Have You Ever Seen One?

"The Real Dacia Sandero" (the-real-dacia-sandero)
11/07/2015 at 12:01 • Filed to: isuzu, new truck, truck yeah!

On Thursday I picked up this 1993 Isuzu Trooper RS. Pretty much everything works, including the headlight wipers!!!! It’s got 233k on it. Overall though, it’s pretty solid. So far I’ve been cleaning it up, registering it, etc

There’s suspicions that this may be the truck in the 1993 Isuzu Trooper RS review in Motorweek. This truck has lived in NoVA it’s whole life and came from a dealer in Woodbridge, near where Motorweek filmed. I have some connections, so I’m gonna try and see if they possibly would have any records on it. Judge for yourself:

Anyways, it’s my winter truck so the Miata can stay off the streets during VAs salt-a-thon we call winter. In the spring if I decide to keep it, it will get a mild lift, some BFG A/Ts with steelies, and maybe an ARB bumper that my friend has if we can get it to fit the truck.

DISCUSSION (23)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:10

Swap the Isuzu badges for some Vauxhall, Holden or Opel badges and confuse most people.

Steve in Manhattan > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:11

If I remember correctly, the same truck was sold badged as an Acura. Drove one - I recall it being a bit topheavy, but overall a decent ride.

Seat Safety Switch > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:13

Mint. A friend of mine had an Isuzu Trooper in high school that held up to more abuse (including a cobblestone fence at highway speeds) than I can describe in text.

The Real Dacia Sandero > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/07/2015 at 12:13

I want to rebadge as a Holden Jackaroo. I already get enough weird looks from people. Driving around in traffic yesterday, people were just staring.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:15

Can’t remember the last time I saw one.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Steve in Manhattan
11/07/2015 at 12:15

Yep. It was an Acura SLX. Those were extremely rare too. Friend of mine works at the local Honda dealer as a mechanic and he said the people he works with have never even had an SLX come through.

Dunnik > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:16

John Davis stands next to a burning car

“Some customers may find a burning car to be somewhat uncomfortable.”

The Real Dacia Sandero > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/07/2015 at 12:16

I see 4 door Troopers fairly often, but I’ve never seen a 2 door second gen. I didn’t even know they existed.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Dunnik
11/07/2015 at 12:18

“Others in particularly northern climates may find the extra temporary heat an added feature compared to other vehicles.”

DrScientist > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:18

its quite a shame that the 2 door SUV has gone extinct.

most were quite good looking,

Kinja'd!!!

back when SUVs were actually Sport Utility Vehicles, and not glorified station wagons.

thanks for doing your part to keep this one on the road.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 12:19

3 door SUVs need to make a comeback.

The Real Dacia Sandero > DrScientist
11/07/2015 at 12:23

This one isn’t particularly attractive in my opinion. The porportions are a little off with the 2-door. But that’s part of why I love it.

If I end up keeping it, I’m gonna do my best to see how much life I can get out of it. In about 5k it will have gone the distance to the moon. That’s a milestone I’m excited for.

Boxer_4 > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/07/2015 at 12:37

I vote Subaru badges.

Kinja'd!!!

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Boxer_4
11/07/2015 at 12:39

Badge engineering par excellance

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 13:14

But does it have handling by Lotus?

gmctavish needs more space > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 14:13

Whoa. That is not something I've ever seen. I mean there's a surprising amount of second gen four doors still soldiering around Vancouver, but never a two door

The Real Dacia Sandero > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/07/2015 at 15:18

It has handling by body roll...

The Real Dacia Sandero > gmctavish needs more space
11/07/2015 at 15:19

Apparently Canada never got the two door models. In which case, if you ever see one, it was imported.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 15:24

If you didn’t know, that actually was a special edition for the Bighorn.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/07/2015 at 15:26

My friend has a I-Mark RS with hadling by Lotus.

gmctavish needs more space > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 15:57

Of course. We have a weird mix of getting random things that the states never got, like the Chevy Orlando and the Toyota Echo hatch, and not getting things for no apparent reason. I saw a two door first gen, once....most of the first gens have rusted or been orphaned by no parts supply

wafflesnfalafel > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/07/2015 at 22:13

wow - can’t remember ever seeing a 3dr one of those.

pip bip - choose Corrour > The Real Dacia Sandero
11/08/2015 at 01:33

we had them as a Holden Jackaroo.