TrailBlazer SS 2wd or AWD?

[1slow01z71]

personal experience with a truck? or a tbss? FI, nitrous, turbo doesn't matter. Your statement about AWD leaving a 2wd in the dust is off in this application. Fastest AWD tbss known, low 11's. fastest 2wd 10.1X. all the fastest tbss are 2wd. Any awd tbss running 11's ask them how many tranny's they have been through. HP loss through awd+500lbs extra weight(mod for mod) not gonna happen. In a race in wet conditions, yes. It is VERY HARD for me to get this thing sideways in dry conditions.

Im talking on the street. Personal experience would be my last truck, 1500 silverado Z71 with a 418" stroker, big cam, 4K stall etc etc, wasnt a truck on the street that could match me from 0-100. I spun on the street in a 4hi launch, 2wd was absolutely useless. A 2wd with big power is faster at the track sure I wont deny that but on the street a 2wd with that much power is dangerous, hit a little bitty bump and you are going to lose it. I experienced that many times in 2wd doign 40 punches, get sideways and try and straighten it out or hit a bump, 4hi it would just hook and go. Alot of trucks/suvs will stay straight on the street in 2wd but you will be spinning, while a 4wd/awd is hooking and passing you up. Thats why I said if you are going to keep it relatively stock sub 400rwhp numbers then a 2wd would be fine in our climate but you start really putting down some hp and wanting to play on the street a vehicle that powers all four wheels cant be matched, just my opinion that I have formulated through my experiences.

[omegafiler]

I love my AWD Yukon. Even though this is TX (ie. 70's in Winter), it is nice being able drive how ever you want regardless of the weather conditions. AWD isn't just for snow covered roads. For a daily driver, the more power you have, the more you appreciate having all 4 wheels working hard get you where you want to go.

If this was my "race" or weekend vehicle, I'd go for a RWD vehicle. I've driven the RWD TBSS quite a bit and that is one fun vehicle to drive. But as I recall from the last time it rained rather hard, stability control kicked in 3 times during a 10 mile trip. And I wasn't even pushing it that hard. While I do blame a lot of that on the crappy tires, we are talking about a 400hp RWD V8 with 4.10 gears.

So considering the OP was wanting a vehicle for the wife... and unless she is planning on throwing on a blower and going to the track... I'd lean towards the AWD TBSS if one can be found cheap enough.

But regardless of which one, do replace the tires ASAP.

[PurpleMinivan]

True with a truck on the street. You still have this truck? I hook just fine on the streets, for now. I've heard/seen to many horror stories about trans. and driveshafts on AWD typhoon/cyclone/tbss/diesel/gas trucks etc. for me to buy an awd, not to mention the s@$*er gas milage. That's just my opinion. If your not going to mod to much and she wants a good daily driver awd is fine, but if you are going to keep it pretty much stock, which he says he plans to, don't buy an awd because it hooks up better or is faster, cause its not true. Not trying to start a pissing match n I don't know what kind of #'s your putting down with your truck, I have had high hp trucks and know what your talking about. Tbss is nothing like a truck. I can put a car length or more on the best of them from a dig, on the streets and stay right with the neighbors awd subaru w?? whatever it is from a dig and then pull him. He also has lots of mods, not stock.(maybe he can't drive?) He pulled me off the line bad with my vette and I caught him of course. Tbss, best bang for the buck(truck or suv. gm) esp. if you find a good used one and go through it (they will get cheaper in time). Easily in the 12's w/ a few mods. He/she will be happy with either one. If you would like to test drive, with me in it of course, and insured. You can see for yourself. I wouldn't mind losing to a truck either cause I know there are some fast ones out there, after the dig it's just hp and tq for us velocity challenge 4500+ beasts

[1slow01z71]

Db I still have the truck but Casey23 is the owner of the trans and motor now. Its on its way back to stock so I can play with the diesel some. Ill be back in the game and it will be a 2wd but it will be sporting some major meat and suspension out back. Give me a few months and I may have something for your TBSS but not for a while my truck probably weighs close to twice as much as yours and it needs a built trans so I can load a real tune in it, baby steps though I just got it a week ago today

[lees hobby shop]

I did not read the whole thread but this is what I know.

My friend has a 07 AWD TBSS that was bone stock with a 150 shot of gas....it went 12.80's....no BS.

I did the install on the nitrous(his truck is on HSW's customer gallery page).

The AWD rocks!

[had20z]

stablitrak off + rain + 2wd tbss = fun


imo

[PurpleMinivan]

Db I still have the truck but Casey23 is the owner of the trans and motor now. Its on its way back to stock so I can play with the diesel some. Ill be back in the game and it will be a 2wd but it will be sporting some major meat and suspension out back. Give me a few months and I may have something for your TBSS but not for a while my truck probably weighs close to twice as much as yours and it needs a built trans so I can load a real tune in it, baby steps though I just got it a week ago today

Hurry up!! You've had it a week, you should have some go fast parts on the way

[PurpleMinivan]

I did not read the whole thread but this is what I know.

My friend has a 07 AWD TBSS that was bone stock with a 150 shot of gas....it went 12.80's....no BS.

I did the install on the nitrous(his truck is on HSW's customer gallery page).

The AWD rocks!

Oh I believe it. this is a video at higher alt. and not his best run to date. Im not going after this record by any means, would be nice though.
http://www.widefnopen.com/videos/Martin1063.wmv

[txarkitekt]

Hm...back and forth--back and forth. True, people who have 2WD are recommending 2WD. Hell guys, I have only had 4WD up until now and I am recommending 2WD. I am not saying this because you are going to mod the crap out of it. Or the fact that your wife is a horrible driver and NEEDS AWD for safety purposes... I am saying 2WD because of cost, mpg savings, not so much power loss through the drivetrain, less stress on drivetrain components, etc.
Cody--yes, if you have some 500RWHP monster, then yeah, AWD or selectable 4WD is good to have...
And you other clowns talk about punching it in the rain--how effin dumb are to to want to get into the throttle when it is raining or wet outside??? I mean, come on fellas! I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know more than to try and race or punch it in the rain. If I lost a race or spun out and wrecked my truck (and potentially another vehicle) in the rain--I would kick MY OWN ASS for being a moron... If the 2WD TBSS decides to get a little squirrely, the Stabilitrac system will intervene and not let you become a statistic...
I have several friends who have bone stock and mid 11 sec TBSS's... I have riden in all of them--and with my knowledge of what they have with what kind of vehicle you want your wife to drive Zeake, I am logically recommending a 2WD TBSS.

[had20z]

And you other clowns talk about punching it in the rain--how effin dumb are to to want to get into the throttle when it is raining or wet outside??? I mean, come on fellas! I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know more than to try and race or punch it in the rain. If I lost a race or spun out and wrecked my truck (and potentially another vehicle) in the rain--I would kick MY OWN ASS for being a moron... .

i have alot of faith in my skills to drive in the rain, but i do not have faith in alot of the other drivers on the road so i wouldnt race anyone in the rain....when i did turn the stablitrak off and had some fun i was all by myself, no body else around to hurt....

if i was to wreck any of my vehicles or tear them up, oh well i can fix them...


the reason i bought a 2wd tbss, is that they didnt have any awd tbss, i didnt need the awd, and the price diffrence..i just couldnt justify it......and here in south texas it doesnt snow to offten....

awd or 2wd they both are great...it just comes down to what you really want/ need or your personal choice...no ones right