Help me pick a Blazer

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 11/13/2014 at 22:03 • Filed to: None

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Compiled a list of Blazers, pick one.

1. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Expensive, but has as many miles as my mom's car that's 10 years newer.

Also, I like the color and it looks to be basically loaded.

Really can't fault in on anything other than having leather seats. Which being in good condition doesn't bother me as much as if they weren't.

2. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Really digging the color combination.

Cloth seats are nice, actually prefer them over leather.

Not to thrilled about the rusty tow hooks and hitch. And there's a piece of something hanging off the right headlight.

3. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Only 2-door I like. ZR-2 package too I think.

Really don't want another white car, but not really bothersome.

Black interior > and other color.

Has HID headlights according to the ad?

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4. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Cheapest of the group.

Has my favorite wheels the offered on these and is a color combination I like.

Would really prefer electric seats, but that's a non-issue really.

5. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Only one that I see that has a tape player I could use to play music off my phone rather than CDs.

Looks very clean. And it's a decent color combo.

That accent stripe on the sides has to go though.

So, which one would you chose? I'm really liking the last one and the cheapest one. Really though I wouldn't complain about driving any of them.

Excuse if this is a formatting nightmare, it looks alright in the writing window.

HammerheadFistpunch > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:04

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man blazers are cheap.

ly2v8-Brian > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:06

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2door RWD. done.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > HammerheadFistpunch 11/13/2014 at 22:06

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Cheap and plentiful. I could have make this list twice as long.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:07

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I'd go with either the last one or the green one

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ly2v8-Brian 11/13/2014 at 22:07

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If I'm buying an SUV, it's going to be 4WD, otherwise I'd just buy a damn hatchback.

Thunderface > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:08

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I like the 2-door

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:09

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How about this?

(Hint: Blazin' it!)

Firewrx234 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:09

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I'd say last one, but personally, my fave was mine :P

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Firewrx234 11/13/2014 at 22:10

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If I could find one that was like that but blue, this post wouldn't need to exist.

HammerheadFistpunch > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:10

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good to know. they are decent hardware too.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:12

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Well, I'm more of a traditional, two button man myself, but, you can always go for a more contemporary look, if it suits you.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:15

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I personally like 2, 4 and 5. You've got a little bit of a dealer markup on 2 and its looks like the interior could use a good clean. And I bet that "rusty" tow hitch is a non issue, it is over 10 years old.

Also, 2 and 5 are for sale in Illinois. Pretty sure there is a higher sales tax there so you might want to factor that in too.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:16

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The green one or the ZR2. Rust on the tow hooks happens in California even.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/13/2014 at 22:18

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I suppose a can of black spray paint could easily solve that issue.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:21

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And sand paper.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:29

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Get an Xtreme

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:29

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I'd say go for the 2 door.

If not, I'd say go for the nice green.

Jay Lauer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:37

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Are these all dealers? They're awfully expensive.

I just bought a 2-door Jimmy 4x4 with 118k that I was going to sell for $3500. So that makes me feel good.

As for a recommendation, I say #4. Seems to be the best value.

GeorgeyBoy > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:43

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Bandit > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:44

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You should go to Indiana and buy my Blazer. I don't think it is for sale since my parents technically own it... but I don't really want it any more.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jay Lauer 11/13/2014 at 22:46

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They are, which I prefer to dealing with individuals honestly.

Jay Lauer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:49

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You'll get one much cheaper that way, provided you know you're safe. In my experience, the cars in better neighborhoods are always treated bette anyway, so you should be OK.

Depending on the mileage, the ZR2 wouldn't be bad. They hold their value better.

ly2v8-Brian > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 22:57

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freebollocks > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 23:01

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I bought a 2000 ZR2 with 43 miles on it new. It was a real bad decision. Quality is not there. Changed the oil every 5000 miles (always mobil1 with Delco filters), but the engine did not hold up. From what I learned at the dealer, it is a "common issue" with the 4.3 Vortec to have the intake manifold separate from the block. It is not noticeable under normal driving, but hard acceleration and freeway driving, you lose coolant. Came close to frying the block several times. No matter how many times it was replaced, it would happen again. It was easier to carry at least a gallon or two. The build quality on it is awful, and the materials can be really cheap. I remember the covers for the vanity mirrors falling off just driving down the freeway. I know because it landed in my friends cleavage (she has some really big boobs, I will never forget that). The back washer on the tailgate never really worked. Its just a rubber tube routed from the front, and it always broke. The seat recliners inserts are pot metal and break after a while, you can get replacements, but I never wanted to sink any more money into it. If you get a ZR2, the weight of the tire on the carrier will cause the gate to CONSTANTLY make a squeaking noise, so turn your radio up. The 4WD will go out because the transfer case, its got plastic gears to switch between 2 and 4WD. I had two motors go out in each door, pot metal again.... The switches in the steering wheel for volume, went out. The camber/castor settings in the front suspension are not guaranteed after 40,000 miles, due in part to the ZR2 package. Shifting always seemed scary going to, or down into 2nd gear. Brakes can be scary at times. They wear really heavily on the inside, but look almost new on the outside. You need to take off the caliper and rotors for a decent inspection. The oil filter, however, is located just under the front bumper, which made it a real breeze to change. It started to leak oil from around the front cover of the block at 50,000 miles. The ZR2 also has special power steering lines, which leak often. It was great off road. The short wheel base and its decent factory lift made for a quite nice platform. I only used the 4WD sparingly before it went out, but the truck handled well enough without it. I did not beat the crap out of it off road, most of the miles were city/freeway. The interior on the 2door model, especially the ZR2, is really functional, with a lot of storage areas, which came in handy for tools, oil, that needed water, etc. The cover for the jack got to be a pain in the ass to secure in its final days, and it joined in the cacophony of sounds coming from the tail gate and spare tire. I like that it was easy to load and unload via the tailgate, and I enjoyed its "bulldogish" appearance, but if I knew about all of the issues with quality, and the struggle of having to deal with all of its failures, I would have passed on it. I only made it to 95,000 miles before a top end build. She died at 105,000 in an accident, gladly the factory lift had me high enough off the ground when I was T-boned by a T-Bird, it saved me from a nice stay in the hospital for sure.

shop-teacher > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/13/2014 at 23:19

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I dig the green one.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > freebollocks 11/13/2014 at 23:32

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It sounds like you bought the most problematic Blazer in existence. I have a 4.3 + 4 speed equipped vehicle right now (1994 GMC Safari) and it never has had that many issues. I knew about the issue with the 4WD transfer case though. And it sounds to me my choice to go toward non-ZR2 models is a good one, since it seems that package gave the truck a few extra issues.

freebollocks > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/14/2014 at 00:06

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The older 4.3's were really dependable, but they made some minor changes to it later on (when the vortec name started to be used), and quality dropped. My neighbor had a 4.3 in a 2001 1500, that did the same thing at 44,000 miles, and he had it since new. My sister had close to 200,000 on her 95 Astro, but it was the older engine. My brother got 190,000 out of this 87 4.3, but again, older engine. You are right about the ZR2 issues. My biggest gripe was the parts just falling off, breaking, never fitting correctly... I now have a 2008 tundra, I've surpassed 115,000 miles (23,000 when I bought it) and I have not had any issues with fit and trim. Everything still works like it should since I bought it. I can't speak for the four door model Blazers, they may be better. If you do get one, mind the washer nozzle to the back, that tube will spill the washer fluid real quick. Check the brakes out on the inside of the rotor (use a lift if you can). Check out the back of the intake manifold. Run your finger along the seam where the manifold meets the block. Sometimes the will be residue there if it is leaking from the gasket.

freebollocks > freebollocks 11/14/2014 at 00:13

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The seam that is problematic for this engine is in the back of the motor close to the firewall. When it leaks, it just flows out, and down the top of the tranny to the street. Check with any mechanic familiar with these newer Vortecs, they should tell you the same thing. I think that they came out with an improved metal framed gasket to help solve this issue, but its not factory installed.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/14/2014 at 00:14

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I would get a 2 door ZR2 and put the Bravada grille on it (future project). Because class, and I used to drive a white Bravada with heated leather. .. I gave that car so much shit because it was an SUV with shitty mileage unlike the sports car before it but I friggin miss the comfort and blue neon lighting I put under every seat and behind the grille out of spite.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > freebollocks 11/14/2014 at 00:23

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...I honed in on "really big boobs" and now much better informed

Glucklich21- master of the cones > Firewrx234 11/14/2014 at 03:45

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The doors always seemed like an after thought to me on these.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/14/2014 at 14:51

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my choice (having owned 2 blazers in my time) would be 1 or 2.

I would avoid #5 only because if they are stupid enough to say it has a 4.6L V8 in the description I don't trust them.

I would avoid the ZR2 due to suspension issues down the line, you can always get a cheap lift kit for the other ones if you like the ride height. Its a true truck frame so you can easily lift them.

I just love the color of #2, and I owned almost #1, just had black cloth interior, was equally loaded.

Only problems I had with the blazer (of this generation) was the heater core would clog because of the dexcool crap and I had to do heater core flushes pretty much once a year (even after I stopped using dexcool). And then the O2 sensors started going 1 by 1 getting close to 100k miles.

Here's both my S10's in one pic:

I miss the blue one more than the red one, but it's mainly because I built it by hand.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/14/2014 at 22:02

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here is a much cheaper blazer.