RIP Isuzu USA

[MichaelD]

Well, it looks like my Trooper will be a collectible.

Isuzu will stop selling SUVs here in the States. Shame; Isuzu trucks are some of the most capable, yet under appreciated trucks and 4x4s out there. I love my Trooper. Sheesh; I'm afraid to drive it now. Maybe I should seal it in a plastic bubble?

 

[Pocatello]

Joe Isuzu was making a come back last year, he failed.

 

[RU482]

I heard a commercial for Izuzu...I think it had a 10/100 warranty and an unprecedented 7yr/0% financing deal

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Pocatello
Joe Isuzu was making a come back last year, he failed.

True. The original Joe Isuzu commercials were funny, but the new ones just sort of sucked eggs..

 

[Pocatello]

A friend of mine bought a 1989 Isuzu Trooper, it's still running well, albeit very slowly with the weak 4 cylinder engine, more than a decade later.

 

[Ornery]

Wow, if Mitsubishi Is The Red-Headed Stepchild Of Japanese Vehicles, Isuzu must be the bastard child. I completely forgot about them!

 

[0roo0roo]

trooper roll over rep killed it

 

[Zebo]

Actually the Amigo was the most capable Japanese 4x4 I can think of (gocart samuri excluded). It had a short wheel base like a Jeep and wider trac for better stablity. Guys did rubicon with em' with locked/welded diffs and they sailed over sand dunes cause they were relativly lightweight....Sad day ... Nice Amigo

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: redly1
I heard a commercial for Izuzu...I think it had a 10/100 warranty and an unprecedented 7yr/0% financing deal

Yep. That's one of the reasons I bought an Isuzu.

10/100K powertrain, 3/50K bumper to bumper warranty. For $1K I bought an extended warranty that covers me bumper to bumper until 10/100K with only a $250 deductible. No worries at all.

The V6 in my truck is rated at 220HP/230ft lbs torque. Decent...but the truck weighs 5,000 pounds fully fueled and equipped. Spirited acceleration but nothing to brag about. It's nice onroad and great offroad. I'll be keeping it for quite awhile.

The original Joe Isuzu commercials rocked...the new one did suck eggs.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Wow, if Mitsubishi Is The Red-Headed Stepchild Of Japanese Vehicles, Isuzu must be the bastard child. I completely forgot about them!

You're correct, unfortunately. Here in the States, Isuzu is not a big name in SUVs. But in Europe and Asia, you see a Trooper on every corner. They are big in Europe where they are sold under the Holden "Jackaroo" nameplate.


Pic of a Holden Jackaroo w/the front bumper I want.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I like Isuzu and just about bought one this last summer. (my boss drives a Rodeo) I sort of 'expected' this for some reason even though Isuzu is a pretty good vehicle and definitely a good buy. Honda rebadged the Rodeo as a Passport and added about $7000 to the sticker just for their name.....schmucks.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: MichaelD<brIsuzu will stop selling SUVs here in the States.

An interesting article, but I read it as meaning Isuzu was just quitting its own production of SUVs, not quitting selling them.

This passage is why I say that; "The Indiana-based joint venture, known as Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc, is currently 49 percent owned by Isuzu, but will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy on January 1, with Isuzu outsourcing SUV production to the joint venture."

If I read that correctly, Isuzu is just selling out the manufacturing capacity they owned with Subaru and will now just outsource their Troopers from the Subaru-owned plant.

 

[MichaelD]

The Trooper is dead. 2002 was the last model year for it. The "new Isuzu" is called the "Ascender" and is just a rebadged Chevy Trailblazer, which is a pretty decent truck...but it's a GM, not an Isuzu.

Rodeos, which are nice, are actually made here in the States (NC, I think...) the Trooper was actually imported from Japan. Quality stuff, man.

 

[Spendthrift]

Holden is an australian company, but owned by GM IIRC. are the jackaroos really rebadged troopers?!?

 

[CraigRT]

Aren't the troopers the ones that can't handle a corner and will flip over? Yes... yes they are... those things scare me!! :Q

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Spendthrift
Holden is an australian company, but owned by GM IIRC. are the jackaroos really rebadged troopers?!?

Yes. Every single drivetrain part is interchangeable. Almost all the body panels, too.

That whole Flipping Trooper Fiasco was settled in court, years ago. ANY SUV is top heavy and will roll over more readily than a car. You can't fling an SUV around a corner like an S2000 or something.

If you don't know that, you should be driving a car, not an SUV!

 

[Chadder007]

What about the AXIOM ....I kinda liked those from ISUZU..

AXIOM

 

[RossMAN]

RIP Isuzu

I bought my first car, a 1985 Isuzu I-Mark for $1,800 from a family friend when I was 18. I loved that car, I drove it A LOT (around 30,000 miles in 14 months) which is probably why it died on me.

The original Joe Isuzu commercials were some of the best.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
What about the AXIOM ....I kinda liked those from ISUZU..

AXIOM

And the Vehicross.