Test Drive Chevrolet Blazer 5 Doors 1997 - 2005 SUV
Chevrolet Blazer
Autopilot estimates famous cars in five criteria. The amount of advantages is indicated by b, flaws - Ch. The next subject scored 3 b and 2 C. This is Brazilian Chevrolet Blazer 4x2. What would this be surprised by a thoughtful reader, because the assembly of these cars in Russia seems to be discontinued? Nevertheless, they are still sold at an attractive price. And judging by the ratio of the pace of sales and the number of Blazer who have already gone from Elabugi, it can be assumed that even about half a year they will be present in our market. And there, you look, the price will still decrease ...
EXTERIOR. Solid. Thoroughly. Westery. Externally, all sexual signs of the jeep is evident. Including aggressive, obviously not a purely highway rubber size 225/75 R15. Clearance is considerable - 196 mm. In Elabuga, the rear-wheel drive blazer has two options: basic and DLX (Deluxe). In the second case, instead of stamped steel disks, get alloy, as well as wheels 235/75 R15. Immediately - painted bumpers and front panel with chrome-plated edging of the decorative radiator lattice, as well as front fog lights, rooftop roofing and plastic moldings on the doors.
All sellers call galvanized what is actually a zinc phosphate soil applied to the body with an electrochemical way. However, such a metal in combination with good quality painting serves a long time. The mudguards are vital, otherwise the stones and sand from under the wheels will quickly reduce the paint and ground in the lower part of the wings, thresholds and front doors. 4 B, 1 Ch.
INTERIOR. Fully in the traditions of American SUV. Angular old-fashioned forms of torpedo; The front console, which in the people is called a beard, is missing. The color of the salon in the Elabuga version is only one - gray with black, the upholstery - the velor of gray in the speck with red dots. In the armrest between the front seats - a roomy chest, on the center console, in front of the lever of the gearbox - two mandatory cup holders. The glove box is small, but its cover is fixed horizontally and does not fall on his knees, and on its back side deepends for all sorts of trifles and again the cup holders.
One of the main advantages of the machine is the luggage compartment. Its volume is 1056 liters, and with folded rear seats, which are divided into proportions 40:60, the space increases almost twice. In DLX, the contents of the trunk hides with the retractable curtain. For the convenience, the capacity of the cabin, excellent heating in our winter conditions, the car deserves a high marks. However, for the low quality adjustment of the details of the finish, the flip plastic handles, chattering in their jacks of the switch buttons and many parasitic creaks and knocks, published by the sheath panels on the go, is only satisfactory. 3 b, 2 ch.
Equipment and ergonomics. In the basic version of the additional equipment there is a hydraulic tape, adjustable in height of the steering column and the so-called radio preparation, including four speakers and antenna. The air conditioner may not be, then the price of the machine will be even lower than the declared $ 14 thousand. In the DLX, the electric car will be added (all side windows and mirrors), the central locking and the ceiling console with the compass and the placing temperature pointer in European and American measures, as well as light bulbs Individual lighting for passengers.
The landing behind the wheel is quite comfortable, and in the DLX version there is even a similar similarity of the adjustable lumbar support. Typical things typical for Americans, as the control of the parking brake by pedal, and light, wiper and turning pointers - a steering wheel switch, are rather addiction than condemnation. Understanding an excellent visibility to undoubted advantages. However, if you are not married to orphan, we advise for the mother-in-law to highlight the front passenger seat: too vertical backs of the rear in combination with a low pillow arrangement can deteriorate greatly. 4 B, 1 Ch.
ROAD. The dynamics of the Brazilian visifies the analogy with domestic low-tonnage trucks. Short transfers and the need to make riding such a heavy car instantly drive the tachometer arrow into dangerous intimacy from the red zone. And the speedometer shows only about 40 km / h ... it is better to forget about energetic ride. Especially since very soft, typically an American suspension also does not stimulate active ride. However, not everything is so bad, and if a priori abandon sharp televitations on the road, you can see the dignity of the engine - its traction characteristics on the nizakh are very close to diesel. However, if it should be adopted and learn literally in the blink of an eye to glue the transfer, you can approach the stated passport numbers of the dynamics. In the smoothness of the course, American comfort, he is unlikely to refuse, but the aforementioned features are strongly dragging on the road. 3 b, 2h.
Features of national exploitation. Visits to the service center will have to be applied with intermittent every 5 thousand km. There are two types. Large - the same thing as everyone is produced in 10 thousand km: checking the main nodes, replacing the oil in the engine and filters. And small, every 5 thousand km, which lies in ... the need for lubrication of the suspension units, in particular, the ball supports - the syringe. Average costs per year - from $ 550 to $ 850 depending on the run.
The cost of the norm-hour can not be called low, but also not translated - an average of $ 30. True, not everywhere this car is taken to repair. And at the price of spare parts Elabuzhsky Blazer or, as the Russian iszdovs have already been nicknamed, Elabuser, you will not attract cheap. Judge for yourself: the front pads that are on average about 30 thousand km live, will cost $ 80--120, the ball supports, which are four pieces, and the Russian land grunds them in 20--40 thousand km - $ 60-- 100 per piece, pendulum lever and steering mechanism, which are also unable to resist our conditions for a long time - $ 80--113. This is not counting the cost of work. Many pendant parts are suitable from the original American Blazer, and the engine is from Opel or Daewoo. But the rear axle mechanism and the checkpoint are very demanding to the variety of oil. Only one, Mobil with special additives, who does not have, affirming on a specialized service, is poured.
The opinion of repairman specialists, who have been holding a car in their hands for three years in their hands, is reduced to a simple phrase: why do you want for such money? As for the topic very painful for General Motors CIS, the engine defect, which led to the breakdown of the valve pushers and further to the destruction of the pistons, then, according to them, since 1998 it does not occur in Moscow. One reservation is appropriate here: a low-speed deformed motor in combination with a maximum short gearbox may well give such a result if it is constantly and mercilessly twist on the limit revisions. 3B, 2h. Our sentence. Pros and cons divide approximately equally. As a utilitarian vehicle, half-board-semi-universal high capacity, load capacity and partly, the Brazilian version of Blazer in the Elabuga performance can like someone. Especially for this money. However, for the high cost of operation, many small flaws of a production nature with limited possibilities - 3 B, 1 C.
Text Andrei Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
A source: "Autopilot"
