bobthebuilder

I'd buy a GMT355 based Blazer Z71 if it could be had with the 4.2L six. I don't care if its a little smaller than the competition....it would be off road capable, tough, reliable, and fast.

My three seat kawisaki jet ski weighs in at 900 lbs. A pair would be 1800lbs plus the weight of a trailer (probably another 500lbs or so for a dual boats). Granted mine is bigger than most..I think a pair of one seaters are still a bit heavier than 1000 lbs. A Chevy Colorado can barely tow some bass boats if you follow the rules. An Uplander or Terraza might be able to handle an 18' party barge, but it probably won't be able to gain traction on the boat ramp without 4x4 or at least a locking back end. Unitbodys are not really good choices if you plan on making a habit of towing anything. They can be useful for the occasional tow, but they distribute load across the truck which subjects the entire package to flex, which causes squeaks and rattles. I personally have a pair of jet skis and a work trailer. The enclosed work trailer is 18' long and can hold up to 7,000 lbs. I bring it to work at least once a week- but I know that the supplies inside weight only about 3,000 lbs. That plus the trailer itself and the fact that I have to use the construction entrance at my jobsite (usually rutted out and covered in mud and gravel) puts me in a real truck. A lot of people like me are at that point where a full size SUV is too expensive and is kind of overkill, and a something like a Toyota Highlander is too weak. I let the wife drive the expensive cars- that way we can keep them around after we are done paying for them- not so with my trucks because they get too beat up. I actually have trailer brakes on my Trailblazer. One of my drywall subcontractors has a Trailblazer EXT with trailer brakes (he has a crew of 4). His trailer is much longer than mine, too- and sometimes he is has to be pushing the limit on that 4.2L motor. He and I both swear by our trucks.....and neither of us would pay up for a full size with an off road package just so it can get 4 sweaty workers stinking up the seats and morons driving fork lifts into the fenders. We are not the only ones with mid size SUVs either. My PM drives a 2005 Xterra- he goes through trucks every three years...might as well not waste to much money on one.

Do you really think that the 900s will appeal to someone in group 3? These guys are on a budget, and 40K for a truck that will get dented and scratched is not a good deal. WAY out of my price range and most of group 3s when you consider I will need an off road package now that the new 900s are so low and wimpy. And are all Chevy dealers supposed to completely relenquish group 2 sales to Hummer? The H3 starts at 30K and is more capable than anything in its market (we are talking the extreme and most affluent group 2s). The Xterra, Jeep, and FJ can be had for much, much cheaper. I hate it when Chevrolet gets dumbed down or screwed over to help some other brand.

I don't agree with all of it. Nice read, though. With the new lambdas, sales of the Trailblazer will drop- especially if there is no EXT model. The Lambdas will not, however, cover much of the market that the Trailblazer and Envoy do cover. The trailblazers are capable of towing more than 6,000 lbs.- and I doubt the new Lambdas or Equinox will come close to that. I think that there are three kinds of people nowadays who want SUVs: 1. Those who want a good family car with seating for 5 or more- three rows of seats- usually women. 2. Those who want to appear rugged by driving a big, powerful SUV with big tires, a brush guard, and off road styling. These people may actually take thier SUV off road once or twice just to say that they did -young guys and girls...think Xterra, FJ, Jeep products... 3. Those who need the SUV for their capabilities. Either for off roading or its towing. The Trailblazer EXT is no longer around to cover the first group. That is where the Lambdas (and the Equinox if they can fit a third row option). These people want a fuel efficent truckster that is safe. They probably wont' even install a trailer towing package on their SUV- and 95 percent of them will be 2wd. Group 2 is a huge group as well. Just count all the Xterras and Jeep Libertys around. Most of those people don't take their trucks off road- but they wouldn't buy an SUV unless it came with a flashy yellow paint, big off road tires, legendary capability, and a poweful engine. At least half of these are 4x4, and many install aftermarket tires, grille guards, and some of these SUVs spend much of their time covered in mud. (I find that the ones with the grille guards are usually never taken off road) I am certain that while people like myself in group 3 are not as common- we do exist and a good percentage of every truck-based SUV sales goes to people like us. We want a truck that can tow our boat, work trailer, or classic car. They need to be able to make it through the construction entrance of their building project without getting stuck and still have enough room inside to pick the kids up from soccer practice. These SUVs get used- and I fall into this group. We don't spend too much money on aftermarket parts or fancy grille guards, tires or anything- but we are probably the hardest on our trucks. The trailblazer was trying to cover all three groups while Toyota has two mid-size trucks for this (Highlander for group 1, 4runner for group 2 and 3). The Equinox can handle the Rav4 if it can get a decent engine upgrade- but as far as midsize trucks- the Lambdas don't have a chance in groups 2 or 3. This is something that only a truck-based SUV can cover. GM should either update (minor update at least) the Trailblazer and Enovy, or introduce GMT355 based SUVs to go against the Xterra, Liberty, Grand Cherokee, and 4runner. There is still a market for these things. Nissan can tell you the success you can have if you stick to your roots (Xterra). The secret is that groups 2 and 3 don't need much more than a pickup platform with an off road package....cheap to please one of the most highly profitable segments. The Hummer H3 is too expensive for Group 2 and too fancy and trendy for group 3. A new Trailblazer should cover what the H3 is too expensive to do. Now toyota will have the Rav 4 and Highlander for group 1, the FJ for group 2, and the 4runner for group 3. (undoubtedy there will be overlap, but a sale is a sale). The Equinox is a strong performer, but it is too small for some of the group 1 needs. The Lambdas are there for that. This leaves room for a new, tough looking Trailblazer that is free to appeal to a younger market and the working man at the same time.

Trailblazer (not counting the Envoy and other 360s) was the best selling SUV nameplate last year. Chevy's Equinox didn't even get close. Probably more to do with the 3.4L Chinamotor than the unitbody structure, but still...

Why would they do that? All the 360s need to stay competitive is mainly the new 6L65 transmission. The Trailblazer could use a new front end and a new dash- but that is easy. GM, please don't let these trucks die on the vine- they are the best selling SUVs on the market. Give the Trailblazer buyers what we deserve...something to move into when we tire of our current rides.

Well, if you can't take a pickup off road, then its useless. That front end is comming off as soon as I take to the construction entrance. Looks like the Silverado will become the truck for guys who don't really need a truck. Niche products become dead eventually. Trucks should stay true to their roots.

No revised Trailblazer next year with some off road capability and 6000 lb towing capacity will mean that I wll be in a Commander. I currently drive a 2002 Trailblazer. Love the truck- at the time it was best in class, but the same car has been on sale since 2001. GM...its time for a refresh. Don't knock the Explorers. in 2002 they were almost as good as the Trailblazers. I would be driving one if they had something that compared to the 4.2L I6 from GM. Even their V8 only had 240hp back then. The new ones must be good, but the 4.0L needs some updates. Toyota, Nissan and soon Jeep will supplement their BOF SUVs with car based SUVs. GM can do the same with two similarly priced alternatives- one for the guys who need a truck, the other for the families who need (but don't want) a large sedan or a minivan. I don't really care how its built- but it had better be decent off road. Jeep Grand Chrokee is unit body (but has live axles) and performs great until the current model made its debut. Give me a tough SUV that is not built for the mall. Xterra, 4runner, and Commander can't do it all on their own. Let a new Trailblazer cover the ground the H3 is too expensive to cover. OH- and GM, taking away capability from a BOF truck is dumb. A BOF can't do what a unitbody can as far as gas mileage and space efficiency. If you want a fuel efficient SUV, then the Tahoe should be unit body. Take away that single piece facsia and low front end and give us a decent truck. And if the six speeds are not out next year then I am out.

I wouldn't spend more than $20,000 on a new car that didn't have at least a 5 speed auto. Might I suggest Hemi powered Commander or even an Expedition if GM doesn't get their act together? The Commander is small but at least its still a real SUV. I have seen V6 4x4 Commanders on sale for $25995.