Test Drive Chevrolet Blazer 5 Doors 1997 - 2005 SUV
Reflections in the way
The current Chevrolet Blazer (he is GMC-Jimmy, Oldsmobil Bravada made his debut in 1995 and immediately won the prestigious title of the Ozvodnik of the year in America. Produced in the USA, Brazil, Venezuela, Indonesia in the posterior or all-wheel drive versions with three and five-door bodies, 2.2 and 4.3 liter gasoline engines or 2,5 liters diesel. Transmission - five-speed mechanical or four-stage automatic (only for 4.3 liters). Since December 1996, a screwdriver assembly of Brazilian bladers in Elabuga has begun.With rear-wheel drive chevrolet blazer, readers are familiar (SP, 1997, № 3, 8, 12). Now the emphasis is placed on the all-wheel drive model, the presentation of which was held in Elabuga.
The differences between the posterior and all-wheel drive blars are not exhausted by transmission. The first is released only in our most simple configuration with a 2.2-liter four - it costs $ 16 thousand, the second is staffed much richer and it will cost $ 29 thousand today - an attractive price for a sacrifted sacrifier!
Not for Huan Sombrero
This ratio is accepted in the world: the new car should not cost more than its owner earns a year. Then, calculated, its operation will not be destroyed. Therefore, blazer buyers should receive at least $ 1300 or $ 2400 per month. However, many of these today in Russia - not to mention the fact that the majority will still choose the usual passenger car. Even in the pre-crisis times, our market could be absorbed in the year two or three thousand blazers, but not fifty thousand. Now there is a completely different account. So, with all the advantages of the car, he will not become massive for a long time. What will the owner of all-wheel drive chevrolet get for her money? First of all, the engine: Initially, it was a classic Ji-emmon V8 Small Block - a small block of a rather big volume - 5.7 liters. It was cut off a couple of cylinders and added a balancing shaft - a 4.3-liter six Vortec six, only 180 liters. p., But with a huge moment - 340 N.M., what is needed by all-terrain vehicles. The gearbox here is an automatic adaptive: it takes into account not only the driving style, but even wear of the aggregates. And also - cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, arcs on the roof, alloy wheels, fog and other causes - all this in the standard Russian configuration.
Dear heart image
Option 4x2. It was at first that it was at first they did a bid in Elaz-General Motors, without considering that for the Russian motorist, the sort of road without a full drive is not a jeep, not a car, and so, do not understand what. And try to lie to him that this is not an all-terrain vehicle, but simply the unintended frame station wagon so beloved by many classical layouts, besides high capacity and improved passability. Option 4x4. In an effort to suggest a car more understandable to the consumer, reoriented to this modification. Again, problems arose - powerful all-terrain vehicles in Russia are most often bought not to overcome off-road, but for the sake of self-affirmation of the owners. And therefore the low price is not the most significant argument. Rather, on the contrary: how much did you buy? Just for two hundred? Weakk, I took the corner for three hundred. Here is more important imported pureness and steep image. And what is the steepness of Brazilian-Russian half-breeding, and even with such a negligent appearance?
The rear axle is standard, with a multi-disc differential of increased spice type friction. On the rear wheels there is a single-channel ABS. The front axle is original, with a clutch of a free move on the right half. Thus, when it is turned off, only the semi-axis rotates in front, and the cardan shaft is fixed.
Sad realities
You can envy the Brazilians: they produce 42 thousand blazer annually and mostly. In Russia, only 3,700 cars were released, from which 2600 purchased. After the crisis, sales actually stopped. Today, despite the 30 percent reduction in price, there are more than a thousand non-sold blazer sites on the factory and dealer sites. In April, the assembly was suspended until three months ... Salon is already familiar to us. Let us dwell on the most: the trunk of the capacious, but the loading height is Velice, but in the passenger compartment floor is low; Behind a lot of foot scene, but the seat cushion is short; Huge steering height adjustment range and limited - longitudinal driver's seat adjustment; Unusual doors blocking engines; A good review, but the front edge of the roof. Good external mirrors are good, but the inner ... fell off when the first touch. Hello from Don Pedro from Brazil!
Dumping will not be, but ...
The management of Elaz-Ji-EM argues that the dumping sales will not be foreseen. But some price reduction is quite likely - it is necessary to sell already released cars. And in the future, the transition to the release of a cheaper passenger car is most likely inevitable.
The engine does not annoy no noise nor vibration, just shakes the car with a sharp press on the accelerator - the volume is felt! The machine works softly, with some (traditional for Americans) thoughtful. The acceleration of the blazer does not give rise to strong sensations, but a hundred from a room for 12.4 s for an almost two-ton car is great. At the high-speed section, the speedometer showed the promised 165 km / h, however, at the same time I missed the regulator of the right door. However, the speed is carried away - the large elastic tires (Nizhnekamsky - here it is, the localization of production!) And a sufficiently soft suspension significantly increases the so-called dynamic corridor: on the waves the car starts to swing and slightly swim from side to side - in general, as it should be Horticulture.
Wait for a long time?
At the end of 1998, it was announced that the creation of the free economic zone of Alabuga was announced, where enterprises were exempt from local taxes. It is here that the 601th platform is located - a huge case of 96,800 m2, ready for installation of the assembly conveyor. What will be released? The same blazers and ... Opel-Vektru, a total of up to 75 thousand cars per year. The share of the first (obviously updated version) will be insignificant. Vectre is also not the cheapest car, but its chances of recognition is still higher. We take into account the desire of Elaz-General Motors to localize production - up to 40% in a year or two and up to 70% through three or four. The body panels are collected on the KAMAZ, and 165 Russian enterprises are considered as suppliers of components. It remains to wait quite a bit - the line of the conveyor is scheduled for the end of 2000. On the risky cape, blocking the differential, the blazer is confidently rowing with one rear wheels. Only on the clay lift and in the deep promone has to connect the front axle. It is done on the go, up to 80 km / h, using an instant electronic system with one touch of a button. The stock of the traction allows you to most often do without reduced transmission in a dispensing box. According to Coldinam, you can go enough enough - massive elastic bumps insure the suspension (by the way, reinforced - in relation to the American version) when they are triggered until it stops. It is not necessary to worry about the bottom: the lowest points here are the powerful elements of the frame that nor nor kick or hemp.
If the blazer is unlocked to the roads, then to service is quite. The frequency of oil replacement and the anterior suspension syringe is 10 thousand km or 6 months. In severe operating conditions, which manufacturers include riding in the city and bad roads (we are often combined) these gaps are shorted.
The car is nothing to do with ...
It should not be transferred to the marketing miscalculation in the assessment of the Russian soldier market on the qualities of a particular model Chevrolet Blazer - this is an excellent good-to-wear price for this class. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
General data: Number of places - 5; Curb weight - 1850 kg; Full weight - 2500 kg; Maximum speed - 165 km / h; overclocking time up to 100 km / h - 12.4 s; Fuel consumption in conditional country and urban cycles - 9.6; 15.6 l / 100 km; fuel supply - 72 l; Fuel - AI-92. Chassis: Frame, body installed on rubber pillows. Dimensions, mm: Length - 4608; width - 1680; height - 1596; base - 2718; Pitch in front / rear - 1454/1399; Road clearance - 195; The volume of the trunk is 455/2100 l; Radius of rotation - 6.5 m. Engine: V-shaped six-cylinder, with a distributed injection, is located in front of the longitudinal; Working volume - 4298 CMZ; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 101.6x88.4 mm; compression ratio - 9.2; Power - 133 kW / 180 hp at 4200 rpm; Maximum torque - 340 NM at 2600 rpm. Transmission: All-wheel drive with a disabled front axle; Differentials: Front - free, rear - self-locking; gearbox - automatic four-stage; Transfer numbers: i - 3.06; II - 1.63; III - 1.10; IV - 0.7; Z.Kh. - 3.55; Main gears - 3.73; Disposal box: I - 1.00; II - 2.72. Suspension: with transverse stability stabilizers, front - two-dimensional torsion, rear - dependent versative. Brakes: hydraulic with vacuum amplifier, front - ventilated, rear - drums with abs. Steering: worm with a hydraulic agent. Tires: 235/75R15.
Yuri Nileyov. Photo by the author
A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"
