Jeep Cherokee or Chevy Blazer?

jeep

The Chevy S-10 Blazer is one of the least reliable cars of its time. Go check out consumer reports or similar. The 4.3L V6 that Chevy sold for so many years is a really poor example of a modern engine.

The Cherokee also uses a poorly designed V6. These two trucks are part of the reason American automakers began to suffer such a bad reputation in the 1990s.

The full-size Chevy Blazer, on the other hand (also known as the "K5"), uses either a 5.0L or a 5.7L V8 engine with decades of proven service. This truck was sold from the 60s until the 90s. It had a removable top until 1991! What better for the beach than that? The current Tahoe is basically the same truck, Chevy just happened to stop making a 2-door version. In fact, you can find 2-door Tahoes as young as 1999!

My recommendation: check your local classified listings (like Craigslist) and find a Chevy K5 Blazer that is as original as possible, from someone who has owned it for as long as possible. You shouldn't have to pay more than about $3-4k for something like this, and sometimes you can find them for under $2k.

Good luck!

You don't mention a year range. There are several years of Jeep that are prone to problems as there are with some Chevy's. Are you considering the full size Blazer or the S10 type? Without knowing particulars it's a toss up.

Jeep, Chevy's( I am assuming you are looking at an older one) are known to rust and have four-wheel drive problems. Not what you need around salt water and when you are digging through deep sand. Plus, the Jeep is the classic beach vehicle.