Buying a 2014 Chevy TrailBlazer in 2021? YAY or NAY?

[Südwester]

I'm aware this question has been asked many times a couple years back when GM left the scene, but since its 2021 what exactly is the general outlook on Chevy vehicles at the moment? YAY or NAY? Parts? Service? reliability etc... I'm eyeing out a 2014 Chevrolet TrailBlazer 3.6 V6 A/T with a mere 44 k on its clock. Would appreciate any feedback. Situated in Nam btw..

[RoelfleRoux]

I'm aware this question has been asked many times a couple years back when GM left the scene, but since its 2021 what exactly is the general outlook on Chevy vehicles at the moment? YAY or NAY? Parts? Service? reliability etc... I'm eyeing out a 2014 Chevrolet TrailBlazer 3.6 V6 A/T with a mere 44 k on its clock. Would appreciate any feedback. Situated in Nam btw..

I have used service parts (servicing at the dealer under service plan) and once a rear light cluster (embarrassing emoji here please). Was always available, no issue.
My 2017 (Facelift) 2.8 diesel has been 100%, totally and completely reliable over the 99k km ownership, and a pleasure to own. I bought it new just before I retired and have no intention of replacing it.

[jaconell]

Purely from a vehicle & model perspective you cannot go wrong. In terms of parts availability I have no opinion, as I traded my TB more than 2 years ago, but will hazard the world is a small place these days. What you cannot find local you can always find online? Anyhow, not vehicles prone to too many problems (in fact very little), so if price & condition says YES - buy and enjoy.

[CXplorer]

I bought a 2013 2.8 Diesel in 2020 and have absolutely no regrets. It is an awesome vehicle. I have replaced brakepads and wipers with my last service and no problem to get any of those, and I live in the Garden Route.

[dougman]

I have a 2014 2.8 LTZ - great car and also no problems with parts. Service parts are all at the local Masterparts (Cape Town)

[Estee]

I dont own a TB but another type of GM product that ceased production in 2010 and no issues with parts from the dealers.

[Südwester]

Decisions were made. Thanks for the feedback gents! The offer was just too good not to take it, proud new TB owner.

[jaconell]

Decisions were made. Thanks for the feedback gents! The offer was just too good not to take it, proud new TB owner.

Man, that's a pretty truck!!

Enjoy. (I know you will).

[RoelfleRoux]

Decisions were made. Thanks for the feedback gents! The offer was just too good not to take it, proud new TB owner.

Handsome beast!!
I'm an absolute V6 fan, I'm sure you are going to become one as well.
Many happy miles.

[Groenman]

Enjoy!!! I still miss mine.

[globaljaco]

Congrats Südwester. You will enjoy that car. There are days I sorely miss mine.

[Südwester]

Many thanks everyone, I must say I was surprised by the positive feedback most TB owners / ex-owners have about this vehicle. As a Toyota owning family for generations, Chevy has never even remotely sparked our interests especially living out here in bundus.

Fantastic all around vehicle after just one week ownership & beside the smaller spare wheel tire; I cannot seem to fault it.

Now all is left is to find out how well it crawls up one of our Mountain trails over the weekend, will report back in due course.. 👍🏼

[jaconell]

I fiited mine with a full-sized spare. But you have to deflate it, for it to fit in the available space. As I always carry Tyreweld and a compressor I was happy doing it rather than driving around on 3-and-a-half.

[RoelfleRoux]

Mine came with a spare wheel, which is identical to the other wheels and I now have an even bigger wheel in there. I am lead to believe that the type of tow-bar fitted determines what spare can fit.

[RoelfleRoux]

Please consider that your car has stability/traction control and an electronic lock-up diff. If you select Low Range, then some of the controls are disabled, but the traction control remains active as well as the electronic difflock. So if you lift a wheel, just keep your foot steady on the accelerator and a second or two later the car will move forward again.
It is possible to disable the last functions of the traction control by keeping the button on the dash in for quite a few seconds. This could be handy in thick sand. The electronic difflock is never disabled.

[jaconell]

Mine came with a spare wheel, which is identical to the other wheels and I now have an even bigger wheel in there. I am lead to believe that the type of tow-bar fitted determines what spare can fit.

I think Chevrolet cured this issue on the "face-lift" model like yours Roelf?

[RoelfleRoux]

There is a big discussion here:
https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum....php?p=4055708

[Südwester]

Please consider that your car has stability/traction control and an electronic lock-up diff. If you select Low Range, then some of the controls are disabled, but the traction control remains active as well as the electronic difflock. So if you lift a wheel, just keep your foot steady on the accelerator and a second or two later the car will move forward again.
It is possible to disable the last functions of the traction control by keeping the button on the dash in for quite a few seconds. This could be handy in thick sand. The electronic difflock is never disabled.

Appreciate the heads up Roelf! Since this is our first “newish” vehicle I decided to read the owners manual for once. Having only operated old-school tractor-like 4x4’s I didn’t want to risk winding anything up & getting stranded without knowing how to fix it since a “draad en tang” attitude is probably not recommended on this modern donkey 😅

I am a little uncertain about the electronic diff-lock you speak of. Nowhere does it mention anything about it in the booklet, perhaps only later models came out with elec. difflocks?

[globaljaco]

I fiited mine with a full-sized spare. But you have to deflate it, for it to fit in the available space. As I always carry Tyreweld and a compressor I was happy doing it rather than driving around on 3-and-a-half.

I did exactly the same. Got so used to carrying a compressor with me in the TB I just cannot get rid of the habit in the new car. That full size spare just wouldn’t fit underneath with the Thule tow bar on the Chevy if not deflated. I know on some TB’s with different makes of tow bars a full spare will fit without deflating it.

Anyhow Südwester, enjoy the offroad excursions. Must say you have the right tyres fitted for that. They look awesome.

[globaljaco]

I am a little uncertain about the electronic diff-lock you speak of. Nowhere does it mention anything about it in the booklet, perhaps only later models came out with elec. difflocks?

Also referred to as a Limited Slip Diff. Mine was also a 2014 and definitely had it. As Roelf said, keep the wheels turning over an obstacle when there is no grip on one of the wheels and the LSD will kick in and regain traction and forward movement.