Hot in the Lot
Blazing Trails
NEIRAD enilno edition
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Hot in the Lot is back with our original automotive editor Mike Hickey. What better way to reintroduce Mike than matching him up with senior Tyler Keegan and his Chevy Trailblazer SS. Normally, the automotive desk is all about speed and classy looks, but don’t let this car fool you. The Trailblazer SS is an SUV but it has everything you could possibly want and then some.
Tyler got his Trailblazer SS for his 16th birthday in 2007. His parents purchased it right in town at H & L Chevrolet. Although Tyler wanted his first ride to be a black color, he got it in white and was quite happy with this unexpected choice. “I like how it is white because everyone has black cars and nobody has white ones.” Enough with the sensitive stuff, we’ll move onto specs and show everyone what this thing is all about.
0 to 60 mph: 5.7 seconds
Top Speed: 130 mph. (Without govern: 150mph!)
Braking: 60 to 0 mph in 118ft.
This is not bad at all considering it is an SUV. I have been in an SS before and it feels nothing like an SUV. In fact, it’s more like a sports car all juiced up on steroids. Tyler says, “I love driving it because it handles great and has excellent power for a 4,600lb truck. It also has a "sleeper" aspect to it. Most people underestimate it. I have raced a few racers in the area and they are basically blown away that a truck two times its weight can pull a few cars lengths on them,” Tyler said. Now, we don’t condone racing at the automotive desk, so do it at your own risk. (It’s very fun though.)
To get his car in top gear, Tyler has made a few adjustments. He lowered the rear end of the SS to level it out and got his wheels done. He has a few mods on the way as well. They include headers and Boral Dual Cat- back exhaust. Normally, I am not a huge fan of customizing the exterior of cars but the SS is an exception. I would have to agree with Tyler on this one when he said, “My favorite thing about the SS is its limitless possibilities, mod wise, and it has great potential. If I do heads and cam, I can pull about another 100 hp out of it. If you add a supercharger, that would add 120 Hp and 100 ft-lbs of torque. These are all very basic mods too, so if I invested quiet heavily into these things, I could be pushing about 510 Hp at the wheels and 600 Hp at the crank.” The SS is in a class all on its own. Its one of these supercharged SUV’s and they are just sick.
The SS is a brilliant car, but like all cars, there are some flaws. In this case, it is the weak transmission. This limits the possibilities of more power but personally, I think the SS is perfect the way it is. It has a sleek design that just screams fast when you drive by one. It has endless possibilities for aftermarket products and is one of the best cars to buy if your looking for a fast but safe SUV.
If you think your car is “Hot in the Lot” e-mail Neirad at neirad@darienps.org. Happy Motoring!
