2001 Chevrolet Blazer LS ZR2 review from North America

Blazer Rear Spring Sag (c)

Oil filter relocation line leak

Power sunroof won't retract

Water collected in taillight, blowing bulb

As a previous owner of a 1989 Blazer, I knew what this truck was and what I wanted. Drooling over the ZR2 model ever since it's debut in 1994, I knew that I was destined to get one.

Having owned it for a few months, here is what I have seen:

The dash and gauges don't seem as well thought out or as well made as the previous generation.

Reliability is high, and it cranks up and runs out better than many other cars I've had. Must have gotten a good one.

Some problems are minor, and I would rather deal with a sticky power window, or even some hub/joint repair than deal with what those guys on the Pathfinder list go through. Japanese cars are tight, the SUV's are not so much. Four-Runners and Pathfinders are great for about 5 years, then get totalled out for rusted frames and such. How many old boxy Pathfinders do you see as opposed to Blazers?

The doors shut solid, the vehicle rides solid, and off-road it is (so far) as good as my old Scout... with tunes, even.

The problems these people are having with annoying issues... or squeaky interiors, isn't from building lemons, or even bad engineering...it's Canada. Seriously. After the previous generation, these parts (some assembled and some not) are built in Canada. The final vehicle might be completed here, but many of the sub-par parts complaints are the parts that were from Canada. Check it out.

It costs more to run any real 4x4. If you don't want the maintenance, get a CRV. Just be sure to offroad with others. Anyone who takes a ZR2 off road knows why they bought it and seems totally pleased with it... the Blazers here with the problems seem to be the ones that don't get used...

4.3 V6 has been in production for 20+ years and has most kinks worked out (GM needs to do something about the air-emissions thing...c'mon). Pre '02 trannys were based on the 700r4, also an old-timer. JUV's are redesigned every year, it seems...and most aren't based on TRUCKS.

Just my 2 cents.

-R

(building collector equity in my ZR2)