I met Robert Stempel when I first got my job at GM. I can't recall if he was GM president then or not.
That had to be around 1980.
I sat behind Charles Bronson on a flight from Chicago to California about 10 years ago.
I also was on the same plane as David Letterman going from New York City to Chicago about 8 years ago.
I think the TBI engined 4.3 Blazer & Jimmy are A1. I put 225k miles on a 1991 Blazer 4 door before I got into an accident with it and it was totalled.
The current GMT-360's don't hold a torch as far as reliability. My 2002 Trailblazer is a prime example. 29 different warranty repairs since new. I'm glad I have the GMPP extended warranty. My 1991 Blazer had 7 warranty repairs during the same time amount as my Trailblazer. It is no wonder GM has troubles.
I briefly test drove a new 2006 Impala at my local dealer when I was in there for an oil change earlier this morning. The interior is nice, but that is where it ends. GM needs a little more refining in the engine compartment. I believe the car I drove was a 3.5 liter, and based on my brief around the block loop, it isn't anything to write home about.