Are There Any Isuzu Trooper Opponauts?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 11/04/2016 at 12:59 • Filed to: None

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For the past few months, my wife and I have been down to two cars (her 03 ML350 and my 01 F250) and I hate it, so I’ve been kicking around ideas for a beater. Currently I’m hung up on early 2000s Isuzu Troopers, and I wanted to know if anybody here has experience.

This is a 2002 for sale locally for $1000 with the full description reading “Fair condition, needs work.” Being a 2002, I gather that it has a 3.5 liter Honda V6 (edit: apparently it’s an Isuzu engine and I’m dumb), which I like.

So do these things suck or what? They seem like a big, sturdy, capable SUV that I wouldn’t hate owning. Also, they don’t seem to rust a ton...like every one I see is advertised as rust free, which is crazy in New England.

Any help would be appreciated. Oh, and alternative suggestions are welcomed as well.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:07

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I’ve heard that they’re pretty decent for what they are. They spawned the VehiCROSS from it and those were great.

Nibbles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:09

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No Honda motor there; the 2002 Trooper had the tried-and-decent 6VE1 Isuzu 3.5 DOHC V6. Aside from noisy valves (and a sometimes-sticking chain tensioner), they’re good engines. The GM-sourced 4L30E transmission is more worrisome.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/04/2016 at 13:09

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If I won the lottery, a Vehicross is legit one of the first five things I would buy. LOVE the Vehicross.

HammerheadFistpunch > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:10

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The 3.5 isn’t a Honda engine, its an Izuzu one, but I hear its pretty good. My uncle had the 3.2 in his and it went over 230,000 miles without too much mechanical trouble. I had the 3.2 in a rodeo and it always treated me right. Sounds like they are related engines so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Getting parts might be the only real trick. I always liked their car. It felt comfortable, but honest; i.e. it felt like a real SUV dipped in pseudo luxury.

HammerheadFistpunch > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:13

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As a Bonus, its got the Borg Warner TOD from the vehicross .

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2016 at 13:16

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Super cool tcase. Way ahead of it’s time.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 11/04/2016 at 13:16

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it really was, durable too.

shop-teacher > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:19

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Watch for rust underneath. A friend of mine had one that looked clean as could be on top. Underneath it was a horror show. A hard turn could’ve broken the body away from the frame.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Nibbles 11/04/2016 at 13:22

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Good correction. Thought I read Honda somewhere, but Isuzu builds a good engine.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > shop-teacher 11/04/2016 at 13:23

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That’ll probably be every single one I find out here.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2016 at 13:24

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Real SUV is the main thing I’m looking for. I could go Cherokee, but I like to be a little bit different, and there still seems to be a small aftermarket for the Trooper.

Nibbles > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2016 at 13:25

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Isuzu really had a lot going for them in the late nineties to early aughts. Solid, reliable, capable vehicles, the best damn transfer case ever, the first affordable GDI engine, aesthetics to please both the olds and the news ...

HammerheadFistpunch > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:26

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He had a 3rd row seat custom made and installed for his (family of 7) and he used it for family trips, off roading and towing a 4000 lb boat to and from the lake at 7000 feet for most of the trucks long life before it started to be a “kids car”. It served that family well.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nibbles 11/04/2016 at 13:26

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Then the axiom...

Nibbles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:29

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They do. And that motor will probably chatter on long after you’ve replaced three or four of those transmissions.

Unless it’s a 5-speed. Then you’re good to go :)

(if the only “needs work” thing is that the engine chatters, man you got yourself a good deal there)

Oh and the auto locker hubs? Plastic cams. The best thing you can do is replace ‘em with some Warn manual lockers.

Nibbles > HammerheadFistpunch 11/04/2016 at 13:30

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(I’ve always liked the Axiom)

shop-teacher > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:32

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Then you better be really careful. His was so bad he had to junk it, and it still looked totally fine up top.

SkyNet > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 13:44

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I was practically raised in a Trooper II. 4-Cylinder, 4x4, stick shift. Stump ripper supreme. *singletear

vicali > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 14:10

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I always stumble across the Troopers in the ‘4x4 around $2000' part of the market.. I think they look great but I’ve seen quite a few like this;

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/williams-lake/1993-isuzu-trooper-suv-crossover/1197496314?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

I think the *NOT HIGHWAY WORTHY* might affect some sales..

But they do look good equipped;

scoob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 16:07

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We’ve had our 3.5 for nearly 20 years. Granted, it literally only has like 80k on it, but it runs like a dream.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/04/2016 at 18:21

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My mom had one when I was a kid. Both my parents are keen on cars and had excellent things to say about the Trooper, particularly the build quality and practicality.

pip bip - choose Corrour > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/05/2016 at 09:38

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avoid the 4JX1 diesel , they’re a f.....g nightmare of an engine!! otherwise they give very little trouble.