QuestionQUESTION: I am disabled and so have limited amount to spend on reliable vehicle. I found a 2001 Chevy Blazer 2dr RWD with barely over 124k miles for only $2000. They owner bought it a couple yrs bak at good price, had to change gas tank, intake gaskets, replace the radiator/or a part affiliated with radiator and then just basic maintenance. He fixed the radiatory issue (which was last issue) and drove it for a couple weeks to be sure it was fixed, and in that time hit a deer going to work. The deer took off a chunk of trim under pass. headlight then creased the pass door missing fender altogether. Owner is supervisor over major local dealers repair/collision dept so fixed the door cheapest way since he had done planned on selling it. It is manual 5 speed transmission and when I test drove it done great, hadnt been started in week or so yet fired right up first try. I dont have money to spend on a money pit so I was wondering if this would be a decent purchase for the price, yr as well as mileage? Also, is there a history of serious issues beginning at this mileage for this vehicle that I should be aware of ahead of time? Thanks sooo very much for ur time, it is greatly appreciated.
Melissa
me
ANSWER: Good Morning Melissa,
As a backdrop to my thinking on this let me tell you that I was an equity partner in a Chevrolet franchise for many years and I trust and respect most of the products GM makes. Unfortunately, the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer isn't one I can recommend to you for a variety of reasons.
1. For starters not only is the vehicle an 01 Blazer ...it is wrong Chevrolet Blazer in every conceivable way.
----It's a 4x2,
----it's a stick,
----it's a 2 door
----it runs on a very gas thirsty large 6 cyl engine
2. While the price may sound low ...it's not anywhere near low enough for what you are getting. The Wholesale Book value is $2,200.00 however the MMR (Manheim Market Report) guide tells me that I could have purchased this SUV with 4 drs, with an automatic transmission and with almost the same exact miles for 1525-1750 last week at anyone of a number of auctions. There was no current MMR numbers on the configuration you described ...not because there was anything wrong with your description... but because the only reason a dealer would order a vehicle equipped like this one would be so he could use it as a low cost ...low priced ...loss leader in his print advertisement hoping to draw people in with the low low price then once they are at the dealership tightly gripping the newspaper and see the unit in the ad...their smiles turn to looks of disappointment when they see it's not what they were thinking or hoping for.
3. A 2dr, 2 wheel drive Blazer does not need a 4.3l engine to push it down the road. To put it into some sort of perspective for you remember that the Ford Mustang GT (one of the faster models of Mustangs) runs on a 4.6l engine (V-8)
I can think of about 20 other vehicles you should consider that would make more sense than the 01 Blazer. That list contains the Ford Explorer (if you need an SUV) which during the time frames in your target price range built a better vehicle than the Blazer) Let me know if you would like me to shoot you some additional specific ideas. If you do want to get additional input please tell me what state (and city) you live in and what you plan on using your car for.
My private e-mail is roadloans@Gmail.com if you have any follow-up questions feel free to ask them and going direct to this e-mail will get a much faster response as it gets sent directly to my phone and I check it constantly throughout the day. Good luck.
All of the experts who respond to questions on this website do it on a strictly volunteer basis and don't receive any compensation of any kind... in short we do it to help other people who need more information from somebody on a specialized topic. My only goal is to answer your question to the best of my ability until all of your questions have been answered and understood. Allexperts will ask you to give me a rating based upon our experience together and if there's any reason you cannot give me a perfect 10 score than please get back to me so that I can clarify any ambiguities or parts of my answer that you don't understand or that require further explanation and to continue to do that until you can give me those 10's. I'm committed to answering all follow-up questions you might have until such time as you are completely satisfied with your experience with Allexperts and with me here today
I hope this helps
Roger
The Car Guy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I was really lookin at this one, considering I have no way of getting to an auction since there is none very close, because my husband has been wanting a Blazer for several years. I figure if I get it now, then when I get my long awaited back pay for disability I could get me something else...so I kinda have an alterior motive as well LOL. I was just wanting to know if this was a decent reliable vehicle not only for me, but also in the case I pass it to my husband. And I am getting it from an individual if that makes a difference as far as price goes. But for what I have right now to spend its the only one I like that I would consider buying and it not be a "money pit." I guess in general, disability aside, is it a decent, reliable vehicle or do things always seem to be going wrong with them? And thanks so much for ur time dear, I cant afford to pay someone I cant see just for an opinion so u guys r great.
AnswerHi Melissa,
I mentioned the auction value just so you would have one more reference point to judge whether or not it was a good price or not from. If he has been wanting a blazer then do him a favor and get him a 4 dr ...even a 4 dr 4x2 . Is it a decent reliable vehicle? Hmmm these vehicles would generally breakdown (where things start to break or stop working etc. ...) on the inside of the vehicle and not under the hood... here were some of the known issues from that year:
The 2001 blazer had serious heater problems, it had fuel delivery problems at the injectors (crab, it seems like every one of these I have ever driven all have had random misfire problems and threw misfire codes... especially under a load. They also had fuel and waterpump problems more often than they should …
Every vehicles propensity to be a good reliable rig or not depends in a large part how the first owner maintained it and drove it...every car has the potential to be the best car you have ever owned...or the worst. There is no crystal ball as much as I would love to have one because lord knows I have had my fair share of lumps and boat anchors. If you don't mind the 2 wheel drive and 2 doors and manual tranny and the car looks good and clean to you and drives well ...then buy it. I would definitely call the guy who is selling it and tell him you spoke to me or someone and they told you to not pay more than 1500 bucks for it... then after you tell him that ...DONOT TALK UNTIL AFTER HE TALKS even if it takes an hour. and see what he says ...if he says "Oh my no I couldn't let it go that cheap"....you say " How close to 1500 can you get me Mr. seller ...then tell him you have cash in our pocket and it's okay if he can't get to your number...because you had looked at one sort of like it ...a 4-door on craigslist...who said he could sell his for 1600 ...lalalala If he advertised it for 2000 then he has money in that price to fade ...all you have to do is ask him for a better price. ... Let me know what you ultimately decide to do and if you think of it please take a picture of yourself and your new car and e-mail it to me for my 'wall of fame' and of course please ask any and all follow up questions you might have! I am at your service Roger
