Test Drive Chevrolet Blazer 5 Doors 1997 - 2005 SUV
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Medium-sized cars in our country traditionally disliked: they are usually choosing people who do not need anything superfluous. Heavyly ordinary cars conquer fans among those who want to get all the same! One models are worse, others are better. Perhaps, among those who managed to establish well, the last generation Chevrolet Blazer can be attributed (1994-2001; also known as OldSmobile Bravada and GMC Jimmy). As a representative of the mid-sized American BLAZER SUVs, although not immaculate, but still very good: quite foldable, quite powerful, comfortable and durable, but in addition with normal passability. Suitable car for our country! We also note that this car did from us (in the Brazil version, the model was collected in the city of Elabuga). True, a successful project is difficult to call, especially His August 1998 crisis. The release of Blazer in Russia was turned over three years after the start of production.
How to distinguish the Russian version from American? Our rear has red lights in which the yellow sections are integrated. The front of the car is equipped with quite expressive headlights, giving the ability to express his face. The car is quite careful in contrast, say, from Ford Explorer or the BLAZER successor is a huge trailblazer. The reliability of the body of the model inspires optimism. Rust arises rather in order of exception, and the body is not carrying, the iron is glued to the frame with which it certainly will not happen. Thus, to be afraid that an old copy of the body rotes to the base, no need.
Unfortunately, with the headlights of the car is not all right. Like many other Americans, the regular optics illuminates the road not brighter with wax candle. Partly saves xenon, in abundance submitted on the market of additional equipment.
Salon by the standards of the overseas jeeps of the old school standard: simple, like three kopecks, torpedo, simple (but quite good) materials finishes, as well as fairly rich equipment (electrically installed in almost every machine, have many copies of the skin of the skin). Blazer borrowed the salon, and the base, in Chevrolet S10 (there was once such a pickup, now its place on the market is the Colorado model). The advantages of the car should include ergonomics: Americans have always made buttons such that even in work gloves it was impossible to click on three immediately. Well, now a little about minuses. The width of the salon is clearly insufficient, in addition, the wear resistance of the upholstery is not at the height. Finally, there are some claims to electric. Froying the stove motors, buttons for the emergency signal, in general, old American cars, and that says it all: they are more prone to marasma, rather than Japanese cars.
If the buzz you are experiencing only from stupid shots from the traffic light or on the highway, then Blazer your car. The V6 engine very quickly accelerates the car to maximum speed of 180 km / h. But if you need acceptable dynamics and handling, it is better to pass by. Or to accept the fact that this is a real frame SUV, which does not allow to chase through the serpents for Prelude or Calibra, demonstrating serious rolls, inclined to overturning (if they still decide to extend with sports Honda and Opel). It is impossible, by the way, to say that Blazer has some cotton smoothness, on the contrary, the suspension moderately rigid.
Most of these cars are equipped with a rather 4.3-liter engine capacity of 193 liters. with. (At the next generation version, a challenged TRAILBLAZER, with a smaller working volume, the engine develops 270 liters. p.). You can find specimens that are equipped with a 100-strong row foursome 2.2 liters, but if you prefer to go, and not crawling, go around them (it is surprising that they are generally accelerated when pressed on the gas pedal). Note that a weak power unit 2.2 liters will not meet under the hood of the American. This is the forthwer of the Russian version. The joy of potential Blazer buyers with a normal engine is informed: 4.3-liter V6 is considered simply unnecessary. With proper and timely service, it departs 300 thousand km for the cute soul, even without a hint of wear of the cylinder-piston group. True, the oil needs to be changed more often: mineral every 5 thousand km, synthetic allows you to move the change in the replacement of lubrication at least as much as much. You can complain about the fuel pump. Since the fuel consumption in the car is very solid, it has to diligently swing fuel into the engine, which leads to an accelerated wear of the expensive part. I must say, the fuel system in principle is painfully refer to Russian gasoline. A pressure regulator may be out of order, nooks are clogged. 
The one who believes that Blazer is solely all-wheel drive and only with an automatic box, is deeply mistaken. Rear-wheel drive copies, and with mechanics. And it is impossible to say that the last such bad option. If you want to ride without problems, then the MCPP is the perfect choice (the grip serves at least 150 thousand km, the glands do not surrender to 200 thousand and more kilometers). The automatic transmission is reliable as the engine. It only needs to be remembered that every 25 thousand km must change oil in it (about the same amount it serves in the distribution). A short time, of course. For example, at Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, the grease in the transmission performs its functions within a half longer, but in the bridges of Blazer oil can not change thousands of 7 km. You can't call the absolutely trouble-free system. Sometimes the crosses of the cardan shaft and the inclusion mechanism fail. But to say about the transmission that it is free, it is impossible. Although the blazer suspension is very durable, it does not mean that it does not require attention. At each, it is necessary to drive the car on the lift for lubricating the ball supports (former owners of the Volga will probably feel nostalgia). If you neglect this procedure, the balls will have to be thrown out after 20 thousand km (but in regular care, you can not worry at all).
It pleases that the tire-metal hinges of the front suspension sometimes go as much as other machines from other machines, that is, up to 200 thousand km. Rear suspension dependent and almost eternal. Repair, as a rule, it is required only when the owner manages to break anything. On her background, the steering is a problematic place, a pendulum lever and steering tower are quite often destroyed (the disease is familiar with the older model of this company Chevrolet Tahoe). Compared to other American medium-sized BLAZER SUVs, Blazer has been convincingly proved its right to life. It is reliable (of course, not absolutely, but, as you know, there is nothing absolute), comfortable and beautiful. It is durable, he has good permeability, besides a wide selection of modifications. There are also disadvantages, for example, unlike Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, equipped with voluminous V8, there is a truly powerful version of Blazer (but there is a frankly weak modification with a 2.2 liter engine). In addition, stability is somewhat worse than the same Grand Cherokee. However, reliability is a serious compensation for listed omissions. Especially when it comes to an American car.
Advantages and disadvantages of the model
Advantages
Durable frame design
Rich equipment
High reliability
disadvantages
No powerful engine
Mediocible riding comfort
Weak headlights
