- Mar 19, 2014
- 65
Hi all,
My name is Eelco and I live in the Netherlands, Europe.
My love for USA cars started with a simple 1991 Chevrolet Corsica liftback with the 2.2 automatic. After that, a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic was next. Car had THE best seats I have ever sat in. Then, a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS with the HPP option came along. After that, a 1999 Lincoln Town Car Signature Touring Sedan was my dream ride.
But, since I drove all of these cars on a daily basis, I figured that I needed a more pratical ride, with towing option, roof rack and foldable rear seats. The Town Car was sold to an enthusiast and I narrowed my search for a new orde down to three cars. A Cadillac SRX, a Chrysler Pacifica en last but not least, a TrailBlazer. In Europe, we have plenty of US cars to choose from, but not as many as in the States of course.
In The Netherlands, there are a total of 97 TrailBlazer registered. As much as I wanted a V8 again, there are no SS versions registered unfortunately here.
The Cadillac was too cramped on the inside, had rust on the hood, as all of them do, but it drove fine. This was the V6 version.
The Pacifica, also with a V6, driver very nice, had good front seats, but the third row seating was for lilliput people only, as you can not sit in a normal way back there. And to buy a big car like that with only 2+2 seating, was not my intention. Then, the TrailBlazer came along. Everything felt familiar from the moment I sat in the car for the first time. Even the cruise control stalk looked indentical to the one in the Caprice. There were a few for sale, but only a few LTZ versions. I liked the leather seats and the fact that this one had a factory moon roof.
The car has 59.000 miles on it so far. It came with an extensive service record that I still have to go through.
As much as the previous owner did look after the mechanics of the car, the appearance of the car failed to receive the TLC a car has to have to retain its good looks. The moment I got the car, I had it detailed and polished. After that, there are still some flaws here and there from some deep little scratches, two minor dents in the hood and the rear bumper which was resprayed at some point, but the clear coat turned a bit milky and now there is a small difference in color with the rest.
Engine bay is dirty and needs a good cleaning. Car came with just one key and an aftermarket alarm (GT 944 from Getronics srl. including an immobilizer) that irritates the crap of me. When you press the arm button, all doors lock except the drivers door. Same when unlocking. The original fobs are not there anymore. I am thinking of having the whole system removed and to just buy a set of new fobs from Ebay and program them myself via the owners manual.
I did order some stuff from Ebay to have the car completed. Beside the translated Dutch owners manual that came with it, I bought an original US one. Also, I've ordered an extra key as I only got the one that came with the car. Furthermore, I bought a fuel cap with lock. (who delivers a new car with a non-lockable fuel cap in 2003????) I have replaced the ugly European spec tail lights with the original US style lamps. One of the back up lights I have altered to function as a rear fog light. Mandatory on cars after 1998 in EU. Also OEM mudflaps, all around, are mounted.
View attachment 33536
Also replaced the tail gate shocks, as they were at the end of their life cycle. The original antenna was stored safely and replaced by a short rubber 13" antenna. Bought some vent shades as well for the front doors.
The car is all black now and I am kinda hesitating on going chrome on her. Grille, mirror covers, pillar covers etc. Maybe later on. Also a push bar is high on my list, but as this has to come from the USA, it is costly and is a long term wannahave.
I will have to refurbish the wheels, as they are corroded and repainted badly.
The car came with the Bose system, which is good for now, but I want a 1DIN Nav system in it somewhere in April of May. I have to buy the wiring harness from Metra including the bose system adaption, chime function, SWC and rear audio controls.
My car was imported in 2007 from Canada and has the DRL I guess, or at least, what looks like it. It does come on at dusk or at night. Which to my opinion is more of an auto headlight function. But when you put the car in D, they pop on sometimes, on the front and at the back as well, together with the dash lights during the day when everyting is sunny. The switch is also different from cars that did not come with it. It also includes the button for the rear fog light.
Windows don't have the dark tint that US cars have. Do want them tough, so considering tint in the rear. But first need to replace the rear glass, as the window defroster only works on the top half of the glass.
The leather is good, not torn or cracked, just minor wear marks on the drivers' seat.
The chassis had surface rust, but I treated all of that with Dinitrol Ml, which is awesome stuff. Still have to put a top coat on it though of Dinitrol Metallic.
Oh, and I did have some classic US cars as hobby cars as well. A 1970 Buick Riviera that I had restored and a 1977 Mercury grand Marquis from its first owner in Canada, in mint condition. They are all gone now and the only classic I drive now is a 1968 Renault 4. I have very fond childhood memories of that car and had to have one. It is being restored at this moment. (chassis and floor pans)
Gas prices here are absurd and besides that, you are paying road tax, based upon type of fuel and weight of the car…….so beside the 14,7 miles per gallon (is this really bad or is it just me?) it drives at this moment with a fuel price of 8.70 USD per gallon, I have to pay road tax of 153,- USD a month. I drive around a 1000 miles a month to commute to my work. Well, the love for these cars cannot be expressed by an amount, so to hell with it.
This June, I will take the car to the south of Italy, Lake Garda for a holiday and will have the tranny oil and filter replaced and engine oil and filter replaced before that.
A few questions I do have already, I will put them in the correct topic.
- Opening tailgate does not switch courtesy lights on, glass part does.
- The uncertainty if my car just has Autolights or also DRL.
- Only bottom half of rear defroster works. Still have to figure out if this is a bad connection or not.
Oh, and I just did as small mod to the front.
I had some leftover headlight tint film lying around and blacked out the bowtie emblem in the grille.
Makes it look way better imho.
Not too flashy, but still there.
Hope to learn one or two things at this forum.
Regards,
Eelco
My name is Eelco and I live in the Netherlands, Europe.
My love for USA cars started with a simple 1991 Chevrolet Corsica liftback with the 2.2 automatic. After that, a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic was next. Car had THE best seats I have ever sat in. Then, a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS with the HPP option came along. After that, a 1999 Lincoln Town Car Signature Touring Sedan was my dream ride.
But, since I drove all of these cars on a daily basis, I figured that I needed a more pratical ride, with towing option, roof rack and foldable rear seats. The Town Car was sold to an enthusiast and I narrowed my search for a new orde down to three cars. A Cadillac SRX, a Chrysler Pacifica en last but not least, a TrailBlazer. In Europe, we have plenty of US cars to choose from, but not as many as in the States of course.
In The Netherlands, there are a total of 97 TrailBlazer registered. As much as I wanted a V8 again, there are no SS versions registered unfortunately here.
The Cadillac was too cramped on the inside, had rust on the hood, as all of them do, but it drove fine. This was the V6 version.
The Pacifica, also with a V6, driver very nice, had good front seats, but the third row seating was for lilliput people only, as you can not sit in a normal way back there. And to buy a big car like that with only 2+2 seating, was not my intention. Then, the TrailBlazer came along. Everything felt familiar from the moment I sat in the car for the first time. Even the cruise control stalk looked indentical to the one in the Caprice. There were a few for sale, but only a few LTZ versions. I liked the leather seats and the fact that this one had a factory moon roof.
The car has 59.000 miles on it so far. It came with an extensive service record that I still have to go through.
As much as the previous owner did look after the mechanics of the car, the appearance of the car failed to receive the TLC a car has to have to retain its good looks. The moment I got the car, I had it detailed and polished. After that, there are still some flaws here and there from some deep little scratches, two minor dents in the hood and the rear bumper which was resprayed at some point, but the clear coat turned a bit milky and now there is a small difference in color with the rest.
Engine bay is dirty and needs a good cleaning. Car came with just one key and an aftermarket alarm (GT 944 from Getronics srl. including an immobilizer) that irritates the crap of me. When you press the arm button, all doors lock except the drivers door. Same when unlocking. The original fobs are not there anymore. I am thinking of having the whole system removed and to just buy a set of new fobs from Ebay and program them myself via the owners manual.
I did order some stuff from Ebay to have the car completed. Beside the translated Dutch owners manual that came with it, I bought an original US one. Also, I've ordered an extra key as I only got the one that came with the car. Furthermore, I bought a fuel cap with lock. (who delivers a new car with a non-lockable fuel cap in 2003????) I have replaced the ugly European spec tail lights with the original US style lamps. One of the back up lights I have altered to function as a rear fog light. Mandatory on cars after 1998 in EU. Also OEM mudflaps, all around, are mounted.
View attachment 33536
Also replaced the tail gate shocks, as they were at the end of their life cycle. The original antenna was stored safely and replaced by a short rubber 13" antenna. Bought some vent shades as well for the front doors.
The car is all black now and I am kinda hesitating on going chrome on her. Grille, mirror covers, pillar covers etc. Maybe later on. Also a push bar is high on my list, but as this has to come from the USA, it is costly and is a long term wannahave.
I will have to refurbish the wheels, as they are corroded and repainted badly.
The car came with the Bose system, which is good for now, but I want a 1DIN Nav system in it somewhere in April of May. I have to buy the wiring harness from Metra including the bose system adaption, chime function, SWC and rear audio controls.
My car was imported in 2007 from Canada and has the DRL I guess, or at least, what looks like it. It does come on at dusk or at night. Which to my opinion is more of an auto headlight function. But when you put the car in D, they pop on sometimes, on the front and at the back as well, together with the dash lights during the day when everyting is sunny. The switch is also different from cars that did not come with it. It also includes the button for the rear fog light.
Windows don't have the dark tint that US cars have. Do want them tough, so considering tint in the rear. But first need to replace the rear glass, as the window defroster only works on the top half of the glass.
The leather is good, not torn or cracked, just minor wear marks on the drivers' seat.
The chassis had surface rust, but I treated all of that with Dinitrol Ml, which is awesome stuff. Still have to put a top coat on it though of Dinitrol Metallic.
Oh, and I did have some classic US cars as hobby cars as well. A 1970 Buick Riviera that I had restored and a 1977 Mercury grand Marquis from its first owner in Canada, in mint condition. They are all gone now and the only classic I drive now is a 1968 Renault 4. I have very fond childhood memories of that car and had to have one. It is being restored at this moment. (chassis and floor pans)
Gas prices here are absurd and besides that, you are paying road tax, based upon type of fuel and weight of the car…….so beside the 14,7 miles per gallon (is this really bad or is it just me?) it drives at this moment with a fuel price of 8.70 USD per gallon, I have to pay road tax of 153,- USD a month. I drive around a 1000 miles a month to commute to my work. Well, the love for these cars cannot be expressed by an amount, so to hell with it.
This June, I will take the car to the south of Italy, Lake Garda for a holiday and will have the tranny oil and filter replaced and engine oil and filter replaced before that.
A few questions I do have already, I will put them in the correct topic.
- Opening tailgate does not switch courtesy lights on, glass part does.
- The uncertainty if my car just has Autolights or also DRL.
- Only bottom half of rear defroster works. Still have to figure out if this is a bad connection or not.
Oh, and I just did as small mod to the front.
I had some leftover headlight tint film lying around and blacked out the bowtie emblem in the grille.
Makes it look way better imho.
Not too flashy, but still there.
Hope to learn one or two things at this forum.
Regards,
Eelco
Priorities right?
of the TB in Italy 
