Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Opinions in Bravada?

Well, after searching many pages of Google, I cannot find a Bravada club, so I ask you fellow enthusiasts..

I may purchase a 98 Bravada. The deal on the F150 fell thru. I really need a 4 wheel drive vehicle for my many winter trips to the WV highlands.

Is there any thing I sure look out for? Any known problems with reliability?

Any help is appreciated.

personally I would not buy one, I don't think the platform those vehicles are built on is anything special.

What parameters did you need in a truck?

-Pete

I used to have a 96 Jimmy - Bravada is just the super-upscale version of it.. I like the truck, it's got every creature comfort you could want, plus a nice powerful V6. I never had a problem with mine, and if they're built like the older ones (pre-95), then they'll probably last forever. But they do rattle and squeak after awhile, mine was already making noise at 20K miles.. But maybe the Bravada has more stuff to supress noise, since it's a luxury model.

If you do buy it, I've got some sweet tail light covers (GTS Trailblazers) and a hood wind deflector (Lund) that I took off of my truck and never got around to selling..

They're trouble... pure and simple. If you want a trucklike, quasi-upscale SUV, the Mountaineer is a better choice. More power in those years (whether SOHC V6 or V8), more reliable, and just a nicer vehicle all around.

I had a friend with two of them, and the damage in the first one's crash also indicates a weak structure (the roof buckled on a front corner impact).

Not impressed.

If you're going to get a bravada, go for the 2002 Bravada. Shares the 270hp engine with the envoy and trailblazer...that's a good truck.

I got into an accident with my Jimmy that resulted in $13,000 worth of damage. It took about 6 weeks, but the truck was good as new. The car that hit me (an old F150) was totalled. It held up amazingly.

I drove a Mountaineer about 2 months ago, and it lacks power, and costs too much.

Plus, isn't the mountaineer the same as the exploder?

1. Obviously, 4 wheel drive. Not for off-road, just winter security. Roads can get nasty here, and I take a lot of trips to an area where the snow gets really stupid.
2. Needs to be comfortable. I am kinda spoiled, would like leather (which is better for kid-produced mess clean-up, anyway!)
3. Tourqe. Tried a 4 banger 4Runner, that won't do.
4. Needs to be reliable. I am not made of money.
5. Pretty low price. I think I can get the Bravada for around $10k, that's about my limit.

Anyone know how realiable the SmartTrak system is? I really don't know if I should trust all these electronic and push-button tranfer case set-ups, I would prefer a good old manual transfer case, but nice 4Runner's and Pathfinders seem to be a little pricey.

You can get a 98 Bravada for $10K?! How many miles? Man, if you pass on that deal, I might get it for myself..

Oldsmobile was the only one of the 3 (Bravada, Blazer, Jimmy) to offer the SmartTrak, so I can't say anything about it. But the push button transfer case in the Jimmy was just fine, and they've been using such a system for over 10 years, so I'd feel pretty confident in it.

80k, verifyable highway miles. One owner, is the county clerk in the same county as the dealer. I guess a politician wouldn't lie?

He must of took great care of it, looks new, perfect interior and exterior.