tplyons
5/27/2006 10:40:18 PM
First of all, hello, my name is Tim and I'm from Madison, NJ. I'm a 19 year old college student and bassist.
I currently drive a 1987 GMC Caballero (El Camino) and am looking to replace it due to a) gas mileage and b) I can't gig in the rain.
I'm looking to sell and purchase a ~1996ish 4 Door Blazer/Jimmy 4X4. Just a few questions:
1. What are the major problems with this year/model?
2. What should I look for?
3. I'm looking to spend $3-5K on the SUV, maybe a little bit more. What's the max mileage you would buy?
4. What kind of gas mileage do you guys get with your 4 Door 4x4?
swartlkk
5/27/2006 11:23:08 PM
Welcome Tim!
Some of the early '96 Blazers came with the older CPI motor (large aluminum intake w/ throttle body facing forward). I would first make sure that it is the newer SCFI motor (plastic upper plenum with throttle body facing up) as the newer vortec motor doesn't have the problems with the fuel leaking in the intake.
As far as problems... Well, I don't feel that any of these are absolutely MAJOR by any means but I'll list a few any way. Ball joints tend to have a short life if not greased routinely. EGR valves tend to stick from carbon buildup. Door hinge pins/bushings wear fast causing the doors to sag. Newer models with push button 4wd tend to have problems with the buttons and/or controller. Battery - factory AC Delco batteries may corrode inside the battery on the positive post. We've started to see more fuel level sensor problems recently, but I think that most of them are in the previous gen. Transmission - weak sun shell causing transmission failure, but this is hit or miss and when it breaks you lose reverse, 2nd, and 4th gears.
What to look for? Well, that's up to you. Chevy Blazers = GMC Jimmy = Oldmobile Bravada, the Bravada will have more standard options, but it also has fulltime AWD. I like the AWD in my Bravada, but I would like to have low range which just isn't there in a Bravada. The Blazers and Jimmys have low end models and high end models. If you have a lot to look at, choose the one that has the options you like/want.
These trucks can go upwards of 200k miles if properly maintained. I wouldn't have a problem with buying something with upwards of 120k miles on it, but as with anything that old and that used, you'll need to go over things with a fine tooth comb before purchasing it. Use anything that you may find as a bargaining chip with the seller. You may be able to find one with higher miles and some problems and purchase it for much less than your budget, fix it up and have a better truck than one that has fewer miles, but costs more. That is all assuming that you can do the work on it yourself to save $$$.
Gas mileage. Well, I get 16-17 on my commute which I'd call 40-60 city-highway. Best I've ever gotten with my Bravada was 20mpg on a trip without anything else inside and nice open, flat interstate.
Good luck and happy hunting!
TheDesertFox
5/28/2006 10:59:43 AM
If you look around you might grab a really great deal. I got a 1998 4x4 4door Ls for 5K. I like the newer body style but its really just amatter of opinion. They are a nice midsized suv great for on and offroad travel. I think if you look around and do some research you'll get something you'll really like.
Gasmilage is about the same as swartlkk said. If im good and do highway travel i get about 20 but mostly 17-18 anywhere else.
One other thing that I love about blazers is that if you want to customize them, you can go either way really. You can bag it and make it a lowride or you can jack it up and make it an offroad machine. I think once you get one you'll love it as much as we all do around here.
Good Luck
-Luke
