XJ vs Trailblazer

[Tex06]

Like the title says, I'm looking at 2 different SUVs for a temporary dog-hauler. MJ is gonna have to go down for some service (axles and dash at the very least) which is going to leave me without a way to haul my pup for at least a month or two as I only have weekends to work on it. 

Looking at a late model XJ (98-01) or a late model trailblazer (06-09). Probably 2wd for each just so I don't get any ideas about keeping either one. Familiar with the XJ platform obviously, the trailblazer would be to test out the 4.2L Vortec and see if it would be a viable motor to swap into the MJ at a later date. 

Thoughts?

[JMO413]

XJ for sure the trail blazers was never a very good vehicle. They did make me a ton of money selling parts though. 

[gogmorgo]

Yeah, my parents finally got out of their Envoy (same thing just with a different badge) a few weeks ago, after eight years of sketch. It’s been four years since they trusted it on a road trip. Any time I had to drive it I ended up replacing something to get home. They’d replaced both the trans and transfer case by 150k miles, despite being maintained at the dealer. I also was never able to find a comfortable seating position as driver or passenger, and MPG was not great compared to my ZJ. 
The 4.2 isn’t necessarily the worst engine, but the trans ratios it’s paired with are all wrong. It also wants you to run 89 octane if you’re climbing hills, and will start pinging on 87, or at least theirs did. There’s also pretty questionable quality on the interior, as in stuff breaks, not just that it feels cheap, then you go to the wrecking yard to replace said stuff and find twenty others that all have the same stuff broken.

I’d pass. 

[Car Enthusiast]

4.3 trailblazers are much better. 

[Tex06]

19 hours ago, Car Enthusiast said:

4.3 trailblazers are much better. 

The trailblazer never came with the 4.3 V6. 

 

19 hours ago, gogmorgo said:

Yeah, my parents finally got out of their Envoy (same thing just with a different badge) a few weeks ago, after eight years of sketch. It’s been four years since they trusted it on a road trip. Any time I had to drive it I ended up replacing something to get home. They’d replaced both the trans and transfer case by 150k miles, despite being maintained at the dealer. I also was never able to find a comfortable seating position as driver or passenger, and MPG was not great compared to my ZJ. 
The 4.2 isn’t necessarily the worst engine, but the trans ratios it’s paired with are all wrong. It also wants you to run 89 octane if you’re climbing hills, and will start pinging on 87, or at least theirs did. There’s also pretty questionable quality on the interior, as in stuff breaks, not just that it feels cheap, then you go to the wrecking yard to replace said stuff and find twenty others that all have the same stuff broken.

I’d pass. 

Yeah, I wouldn't expect the GM interior to be very good.....but then again I drive a Jeep and it's not very good either 

 

22 hours ago, JMO413 said:

XJ for sure the trail blazers was never a very good vehicle. They did make me a ton of money selling parts though. 

I feel like the same is said about XJs quite a bit. Anything in particular I should look out for? Reading online reviews there's electrical gremlins and some tranny issues with the 4L60E.....again, I drive a Jeep, electrical issues and tranny problems are familiar faces.

[JMO413]

Instrument cluster, radio, electric cooling fan clutch, cracked head, 4wd actuator for the front axle that mounts to the oil pan, & now the rear section of the frame the suspension mounts are rusting off.

 

I sold parts at a dual line dealer while both where in production the Trailblazer problem were at minimum 5 times more than an XJ.

[Torq_Shep]

Well I literally bought an 02 Tahoe last night... However, my needs were slightly different as I needed a tow capable rig and an XJ was just too sketch to tow anything large-ish even though it is rated for most of what I would want to do. Plus I wanted 4wd as I may move north and I don't know how to drive in snow =P

[derf]

4 minutes ago, Torq_Shep said:

Well I literally bought an 02 Tahoe last night... However, my needs were slightly different as I needed a tow capable rig and an XJ was just too sketch to tow anything large-ish even though it is rated for most of what I would want to do. Plus I wanted 4wd as I may move north and I don't know how to drive in snow =P

Hit me up next winter.  We'll turn you into a snow driving pro in no time.

[Smokeyyank]

I'd vote 98-99 XJ for a few reasons. Overall they are easy to work on, parts are cheap, they are pretty simple from a technology standpoint, and familiarity with the drivetrain is nice. Both are going to be used cars and have their unique set of issues. I think the XJ would provider a better resale point when you get there. 

[Pete M]

33 minutes ago, Torq_Shep said:

Plus I wanted 4wd as I may move north and I don't know how to drive in snow =P

 

 

snow. tires.  also don't drive like a fool.   

[Torq_Shep]

2 minutes ago, Pete M said:

 

 

snow. tires.  also don't drive like a fool.   

I mean I did fine in the rental Murano through the rockies in the snow and fine in the minivan in the snow and ice in Texas this year but those are literally my only 2 experiences driving in snow =P

[Torq_Shep]

32 minutes ago, derf said:

Hit me up next winter.  We'll turn you into a snow driving pro in no time.

If these employers would hit me up for their third round interviews =P

Need to send out emails tomorrow asking for updates...

[89 MJ]

Trailblazers did come with a 4.3 when they were a trim level on the S10 Blazer. Or maybe they were their own model, but for a year or so, they were based on the S10 chassis. 

[Tex06]

16 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Trailblazers did come with a 4.3 when they were a trim level on the S10 Blazer. Or maybe they were their own model, but for a year or so, they were based on the S10 chassis. 

The S10 Blazer had a trailblazer package I think (haven't seen one in person but have read about them online)....but that's like the Silverado package on a C/K10 or the Ranger package on the old F100.  Not the vehicle I'm talking about. The 4.3L was as common as bellybuttons in those things. 

 

20 hours ago, JMO413 said:

Instrument cluster, radio, electric cooling fan clutch, cracked head, 4wd actuator for the front axle that mounts to the oil pan, & now the rear section of the frame the suspension mounts are rusting off.

 

I sold parts at a dual line dealer while both where in production the Trailblazer problem were at minimum 5 times more than an XJ.

Both were only in production together for 1 year (2001). From what I've read the cracked head was an early design flaw that was fixed in later years (one of the reasons I'm lookin at 06-09 mainly). I'll be looking for 2wd vehicles only (cheaper and I don't need another 4x4, I've already got 2). Rust is common on XJ/MJs as well (doesn't someone's tag here say "Pull your carpet and check your floorpans before it's too late!"?) so any vehicle I look at I'll be crawling under and over to look for potential corrosion problems. Good info on the instrument cluster and fan clutch. 

 

The trailblazer also sold a lot more per year than the XJ around the same time. So even if they had the same number of issues, you'd see a lot more of them come in.

 

Production Numbers
Number of XJ's built in given year (all countries):
1997 - 258,958
1998 - 182,845
1999 - 186,116
2000 - 165,590
2001 - 120,454

Trailblazer

 

Calendar Year	Total American sales
2001[11]	115,103
2002	249,568
2003	261,334
2004[12]	283,484
2005	244,150
2006[13]	178,493
2007	151,985
2008[14]	119,905
2009	22,287

 

23 hours ago, Smokeyyank said:

I'd vote 98-99 XJ for a few reasons. Overall they are easy to work on, parts are cheap, they are pretty simple from a technology standpoint, and familiarity with the drivetrain is nice. Both are going to be used cars and have their unique set of issues. I think the XJ would provider a better resale point when you get there. 

Why specifically the 98-99? I see quite a few '01 XJs around so I've been looking at those mostly. Agree on the resale point but I'm only planning on having this thing for a year or so. Still leaning towards the XJ....mostly due to familiarity with the platform. 

[Smokeyyank]

1 hour ago, Tex06 said:

Why specifically the 98-99? I see quite a few '01 XJs around so I've been looking at those mostly.

 

The head issue with the 00-01. 97 was the crossover year and is a electrical mess. If it was 4wd then obviously you only get the HP30 up to 99 but I know you aren't looking for a 4wd. 

[Tex06]

1 hour ago, Smokeyyank said:

 

The head issue with the 00-01. 97 was the crossover year and is a electrical mess. If it was 4wd then obviously you only get the HP30 up to 99 but I know you aren't looking for a 4wd. 

I thought 96 was the OBD I/II crossover year? That's probably the 2nd most common year I see after '01 (locally).
And yeah, I knew about the head issue. 

[Sir Sam]

0331 head issue is way overblown. Even then I can get a 0331 tupy head for $70 at the junkyard here if there’s a problem. 
 

I also prefer the 99-01 since I dislike the two tone interior and oddball electrical stuff in the 97s and somewhat 98s.

 

96s are a slightly oddball year with the obdii. But besides a different ECU and an OBDII port under the dash they are the same as the older xjs. 

 

2000 is my favorite model year overall. 

[FrankTheDog]

I’ve had 95,96,98 and 99 XJ’s as daily drivers for more than 3 years each and your normal high mileage wear issues were the only trouble I had with any of them.  Things like alternators, starters, water pumps and brakes.

Never had transmission issues with manuals or automatic’s. They were also run to 300-400 K.