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Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I need to get away from the perpetual car payment, and build some equity.
Resale is better on SUV's so i am thinking that a purchase will serve me better in the long run.
Congratulations to those of you who have purchased these new vehicles and keep the info coming. I wish i had checked in townhall before i bought my intrigue.
Mark
Steve
I am new at this. I think you guys in the States are very lucky. The closest I came to touching and seeing the Trailblazer was at the auto show. GM Canada tells me that we Canadians won't be able to test drive a Trailblazer until late April or even May and they really couldn't get more specific then that.
As you can imagine I can't wait this long. So it's great to hear your test driving comments. Please do not spare any details and continue to post test drives.
Some of you have been commenting on the transmission noise others on the lack of power.
However, recently I read a test drive review by a Canadian writer who test drove a Trailblazer in Detroit and had nothing, but good things to say. Even went as far to compare the engine to BMW and Jaguar!
Is this writer crazy or is he on the ball when describing the engine and transmission?
Lets be honest, don't worry I can take it! Remember I'm Canadian.
Thanks
It's a great deal.
The 4.2 I6 engine is sweet, smooth like the best of the imports. Drive by wire throttle response takes some getting used to, but it means that the engine is not torquey and jerkey when you start on the throttle like the previous generation with the 4.3L did. Instead, it is a light touch at the start of throttle, and you can finesse the acceleration off the line instead of jumping off the line.
Also, the Bravada is not a car, it is a computer on wheels. Have you seen the user's manual - you need to take college courses to cover all the features on this thing. But once you get everything programmed the way you want it, then it becomes fully automatic and simple to operate the car. Onstar is pretty cool also - one year free with the car. And the new frame is super stiff. It is a nice piece of work, considering how many units they will build.
I've said it before, everyone has an opinion... Check out the vehicle for yourself, if you like it - buy it. If you don't, let GM know that they must do better. That goes for all of the other companies as well.
My best to each of you in your search. Please continue to send in your honest evaluations and experiences. It gives all of us a chance to catch something that we may have overlooked.
2002 Envoy. I really like it, especially the
color, Magnetic Red. My 2 complaints would
be the steering could be a little tighter...not
so lose, and the seatbacks could be more
supportive. Besides that, the quality seems
very good compared with the previous generation models.
I truly wish GM the best with this new lineup of SUV's, and I hope to own an Envoy very soon. However, like I said before, if GM thinks I am willing to pay $100 (or more) a month for their vehicle over a similarly equipped and priced Explorer they are wrong.
http://www.starcars.com/GMC/G2100.html
Not bad it rides much better than the Yukon.
The engine was fast in compared to the bigger Yukon. However I won't lease this for over 605 per mth. Yukons are going for over 1k per mth, & that @ invoice.....!!!! My lease is up in q mths on the Yukon IF GM doesn't do anything with the
pricing I'm gone.......One other thought the Envoy looks too much like a mini van from the back!
What were your overall impressions of the Envoy?
Did you hear the wind noise that others have commented on recently?
Was the transmission smooth like all General's?
Did the engine feel sluggish or strong?
Let the group know, as any info whether good, bad or ugly will steer us in the right direction. I sure hope these SUVs' are built like a rock.
Thanks
Just one question: What exactly made you cancel your order?
I think it would help the group to know.
Another famous phrase: "actions speak louder than words." We will soon find out if loyal GM owners will be flocking elsewhere for a mid-size SUV.
Thanks
Excellent description!
Cross wind will make noise levels in a cabin of car increase and I can just imagine what it would do to a SUV.
How does the engine and transmission feel and sound?
I tell you I can't wait until these SUVs arrive in Canada. When they do I will test drive one and post detailed observations.
The Bravada engine is as smooth and quiet as the Mitsubishi. Transmission seems to know when to shift at the right time, doesn't hunt up/down at all (with all that torque on tap, it doesn't need to), and this car loafs at below 2000 rpm at 65mph. I had it on cruise control (testing it) at 45mph, and the engine was turning at 1000rpm. Even at this low rpm, the engine doesn't lug and you don't feel any vibration or hear much noise. This engine has way more beef than the Mitsubishi which would rev around 3000 rpm at 65mph on the highway.
My S10-Blazer with the 4.3V6 used to run very low rpms, but would growl and roar mightily. It would also be too torquey at low throttle and low rpm making accelerating from a dead stop or from low speed jerky. This new I6 with drive by wire is completely finessed - the torque is there big time at all speeds, but the computer helps control it. You can pull from a stop or from low speed very smoothly even though the engine is putting out a lot of torque.
Also, one Orlando FL dealer is selling Trailblazer LTs for $26999, MSRP is $30090 with options like BOSE, trac control and more.
Worth the extra $495? Thanks in advance for your comments.
FYI - local dealer had 2 Envoy's (both SLE's) and 1 Bravada. They left the doors unlocked at night on one Envoy. Seems a lot bigger inside than previous model and better quality. I saw the dash, it seemed dark, rather than the wood, but it was night time so didn't get a great feel for it. Will report back are test drive.
I drove my sister's Bravada yesterday and it is excellent inside and out. The only quirk is that my wife could not find a comfortable seating position. She is short and the seat cushion is very deep. My sister got her Bravada for $100 over invoice, used her $1500 owner loyalty certificate, and got the 5/60 warranty. The dealers are willing to deal, but GM still doesn't have a good lease rate.
I think we have decided to go with the Tahoe for a number of reasons. The first being seat comfort for my wife. The other being that my lease is about finished and I can't wait a year for the bugs to get worked out of this vehicle. (I'm not slamming GM, but almost any manufacturer has things that need to be ironed out on a completely new vehicle.)
I agree the new Explorer is a bit boxy. In terms of styling, it seems to be a step backwards for Ford.
experience with the new trailblazer.
http://www.gmfamilysavings.com
Hope this helps...
RR
Envoy - more rugged, but classy. Quitter, both wind noise and tire noise - there was some noise, but relatively quite. Car like ride, engine was nice - revived a little when didn't push peel done, but when real nice when going 30 and accelerate, felt like a sports car. Interior seemed nice, nice cloth material and dash looked good, even without fake wood. SLT has leather which looks better than Bravada leather, SLT Envoy was two-toned. Real roomy, I liked it alot.
Bravada - loaded with goodies - only problem is goodies ain't always good for you. Leather was nice, but not as nice was Envoy SLT's. Air suspension did seem any different than coil springs in Envoy. Dash was okay, but nothing special. Looks sophisticated on the outside, less rugged. Road nice, and engine was good, but wind noise and tire noise, while not bad, was more noticable than Envoy. Salesman said tires on Bravada are bigger and thus tire noise is more, but wind noise - didn't have answer.
Conclusion - unless you need all the extra's stick with the Envoy SLE - and if you need the extra's, unless you want sophisticated over rugged but classy, stick with the Envoy SLT.
Envoy SLE - $31,645 with destination - GMS price was $27,656 I think - thats 87.4% of MSRP and destination.
I've seen the Envoy SLE and I'm drooling... Wife prefers the RX300 but best I've seen there equipped the way I like it is apx $34,750, which is about dealer invoice. I too like the Lexus, but it works out to about another $60 per month in payment over the TB.
I'm willing to travel anywhere in CA or NV to pick up...has anyone seen better deals today? Do you think better prices are available or do I just have to wait until end of summer?
AND...would you actually compare these to each other?
3% holdback is based upon dealer invoice because the holdback goes to pay financing costs, and they are financing the invoice amount, not MSRP.