Ask the Car People.SM


Isuzu Trooper

11965 messages,  Last post on May 30, 2013 at 10:05 AM

You are in the Isuzu Trooper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Isuzu Trooper, SUV

Messages Page 380 of 1197

#3790 of 11965 2.5 years of happy Trooping by dcmoore

Mar 29, 2002 (6:38 pm)

I check this discussion site now and again for talk about Troopers. I'm not very mechanically-inclined, so when I was looking at SUVs in 1999, I wanted something reliable.
 
Bought my '99 in 10/99. It now has 35+K miles. Got a nice deal and consider it to be a terrific value. It's been very reliable. I've had minor problems with the rear window wiper and the CD player. Dealer took care of both as well as some other minor glitches. Experiences with the dealer have surprisingly been quite good (knock on wood). I have a few other minor complaints -- the driver's seat squeaks a bit; the buttons for the horn are way too small; the horn is wimpy; the lights and wipers are mediocre. But the engine purrs and it's been a very reliable vehicle with lots of room and character. For the money, I don't think there's another "midsize" SUV with true offroad capability and a sophisticated 4WD system that can top it.
 
I enjoy reading the posts of those who are more mechanically-adept, esp. Paisan, who strikes me as the best cheerleader Isuzu could possibly have for the Trooper. I may even get up the nerve one of these days to try some of the modifications that have been bandied about on this board. Until then, I just change the oil regularly and otherwise try to generally maintain it in accordance with Isuzu's recommendations. I'm sure it'll run for quite a while.

#3791 of 11965 paisan...tidester....tetonman.... by arktrooper1

Mar 30, 2002 (11:04 am)

mike..after thinking about it, its good to hear (see?) you say what has needed to be said, but everyone else (including myself) hasnt...the ASCender (ok, tidester?) needs to be with the bravada/envoy/trailblazer...sorry if this offends anyone, but this vehicle neither looks nor quacks like a "duck" (an isuzu), mainly because it ISN'T
 
tidester...its only an opinion but im entitled to mine, although i do think my opinion likely reflects the majority of the people currently board...are we snobs?...i dont think so...again, this is an ISUZU owners club...as far a scaring off any newbies?...there are plenty of current ISUZU owners out there who will discover this board over time so i dont think the death of the ISUZU owners club is imminent...GM (unfortunately) builds crap (and everyone here knows it), they killed the Trooper for no good reason (except to them) and i really dont feel like being "politically correct" on this one...you know well that the Trooper has one of the most loyal followings of any vehicle on this site and expecting us to hide our distaste for its replacement is unrealistic at the least
 
tetonman...my CD changer was replaced within one week after it broke (4 business days!)...1 qt oil consumption every 3500 mi and 15 mpg which is fine with me...the headlights were somewhat corrected with Hella Optilux bulbs, i can get a Hella horn later...the wipers were fixed with better aftermarket blades...the air conditioner could be stronger but ill get a tint job soon...no vehicle is perfect, but overall i cant think of anything even close at the actual selling price and very few at the full list price that can compete...love the ride...the smoothness...the engine...the TOD...i could go on, but you own one...you know!...Dave (arktrooper)

#3792 of 11965 Ascender by bluedevils

Mar 30, 2002 (12:01 pm)

I don't care where Edmunds puts it - with the Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada, or with the Isuzus. Either way, I won't talk about it very much because it's not a real Isuzu.
 
I saw an extended-length Trailblazer the other day (mfr's plate) and I thought, 'ya know, that thing just looks too long.' It looks stretched-out, which it is. Visually, it doesn't work for me. I'll have to take a look at the Ascender pics to see how much different it is.
 
The only thing that makes me feel a little better is it sounds like GM will differentiate the Ascender a little bit from the GM and Chevy-badged versions. E.g. 5.3L V8, etc. Still, it's a GM vehicle, not an Isuzu.

#3793 of 11965 exactly my point, bluedevils:) by arktrooper1

Mar 30, 2002 (1:54 pm)

for the most part, nobody here cares about or for the Ascender and that will ultimately dictate whether its accepted here...not whether its shoved down our throats just 'cause it says Isuzu on its nameplate...its not only GM parts, but GM DESIGNED...if Isuzu had any part in this at all , its probably the name badge and thats it, sadly...Dave

#3794 of 11965 Actually by paisan

Mar 30, 2002 (6:03 pm)

The Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada/ASSender were designed >50% by Isuzu just like the redesigned S10 pickup. Problem I have with them is that they will be mass produced in a GM plant. If they were coming out of Japan or SIA I'd probably jump ont he bandwagon a bit. But coming out of a GM plant, it will not be reliable, and will have the usual GM plasticy interior and sub-part parts. Biggest advantages:
 
1) GM parts bin so when it breaks, you'll have plenty of parts to fix it, unlike real Isuzus that just don't break for the most part
 
2) Aftermarket. They'll be able to get all kinds of turbos, superchargers, etc. etc. for them
 
3) Power/Engines, the 5.3 and 4.2 engines are probably some of the best on the market right now.
 
4) Possibility of the 5.0l Duramax Diesel
 
Other than that it's just another GM clone.
 
-mike

#3795 of 11965 now youre really scaring me Mike.. by arktrooper1

Mar 30, 2002 (7:26 pm)

i had thought that although they were GM designs, the Isuzu versions WERE coming out of SIA...my problem with them wasn's SIA, thats obviously a good plant, but the cheap GM parts and my assumption (apparantly wrong) that Isuzu had virtually nothing to do with their design...i wonder, with 50% design input, why Isuzu couldnt get the TOD/TurboHydramatic transmission combo in the all the clones, since it is largely a GM product and GM has used B/W components in the past?...if i had to pick among the top two or three Trooper attributes, TOD would certainly be in the running for the top spot...as far as the 6 cyl. engine goes, im not sold...the design is very good, but theyve had problems with them and not just what i know of at the GM dealership where my friend is a mechanic...my friend, btw, is not the stereotype mechanic, believing that 3K oil changes are rip-offs and having nearly 20 years experience with both diesel and gas engines (he likes the Duramax!) and being a Honda owner himself...

#3796 of 11965 Hella Optlux Bulbs by ramblinon

Mar 30, 2002 (7:31 pm)

are they a straight replacement for the original bulbs? Any modification needed? Any real increased useable light? Actually, the thought of a more powerful headlight is enough to get me to the store ASAP.
 
Also, I saw the tri-horn arrangement on paisan's truck. I wouldn't mind having a real tooter. Does anyone have the Hella horn installed?
 
Best regards,
 
Ed

#3797 of 11965 That is a Hella horn by paisan

Mar 30, 2002 (8:54 pm)

They are the triple trumpet Hellas from Ken Susquehanna Motorsports. The Hella bulbs are also a direct replacement for the 9004s just higher wattage 80/100 instead of 45/65
 
-mike

#3798 of 11965 TOD/Tranny by paisan

Mar 30, 2002 (9:02 pm)

The Envoy/Trailblazer/Ascendor uses the 4L60 GM tranny instead of the 4L30 one that the Isuzus currently use. The 4L60 can handle up to 350ft-lbs of torque instead of the max of 250ft-lbs that the 4L30 can take. That is why they had to go with the other Tranny. As for the TOD, it's probably a result of the TOD costing more $ from B&W cause they would need a beefier TOD unit to handle the additional torque. Most GM buyers wouldn't care either way Auto-4wd v. TOD to them it's all the same thing, and would cost GM more $ to produce. Remember now that it's a mass-market vehicle, every penny they save is multiplied by a ton of vehicles which translates to a lot of $ in the end.

Links for the Tranny's below:

http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/transmissions/4l60_main.htm

http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/transmissions/4l30_main.htm

-mike
http://isuzu-suvs.com

#3799 of 11965 paisan by savvas_e

Mar 30, 2002 (10:41 pm)

Mike,
 
I emailed the 3rd row seat photos to you yesterday.
 
I also assumed that the Ascender will be out of SIA. The rhd Suburbans we received in Australia were out of a GM plant in Mexico and weren't too good.
 
Well, I'm planning on keeping Monty at least another 7 - 8 years. I hope Isuzu comes up with the real goods during that period.
 
Savvas

Messages Page 380 of 1197

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement