Bob,
I was one of the engineers that worked on the program… I worked on the Front and Rear Fascias along with the Front Grille and several other parts….the vehicle is awesome….I highly recommend it …..the power is awesome and the look of the vehicle along with fit and finish are better then any previous Trailblazer built…The only negatives are gas mileage and the trailer harness needs to loop under the rear fascia in order to hook it up… again it is a awesome ride…and very fun to drive….it is also hard to keep your foot off the gas peddle…:biggrin:
I didn't know you were on that project. Very cool.
I had an AWD 06 TBSS. Loooved it. They are a blast to drive. I did, however, end up preferring the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 over the SS. Here is a quick comparison of the two.
In stock form or close to it (CAI, programmer, exhaust, etc), the Jeep will kick a Trailblazer SS in the ass every time. I ran a best of 14.2 @ 95 in the SS. A year later, in virtually identical track/weather conditions at the same drag strip, I ran 13.2's in the Jeep.
Now, that said, the aftermarket is much more broad for the SS, although more and more stuff is coming out for a Jeep.
The SS is cool because you can get RWD or AWD, as well as a more "base model" vehicle with cloth interior and fewer options. The Jeep comes hard loaded with pretty much everything.
The Jeep will cost ya more, but IMO it's well worth it.
If towing is something you will be doing, the SS is more suited for that from the factory. However, the Jeep can tow. I do frequently. You have to get a little creative with the wiring harness, but there is a factory Jeep harness that is plug & play.
If rarity is your thing, the Jeep wins again. I see TBSSs almost daily, and usually more than a few a day. I can count on both hands how many other SRTs I have seen on the road over the last 5 years and I drive all over the country.
Well, there is my not so short answer. Not sure if you even give a damn about Jeep info or not.
Either way, you won't be disappointed. I loved my SS. They are a LOT of fun and look and drive GREAT!