it had a V8 I might have woken up, back to sleep sorry

This is basically a chevy 5.7L minus two cylinders. Not a bad car, but actually has a bad safety record and transmission problems.

I'd much rather take a Suburban.

[ITech]

ScoobieWRX said:

I can't believe this POS is still meriting comment. About time this thread was flushed down the loo a bit like this Blazer should be!! In fact someone should set fire to it so it's a proper Blazer!!

Please hurry up next SOTW!!

+1

[ITech]

Monty Zoomer said:

ITech said:

They may technically be smaller than a RR.. BUT, they don't look it

What?

I don't really know how to say it in more simple language that you will be able to understand..

They LOOK huge, they really do, have you even seen one on our roads? There are 2 I have seen regularly on my commute to work. It does not really matter at all, if they are not as large as a RangeRover. Because my point, was not the ACTUAL size, but the fact that they LOOK ridiculously out of proportion on our, mostly, smaller than US roads.

Comprende?