the blazer is back....

[mongocanfly]

sorta.....so sad what happened to it...looks like a car now....http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/06/...sover-suv.html

[Steeveedee]

It's all in the name, just like the new Dodge "Dart" and the Ford "500"...though that is going bye-bye. Manufacturers looking to claim a market stake. That thing might as well be a Jeep <something>, as far as I am concerned, what with the way it looks.

[special-K]

Bearing no resemblance in form or function, it really needs it's own name. They killed the Blazer and the only way to bring it back is as an off road worthy vehicle, not a Gucci cosmopolitan mobile. There are other never before used names out there, yet. This thing needs one. I might like it for what it is with it's own name, but in my mind using the Blazer name says here is your new Blazer... NOT!

[Boog]

Oh, it's a shame to see them recycle the name and hang it on something that looks more like a ford suv of some sort.
At least the new bronco vaguely looks somewhat like the original one.

[Stocker]

Dunno about the rest of it, but the first thing I noticed was a grille shape lifted directly from a Toyota Highlander.
And the tiny lights.... not a fan, sorry. It might be a great vehicle and just the ticket for some folks. Don't think I'll be one of 'em.

[special-K]

In '73 the car industry destroyed nice looking vehicles with huge 5 mph bumpers to help cut repair costs (Ya think the insurance lobby might hold a little power?). Somehow it got to today with "Where is the bumper?". I realize it's the hidden substructure. Very stylish, always liked the lack of bumpers on race cars and customs. But what I see looking at these new vehicles are body shop nightmares, or at least very expensive body work. So difficult to where it's total panel replacement and these parts are incredibly expensive. The cost of one headlight unit (that has no bumper protection since the bumper sits back) is astronomical. So what about the insurance industry's heavy handed power? I guess they came to realize they are so rich the high costs really don't effect them. You also see vehicles totalled for the kind of damage that used to be easily and economically repaired. The deficit is absorbed by the vehicle owner. I see so many direction changes in this world today as a shot in the foot, or headed down the wrong road, it isn't funny. I'm looking at that now. Only thing is, there are plenty coming along to accept such things without an ounce of forethought, so it carries on. Shame on those with common sense or good foresight. How old-fashioned, that is so yesterday. In the end, our choices are in what is offered and you look for something about one that stands out as better than the others or you stick with your brand. We get what the marketing geniuses feel is what we want.

[abig84]

Originally Posted by special-K

In '73 the car industry destroyed nice looking vehicles with huge 5 mph bumpers to help cut repair costs (Ya think the insurance lobby might hold a little power?). Somehow it got to today with "Where is the bumper?". I realize it's the hidden substructure. Very stylish, always liked the lack of bumpers on race cars and customs. But what I see looking at these new vehicles are body shop nightmares, or at least very expensive body work. So difficult to where it's total panel replacement and these parts are incredibly expensive. The cost of one headlight unit (that has no bumper protection since the bumper sits back) is astronomical. So what about the insurance industry's heavy handed power? I guess they came to realize they are so rich the high costs really don't effect them. You also see vehicles totalled for the kind of damage that used to be easily and economically repaired. The deficit is absorbed by the vehicle owner. I see so many direction changes in this world today as a shot in the foot, or headed down the wrong road, it isn't funny. I'm looking at that now. Only thing is, there are plenty coming along to accept such things without an ounce of forethought, so it carries on. Shame on those with common sense or good foresight. How old-fashioned, that is so yesterday. In the end, our choices are in what is offered and you look for something about one that stands out as better than the others or you stick with your brand. We get what the marketing geniuses feel is what we want.

I feel the same way and pretty much hate everything new. So you buy one of these then tap something with the bumper and have to replace it, probably a thousand bucks if your lucky. Someone hit my bed and pushed it in a foot, just popped it out and life goes on. I did the new truck thing before even a scratch is heartbreaking

I've been driving a 1990 Silverado for the past 9 years I paid $300 for and when it that's in half I'm going to buy another one. But if everyone thought and was as cheap as me the economy would fold and

There's just nothing cool or stands out with this thing but I'm sure people will buy it, people bought Pontiac azteks for some reason

[truckster]

When the top was no longer removable it stopped being a Blazer, in my opinion. This is the image GM used to introduce the new Blazer. It tells me everything I need to know about it.

[special-K]

Correction:

"The Blazer NAME is back"

[Ironhorse]

I owned two actual real life Blazers. One was a '72, 350 with 4 spd, the other was a 77, 350 with auto trans. Liked them both but that new "Blazer" (in name only) does NOTHING for me. As others have said, looks like an Equinox or similar, a grocery getter soccer Mom vehicle. NOT for me, course I won't pay what they want for it anyway. Read on a Chevelle website about the return of the Blazer that GM was aiming for "the average husband and wife making $135,000 a year" Maybe in New York, LA, Chicago, Frisco but NOT in Mr. & Mrs. "Joe Worker's " situation in today's low wage world.

Kinda glad that GM has not brought back the "Chevelle" name plate. Hate to even think what sort of concoction they would come up with for a return of another beloved vehicle platform.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I owned two actual real life Blazers. One was a '72, 350 with 4 spd, the other was a 77, 350 with auto trans. Liked them both but that new "Blazer" (in name only) does NOTHING for me. As others have said, looks like an Equinox or similar, a grocery getter soccer Mom vehicle. NOT for me, course I won't pay what they want for it anyway. Read on a Chevelle website about the return of the Blazer that GM was aiming for "the average husband and wife making $135,000 a year" Maybe in New York, LA, Chicago, Frisco but NOT in Mr. & Mrs. "Joe Worker's " situation in today's low wage world.

Kinda glad that GM has not brought back the "Chevelle" name plate. Hate to even think what sort of concoction they would come up with for a return of another beloved vehicle platform.

They did. It's called a "Malibu", and yes, it's just another shameless plug on a name, just like the "Impala".

[special-K]

My how far we have strayed since...

[Bigdav160]

Gm should have fired everyone in the marketing department who chooses names decades ago.

[KShortell]

Um, no, Chevrolet. THAT is not a "Blazer". Not a bad crossover SUV, but definitely NOT a "Blazer".

[Coley]

That vehicle does not strike me as a 'blazer'.

The funny thing is that every major manufacturer in the world is getting the same mathematical results from their engineering and wind tunnel data....which is leading them all to the exact same shape(s) and size of vehicles.
So with everyone arriving at the same theoretical point with respect to efficiency, and 'the perfect shape'.....where do you include the individuality of the vehicles?

Well, usually in some changes to the grill, the badges and maybe some interior changes.....thats about it, and you are looking at it right there.

That said, vehicles have never been safer, generally faster and built to higher quality than they are today....so there is your consolation prize....lol.

All good
Coley

[67ChevyRedneck]

I actually really like it. Its an "aggressive" design from GM... that doesn't suck. The new Silverado is a horrendous mess.

That said, it needs a new name as it doesn't fit the historical context of "Blazer."

[Coley]

Google this guys:
new sport utility vehicles cross over

...now remove the badges from the front and back.


85-90% of the world could never tell the difference between these vehicles if you set them all in a parking lot and the people had to guess who built it.

So, if you are paying big bucks to make a statement with a new vehicle....get ready for quietly disappearing into traffic, lol.

That said, ....most of these are probably extremely good pieces of transportation for general utility purposes (ie: reliable, comfortable, safe, powerful, etc)....but individual?....nope.

But.....just my two bits.

Coley

[mongocanfly]

Coley ,,,to echo what you said about wind tunnel cars ,,that's the same thing that happened to NASCAR, nhra and other race cars....grill decals is the only way to tell what it is...hard to do at 200mph...

[Boog]

That’s so true. We’ve heard mention of “world car” for years. Is that what we see happening? They are all starting to look alike.

[special-K]

Wind tunnel makes them the same? I thought it was a cookie cutter

Chevy tarnished the Blazer name in '82 when they used the same name on the new S10 SUV. How creative, two vehicles from different size classes with the exact same name. For years this annoyed me every time I went for parts for my '90 (real) Blazer. Since the little guys were the popular new trend along with more economical vehicles in general, it would go like this...

Me: I need a set of plugs for a '90 Blazer.

Parts dude: Full-size?

Me: No, just Blazer. The other is an S10 Blazer.

[DeadheadNM]

Ha! That's ridiculous. Would have been better to kill off the Tahoe model name and rebadge as a Blazer or offer an upgraded Blazer package Tahoe akin to a Ford Raptor. Missed opportunity here.

I won't trade my old Blazer for the new Blazer that's for sure.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

I won't trade my old Blazer for the new Blazer that's for sure.

Wow, nice blazer....very nice.

The great upside about the classic blazers is that they are going up in value....probably $5 a day (maybe more), vs. depreciating in value at the rate of $10+/day like the new ones.
Helps offset the gas comparisons.....lol, seriously it does to some degree.

again, very nice blazer!

All good
Coley

[67ChevyRedneck]

I completely forgot... but when they talked about the Blazer coming back a few years ago it was supposed to be based on the Colorado and would be called the TrailBlazer again. I wonder if that's still happening??

[chevyguy_72]

I classify this into the S-Blazer category...
I think I'll just stick to K5 for mine

[D.PASSMORE]

Good reads:
http://www.thedrive.com/vintage/2787...-buy-right-now

https://drivezing.com/toughest-trucks-ever-built/

One interesting note about new Blazer - 4500 lb towing capacity? Up at the top for a Cross - SUV.