The Vortec 4.3 is a hell of a runner. It has so much torque and horsepower, that any other suv need not race the chevy!! I think that the 4.3 has more power than a standard 350, many would agree. The transmission has been very smooth, and the ride is superb. Great offroader with such a short wheelbase(2 door), never stuck with my BFG tires.

The rear window is constantly loosening up,squeaks alot until you tighten it (w/o stripping it) I wish there were no torsion bars because it has such great potential to be a REALLY GOOD OFFROAD MACHINE. Has a tendancy to rust around the fenderwells alot>>>>common S10 Blazer

I paid 8000 dollars, well worth the price because I know it will last me for quite some time!!!!!!!! Highly reccomended.

Similar Products Used:

none

chevy makes a good truck but how about those Jeeps. Now thats a real SUV. I cant get the thing to die. I think it will out live me

Oh there is no flaw in a JEEP

IT ROCKS

Similar Products Used:

None

Very solid, strong engine and transmission. Drives and handles well. Easy to work on. I like the ground clearance - we get flash floods in Houston.

See the last statement above. It's a good thing. Maintenance and repairs will keep you busy. The basic drivetrain is unbelievably reliable, but the rest has its moments - alternator, water pump, A/C, ball joints, bushings, springs, steering linkage, brakes...

The repair bills can be a tough burden if you don't do the work yourself. Considering the daily Houston torture it's put through, the truck has held up very well. The roads I drive on will beat the living crap out of anything. The same roads toasted the CV joints on my Honda. I keep up with any rattles, so there aren't any that I haven't been able to resolve. I'm not sure whether or not I'd recommend it. If I was looking at a new small SUV, I'd probably start with the Isuzu Rodeo. It has about the same safety rating (not that good), it has a better reliability record and the styling seems more SUV-like.

Similar Products Used:

Just really didn't like the feel of the comparable Ford and Jeep products.

Looks, Power, Gas mileage 21-23 hiway. Great ride its not rough unlike jeep and durango.

Headlights seem to dim no matter what bulbs you put in

I paid $21,000 in feb of 97 it had 13,000 miles on it. I would recommend it to anyone looking for the best small suv for the price.I get tired of hearing people say its junk when its not. We have had no major problems with ours, the most I've spent on non maintnence items was $65 and we have 50,000 miles on it. We've towed our 4000 lb boat without any problems with the tranny. Our GM dealer was very nice and replaced the lower balls joint at 45,000 miles even though it was out of warranty. 1998 redesigned and better interior also.
IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A SMALL SUV I'D BUY IT!

Similar Products Used:

Explorer,Durango,Grand Cherokee,4-Runner(I work at a car lot) The Blazer is far better than all of these. it handles and rides better, more power, better mileage and usually cheaper to buy.

Good solid truck feel and a very comfertable ride.

Too much road noise, passengers were frightened one eveninig while I was bringing them back from a party, we all heard a large "clunk" and then the tranny slipped at only 5k and they told me quote on quote "I hope you get rid of this peice of crap" they had a jimmy before as well and there tranny slipped and broke and they had all sorts of probs, from water pumps, to a/c pumps to temp gauge problem and muffler problems.

I would never recomend this grabage to anyone.

Similar Products Used:

I would rather drive a Ford, at leats they can stand by there product

Engine- 4.3 V6 190hp and 250LBS of torque. This motor is great, and very easy to get extra power out of it. Get a K$N cone filter and a performance Mass Air Flow sensor and you will be leading the pack. Plus that will give you better fuel mileage.
Very quick SUV. No other SUV is quicker.
Some cheap upgrades and BINGO better then day one

Weak rear ends- Change the read end oil often, the bearings love to fail.
Sensors- at least one a month in the winter I have a great dash light come on called "check engine" and nothing is ever wrong.
Head Lights- no other word will say it.. they suck.
Front End- Yes after many miles as people say the get lose. Easy fix, urethane bushings. Makes it better then day one.

Its a great SUV, Nice to drive, great in snow and great for towing.
Unless you are looking at a full size SUV, i wouldn't look any where else.
Unless you are doing heavy towing.. then maybe a Cheroke with a V8 would do you better. (unless you add a supercharger to the 4.3L)

Oh yeah take a look at the 2000-2001's they have HID head lights. very great GM, hats off to you on that. Has to be the best headlights on a SUV to date.

Remember that SUV's are not sport cars they will flip over!!!

Similar Products Used:

Toyota 4Runner- better for offroading. but slow as dump.
Explorer- mm no thanks. read the papers
SideKick.. just kidding
Cheroke- ahh well the V8 rocks the 4.3L for towing, but get the money out for the gas pump.

Strong powertrain, the 4.3l engine is great for towing and offroad.

I now have 67,000 miles on it, I have replaced both front bearings (at a cost of $531.26 each for delco replacements), I have replaced the lower transmission cooler line due to leaking from stress cracks, I have replaced the electric motor in the drivers window, the electric mirror switch assembly and the shocks (which started leaking at 37,000 miles). All in all I have spent almost $4000.00 in repairs since the warranty ran out at 36,000 miles. The excessive use of plastic panels on the interior makes the truck noisy on rough roads.

I would recommend to anyone considering a 4x4 SUV to look over seas, I have never considered a Japanese vehicle before, but GM's lack of quality has forced me down that road, I will never own another american (especially GM) product again, you would expect a quality product for $25K, instead I got ripped off.

Similar Products Used:

Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango. All these vehicles were poor performers in one sense or the other, it just shows how poor american car quality has gotten (I know 1970's clothing is coming back in, but is auto quality (or more to the point, the lack of quality) doing the same thing?)

It had a smooth ride.

Where do I begin?? What a lemon!! I'll never buy another American car!!

Well, I bought my 96 Blazer new in 9/1996, and it didn't have any real problems until last year, (of course, just after my warranty expired). My "Service Engine Soon" light came on after 40,000 miles. It was diagnosed that the torque converter was shot, and had to be replaced ($300). That resolved that problem. Just after that, I began overheating. Apparently, GM's new "Dex-Cool" coolant turned into sludge in the bottom of the radiator, and destroyed my radiator. After putting in a new radiator, (to the tune of $400), my cooling system developed a leak, which came from the water pump (which I replaced for another $400). My repairman (ASE Certified) said that even if I replaced all cooling system components, I would still have a chronic problem, as you could never totally rid the system of the old coolant. He told me, bottom line, "GET RID OF THE CAR", which I did, and it's the best thing I ever did for that truck!

Similar Products Used:

None

It had a smooth ride.

Where do I begin?? What a lemon!! I'll never buy another American car!!

Well, I bought my 96 Blazer new in 9/1996, and it didn't have any real problems until last year, (of course, just after my warranty expired). My "Service Engine Soon" light came on after 40,000 miles. It was diagnosed that the torque converter was shot, and had to be replaced ($300). That resolved that problem. Just after that, I began overheating. Apparently, GM's new "Dex-Cool" coolant turned into sludge in the bottom of the radiator, and destroyed my radiator. After putting in a new radiator, (to the tune of $400), my cooling system developed a leak, which came from the water pump (which I replaced for another $400). My repairman (ASE Certified) said that even if I replaced all cooling system components, I would still have a chronic problem, as you could never totally rid the system of the old coolant. He told me, bottom line, "GET RID OF THE CAR", which I did, and it's the best thing I ever did for that truck!

Similar Products Used:

None

The strengths of my truck are easily the power and torque. the 373 gear makes good for towing and racing. the off roading is excellent if you know how to manuver it right. this is a great vehicle to ski in or vacation in as well as blow weak little bronco II's and explorers off of the road. and since the recall on the breaks, my breaking system is the bomb

squeeky back window and gas milage.

i paid 10 g's for mine in 97 and dont regret it. i would recommend it if the owner likes a lot of power in a v6. a simple k & n filter charger system can add up to 50 horses and bosch platinum 4 plugs and wires another 20. that equals a lot of power.

Similar Products Used:

ford explorer--pales in comparison
96 blazer--very similar but not as tight as the new ones