Trailblazer SS or Cherokee SRT-8?

[Mastercraft241]

I've had my 2004 GMC Envoy for almost five years now, putting 103,000 miles total. Im starting to look into new trucks. I've looked at the Escalade, Yukon Denali XL, Taho, Envoy SS, Trailblazer SS, and Cerokee SRT-8. The Escalade looks like junk, that truck is going downhill (plus, im white). The Denali is WAY overpriced at $54,000 and it's unbeleivable how bad GMC is cheaping out on the little things. The Taho looks okay. The trailblazer ss looks amazing for the fit and finish, but it the shifts are ridiculously hard. On the flip side, it has a 7,000lbs towing capacity. The Cherokee SRT-8 looks amazing. That 6.1hemi with the dual exaust and dropped front with 20" wheels is overthetop. Downside, only 3,500 towing capacity:(. Does anyone have experience with any of these trucks? I'm particularly interested in the Cherokee SRT-8 and Trailblazer SS....

Thanks,
Jayy

[Action Dave]

I love the Cherokee SR8 but the exhaust configuration might make a tow hitch a pain. I believe 1BadAction has a Trailblazer SS. You might wanna ask his opinion.

[ghost28]

Trailb;azer SS all the way Jay.....i have had 3 trailblazers and my most recent one is up soon and i think thats what i am getting...my kid brothers friend had one and i used it for a day and all i can say is WOW....its fast, its goodlooking, it rides good, its all wheel drive so its good in the crappy weather, the interior fit and finish is great, sounds great right out of the factory, Hard GM paint so it dont scratch easy, great sound system and NAV from the factory, i dunno i could keep going....in my opinion GM has screwed themselves over the past few years as have most other american auto makers with ugly, poor quality, crappy fuel economy vehicles that couldnt hold a candle to the Jap cars...but when it came to the Trailblazer line be it basic model up to the SS GM hit it outta the park....

the only complaint i have about the SS is that it is a little Grabby on the highway...meaning it grabs every little line in the road and wants too switch lanes so you have to DRIVRE it...although i dont know of any large wheel equipped vehicle that doesnt do that to some extent.....

[bigtis]

:iagree: Trailblazer SS:thumbsup::cheers:

[Pro300x24LD]

not all trailblazer SS's are awd, I think you can get a 2wd.

I compared the two a couple years back, but opted out of the cherokee because at the time you couldn't even get a hitch for it. My buddy had an SS and it was real nice. I ended up going with an H3 (big mistake that thing sucked for towing, no power, otherwise I liked it). After that I got a half ton truck and haven't looked back. If you tow more then a few miles and have a 20+ boat I'd get a truck.

[ghost28]

dealers around here wont even stock the 2wd model....

[1BadAction]

seems like the majority of the TBSS's are 2wd... obviously the farther north you go the more popular the AWDs are. Towing 5k lbs is no problem, but getting into much more than that and the short wheelbase of the TB starts to become an issue.

I sent Jay a PM when he first posted this thread...

PS
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s217/JuniorGTO/ARHheaders.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s217/JuniorGTO/ARHheaders2-1.jpg

:reddevil:

[Jay Smith]

My wife drives a 2003 EXT trailblazer 4X4 totally loaded , black with char. leather, Bose high end radio with 20's its got 96,000 miles on it and its been a great automobile...I'd buy another...

just my opinion,
Jay

[RNM018]

Well , if I recall correctly . The STR 8 , has the dual exhaust coming out the center . So , if your planning on using it for towing,it's a No Brainer . TrailBlazer SS all the way . If not towing, well then it may be a little more difficult then that , but I'm still a Chevy Fan .

Rich Martin 018:cheers:

[dirtybird]

Hey
Don't forget to take a look at Ford before your thru. I don't know but I still like the big F if you aske me.
Expedition and the deals they are givin on them now> Wow:eek:

[robert jordan]

I vote for the trail blazer. But the srt 8 is also a bad ride. The jeep is only available as all wheel drive, and the chevy all wheel drive is a option. You can put a hitch on the jeep even though it has center tail pipes. To me it really boils down to weather you are a chevy fan or a mopar fan. Both rides are bad to the bone.

[GPRACING]

the jeep will run circles around the SS.Just saying,Im not a jeep fan either.

[Mastercraft241]

Ummmmmm, the srt8 can tow up to 3500lbs, my boat and trailer is 4600 but I don't think that's a problem with the distances i tow. The fit and finish of the trailblazer looks a lot nicer than the srt8 and mods are also a lot easier for the Trailblazer. On the other hand, the SRT8 has nicer lines and outperforms the trailblazer bone stock, which is less stressful. Has anyone driven the two?? I've driven the srt8 and that things like a rocketship

[Ziemer]

The SS is a good looking truck, and so is the SRT. Probably side with the Chevy though. :thumbsup:

Either way, I wouldn't go new. Just browsing around Autotrader today, I found a burgandy SS 2008, with 3300 miles for $23,000! (It's here in FL) :cheers:

[FlowMaxx]

TBSS

comes with towing package standard. SRT8 has exhaust pipes where the hitch would be.

PLENTY of power

[mragu]

When I looked at the SRT8 you could not get a tow package because of the exhaust. Thats what the salesman told me. If you can, the salesman lost a sale based on that. Then the chevy dealer wanted like $750 on an ss trailblazer. So I bought a Lincoln Aviator, nice truck and Marine Man likes the ride in it when I have to drive him around. :D

[stream18]

I have the Yukon Denali in a AWD. The truck in my opinion is great. I got it with the employee priceing, only paid 45000. With 400hp the truck has no problem pulling my 24 superboat. You see these trucks at one year old goin for some good prices, I think you get alot more truck than a trailblazer or a Jeep. JMO

[camtra]

Trailblazer all the way!!! GM products have been good to me!:thumbsup:

[lowlifeAE21]

SRT8 nicer fit and finish!

[bigtis]

if anyone's looking for a super nice 08 GMC yukon denali with the 400+hp 6.2 v-8 and 6 speed, My mom has a super nice very well maintained white one with the 20's and around 30K. has a 100K transferrable powertrain warranty. 30K never smoked in, and the back seats haven't been used but maybe once for a 30 minute trip.

[RobF]

i just came from the chevy dealer a hour ago as my wife's car is coming off lease, trailblazer SS- no leases on them, or any other chevy trucks, and this will be the last year for them. So if you want one get em while you can.

[Tango]

Two thumbs up on the Lincoln Aviator! I had one and towed many boats and even a car with it. Now I have a BMW X5 and it has a tow rating of 6000 pounds, AWD, comes with a 2" receiver hitch and its faster in acceleration than both the SS & SRT! Another plus is the brakes... BMWs have very impressive braking systems! The beautiful part too... it gets 19 mpg around town and 23 on the highway! Neither the SS or the SRT8 will ever get fuel economy like that.

I bought my X5 used and got a great deal on a perfect vehicle. Most people with BMWs take them to the dealers for service, they are very clean low mileage trades and you might find a great deal like I did on mine. I paid $13K for the one pictured below.

http://pixxbytango.smugmug.com/photos/442389199_MbbpX-XL.jpg

[RobF]

I dont think you can compare a run of the mill trailblazer, explorer, or other SUV to the SS and the SRT8, if someone wants a SS or a SRT8 I dont know if they will end up driving away in a explorer or a aviator- not they are not good vehicles, just not really compatible IMHO.

[Mastercraft241]

Two thumbs up on the Lincoln Aviator! I had one and towed many boats and even a car with it. Now I have a BMW X5 and it has a tow rating of 6000 pounds, AWD, comes with a 2" receiver hitch and its faster in acceleration than both the SS & SRT! Another plus is the brakes... BMWs have very impressive braking systems! The beautiful part too... it gets 19 mpg around town and 23 on the highway! Neither the SS or the SRT8 will ever get fuel economy like that.

I bought my X5 used and got a great deal on a perfect vehicle. Most people with BMWs take them to the dealers for service, they are very clean low mileage trades and you might find a great deal like I did on mine. I paid $13K for the one pictured below.

http://pixxbytango.smugmug.com/photos/442389199_MbbpX-XL.jpg
$13,000 ???? Where'd you get that deal and how many miles????

[RobF]

btw the one SS on the lot stickered for $42k, had $3k in rebates, not sure how much wiggle room is on that considering there was only 1 on the lot.

[514MERC]

buy a Porsche Cayenne.... 8000lbs towing capacity, and a pure pleasure to drive... just ask lowlife

[1BadAction]

its faster in acceleration than both the SS & SRT!

:icon_bs:

not even close. :rolleyes:

[robert jordan]

btw the one SS on the lot stickered for $42k, had $3k in rebates, not sure how much wiggle room is on that considering there was only 1 on the lot.
Here in Panama city ,FL the chevy dealer has a brand new 08 model SS for 30,000 dollars on red tag sale. Fully loaded top of the line model in two wheel drive.

[lowlifeAE21]

Two thumbs up on the Lincoln Aviator! I had one and towed many boats and even a car with it. Now I have a BMW X5 and it has a tow rating of 6000 pounds, AWD, comes with a 2" receiver hitch and its faster in acceleration than both the SS & SRT! Another plus is the brakes... BMWs have very impressive braking systems! The beautiful part too... it gets 19 mpg around town and 23 on the highway! Neither the SS or the SRT8 will ever get fuel economy like that.

I bought my X5 used and got a great deal on a perfect vehicle. Most people with BMWs take them to the dealers for service, they are very clean low mileage trades and you might find a great deal like I did on mine. I paid $13K for the one pictured below.

http://pixxbytango.smugmug.com/photos/442389199_MbbpX-XL.jpg

Nice truck and you got a good deal but that is a 1st gen x5 3.0 and even if it were a 4.4 there is no way either are faster then a SS or SRT8 and the brakes on the SRT8 are the best thing about the truck brembo's! when it come to every day sport SUV's im a euro guy all day long but at the end of the day there is no way you can beat bang for buck with American's!

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/hulv1f.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[RobF]

Here in Panama city ,FL the chevy dealer has a brand new 08 model SS for 30,000 dollars on red tag sale. Fully loaded top of the line model in two wheel drive.


there are no 08's here, the one I had seen was a 09, nav and all that crap, AWD too.


the dealer was not ramming it down my throat either, he seemed like he could care less if it sold or not, but I did not push him as I was just stopping in on my way somewhere else, maybe you could buy it for $35000 or even less, who knows?
The original poster might have been heading to the same dealer I went to, figured I would give him some info.

[Ziemer]

Here. Quit messin about and come steal this one. :eek: :p :D

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=257425110&dealer_id=63735317&car_year=2008&rdm=1234983621813&model=TRAILBLZ&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__c3M,__&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=115115&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=616112&showZipError=n&make=CHEV&keywords_display=ss&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=34771&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=166&standard=false

[1BadAction]

Here. Quit messin about and come steal this one. :eek: :p :D

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=257425110&dealer_id=63735317&car_year=2008&rdm=1234983621813&model=TRAILBLZ&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=__c3M,__&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=115115&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=616112&showZipError=n&make=CHEV&keywords_display=ss&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=34771&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=166&standard=false

good price, not as good as what some of these guys were selling them for when premium was $4.20 a gallon tho. :eek:

[Tango]

I dont think you can compare a run of the mill trailblazer, explorer, or other SUV to the SS and the SRT8, if someone wants a SS or a SRT8 I dont know if they will end up driving away in a explorer or a aviator- not they are not good vehicles, just not really compatible IMHO.

The aviator has the 305hp Aluminum Cobra 4v engine and if you buy the mountaineer with the towing package it comes with the 285 hp version of the Police Interceptor aluminum V8 2v. I have owned both and coupled with the 5 speed automatic are quite adept at towing anything you can pull with them.

As for the compairson with the X5, there really is none. Mine is yes... a 3.0L because I bought it for my daughter and the 3.0L is plenty enough for a 17 year old. However, with a 3.0L engine it still musters 260 AWHP and with the airfilter and muffler delete we managed 271 to all four wheels on our dyno.

If you need more power then just buy the Vortech supercharger for the Aviator and add a custom Bassani exhaust like I did. It had over 400 hp and would run a low 13 sec 1/4 mile!

[lowlifeAE21]

The aviator has the 305hp Aluminum Cobra 4v engine and if you buy the mountaineer with the towing package it comes with the 285 hp version of the Police Interceptor aluminum V8 2v. I have owned both and coupled with the 5 speed automatic are quite adept at towing anything you can pull with them.

As for the compairson with the X5, there really is none. Mine is yes... a 3.0L because I bought it for my daughter and the 3.0L is plenty enough for a 17 year old. However, with a 3.0L engine it still musters 260 AWHP and with the airfilter and muffler delete we managed 271 to all four wheels on our dyno.

If you need more power then just buy the Vortech supercharger for the Aviator and add a custom Bassani exhaust like I did. It had over 400 hp and would run a low 13 sec 1/4 mile!

Not to be a ball buster but the 3.0 X5 only has 225hp! none the less a really nice car for a 17 year old:thumbsup:

[Tango]

Not to be a ball buster but the 3.0 X5 only has 225hp! none the less a really nice car for a 17 year old:thumbsup:

Its ok... I do not mind correcting you. LOL!!

Straight from the BMW Website.

3.0-liter, 260-horsepower, 24-valve inline 6-cylinder dual overhead cam (DOHC) engine with composite magnesium/aluminum engine block, Valvetronic, and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with Adaptive Transmission Control and steptronic gear selection, including Sport mode

Besides... my hp numbers I quoted were straight from our AWD Dyno in our shop in Alpharetta, Georgia. http://www.topspeedsales.com My brother Doug is the #1 Tuner in the US for Mitsubishi Evo & Subaru STi performance cars. Tuning BMW, Porsche and Mercedes cars is something he has the capability of doing but doesn't advertise much of.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GX-eXLpFM9I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GX-eXLpFM9I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[lowlifeAE21]

Its ok... I do not mind correcting you. LOL!!

Straight from the BMW Website.


Besides... my hp numbers I quoted were straight from our AWD Dyno in our shop in Alpharetta, Georgia. http://www.topspeedsales.com My brother Doug is the #1 Tuner in the US for Mitsubishi Evo & Subaru STi performance cars. Tuning BMW, Porsche and Mercedes cars is something he has the capability of doing but doesn't advertise much of.

<object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GX-eXLpFM9I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

Im not questioning your dyno numbers but your X5 base numbers are wrong as you are using numbers from the 07 present X5 3.0 which is a different motor and suv then the X5 3.0 which is in your daughter's 00-03. Also back then the 4.4 only had 282hp so it would not make much sence for the 3.0 to have 260. Now for 07 present the 3.0 has 260hp and the 4.8 has 350hp!:D

[lowlifeAE21]

oh and cool vid!:cheers:

[Tango]

Im not questioning your dyno numbers but your X5 base numbers are wrong as you are using numbers from the 07 present X5 3.0 which is a different motor and suv then the X5 3.0 which is in your daughter's 00-03. Also back then the 4.4 only had 282hp so it would not make much sence for the 3.0 to have 260. Now for 07 present the 3.0 has 260hp and the 4.8 has 350hp!:D

I was not suggesting the purchase of a 2001 3.0L either. We were comparing new models I thought. Thus if someone were to choose the new 3.0L it would indeed have 260hp which I feel is very underated since mine is making that plus to all four wheels.