Honestly, you're probably better off keeping the 2001 forever. It fills a niche that's really no longer being filled in the US, plus they just look good. I like the idea of having a soon to be classic utility vehicle that can actually do the work.

 

 

It really is kind of offensive that they took the name we all love, and stuck it on just another car based SUV. The 5 minute intro video and the official chevy.com web page on the truck go on and on and on about style and doesn't even mention capabilities. Soccer mom's don't care that it's called Blazer. Blazer enthusiasts care that it's a car not a truck.

Also it looks most like a Toyota Venza.

Weird styling aside, if the Blazer looked just like it does now, but was rear wheel drive with a 4hi/4lo transfer case, i'd probably buy it (assuming it's not going to be $45,000).

The messed up thing is that the truck you are talking about already exists!! All this "suv" overload, but every last one has to be car based. They can't give us their one truck based small SUV that they already make. Just make a version with styling that matches the colorado. No major R&D work needed. And boom, an SUV that I'm sure most of us would complain about, but we'd still like it. Personally I want a 2-door S10 4x4 Blazer back but that's not going to happen (even though Wranglers are selling as hot as ever). But at least the 2nd gen Trailblazer would have been a step in the right direction.

I've often said that if someone had hoarded brand new Blazers (in my case, a 2 door ZR2) and started reselling them, I'd be all over it. Even though I disagree about it's towing abilities. I've always struggled to tow at highway speeds with my 4.3L's. Great at street speeds though. My current Trailblazer is a 5.3L and it really shines when it's towing. If I could get a truly mint condition S10 Blazer, I'd probably invest in a professionally done V8 swap. Replace the radio with a modern Carplay based radio, and i'd be happy as **** for many years. If I had to get rid of this Trailblazer today, the only thing I could really replace it with is a Wrangler, which would not be ideal because it's also my daily driver. And it's not idea because wranglers + highway towing = :-(

 

 

I like the trailblazer with the 5.3L LS V8. but the V8 trail bkzr's are very hard to find. So think about this as an option: a 1996-2001 Chevy Tahoe or a GMC Yukon. With the 5.7L Vortec V8. on hwy, it gets 18-19 mpg, good for towing, and not as big and bulky as the new Tahoe/Yukons. That Vortec V8 has a lot in common with the 4.3L V6 Vortec.

 

I am trying to say in my post above is that i like the 5.3 chevy V8, but feel uncomfortable with the straight six engine found in most of the Trailblazers. the 5.3 L option was rare.
That Tahoe 18-19 mpg figure is, of course, HWY MPG's, not around town driving. .

 

I've never had the chance to drive the inline 6 trailblazer. But on paper it seems like a very solid engine.

 

BOOOO B*TCH. Have to go purchase a ford bronco or something.

 

It kind of looks like a tall Camaro. Which is a shame because if it were RWD (with a transfer case) and available with a V8, i wouldn't care much what the body looked like.