Update: nuts, I'm actually considering this. My jimmies have been rustled.

"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97) 02/09/2020 at 21:07 • Filed to: Unnecessary car shopping with ITA97

6

39

Update: This has rustled my jimmies enough that I’m actually seriously considering it. What could go wrong considering buying a 26 year old JDM suv on the other side of the country?

Some eBay surfing suggests parts availability for that 2.8l diesel is better than I might have guessed, so long as you don’t need anything right away. And, Cat used that engine in some small skid steers and excavators, so there are likely some amounts of parts for it painted yellow at a local cat dealer.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Small Japanese bubble era 4x4, diesel, lsd, manual and green. This thing is making me think all kinds of thoughts since I paid off the F-150 last week. This would check lots of 4x4 boxes that I want, I could sleep in it for camping a long ways from the nearest living person in seriously remote parts of New Mexico, would haul doggos and this is something I could drive the Pan American Highway in (no specific plans at the moment, but is a life goal). I probably couldn’t have it as only car, but it sure would pair nicely with something fun to drive to work.

I should probably go do something around the house this afternoon and stop thinking about how I could make the logistics work.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 14:39

3

You shouldn’t do anything around the house and come up with a way yo make the logistics work.

That's the Oppo way...

jminer > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 15:04

1

That’s a sweet old truck - I would love one of those as an adventure mobile!

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 15:21

0

I like it. Do it!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > jminer 02/09/2020 at 15:30

0

I’m sure the mpg would be awesome around town, but I’m curious how hard it be wrung out to cruise at 80mph on the interstate .

f86sabre > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 15:35

2

Importing a car isn’t that hard.

Cash Rewards > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 16:35

1

Logistically, there were local Oppo's to that place. Just saying

HammerheadFistpunch > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 16:37

2

it always amuses me how much the Japanese market hates stock wheels. almost none of the 4x4 imports, regardless of miles, come with stock wheels and they are almost always terrible

HammerheadFistpunch > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 16:42

2

p.s. my Tamiya pajero as a kid was painted to look exactly like this (not mine shown)

man that chassis was a piece of ju nk, but it was fun to own.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 02/09/2020 at 17:19

0

Indeed.  Going down this rabbit hole and browsing other import Pajeros for sale right now, these aren’t nearly the worst wheels you could end up with on a Pajero at the moment.

UserNotFound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 17:36

5

Do eet.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Cash Rewards 02/09/2020 at 17:36

1

*waves*

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > UserNotFound 02/09/2020 at 19:02

1

Oooh, this brings up some questions.  Which engine is in yours, and how slow are these actually?  I know 0-60 would be an eventually thing..., but can they actually cruise at 80mph on the interstate?  My understanding is most of these came with an LSD, is there a sticker or some other marking that would reveal so without mechanically checking?

UserNotFound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 19:14

1

2.5 turbo intercooler diesel. It’s a 1992. It accelerates better than a box truck. Around town it’s just fine, but you’re never going to win a sprint race . On the highway, cruising at 80 is possible unless you’re on steep hills. I took it from Baltimore to Watkins Glen with my friend and my wife and it was very good, at least to us (except for the lack of AC because the R12 system had been recharged with R134a and the incorrect lubricant, so the compressor is toast).

I think there's a sticker that talks about the LSD if its equipped. Let me go take a picture of it.

UserNotFound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 19:22

3

Big orange sticker on the driver's side B-piller door jamb. Now I'm not 100% this means it definitely has a limited slip, but I'm 99% sure.

UserNotFound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 19:26

1

Also, my wife DDs it and gets low 20s mpg in a 75% highway commute, cruising around 120 kph.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > UserNotFound 02/09/2020 at 19:31

1

Thanks. I saw mention of a red sticker indicating an LSD on some old aussie or New Zealand forum, but no  further details.   Oh man, then this means the one I linked does an LSD and 5-speed. The locking rear diff would be awesome, but casual research seems to suggest that it was pretty rare even back in day.  I could live with an lsd and always have the option of the arb air locker if I wanted to spend some money.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:12

0

It is a nice looking truck, for 12k it is definitely worth considering

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/09/2020 at 21:16

2

If it were an auto, my jimmies wouldn’t be as rustled. There’a fair number of these imports with autos out there, but not many with the 5- speed.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry 02/09/2020 at 21:17

0

Any chance you’d be interesting in looking at this truck?

Under_Score > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:24

1

I found one of these dealers in South Carolina, then I was interested in a mint condition Corolla station wagon for $9,000.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:30

1

It’s an old Japanese SUV but Japanese Classics seems legit. My 1990 Isuzu is still running great after nearly 30 years.

interstate366, now In The Industry > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:31

1

I can try to contact them, yeah. Last time I tried to make an appointment I never heard from them. I want to ask them about some Aristo parts anyway.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:33

0

Jimmies need to be rustled o nce in a while, now buy the truck ! :)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 02/09/2020 at 21:37

1

I’m a fan of Japanese bubble era engineering and build quality.  I’ve heard good things about Japanese classics from multiple sources.  They’re the joint DeMuro bought his skyline from.  

interstate366, now In The Industry > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:42

0

If I am able to go look at it, what specifically do you want me to look at? I’m very much out of my element when it comes to SUVs, but I assume I’m going to check for rust and leaks and general running condition . Anything else?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:43

0

I drool over their website at least once a week. I’d love a mid 90’s wrx.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/09/2020 at 21:44

1

At this point, if I feel the same in the morning I might proceed with calling them up with some additional questions (and I’d love to get some pictures of the underside), and look more into how I would finance this. Had I not sent the payoff for the truck in last week, that part would be pretty simple if I decided to buy it.

This feels like it would be pretty easy personal loan territory, and that strikes me as the easiest way to short-term finance the possible purchase of a 26 year old JDM vehicle. Long-term I’d own such a vehicle outright after the sale of my F-150 and then consider the purchase of something fun (and not very old) for driving to work. Perhaps I’m just not meant to have a one car fleet.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry 02/09/2020 at 21:52

0

Certainly rust and leaks. I’d also be interested in how it cold starts (glow plug system) and shifts through the gears and various 4X4 modes (it may have to be rolling slowly in neutral to complete some shifts) Steering play also. I’m also interested in how under powered it actually is (although frinesi2 has answered a lot of my questions about that). I.e. can it actually cruise at 75mph without the pedal buried . A bit of black smoke under acceleration is fine, but there shouldn’t be any blue smoke.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 21:54

1

Mate...it will never comfortably cruise at 80 mph on that turbo diesel donk with that transmission . Not when it was new and very certainly not now. It will certainly hit those speeds even now... eventually (you’ll be going 80 by the time you get to the front of the B Double you are overtaking from 65 mph, for example). But cruising at that speed will challenge the suspension and eventually cook the engine...

All that said...these were a popular, cheaper and more around town practical alternative to an 80 series  Land Cruiser back in the day...

interstate366, now In The Industry > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 22:11

0

No problem. I’ll shoot them a message and see if I can check it out Friday.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry 02/09/2020 at 22:27

0

Thanks!

DipodomysDeserti > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2020 at 22:28

1

Love the look of these trucks. Almost pulled the trigger on cheap Montero of this vintage, but did the responsible thing and bought a Toyota pickup.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti 02/09/2020 at 22:40

1

I liked these trucks as kids. I’ve casually looked at the occasional cheap one as a 4X4 toy, but never seen one in good enough shape for cheap to be considered.  I’ve never looked for nice ones, as they were a non-starter as a tow vehicle.  Now that a tow vehicle isn’t a requirement, it opens up all kinds of 4X4 options.  

interstate366, now In The Industry > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/10/2020 at 11:05

0

They need your contact information too.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > interstate366, now In The Industry 02/10/2020 at 11:24

0

Cool, I’ll get in touch with them. Feel free to communicate with me offline at froc0107@gmail.com.

Thanks!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/10/2020 at 16:47

0

Any updates???

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/10/2020 at 19:39

1

I’m still seriously considering it, but I haven’t made a final decision.  I talked with them this afternoon, and everything I heard was good.  They’re supposed to send me some more information and pictures of the undercarriage tomorrow morning.  

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/10/2020 at 20:05

0

Yeah, well, your JDM shopping has lead me down a rabbit hole and now I want this:

https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-suzuki-cappuccino-1993-for-sale-5e296ea632dc8c573e98dc4b

Damn you :D

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/10/2020 at 20:39

1

I’ve been casually shopping new mid-size trucks, but as an only vehicle and eye towards something not sooner than a few months away. I periodically look at Japanese Classics for fun. This just happened to catch me eye and rustle my jimmies at idea. It would mean I would have to have a second driving to work car, but for  $25k less than I was contemplating spending on a new truck I think I could come up with some interesting and not very old.