Hey guys, I am kinda new here. I've read some of the posts and have a few comments. I own an 08 Trailblazer SS AWD and found the gas mileage to be consistantly arount 16-18 mpg. It doesn't matter how we drive it. city,highway,just put around, or beat the crap out of it. It gets 16-18 mpg. The AWD versions are only AWD when the computer determines the AWD is needed. Plain english- it is 2WD almost always. So I lug around an extra 450-500 lbs. most of the year. I work at a GM dealer and have found the Acadia/Traverse/Outlook,etc. to be very unapealing. There are constantly power steering noises, timing chain rattles,and redundant recalls in our shop. When we looked for another new vehicle, we looked at the sporty suvs. Durango,Cherokee,Trailblazer,etc. None of them had the room, towing capability, AND sportiness. Except the TBSS IMO. Talk to someone who works on all of the suvs that you are interested in, they will tell you about the problems that are inherent with a particular vehicle. Then it up to you to find the cool factor that you like. Have fun and happy hunting. Nice to meet you all.
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Dec. 15, 2010 9:49 a.m. DEATHTRAP None
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Dec. 15, 2010 10:24 a.m. miatame Reader
DEATHTRAP wrote: The AWD versions are only AWD when the computer determines the AWD is needed. Plain english- it is 2WD almost always.
No offense but I'd be interested in fact checking this. I'm pretty sure they have a torque sensing center differential that splits power front/rear. I think it is variable from 30% to 70% front rear...but always sending some torque to the front.
Please post some information to the contrary if you have it.
Oh and you seem to have a lot of experience with the TBSS. Have you seen many/any with missing or broken exhaust manifold bolts? WilberM3 has several missing or broken on his with under 90k miles. Seems surprising to me.
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Dec. 15, 2010 10:43 a.m. Strizzo SuperDork
not sure how the trailblazer SS handles it, but in the suburban/tahoe, i think it shifts the transfer case into 4hi, and engages the hubs when it senses slip. makes lots of nasty clunking sounds, but gets the job done.
the traverse/torrent/outlook/etc. is FWD until the fronts slip. last christmas at my parents we had 4 vehicles, all on summer tires with 6" of fresh snow everywhere on christmas eve, and the only awd/4wd was the grandparents traverse that we used to go pick up pizza when the restaurant cancelled our reservation and closed. it would allow full-on 4 wheel drifting with the traction control off, great fun and good traction with the all season tires
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Dec. 16, 2010 11:08 a.m. DEATHTRAP New Reader
The computer moniter the wheel slippage and applied the transfer case accordingly. Broken exhaust manifolt bolts are no that uncommon on any LS motor. But all of the ones that i have seen have always been the ones hardest to get to.
I must correct myself on the transfer case issues. The discription states than the transfer case is always applying power to the front and rear wheels.( I was wrong. ) The computer monitors the wheel slippage and adjusts the ratio accordingly. The normal ratio is 33/67 but can be adjusted as much as 45/55 to as little as 25/75.
