No one said cheaper....

Points must fly right past you with regularity, because you certainly missed some obvious ones.

I find that highly doubtful, but even if it were true, then the costs to manufacture a BRZ would still be a good deal less. A larger, 4 door platform, an AWD system with two LSDs, as well as a turbocharged motor and everything that goes with it.

Actually, that’s how democracy works, you don’t always get what you want, especially when more people want something different than you do. You are not democracy, your beliefs, mindset, and values are not democracy.

I wouldn’t laugh, that is a very serious bumper sticker and a plausible solution. That being said, however...

In fact, they are. That is why diesels were somewhat popular, and that is why they still put large, torque-y motors in those large SUVs. That is why, in every single criticism of the twins, you’ll notice the same complaint.

True, but the reason they would increase price is because of their ineptitude and outright stupidity, not for economic or financial feasibility.

They’re too busy laughing to take it seriously, so yes the joke is on someone...

Here’s a more realistic perspective...

Would have been nice, if we had more than a single engine hoist, a few floor jacks, jack stands, hand tools, and just the two of us.

Yeah, my mom had one waaaay back in the day, an EXT model that was slightly extended. It was unkillable, even after she rear-ended a pickup with its tailgate down.

That doesn’t make it garbage. In fact, the 5.7L was always unrefined, still is mostly, it’s an old cam-in-block design with MPFI that hasn’t changed much over the past 3 decades, but it is a trooper.

I don’t know, I remember seeing plenty of dead 2.8L engines (which were shared with Jeep), but very few 4.3Ls, whether they were from S10s, Blazers, Astrovans, or whatever. The 4.3Ls most common issue seemed to be alternators, they died pretty regularly, along with a tendency to switch on the wipers whenever the turn…

Sounds like you may very well had other issues besides engine issues.

Ah, but you’re referring to 2nd gen Blazers, and I only have experience with 1st gen Blazers, and 1st gens only came with the “turbo-hydramatic”, which could be very hit and miss in its reliability.

I had a friend in HS who had an 88' 2-door with the 4.3L, and it was a pretty awesome ride.

The transmissions were so-so, but you must be talking about the 2.8L as being “garbage”. The 4.3L was actually pretty stout, since it’s just a 5.7L 350 with the last two cylinders lopped off.

There are, and I wouldn’t ever suggest anything really nice for a kid’s first car...they won’t appreciate it, I know I certainly didn’t. In fact, I’ve spent a great deal of money in recreating a car that my father had built for me, while teaching me. I never appreciated it, even abused it, and then later sold it. His…

Look here, I’m all for wrenching, but if any asshole neighbor did that around me, they’d quickly find out that a 10lb block of gallium had been left sitting on their engine block. And yes, popping the hood latch from the outside is pretty simple if you know how.

Exactly, that’s why I’d highly suggest he stop payments immediately and save that money. It’ll likely take the loan company a few months before they come for repossession, at which time he should have a couple grand saved up.