1. From the 1 picture I saw, I don't like the exterior very much. Nothing offensive, but there's nothing that brings a smile to my face the way the 1992-2002 Trooper does.
2. The wheelbase is 21 inches longer than the Trooper! I wonder how much interior room this thing will have.
3. I cannot believe Isuzu is providing the 10yr/120k mile powertrain warranty on this General Motors vehicle! This will likely cost Isuzu (and parent GM) dearly in warranty repairs.
4. Is GM starting to flood the market with too many closely sized and priced SUVs? Yukon/Tahoe are already occupying the next size/price level above Envoy/Trailblazer/Bravada. Won't the Ascender and extended-length Envoy/Trailblazer be occupying the same market niche at Yukon/Tahoe?
Hey, I don't really care that much, but I am just a little curious about the overall reputation of the plant where the Ascender will be built. This is the Moraine, Ohio, plant-- right?
I know some of the Ford and GM plants actually have a good reputation for quality, even though these manufacturers generally have poor reputations for quality.
I was at the NY auto show last Sunday. I say the rebadged GMC Envoy XL to be sold by Isuzu. It comes with the V8 option, but the dumb booth-babe had no clue as to the engine capacity. Any way it was on a raised platform and you couldn't get into the vehicle. Currently there is no V8 offered in the GMC or Chevy versions. Apparently the Isuzu version with the V8 can tow up to 7400 pounds. Then again the booth babe told me this....
However, I did sit in an GMC Envoy with the third row seats and I have to admit, it is probably as good if not more comfortable than the Sequoias third row seats. Unless Isuzu ofered the 10/120K warranty I would stick with the GMC version as it will probably be cheaper.
Even though I rarely post, I'm still around. Watch the language, or I'll have to start passing out the Lifebuoy, or is Zest more appropriate for Izusu fans? :-)
I think Isuzu needs that pretty bad. So far the major problems with the TB/Envoy I've seen:
1) Rear Gasket around liscense plate area 2) Folded rear seats hit front seats if they are in "back position" 3) pass seat hits the power point cover, scraping leather seat 4) electric clutch control on the fan is flaky 5) Mirrors work erratically 6) Weird noises from engine especially on cold startup.
Sounds like the Assender is coming from a great start.
I forgot those 2 important ones on #8 above the fixes are:
a) Turn up the Bose stereo if you don't have the Bose stereo b) There is some "velcro in the headliner, just re-stick it up or get some 'upgraded' velcro from Radio Shack!
dielectric7bb; I'm sure you meant on the all NEW inline-6 vs. the optional v8 in the extended version of the Ascender are the ones that are failing. Someone over there said the potential was in the 'hundreds' for engine failures due to bad blocks. Oh Boy!
Cracked me up with the "if you want to fix wierd noised, just turn up the radio" option, that is what I had to do with my old Jeep.
By the way, one guy on the Honda Pilot forum lightly 'dissed' the Trooper as being antiquated. Did my best to politely set them straight over there.
You can count on GM for problems resulting from poor manufacturing/build quality/etc. But what makes it even worse is that some of the problems people are mentioning are design problems. To me, design problems seem more easily avoided than manufacturing problems.
I think the GM design problem is because they plan on making so many of each that shaving a penny here or there can justify the existence of another engineer who's only purpose in life is to cut those pennies out of the vehicle cost. That is why most GMs don't have fuel filler door latches for example.
That our Troopers never made it into multimillions of units per year might have prevented the cost cutters from hitting too hard. One possible exception is that newer Troopers seem to have poor a/c compared to my 1995, maybe that was a cost cutter at work.
Probably a result of the Enviromental whackos? Wasn't it around 95ish that they switched over to a different refrigirant? Also I think the extra fan on the 01->02s helps this problem.
I think Isuzu made a big mistake to team up with Chevy to make this Ascender, a long wheel base version of Trail Blazer. I think they should redesign the Trooper. It is sad to see Trooper disappear. Or maybe keep the name of Trooper. I like the Trooper because it has been in the market for over a decade. It is one of the true pioneer of SUV when we only had Land Cruiser and 4Runner, maybe Montero.
I know that GM is bringing in a version of this truck (colorado/canyon) for 2004. Do you think Isuzu will offer it in the United States as well? I like idea of Isuzu re-entering the compact truck market. Perhaps this is just wishful thinking.
Did you see the rodeo with HIDs??? and Turn signals in the mirrors??
I have a feeling that GM is going to keep the colorado for itself and produce it out of the US plants which means that it's reliability might be in question. It does look good though.
I just read in March 03 Automobile Magazine SUV edition that Isuzu will get a version of the colorado/canyon. The article also said that GM is in the process of reducing ownership of Isuzu to %15 percent by 2005. The article stated that GM will sell interest in manufacturing plants in Indiana. Can Isuzu survive and possibly rebuild without GM's wallet? Who will own and operate Rodeo and Axiom production facilities in the United States?
It is my understanding that Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries) will own the plant 100% and probably contract build the Isuzu's. Paisan might be able to add more.
SOA will own SIA (actually they have since Jan 1). They will contract to build the Axioms and Rodeos.
The colorado from what I've read will be built by Isuzu in Thailand and sold (is being sold already) in Asia and Pacific rim under the Isuzu and Holden badges. In the US Isuzu is not slated as far as I know to get the Colorado to be sold as an Isuzu. It doesn't make sense to sell a re-badged vehicle under the Isuzu name in the US with their ever shrinking dealer support network, who would buy one? I know I wouldn't buy a GM re-badge for the simple fact that I can tap a much bigger resource of dealers in the event of a problem by buying a GMC or Chevy branded vehicle.
I saw a photo of the Cross Lander posted over on the wire. The truck is from a company in Romania. The U.S. models will be built in a plant in Brazil.
www.crosslander4x4.com
According to their website, the price will be under 20K. Like the early Trooper, it's a 4X4 square box with a 4 cylinder. This truck is a dead ringer for the Defender. The price is unbelievable, but I always equate eastern block engineering with Yugo.
I wish Isuzu had a product like this. They could call it the Trooper Field Grade.
I didn't realize that the Yugo had Fiat roots. I had a Fiat Spyder in high school.
Bad brakes Top didn't fit Faulty wiring Rust problem No horn Torn seats Rotten floor board Leaked a quart of oil a week Key did not work doors or trunk Hood rattled in the wind Engine would not idle correctly
I spent as much on repair bills each month as my Dad did in car payments on our '86 Trooper. But it had personality. Man I miss that car!
I would hate to go into a never ending repair cycle today, but this Cross Lander sure has my attention.
I recently checked out the Honda Element, which brought back to mind the concept Isuzu came out with on 2001. If you look at the conceptual side of this product, it amazes me what Honda has pulled off. IMO, If the Element had an Isuzu badge on it, they would be sitting on lots everywhere regardless of a low MSRP.
I actually kinda like the Element (headroom rules!), but with that wimpy engine (same as the CRV) I wouldn't buy one. The CRV is only rated at 1000 pounds towing, so I doubt the Element is rated for much more.
The more I see in town the better I like it, so one day I stopped in to look at it. It has some very good features and some not so good. IMO it's about $4k too much for what you get.
Off topic - just curious, in your area do you guys see many H2 Hummers? I see so many out here in S.D. and a ton of them in L.A.
They are all over Atlanta. The dealer here likes to add a low mount step bar that cuts the vehicle's ground clearance in half. He has over 20 on his lot and a good selection of H1's as well.
I broke the side step on the H2 at the car show here. I generally test the side steps of SUVs by grabbing the grab handle inside and jump up and down 2 or 3 times on the steps. The H2 just bent down about 2" when I did that. POSes
It is a shame that people buy only for the name. I would definately have picked the the GBX over the Element. Much more rugged and functional than the Honda.
I wonder who had the concept first? I would have to guess that it was an Isuzu design, since they seem to always have those far out concepts. I am sure if Isuzu was a brand name the GBX would have come to life.
I have seen a few Elements around and the one thing that turns me off about them are the undersized rims and tires. They just don't seem to fit the proportions and style of the vehicle. I guess with only a small 4 cylinder pulling it around, the last thing it needs is the weight of larger rims and tires.
If the name doesn't matter then why does a used 2001 Passport EX 4WD V-6 with 24,000 miles have a higher average retail price than a Rodeo LSE 4WD V-6 with 24,000 miles?
If you look them both up at NADA the difference is $1,925. Not to say that people are paying these prices for either vehicle, but the Honda will bring in a higher price because of the name.
I would bet most people do not even know the Passport is actually an Isuzu Rodeo.
The Trooper and SLX both had very low sales. I think the Trooper was under 20,000 units per year for the last couple. The SLX was around 10K...or so I vaguely remember from some article I read a while ago.
Comments
Another link confirms the 5.3 V8.
2. The wheelbase is 21 inches longer than the Trooper! I wonder how much interior room this thing will have.
3. I cannot believe Isuzu is providing the 10yr/120k mile powertrain warranty on this General Motors vehicle! This will likely cost Isuzu (and parent GM) dearly in warranty repairs.
4. Is GM starting to flood the market with too many closely sized and priced SUVs? Yukon/Tahoe are already occupying the next size/price level above Envoy/Trailblazer/Bravada. Won't the Ascender and extended-length Envoy/Trailblazer be occupying the same market niche at Yukon/Tahoe?
I know some of the Ford and GM plants actually have a good reputation for quality, even though these manufacturers generally have poor reputations for quality.
However, I did sit in an GMC Envoy with the third row seats and I have to admit, it is probably as good if not more comfortable than the Sequoias third row seats. Unless Isuzu ofered the 10/120K warranty I would stick with the GMC version as it will probably be cheaper.
5.3l V8 will be optional with 7800lb towing. It IS NOT a TROOPER REPLACEMENT it's just a POS.
It will have the 3/50K and 10/120K warranty though.
-mike
Thanks!
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
1) Rear Gasket around liscense plate area
2) Folded rear seats hit front seats if they are in "back position"
3) pass seat hits the power point cover, scraping leather seat
4) electric clutch control on the fan is flaky
5) Mirrors work erratically
6) Weird noises from engine especially on cold startup.
Sounds like the Assender is coming from a great start.
-mike
7) loose front bumper/not enough clips
8) rattling headliner
What do you think, time to remove the Assender from your home page and go back to the full size Trooper getting dirty?
a) Turn up the Bose stereo
if you don't have the Bose stereo
b) There is some "velcro in the headliner, just re-stick it up or get some 'upgraded' velcro from Radio Shack!
-mike
Cracked me up with the "if you want to fix wierd noised, just turn up the radio" option, that is what I had to do with my old Jeep.
By the way, one guy on the Honda Pilot forum lightly 'dissed' the Trooper as being antiquated. Did my best to politely set them straight over there.
That our Troopers never made it into multimillions of units per year might have prevented the cost cutters from hitting too hard. One possible exception is that newer Troopers seem to have poor a/c compared to my 1995, maybe that was a cost cutter at work.
-mike
http://www.isuzu-tis.com
I know that GM is bringing in a version of this truck (colorado/canyon) for 2004. Do you think Isuzu will offer it in the United States as well? I like idea of Isuzu re-entering the compact truck market. Perhaps this is just wishful thinking.
I have a feeling that GM is going to keep the colorado for itself and produce it out of the US plants which means that it's reliability might be in question. It does look good though.
-mike
The colorado from what I've read will be built by Isuzu in Thailand and sold (is being sold already) in Asia and Pacific rim under the Isuzu and Holden badges. In the US Isuzu is not slated as far as I know to get the Colorado to be sold as an Isuzu. It doesn't make sense to sell a re-badged vehicle under the Isuzu name in the US with their ever shrinking dealer support network, who would buy one? I know I wouldn't buy a GM re-badge for the simple fact that I can tap a much bigger resource of dealers in the event of a problem by buying a GMC or Chevy branded vehicle.
-mike
www.crosslander4x4.com
According to their website, the price will be under 20K. Like the early Trooper, it's a 4X4 square box with a 4 cylinder. This truck is a dead ringer for the Defender. The price is unbelievable, but I always equate eastern block engineering with Yugo.
I wish Isuzu had a product like this. They could call it the Trooper Field Grade.
What do you guys think of the Cross Lander?
-mike
I didn't realize that the Yugo had Fiat roots. I had a Fiat Spyder in high school.
Bad brakes
Top didn't fit
Faulty wiring
Rust problem
No horn
Torn seats
Rotten floor board
Leaked a quart of oil a week
Key did not work doors or trunk
Hood rattled in the wind
Engine would not idle correctly
I spent as much on repair bills each month as my Dad did in car payments on our '86 Trooper. But it had personality. Man I miss that car!
I would hate to go into a never ending repair cycle today, but this Cross Lander sure has my attention.
Isuzu GBX
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/45676/page025.html
Honda Model X
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/45676/page030.html
-mike
-mike
Off topic - just curious, in your area do you guys see many H2 Hummers? I see so many out here in S.D. and a ton of them in L.A.
They are essentially the same vehicle.
-mike
He has over 20 on his lot and a good selection of H1's as well.
-mike
I wonder who had the concept first? I would have to guess that it was an Isuzu design, since they seem to always have those far out concepts. I am sure if Isuzu was a brand name the GBX would have come to life.
I have seen a few Elements around and the one thing that turns me off about them are the undersized rims and tires. They just don't seem to fit the proportions and style of the vehicle. I guess with only a small 4 cylinder pulling it around, the last thing it needs is the weight of larger rims and tires.
-mike
If you look them both up at NADA the difference is $1,925. Not to say that people are paying these prices for either vehicle, but the Honda will bring in a higher price because of the name.
I would bet most people do not even know the Passport is actually an Isuzu Rodeo.
-mike
-mike
Rodeo 1,537
Axiom 486
Ascender 364
Rodeo S. 270
Trooper 187
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3043804.stm