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BTW, I replaced the main light bulb with a Xenon 85/65(instead of the standard Halogen), but I don't really see the difference, other than it "white" light.
Thanks
No longer will the automaker promote a brand image. Instead, all advertising will have a hard-sell retail message."
Sinking Isuzu grabs ad lifeline
Steve, Host
Isuzu, are you listenning?
Instead of the Ascender how about the Astro Van with a 3L 250 ft-lb. torque diesel and a slighlty narrower interior engine housing and & TOD 4WD.? That would fit much better with the sell quality per dollar than trying to compete with four bigger GM brands also selling the Ascender. An Isuzu medium size van that can tow and get good MPG would allow GM to quit selling a medium size van. Isuzu could add a 120VAC and compressed air auxiliaries and make this mid size van a favorite with the huge "white van with ladder on top" crowd. It would also be a favorite beach fishing van with TOD and the air compressor.
And the Astro is utilitarian square, Isuzu should push the utility of their vehicles and emphasize that square is beautiful for utility.
I forgot to mention in order to make the Isuzu Astro van more practical, a tighter turning circle like the Trooper's 38 feet is needed. And do it low tech with just the front wheels steering so the price stays low and for simple reliability.
I checked out tirerack.com, they rank Yokohama Geolandar H/T Y816 pretty high (much higher than Bridgestone.) Can you experts give me some suggestions in choocing safe tires? Which brand do you recommend/use?
Thanks!
Mine are too new to say I would get them again...but they look cool, and work well onroad and good offroad. I went with a larger size 265/70's and had the white lettering turned inside, to keep the stock look.
I didn't get yokohama's due to availability...i.e. if I get a flat somewhere they may not have them in stock. If I had to do it again, I would probably spend the extra dollars and get the BFG All Terrain TA/KO's or a road biased Michelin SUV tire...though the Bridgestones provide a near stock ride...for an A/T tire they are as quiet as highway tires. The BFG's not only are premium A/T tires but great in the snow. They are worse highway tires.
If you go with a larger size, try to get a deal replacing the spare...I got $71 credit on my brand new spare and my spare is now the same as the tires on the truck.
The good part about this was the surprising gas mileage I got on this trip. Before leaving I did an oil change with fresh Mobil 1 5W-30, aired the tires to 35 psi, and installed a new air filter. Oh yeah, did a tire rotation which probably didn't figure into the mpg thing. Anyway, driving about 70-72 mph I pulled down 21 mpg!! This is the 2001 S, 2WD, and shes got 20K miles on her now. I was really surprised by the mileage. It's strange what backing away from 75-80 mph does for the fuel consumption on this truck. At those higher speeds mileage drops to about 17-18. I also noticed that the RPM's are barely over 2500 at 72 mph. I believe at 75 mph the RPM's are pushing 2700.
Surprising mpg for a vehicle this heavy and this boxey. Quality and mileage to boot!! Who could ask for more??
Now, just how do I get this kind of performance out of the 99' 4WD Performance Trooper??????
Just be glad you weren't injured or killed by a tornado during your trip. It sounds like many people in TN and surrounding states were less fortunate than you.
The car was 8 months old at the time, with about 10000kms (6000 miles) on the clock. I had filled up at Jindabyne and did 500kms (or 300 miles)on half a tank according to the fuel gauge, varying between 100-130km/h. Then did a normal week and a half of commuting before filling up again. A total of 800km or 480 miles, I can only guess that there was something different about the load of fuel that was purchased, as it was bought in an alpine area. It could have been a different formulation to the normal suburban stuff.
I have also since found that the Isuzu V6 runs leaner in cold weather. Actually, it runs richer in hot weather to reduce combustion chamber temperatures and avoid piston and valve damage. So as intake air temp lowers, the amount of fuel used to operate also drops and the engine can run leaner. The higher the air temp, the more fuel used to preserve the motor. Interesting bit of trivia I thought.
I'm still apprehensive about what Holden's plans are for the Jackaroo. Lots of rumours, some conflicting, but nothing solid to go on.
I think they'd be foolish not to - IMHO, of course! :-)
tidester, host
Thanks for the link Steve.
"Scena said the company's new marketing strategy is the best it has had since he became a dealer in 1988. "We don't need the branding of Isuzu," he said. "Branding will come from getting vehicles on the road."
Smart!!
Glad to know I'm not the only one who uses power mode for the hell of it.
I hope to use the winter mode this weekend. Mt. Hood is getting dumped on! Anyone find winter mode useful? Or is it just a gimmick for people who don't drive in the snow?
-mike
I keep detailed gas records for my 1999 Trooper, drive it gentle and mostly highway but never ever have I got 20mpg -- it has always been in the teens ranging from 15 - 19 but mostly around 17mpg. If you get in the 20+ mpg, you must have a tail wind, going downhill, and burning something other than regular petrol.
98% of the miles I ran on my Trooper in on Road. I commute 25 miles one-way each day. about 17 miles interstate (in Chicago which = traffic jam) 3 miles inner city street (= you have to dodge crazy people and 88 year old Chevy) and about 5 mile suburban street (at 40 MPH). As you know, Chicago has a lot of snow and ice in winter.
So what's your suggestion on tire choice?
Thanks!
Peter
-mike
My wife said they were very courteous and explained that the coverage is for 6 years/55,000 miles up to $200 per occurence.
Needless to say this was good to hear as my wife is due with our third child any day now... (and yes, three car seats do fit in the Trooper with no third row!)
I would think that this part of the Isuzu experience would make a good part of the advertising campaign...
Try getting a family with 3 car seats and a doublewide stroller into the other mid size SUVs without a third row. If the third row is needed for car seats where will the stroller get stowed inside the other mid size SUVs?
If they must include sexy in the advertisement then just say you have plenty of room in back before during and after considerable amounts of it.
That 25mpg trip was totally out of the ordinary and has not been repeatable. Another possible explanation is that it was travelling from inland about 1800m above sea level, to the coast. So it was an overall downhill trip all the way.
Like I said earlier, 20-21mpg seems to be more the go when highway cruising without much traffic around me.
My (wife's) normal day-to-day commute figures are nowhere near that good. Around 15-16mpg, in a stop start situation, covering only about 8 miles total per day.
I had the local dealer replace an arm rest cover last week end and was suprised to find out that the replacement was all leather. The job was a snap and I was glad to get it put on. The color matched the seats (beige) but it did not match the other arm rest on the passenger seat. The dealer ordered another one so they would be the same.
Support has been great from Isuzu so for. I sure hope it lasts for the next ten years. I am at least hopeful because of the ad agent change that they are trying to fix things. The GM product will not serve the line well however. GM makes a poor SUV.
Steve, Host
Philip
I think GM does a good job with the engine and transmission for nice combination of power and MPG. But I agree that GM takes out every penny in production resulting in less quality. Economy of scale taken a little bit too far... GM always rides the edge.
This could give a whole new meaning to roadside assistance! Best wishes and early congratulations!
tidester, host
I traded a 2000 GMC truck in for my Trooper and was really glad to see the GMC go. The quality was not as good as I had anticipated and the service was very poor. I was however most disapointed with the warranty service. Dealers could only compound a problem, not fix it. At best they put a patch on your vehicle and sent you down the road. I have not been treated that way from Isuzu dealers as of yet and hope that I do not.
I purchased the Trooper for the long haul. I hope that I am not disapointed.
This time maybe it will be Australian made by Holden instead of Isuzu and could be sold in the USA as the Hummer Jackaroo with a standard snorkel, 33 inch tires, and turbo 6L gas engine and an as an Isuzu Trooper with an adaquate diesel hybrid and ultra high MPG and a CD player.
Always pull the fill plug first. If you pull the drain plug first and then find the fill plug to be stuck you have a problem and an empty reservoir.
Buy a cheap hand pump (around $6 IIRC) that screws on to your fluid bottles. While not Walmart type items, any auto parts store should have them. I like the ones that fit gallon size containers rather than qt size bottles. They pump faster and the fluids are usually cheaper in gallon size containers.
Use a big catch pan to minimize spills.
As to which oil, use the API range specified in the owners manual. You may want to use synthetics. Whereas motor oil is changed in only a few months, gear type oils may stay in there for years. Thus the incremental cost versus conventional oil has a much longer payback time.
The front diff drain plug is the cover bolt on the bottom that is slightly different looking.
FWIW, I generally like to drain fluids when cool. This not only prevents burns it also gives particles plenty of time to settle to the bottom of the reservoir being drained. Depending on how cold it is where you live, that may not be real practical as the gear oil can be too thick when cold. You may also want to keep your new oil inside your heated house untill just before you try to pump it in.
I would consider doing the tranny while you are at it. Also, the shift-on-the-fly unit (front drive line driver's side) has a maintenance schedule, although it is more of a check oil level.
Also, I tend to add in the first couple of pumps of new oil with the drain plug out. The theory being that it will help wash out any remaining particles.
Lastly, next time consider posting such questions in the "Maintenance and Repair" section - /direct/view/.eea1204
(it's free) and found out that the dealer is no
longer selling Isuzu anymore. and was told sooner
or later I need to go elsewhere for services.
this is very bad news for Isuzu owners. This was
the only Isuzu dealer in Brooklyn(population > 2 million)!
My biggist complain is the mileage.
I keep detailed mpg records for my 1998 Trooper.
I drive gently and mostly local. I get about 10 mpg on local, close to 19 on hightway. I even get
9 mpg in cold winter.
I came across this fuel saving product: Hercules Jr. Fuel Activators. Anyone heard of it?
http://www.cyberbizpark.com/HJ_main.htm
Someone I know has a 2 mile commute to work (I think in NY City that's about how far you walk after you park as close as possible to where you want to go). He has one of those computers that tells MPG while driving, he gets 7 MPG over those 2 miles on a cold engine. On the highway all warmed up the same car gets 32+ MPG.
10mpg is way low, I get about 11-12 with my bigger tires on. Definitely need to hookup with more NYC/NJ/LI Trooper owners.
-mike
More here:
"The accessories to improve mileage and extend engine life"
Steve, Host
The fact that this is being offered by a po-dunk company who can't even afford a decent web site should make you skeptical. Buyer beware.