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2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer LS
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One owner, local trade with DVD player. New water pump, fresh service and detailed nicely. Non-smoker, all wheel drive in great condition. This vehicle has been through our service dept and is in great shape. Call 704-484-9900 or visit our website www.jandesales.com for more details
We have been supplying fine, European automobiles to descriminating customers for over 25 years. Every car is hand picked and then serviced by our team of technicians.
See this car and other similar vehicles at www.jandesales.com
Call Bob Still at 704-473-9900 |
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Price:
$7,995.00
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- Year: 2003
- Make: Chevrolet
- Model: TrailBlazer
- Trim: LS
- Body style: SUV
- Mileage:
100775
- Engine: 6 Cyl.
- Trans: Automatic
- Exterior Color:
- Interior Color:
- Stock: 32401487
- VIN: 1GNDS13SX32401487
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TrailBlazer's styling is fresh, yet consistent with the direction of the design of Chevy trucks. The front end looks like a scaled-down Suburban or Silverado. The bar across the grille is chrome on the LS and LT, body-colored on the LTZ. The bumper under the grille has a large opening with two vertical slats, and the optional foglights are mounted down low. At the rear, there's a convenient and practical step in the center of the rear bumper, sort of a big functional notch. But the twin round taillights stacked over the backup light at each corner are kind of lumpy and googly eyed. Overall, TrailBlazer looks sturdy and neat, with confident lines that express utility. The pillars and window lines are graceful, while the headlamps and turn signals (split by the grille crossbar) are stylish. Big fender flares visually express the vehicle's boldness, and may be either body color or silver. Still, the most dramatic feature of the TrailBlazer may be what's under its hood: not a V6, but an all-aluminum, double-overhead-cam, 24-valve engine with variable valve timing and six cylinders lined up straight in a row. Inline sixes were once the industry norm. An old reliable straight six served as the base-level power plant in Chevrolet trucks (and passenger cars) from 1929 right into the mid-1980s. Jeep still runs a straight six in the Cherokee. BMW and Lexus build some of the most sophisticated sixes in the world, and both companies prefer an inline configuration. An inline six is inherently smoother than most V6s, and simpler as well; whereas a V6 takes up less space, and a 90 degree V6 can be manufactured using V8 tooling, two reasons for the soaring popularity of V6 engines in the 1980s and 90s. Now, however, thanks to advancements in electronics, metallurgy and manufacturing, the straight six is poised for a comeback. The TrailBlazer's Vortec 4200 is no ordinary straight six. From 4.2 liters, it produces a stunning 275 horsepower, 35 more than Ford Explorer's optional 4.6-liter overhead-cam V8. And it has a very broad torque curve, peaking at 275 pounds-feet, only 7 pounds-feet less than the Ford V8, and 400 rpm sooner. The Vortec also features electronic throttle control, an electrical system using silicon circuit boards (replacing some 1100 feet of copper wire), coil-on-plug ignition (thus no plug wires), and a seven-quart oil pan with a clever tunnel for the front drive axle, which allows the longish block to be mounted six inches lower, contributing to better balance and a lower center of gravity. Because the engine is so quiet and smooth at idle, a feature called ''intellistart'' was added which prevents the starter from grinding if the key is turned when the engine is already running. With a mixture of amusement and pride, GM engineers report that this happened to them all the time during development. Attention to detail in other places is evident, from a battery box that draws in cooling air, to remarkably sanitary wiring under the hood, to rear-seat headrests that conveniently flip down for better rearward driver visibility. The TrailBlazer's Autotrac system, standard on 4WD models, features four settings: 2WD, Auto4WD, 4HI and 4LO. In Auto, which shifts power to all four wheels as conditions require, the TrailBlazer can be towed without having to disconnect the driveshaft, a very convenient feature. Switching in and out of 4WD can be done on the fly with a flip of the switch, although the transmission must be in neutral to engage or disengage 4LO. The chassis and suspension are also highly developed, featuring a list of sports car stuff: rack-and-pinion steering, beefy four-wheel vented discs with twin-piston calipers in front, independent front suspension with short/long control arms, solid rear axle using five-link location with Bilstein gas-charged shock absorbers and coil springs, thick antiroll bars front and rear. It was the first truck for the TrailBlazer's chief designer, Ted Robertson, who.
Chevy TrailBlazer is among the best of the mid-size SUVs. Smooth, stable, and powerful, it works well around town, on the open highway, and in the back country. Almost none of that applies to the long-wheelbase TrailBlazer EXT, however. TrailBlazer sports a nice design and a well-executed interior, though GM's seats could use some improvement.
A trailblazing approach to the mid-size SUV.
Standard-wheelbase TrailBlazers seat five passengers. The Ford Explorer squeezes an optional third-row seat into a nearly identical wheelbase, but according to GM, a survey of potential buyers turned up little enthusiasm for seven-passenger seating on a five-passenger wheelbase. That's why the seven-seat TrailBlazer EXT is 16 inches longer in wheelbase than the five-seat model. Still, if you look at interior dimensions for the two vehicles, you might wonder where those extra 16 inches went. Head, hip, and leg room in the Explorer's third row measure 39.0, 45.3, and 34.8 inches, respectively. The corresponding numbers for the TrailBlazer EXT are 38.5, 45.9, and 32.2. TrailBlazer is 2.6 inches wider than Explorer, which accounts for the additional hip room. But clearly, the Explorer's independent rear suspension, and resulting low floor, allowed Ford to pack more leg and head room into a significantly shorter wheelbase. On the other hand, the long-wheelbase TrailBlazer does offer significantly better second-row leg and hip room than the Explorer, with 37.5 and 58.4 inches, respectively, versus the Ford's 35.9 and 54.2 inches. Even the standard-wheelbase TrailBlazer betters the Explorer in the second row, with 37.1 inches of leg room and 58.1 inches of hip room. TrailBlazer seats come in two grades of fabric (LS and LT) or rich-feeling leather (LTZ). The adjustment is manual in LS and gains in trickery all the way up to eight-way power operation with memory (including outside mirror adjustment) and optional heating on the LTZ. Chevrolet says the front buckets are designed to accommodate heights ranging from 4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches, but there is a noticeable lack of side bolstering. The front seats don't do justice to the TrailBlazer's ride, allowing the occupants to feel a side-to-side jouncing that doesn't exist in the similar GMC Envoy, which shares the same chassis and suspension but has better seats. Interior lights abound, including reading lights. GM calls the interior lighting ''world class.'' It was developed by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lighting Research Center in Indiana. The instrumentation is complete and clean. A big tachometer is on the left, speedometer in center, and on the right are smaller gauges for water, battery, gas and oil. Brushed nickel is the basic trim, while wood comes with the leather interior. The four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel (standard on LTZ) has eight buttons, for climate, sound, cruise control and a driver information center in eight languages. The console includes an open storage bin, an enclosed compartment and two cupholders forward of the gear lever (plus two more for the rear passengers). There are pockets in the front doors and behind the front seats, though none in the rear doors. Standard behind the rear seat is a small hidden compartment under the floor, while optional features include a cargo net, scrolling tonneau cover and power outlet. The overhead console (standard on LTZ) includes a sunglasses holder, plus Travelnote digital recorder. Heating and air conditioning can be controlled separately by the driver, front and rear passengers. Depending on trim level and options, the sound systems include radio/CD, radio/CD/cassette, six-disc in-dash CD, or six-speaker 275-watt Bose system. We found the Bose system offered outstanding sound quality and adjustment versatility. All the systems include RDS (Radio Data Systems) technology, allowing the listener to search for stations by type, display information including song and artist information, and provide traffic and weather updates. Rear seat controls and headphone jacks are standard with LTZ, optional with LT and unavailable with LS. The OnStar communications system is standard with LT and LTZ, optional with LS. It includes GPS navigation, hands-free cellphone communication and a free first year of safety and security service (automatic crash and theft reporting, as well as rem.
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer does many things well. It is totally rugged and capable, while being totally comfortable and civilized. That assessment is based on a hundred miles of driving on rough and fast Mexican two-lanes, flat and climbing, straight and twisting, and a few laps around an off-road course with steep climbs and descents and 50-mph washboard trails. The inline-6 engine feels more powerful than a V6 with the torque of a small overhead-cam V8. It's so smooth that it doesn't sound like much of anything. And the faster it goes, the smoother it gets. With an official Mexican Highway Patrol escort along on the test drive, we felt free to briefly run the TrailBlazer up to 100 mph, and it was above 80 where the inline engine really showed the silky side of its character. It showed the beefy side down low. Our LTZ test model was equipped with the optional 4.10 rear differential, and was able to blast past Mexican trucks on steep uphill two-lanes with calm confidence. It surges with acceleration performance without a downshift, as the ample low-end torque doesn't need it, and therefore the four-speed automatic transmission isn't programmed for it. Ninety percent of the peak 275 pound-feet of torque is available at 1600 rpm, and it's still there at 5600 rpm. The full-throttle upshift comes at 6000 rpm, and the engine is still only striding, not screaming. The smooth-shifting transmission is the proven Hydra-Matic 4L60-E, used in GM applications from Corvettes to Cadillac Escalades. Towing was a high priority with the TrailBlazer. Six-cylinder models are rated at 6300 pounds with 2WD, 6200 with 4WD. The six-cylinder engine is designed to run cool (thanks in part to that big seven-quart oil pan) and efficient. Big ventilated disc brakes provide stopping power and four-wheel ABS is standard. Under hard braking, the nose didn't dive, keeping the TrailBlazer remarkably level and stable. We found the ride excellent, very smooth: in a word, carlike, without being too soft. TrailBlazer was designed to roll (lean) exactly five degrees in the corners, and then stop leaning. The track is the widest in the class, 2.2 inches wider than the Explorer in front and 0.9 inch wider in rear. This, coupled with the lowered engine position, drops the center of gravity. A vehicle with a low center of gravity is generally less likely to roll over than a vehicle with a high sense of gravity. The Chevy TrailBlazer is designed to be driven off road. We found the TrailBlazer impressively stable on washboard surfaces. It bottomed on dips, however, signaling that the optional skid plates are necessary for off-road driving. Our test model (equipped with 17-inch BFG Rugged Trail radials) had the skid plates, of course, which we dragged in soft sand, chugging easily along at 5 mph in Auto4WD. As impressed as we were with the TrailBlazer, we've been less impressed with the TrailBlazer EXT. The long-wheelbase EXT lacks the responsiveness and stable handling of the standard TrailBlazer. EXT feels long and narrow. That's not surprising, given that EXT is longer, narrower and taller than the Chevy Tahoe. TrailBlazer EXT's wheelbase is stretched dramatically, by 16 inches. It's suspension is soft. It wallows in corners. On exit ramps, when braking and turning at the same time, it does not feel as stable as a TrailBlazer or Tahoe. On the highway, the EXT wanders around in the lane. Stability is also affected by strong crosswinds at high speeds. Even equipped with the optional V8 engine, the TrailBlazer EXT feels distinctly underpowered. It weighs nearly 300 pounds more than the standard TrailBlazer.
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Actual rating will vary with options, driving conditions, habits and vehicle condition.
City MPG: 16
Hwy MPG: 22
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1512 S. Dixon Blvd Shelby, NC 28152
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This vehicle is located at:
1512 S. Dixon Blvd Shelby, NC 28152
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Pricing and Information Disclaimer: All vehicle prices are subject to change without notice. This may be due to, but not limited to, accessories or options added by our accessory specialists.
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