Going to look at a 99 blazer for my son

[slag]

It has the 4.3 liter engine and has "engine noise" I'm told. Hoping its just a lifter or balance shaft noise. The SUV looks to be in excellent shape and the seller wants $850 for it.

Is a 99 blazer not cool enough for a 14 year old to learn to drive? Increasingly nervous when he drives my tundra. He put it through a ditch last night turning a corner too fast when my wife was with him.

 

[pauldun170]

It has the 4.3 liter engine and has "engine noise" I'm told. Hoping its just a lifter or balance shaft noise. The SUV looks to be in excellent shape and the seller wants $850 for it.

Is a 99 blazer not cool enough for a 14 year old to learn to drive? Increasingly nervous when he drives my tundra. He put it through a ditch last night turning a corner too fast when my wife was with him.

The noise
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2013/01/gm-4-3l-v6-owners-rattled-by-engine-noise/

Another thing to watch for
Also, intake manifold gaskets are known to be a problem area
http://www.handymanlyness.com/archi...anifold/GM_truck/gasket_replace_99_Jimmy.html

Your son better slow WAY down driving these. These are old school trucks and they punish people who like to change direction quickly.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, just go ahead and roll it and get it over with...

 

[thomsbrain]

Chevy Blazer topped the list of "most likely to be involved in a fatal accident" when it was being produced. Something like 1 in 4,000 Blazers were fatally crashed, which is pretty horrible when you stop and think about it (and how many non-fatal crashes not counted). Horrible handling, rollover prone, primarily driven by young jackasses like your son (no offense but he has already run off the road with his freaking mom in the car, so you know what will happen when he is unsupervised).

How about a Toyota Echo, so at least he doesn't take someone else out when he totals it in 24 hours?

 

[slag]

Well, since its a starter vehicle, my limit is around $1k for him. I can't find an echo for that and everything else is pure crap.

 

[slag]

The noise
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2013/01/gm-4-3l-v6-owners-rattled-by-engine-noise/

Another thing to watch for
Also, intake manifold gaskets are known to be a problem area
http://www.handymanlyness.com/archi...anifold/GM_truck/gasket_replace_99_Jimmy.html

Your son better slow WAY down driving these. These are old school trucks and they punish people who like to change direction quickly.

I read the first link earlier which is why I'm not too worried. Thanks for the second one though.

He's learning to drive. He has about 2 hours under his belt so far and will make mistakes. I just don't want him making them in my truck I need for work.

 

[Subyman]

Can you get an older model S10? They are solid trucks and do not have the roll over hazard that the blazer model has. Plus, he can haul stuff for you

 

[SparkyJJO]

Can you get an older model S10? They are solid trucks and do not have the roll over hazard that the blazer model has. Plus, he can haul stuff for you

I never put much thought into it but why is this? S10 and the blazer were the same platform

 

[master_shake_]

honda civic.

great starter vehicle.

99 blazer is a terrible choice for anyone who is driving it.

might as well give him your credit card for repairs they're gonna cost you.

 

[Knavish]

Maybe look for an old Ford Focus? A Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla will not be as much car for the $$ at your price level.

If you got $1k for a car then you may not want to pay for gas for a 4.3L V6!

 

[NutBucket]

I never put much thought into it but why is this? S10 and the blazer were the same platform

Blazer is more top heavy (more seats, more windows, etc). The truck is less of a roll-over risk.

 

[pauldun170]

Having driven and enjoyed many BroncoII's and Blazers in my youth, I have to do the eye roll at all this wussy "roll-over" talk.

The 2dr model is the rolly-polly one. The 4dr was better.

 

[slag]

I looked at it.. it was a turd. We passed.

interior door panels falling off, it had a check engine light, but the obd2 port wasn't hooked up, so we couldn't see what was wrong (big red flag). It had a miss and very low oil pressure so I think it was more than just lifters...

 

[WilliamM2]

Learning to drive at 14? Can you even get a learners permit at that age?

 

[slag]

Learning to drive at 14? Can you even get a learners permit at that age?

yep, he has his learners permit. Now he has to get a certain number of hours of real driving with his parent in the vehicle as well.

 

[Insomniator]

What did you expect to find for $850? Lucky it had an engine.

 

[vi edit]

At the time it was built, I think it had the worst safety ratings of any vehicle on the road. I had a 2000 Jimmy. They were total shit vehicles.

 

[pauldun170]

interior door panels falling off, it had a check engine light, ....It had a miss ...

Those aren't issues.
Those are features. It came part of an option package. It was an option package offered on most GM vehicles built from 1932 to 2001.

 

[Meghan54]

At the time it was built, I think it had the worst safety ratings of any vehicle on the road. I had a 2000 Jimmy. They were total shit vehicles.

We had an '02 Blazer we purchased new. Used it for 9 1/2 years when, at 248K miles while pulling a fairly heavy trailer, it blew out the rear main seal on the engine.

Prior to that, we had very few problems. We did have to replace the fuel pump and the intake manifold gasket. Otherwise, it did exactly whatever we asked of it, which included towing every week.

True, it wasn't a Lexus but we didn't expect a Lexus for what we paid. Overall, we were quite pleased with its longevity. Never gave us any sort of handling problems nor indications it was about to fall apart or suddenly flip over, and I wasn't too shy about driving it in a "spirited" fashion.

I do fully understand its history; guess we picked out one that was properly assembled. When we got rid of it, the interior looked damned good. Was sorry to see it go, although its replacement, a Murano, was damned fun, too.

 

[Denly]

14yrs old?

+1 for 1st gen focus, great car and super reliable. get 99 or 00, they're the best yr.

 

[TripleThreatTLT]

Older Jeep Cherokee? Can be found fairly inexpensive, and easy to work on.

 

[slag]

Going to go look at a 1999 accord later tonight. Looked at a Cherokee but everything in our price range 0-2.5k is total junk.

Lots of options, not particularly stuck looking for any specific vehicle or type.

And for the person who said what do you expect for 850, I expect an accurate description of the vehicle. What was described in text was in no way how the vehicle was presented. "interior great, looks great, non smoker car (it was smoked in), etc.

 

[desy]

Buick!
Lots of low profile metal around him
Seniors care and driving habits = low stressed platform, 3800 reliable good on gas engine

 

[pauldun170]

Going to go look at a 1999 accord later tonight. Looked at a Cherokee but everything in our price range 0-2.5k is total junk.

Lots of options, not particularly stuck looking for any specific vehicle or type.

And for the person who said what do you expect for 850, I expect an accurate description of the vehicle. What was described in text was in no way how the vehicle was presented. "interior great, looks great, non smoker car (it was smoked in), etc.

On the Accord, avoid V6\Auto combo

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Well, since its a starter vehicle, my limit is around $1k for him. I can't find an echo for that and everything else is pure crap.

$4K once you pay for insurance. Wand WTF? He is 14?