My '00 Blazer is on it's last few wheels. It needs new ball joints (all 4), tires, electrical problems/shorts ... on & on.

I'm looking at getting a '05 Envoy to save some gas $$$. I need AWD out in the country and haven't towed for 3 years now so a slightly smaller size and less HP would be good. Also looking at '04 Subaru Forester or could go elsewhere, but i want the height and safety that many of the small crossovers don't have.

Any suggestions? Honda seems out of the question. Way too much $$$ for similar year & features. Should I expect the Envoy to have similar problems as the Blazer or is this comparing apples to grapefruit?

Anyone in S. Ontario interested in my '00 Blazer for parts or to fix-up. Engine has been very reliable, just hard on the wallet at the pumps these days.

Doug

 

You won't save $$$ on gas if you buy an Envoy. Envoy is larger, more powerful, and heavier. A much more refined chassis, engine, and interior than the s-series suvs, but not that great on gas if you are short tripping it like I am. My old 2000 Bravada got better mileage on my short trip in to work than my 2004 Rainier (same as Trailblazer/Envoy) and both are 3.73 gears and AWD. Now, if you are driving it longer distances, I have seen 25MPG on a long trip with my Rainier loaded up. Best I ever saw with my Bravada was 18.5MPG. Now, I did just change the O2 sensor on my Rainier and mileage is picking up and it is nearing what I used to get with my Bravada.

About problems, no, they don't have hardly anything in common with the s-series. The transmission is about the only thing that is the same.

 

Whoops - I screwed up. I meant to type in Equinox - not Envoy. Sorry I've got too many new names in my brain.

I'm thinking that going from a 4.3 to a 3.4 with the Equinox would be a lot easier to get used to than the 2.5 of the Forester.

Any thoughts now? Thanks, Doug

 

I was gonna answer your question in good fashion seeing as there is both a 2000 Blazer and a 2005 Envoy in my driveway.[/align][/align]Anyway, the Equinox is more fuel efficient, (22 mpg) but you have to watch the 2005 model. They are problem children. I see people complaining all the time on the Chevrolet Forum about their Equinox eating up brake pads and warping rotors andsuspensionmemberswaering outprematurely and the common denominator seems to be the 05 model. If you go ahead and get a little newer Equinox (06 or 07) you won't have those problems because by that time, GM had worked out the problems for the Equinox.[/align]

 

The Forrester mighthave less power than the Blazer...

But it's also 1000lbs lighter.