Well, the dealership called to tell me my hitch and bugshield are in. I'll go in next week to have them installed. Thanks Scoobyax for measuring your hitch. I had planned on having them put it on but my wife keeps reminding me that I don't have anything to pull, and threatened my life if I started looking for something. It'll be nice to have when I need it.
I saw another Axiom in my sleepy little town today. I really have mixed feelings on this. I'm excited to see another but I like having the only one in town. Fortunately it had out of town plates.
if it is bolt on, save yourself the money and do it yourself. A couple of sockets and a torque wrench from sears and you can probably install a bolt on in 45 mintues...and get a nice sense of accomplishment.
I previously owned two FORD Windstars, and was constantly replacing something or realigning the front end. So, I traded the 99 Windstar in on a 2002 2WD Axiom - it is a beautiful blue color. Awesome vehicle, loaded with features. I got the standard model, if that is a fair term, and it has gray cloth interior and no sunroof, but it is perfect in every respect.
I had driven almost every SUV out there, Escapes, Xterras, Santa Fes, VUEs, and stumbled across the Axiom last Saturday. I took advantage of the $3000 cash back to make the vehicle more affordable and in line more or less with the Mazda Tribute I was going to buy originally. I am tickled to death with the Axiom.
I love the looks of this car, and the design quality. I was instantly sold on the test drive.
I would, though, like to request help from you forum members on these questions:
1. Has anyone found a good source for aftermarket parts for this car? I would like to get a roof rack, and while many would likely fit, am probably stuck with the Axiom roof rack for compatibility? I was quoted $600 installed for this item which it too steep IMHO. Any ideas? If nothing else, an Isuzu dealer who sells at less than MSRP over the WEb?
2. ALong the same line, does anyone know if Aftermarket parts for late model Rodeos will generally fit the Axiom?
3. Has anyone tried aftermarket air filter kits such as the K&N Filter (www.4filters.com I think) or others to see if they improve the mileage?
4. I would love to get an oval chrome nerf bar for the sides of the vehicle, which I think would look awesome. I emailed Westin Mfg, one of the makers and they stated that they do not make parts for this car? Again, I have to wonder if the Rodeo aftermarket parts would line up with the same bolt holes? I saw a Rodeo today and its undercarriage looked identical to the Axiom, and I understand that the Axiom is based on the Rodeo's parts.
Any ideas anyone?
BTW, someone has a fully-loaded beige Axiom for sale on Ebay. It has a mere 7K miles on it if someone is looking for a deal and can tolerate beige. Check it out.
Not sure what you mean by "compatibility", but I did a quick check at yakima.com and their fitment guide shows racks available for the '02 Axiom. Probably similar story with thule.com. Lots of outdoor stores (like REI) and truck canopy dealers stock these (and probably some less well-known brands), and they shouldn't run much over $300, depending on whether you just want some bars and towers or more accessories. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Seriously, where else would the host do a search like that for you so quickly? And, this is but one of many examples I've witnessed. Keep up the great work.
don't go to REI except to shop and look. online is the best place to buy these racks. outdoorsports.com is just one of many online dealers who offer the racks at significant savings.
Thanks Jimmyp1, but I just happened to get there first :-). Lots of good info from the Isuzu community available here.
Sbcooke makes a good point - I got my Yak racks at a truck accessory dealer, but went to REI to find the right clips. Pays to shop around, especially on these "yuppie" items (I really much prefer Quik 'n Easy racks, but you have to have real rain gutters to use them). Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Sbcooke: The dealership is installing my accessories without cost to me. (or maybe without additional cost!)
Has anyone questioned the stated cargo space in their Axiom? Can 85 cubic feet be correct? Comparing the exterior size of other vehicles to my axiom makes me wonder. The Ford Explorer has 5 more feet but is a behemoth when next to my Ax. I can almost believe it when next to a Toyota Highlander. Any thoughts on this?
Rodeo stuff will bolt to the frame of the Axiom, but and this is a BIG BUT, the body is mounted lower on the Axiom, so for things like side steps you may run into a problem of it hitting the body.
Engine-drivetrain wise, anything that bolts onto the Trooper will work on the Axiom. I have a K&N panel filter and it is nice cause it stopped all water that has gotten into my air-box from passing, also it's re-usable.
I bought mine from St. Charles, IIRC it was a little more but they offer free shipping, and they are FAST! Fed Ex'ed to my house in two days. They offer a 15% discount on online purchases so make sure you mention it if you call.
I emailed Partscheap and St. Charles both a few questions about the kit, St. Charles got back to me the same day, Partscheap took a week and they charge for shipping so in the end, its a wash. But for me, speed counts. St. Charles will get my business every time.
Not too many aftermarket parts around. I think we covered most of the popular stuff here (roof rack, hitch, lights, bug shield). As for grill guards and side step/nerf bars, nothing I can remember.
No mention here on the K&N air filter but there is a board in Aftermarket & Accessories, something about "Bolt-on Power" if your interested. If you do decide to get one make sure you let us know how it turns out.
Thanks to all of you for your helpful tips and comments.
I did find www.partscheap.com to have most of the items I was looking for at reasonable prices: 1. roof rack (yes I went with the factory one - so I can hopefully install it myself.) 2. mudflaps 3. body side moulding kit 4. fog lamp kit (one of you mentioned it was easy to install)
...and I even took a chance on the nerf tube step bars for the Rodeo. I will try them on and let all of you know if they work or not. If so, it is a standard part on partscheap.com.
Ironically, I also bought the nose mask (bra) that someone mentioned was listed on Ebay. Sounds like I am going hog wild here, but I feel the vehicle needs these accessories, and the nose mask was essential in Florida where the darn love bugs have become thick this summer.
Installing the nose mask was a bit of a challenge with no instructions included, but we managed.
Still enjoying this vehicle very much. Went to the mall the other day and after we got about 100 yards away from the Axiom, I looked back and saw someone run up to my vehicle and start looking in the window. For a second there, I thought he was going to try to steal it, then realized he was just gawking.
Thanks again for all your suggestions. I only lack one item now, which some other Axiomer posted a question about, and that is who makes the 6 disc changer magazine. I would like to get a 2nd one two. I suspect, based on my own research that it is the Clarion CAA-355, which is 29.95 at Crutchfield.com, but I would have to buy one to prove it. Does anyone have any idea if Clarion OEM'd the CD changer? Please advise if you know, or if you have found the CD magazine that works for this car.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the Homelink saga. The Homelink transmitter on my Axiom appears to be defective and will likely need to be replaced at the dealer. I own a Craftsman garage door opener, that is only about a year old and it will not work with the Homelink. I tried all the steps in the user's manual and then even went to Homelink.Com and printed out the manual in PDF format that is on their Website (it is actually more detailed - I recommend it for you who are trying to figure out how this newfangled gadget works.
I next went to Radio Shack (which is listed on the Homelink Web site) to get a lamp module for programming in sync with my Homelink transmitter receiver in my Axiom.
To make a long story short, I was unable to get either the garage door opener or the RS Lamp module to work with the Homelink system. The GDO has rolling code feature, but even following the instructions from the Homelink Web site and using trial-and-error variances, we were unsuccessful in getting these 3 buttons to do anything useful.
I would like to know if anyone else had similar problems? If so, is there an undocumented trick to this? BTW, I even bought 2 new batteries for the remotes, which made no difference whatsoever.
I am totally frustrated with this gadget and have a good 3.5 hours invested in trying to make it WORK!!!
Most likely won't work. They should hit into the body of the Axiom due to the body being mounted lower on the frame than on the rodeo. Hopefully they'll work though. If they do, could you do a writeup for http://isuzu-suvs.com for the how-to section? Thanks.
I use the homelink on my Axiom, but it seems like only the middle button works. Also, I need to be very close to the security gate (1 foot) where the separate gate remote has a range of 10 feet or more. So, it could be that the range of the Axiom's homelink is too short for your use. Hope you get it solved.
I've never had a problem with my homelink (once I figured out that on the craftsman ones you have to hit the rolling code button on the back of the door opener). As far as range is concerned, I can open my garage from about 150-200 feet away. Best garage door remote that I've ever owned. Just thought I'd let you know so you can get yours fixed.
Last Sunday as I was pulling out of a parking spot next to my house, I thought there was a mirror in front of me because I saw an identical black Axiom as mine. It looked like it was just purchased with temporary plates, etc. I tried to waive to the driver, but he must have had a tunnel vision because he didn't even move his head. Still, it was pretty cool to see another Axiom on the road. IMO, the more the merrier. If you are a new black Axiom XS owner and you live in Chicago, we are probably neighbors.
The CD cartridge is a Clarion CAA-355. My local stereo shop sells Clarion and we tried it in their changer. I ordered one there and am waiting for it to come in. It's a pretty common CD changer so you should be able to find it at any shop that carries Clarion. Hope you're enjoying your Ax.
Just in case someone is interested, here is a site that shows detailed photos and instructions for removing/replacing stereos and speakers in Isuzu vehicles. They even have Axiom instructions.
I have finally completed reading all the posts!! Seems like everyone is very satisfied with the Axiom purchases, with the exception of a few small problems a few folks have reported.
After looking for a mid size SUV and getting outrageous price quotes, I had a client tell me about his test driving an Ax, and how much he loved it. Said it would be his next purchase after his Rodeo lease expires. I decided to go test drive one myself. Very impressed. All the options and thousands less than the competition. Then to mention the 0% for 5 years and the warranty, and I was HAD! I had looked at Troopers the week before and didn't want to pay 38K for the limited I fell in love with, so the salesman told me I should consider the Ax. I only wanted the Trooper and didn't hardly look at the Axioms across the lot. I did notice they had at least 8 or 10 to choose from, but didn't pay much attention after I decided the yellow orange/tan interior was too wild for me.
When I went back the following week, it was April 30, the last day of the 0%/60 month incentive. There were no Axioms on the lot (well, only one that was most likely sold the salesman said), and nearly 10 the week before! My dealer said they just got a rare one in and it hadn't been cleaned or inspected yet, but we could look at it. It was beautiful. Black with grey leather interior. I was sold right then. I test drove the other which was the base model and loved it. It felt totally different from my 99 Jeep GC. I liked the power and all the bells and whistles. I got the XS model. I went back later that day and it was cleaned and ready.
I need to get ready for work, but will at least tell of my local sightings here in North Carolina. I have seen 5 to date. The funny thing is that there is a white one in my parking lot at work, and a black one a few houses down from me!! I don't know if my neighbor had his black one first or not, but he probably hates me if he did. Not sure what color his interior is. His is always in his garage with the door closed and one day I thought I saw a black Ax in there. I drove around the block again to verify, and sure enough it was!!
Anyway, I love this vehicle more each day. I will write more later when I have time.
It seems like you went through the same experience as I did. I did not like the tan interior, so when gray arrived, I bought it. It is funny that there is another Axiom, just like yours, on your street. Make sure and share with us your experience when you put a few hundred miles on your new Ax. Did you take advantage of the 0% financing?
Congrats on your new Axiom Blackmadness. It does seem that black with gray interior is becoming a popular color although I haven't seen one in person yet.
I have now seen 5 other Axioms other than mine. The last one I saw today on the way to work and was essentially just like mine mine (green 4x4 XS) but without 4wd. I would have pulled up next to it and waved if I was in mine, but I was driving my other car since the Axiom is loaded with truck parts for my current restoration project.
It does seem like Axioms are finally selling, the local dealers seem to be out unlike 6 months ago when they couldn't give these things away. I think our secret has been discovered.
Like I said earlier today, I got the black XS model loaded and love it. There have been several things that I have had to get used to though. Being 6'2" and 300#, the seating position was very different than my Jeep GC. It felt so low and I definitely miss the ability to adjust the bottom of the drivers seat for extra support. I don't understand why the seats are missing this feature? I am slowly getting used to this lower driving position. I think it is just such a change from the Jeep, that it is just a matter of getting used to it.
I have nearly hit my head on the lifted rear door several times. I am too tall to clear it completely when it is raised.
However, being there is NO perfect car, I have to say there are many things I do like.
1. I love the look of the car and the fact that it is still unique and doesn't look like every other SUV around.
2. I love the power of this car.
3. I love the way the car seems to handle on the road. I feel like I have a lot more control on the road than in my Jeep. The Jeep felt like it was all over the road, especially on the highway.
4. The A/C seems to work very well.
5. I like the display panel. Yes, like someone else said, it is very distracting while driving to find a particular button, but once you learn it, it is easy to find the right buttons with no problem.
I like sooooo much about this vehicle. I did add on a silver pin stripe which I really like.
I would love to see some pics of an Axiom with a roof rack installed, especially a black one. Any pics available anywhere?
I wish there was a rear spoiler available, like on the Highlander.
Are there any pics available with side rails?
Axiomlover, I have about 1,300 miles so far. It gets an average of 15.7 miles per gallon. I drive about 15 miles to work and half are highway miles. I will be glad to take it on a trip. I am going to the beach next week, so I will see how it does then.
I also had a problem with Homelink. It would work when I first programmed it but it would not work the next day. It would lose its memory when the key was turned off. The dealer replaced it and it has worked since.
I have also found that the Axiom Homelink is very directional. Sometimes it will work properly from a long distance but not at all from a shorter distance. For example, if I back the car into the garage it will not work when I leave the garage in the morning. My wife's Chrysler LHS Homelink does not have this problem.
I took it to the local Isuzu dealer in my hometown, and at first they did not even admit that they knew how to troubleshoot this thing. I almost drove off.
Later, they claimed that they got it working and got it to take my Craftsman GDO remote's code, but when I got home the HL transmitter still did not work. It would not open the GDO. What a waste of time and energy!
I did go to Radio Shack and buy the lamp module and mini remote transmitter kit(it's on sale now for $5, regularly 24.99 -get one while supplies last), and was able to get the Homelink button #3 programmed after several tries and could turn on the lamp module, IF AND ONLY IF it was plugged into the AC receptacle in my garage directly in front of my vehicle. (6 FEET AWAY).
When I move the lamp module into the living room, I was mostly not successful getting it to turn on from the Homelink mirror, but the Radio Shack $5 remote worked every time. Of course this is 15 feet away at a slight 45 deg angle and thru a bay window, but it should work, shouldn't it??
Also, is this weird? It will only TURN ON the lamp module. It does not turn it OFF. Is this how it should work? I would have guessed that the first press turned on the lamp module and the 2nd press turned it OFF... Am I expecting too much here?
What a fancy piece of junk this thing is! $30K vehicle should have better functioning gadgetry, especially since it is going to be featured in the SPY KIDS 2 movie later this year! Isuzu are you listening?????
Also, I have never been successful in getting my newer model Craftsman GDO to work with this unit. I know the GDO has rolling codes, but how difficult should this be anyway? I am beginning to suspect that this particular HL unit is half-functional and half-defective, and that is why the constant battle to get this *@#& thing working.
After your earlier posting, I went to www.crutchfield.com, a firm I have bought from for the last 20 years, and ordered one. Paid $29.95 + shipping and got it in two days.
Yes, it is identical to the factory unit in all respects and it is now in use in my player. The only difference is that the factory OEM unit has the Clarion label removed from it. Clever.
Anyway, I am very happy about that. Also, it is really cool to be able to add on accessories to customize the vehicle to my own specs. I love this aspect of my vehicle!
Ok, fellow Axiomers. I am now bemoaning my first deep scratch on my beautiful NEW blue Axiom. Right smack dab on the top of the back bumper. How it got there I do not know, but I am in grief over this unnecessary depreciation of my new pride and joy.
Actually, this happened over the weekend, and I have now become obsessed with finding a 3rd party skid plate (this item is usually made of hard rubber) to not only cover over the new scratch, but to prevent others from happening.
But, this task is going to be a real challenge, I can tell, and it appears that this is a real oversight on Isuzu's part. Hey ISUZU, what we you thinking? This is supposed to be an SUV! The Rodeos have an integral skid plate1 Have you auto engineers not noticed that practically every SUV on the market, and most mini-vans, have some sort of hard rubber skid plate on the upper edge of the rear bumper? How did you guys overlook this?
OK, enough sniveling. I intend to do Isuzu's job for them and research this and find a hard rubber skid plate from another vehicle that will work as an add-on part. The skid plate on the 98 Windstar looked good at first, but on measuring it up close it is too wide (46"). I have seen skid plates on other vehicles that I need to get a closer look at, including:
Acura MDX, Mitsubishi Sport, and the Honda Odyssey, but I have not measured each one. Also, the skid plate would have to be available as a replacement part. This may not be the case for some of these.
I will continue to look into this and post any findings on possible add-on skid plates for the rear bumper.
Any input from other Axiomers with scratches on their rear bumpers??
Skid plates are items that are placed under the vehicle for protecting key components. They are mad of steel. Your Axiom has 3 of them (front, T-case, and Gas tank)
As for bumper guards, my Trooper doesn't have them either. But if you have a hitch, you can get a rear bumper protector. See the one I have on http://isuzu-suvs.com there should be a link on the top page. It's great for protecting my rear bumper.
Homelink for Joe from Kokomo: I also have a Craftsman GDO and the Homelink works fine. As for the dealer being able to program this for you, I don't think that is possible, here's why. If you have your Craftsman manual, see the section on programming additional remotes for Homelink. The GDO itself has a red "smart button" (or whatever its called) that you have to press before you can program ANY type of remote. So unless the dealer comes to your house this is something you have to figure out yourself, with a little help from us at least. Seems the key is NOT that you have to sync the Homelink with a remote, BUT that you have to sync the Homelink to the GDO. If you don't have the Craftsman manual, post back and I'll post the step by step instructions.
Skid plates go under the vehicle, if you have them anywhere else, you really do have a problem! If you are trying to protect the TOP of your bumper, you might want to consider traction tape. Most decent auto parts or 4wheel drive shops should carry it. Comes in a roll so you can cut and shape any size you want. Usually used to make a no-slip area for side step bars but it's definitely strong enough to prevent scratches from getting thru. It's also thin, like tape, so it won't interfere with anything. Just an idea. Good luck.
Congrats on your purchase (we both know the others are jealous of our Black Axioms);).
There are some places to find aftermarket parts out there if you know where to look. Try these:
www.spoilers4less.com (look under specialty truck>truck/suv/vans>suv/minivans>isuzu)
www.wooddashfactory.com (they have dash kits with wood,carbon fiber,brushed alum. etc, about a dozen different kits for the Axiom)
www.grill-tech.com (they don't have a grill-kit for the Ax yet but it's listed as in development. Someone else was looking for this awhile back.)
There isn't a lot out there for the Axiom yet but as with any new/cult/niche vehicle there will be more.
Does anyone know the diffence between production numbers on the Axiom vs. the Vehicross? I'm just curious.
I got a call from the Toyota Dealership I checked out a Highlander at. They had one with cloth if I was interested. I stopped there on Sunday when I could compare unaccosted by a salesman. While it was a nice car and loaded up about the same as my Ax, it was $4000 more! And they had no choices in color. I am impressed with the fit and finish and it's a great vehicle if you can get through the bull. One thing I didn't care for when shopping for Toyotas was that they felt they were doing me a favor by showing me their cars. On the other hand my local dealership treated Isuzu like the proverbial "red-headed step child" and threw 8-9 trucks into a back corner on the lot. They were too busy pushing the Acuras and Kias on the lot. They even had the used section displayed in front the Isuzus. Fortunately I have 3 other Isuzu dealerships within a couple hours drive.
Sorry about the rant (esp. if you are a "red-headed step child").
I called it a skid plate and was corrected soundly. But, if you read the description, you knew what I meant, so call it a scratch guard or scuff guard. Take a look at other vehicles and you will see what I mean. The 2002 Mazda MPV for example, or the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I guess one could get a custom-cut piece of chromed diamond plate, but this seems a bit much to protect the finish on the top side of the rear bumper.
Just remember, if you are talking about hard plastic pieces to put back there, it will mostlikely scratch the undercoat even worse. Somebody makes a thick plastic film that sticks to body panels (I can't remember the name), you may want to try that since you can just peel it off, but at least it won't do more damage.
this is called scotchcal by 3M. It either comes precut or in rolls and is applied like tint (you take a heat gun and sort of "mold it" to the surface of your vehicle. There are alot of places that will put this on from just the nose of your vehicle (it's sometimes called invisible bra) to covering the whole vehicle if you wish. Some applications are for headlights. there are different thicknesses for each application, but i still think if you're loading heavy stuff with sharp edges, it may not be ideal. There's even a type that goes around the outside edges of your windshield to stop cracks from rock impacts. Heres a site where you can get it pre-cut for a vehicle, as well as in bulk: www.xpel.com
First off, let me thank all of you for your posts. They have really helped me with my purchase. We have been in the market for a SUV since Feb and we finally purchased our Axiom 2 weeks ago!
Needless to say, we are very pleased with our purchase although we wish the actual purchase had gone much better than it did. It's a long story (for another post perhaps) but lets just say for now that Isuzu's VIP program needs some TLC. It took us nearly 3 months and alot of hassle to get the vehicle we wanted...XS 4X4 blue exterior w/ the new gray interior.
The extras you get with this vehicle (for the price you can get it for) make it one hell of good deal. In addition to the Axiom, we test drove the buick rendezvous, jeep liberty, nissan pathfinder, dodge durango, mitsubishi montero sport, isuzu rodeo, and took a close look at the olds bravada, gmc envoy, mazda tribute, and the land rover freelander. (whew!) All of these vehicles had the good and the bad but the Axiom was the only one that we agreed on in every area of concern...looks, power, comfort...etc. All the others were either uncomfortable, overpriced, and/or had no/low power.
I'm not saying the Axiom is perfect...there are a few complaints:
1) wish that driver’s seat would go back just one more inch. I like to stretch out my legs when driving. However, my wife has no problems with the seat and since this is her car after all....
2) what's with the illumination on the MID? Has 5 levels of brightness but should really only be 2...really dark and really bright...the settings in-between are all really bright. this is only a concern at nite when i wish there was another level of brightness that was a bit brighter than the darkest setting.
3) we have found that some of the freeways in southern Cal make for a really bouncy ride right around 80 mph. The strange thing is that it actually improves when you set the ride to the stiffer "sport" mode. Weird.
4) there really needs to be more storage space in the cockpit area. The CD changer takes what little you have in the center console. We are always looking for places to tuck things away and can't do so.
5) i'm also having problems with the homelink but i have not had much time to mess with it yet...i hope that i can solve that problem soon.
That's about it (for now). I will post if more problems arise but I have a feeling they will be few and far between.
I love the canal blue and although i personally didn't mind the tan/black interior, the gray/black is far superior. This thing gets up and moves when you punch it...many of the other vehicles we drove just didn't have that (Dodge Durango RT w/ the 5.9L @ 40k excluded but that's over 10k more than what we paid). I enjoy the looks and stares that i get. People are actually coming up to me asking me what it is. However, it is a bit hard to get used to people stopping to look at your car (in whatever parking lot you are at) and peering inside the cockpit to check it out. I hardly see these on the road but funny thing is, the Monday after we bought our axiom, I was driving to work and I saw 3! (2 anthracites and a black for those of you counting). That makes a total of 9 i've seen since Feb.
Well, sorry for the long post. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents. We really love this SUV. It already has over 1000 miles (just went drivin' for the heck of it when we got it). Even took it off road the first weekend and used the 4 wheel drive...nothing too extreme but still had fun. That's what it's all about isn't it?
Don, check your tire pressure (correct tire pressure should be listed on the door jam) Isuzu always over fills their tires when they ship them to the dealer. -Ryan
Although great for entertaining toddlers, this "slinky or jingling coins" type noise is very irritating. Noise comes from rear end area. Noise is triggered when rear wheels contact any road irregularities, especially reflectors/ lane dividers and expansion joints, at any speed. My dealer says my Axiom is "the first" and can't locate cause. Any one else have this problem with Axiom. Thanks for the help.
Just wanted to check out this room. I saw my first Axiom the other day and it stood out like crazy from the rest of the vehicles on the road. It was Silver with privacy glass and looked pretty well loaded. I don't know much about these vehicles but it looked pretty sharp. But in the sea of Toyota/Chevy/Ford/Honda/Nissan ect.. Isuzu has an uphill battle.. If you want to go against the grain and stand out from the crowd this is a very good option. Cheers...
It's been a month and 1200 miles since I bought my Axiom. I've been very pleased with it since the day I bought it. Now I have two questions. First, my brakes make a rubbing sound (sshh..sshh) when applied softly. It almost sounds like the rotor/calipers are rubbing at times during rotation. My second issue is a sulfuric smell I catch occasionally when the truck is sitting still or just shut off. I first wrote these both off to the truck "breaking in" but with almost 1300 miles on it I'm wondering if I should run in to the dealer for a check-up. Anyone else having similar experiences?
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I saw another Axiom in my sleepy little town today. I really have mixed feelings on this. I'm excited to see another but I like having the only one in town. Fortunately it had out of town plates.
I had driven almost every SUV out there, Escapes, Xterras, Santa Fes, VUEs, and stumbled across the Axiom last Saturday. I took advantage of the $3000 cash back to make the vehicle more affordable and in line more or less with the Mazda Tribute I was going to buy originally. I am tickled to death with the Axiom.
I love the looks of this car, and the design quality. I was instantly sold on the test drive.
I would, though, like to request help from you forum members on these questions:
1. Has anyone found a good source for aftermarket parts for this car? I would like to get a roof rack, and while many would likely fit, am probably stuck with the Axiom roof rack for compatibility? I was quoted $600 installed for this item which it too steep IMHO. Any ideas? If nothing else, an Isuzu dealer who sells at less than MSRP over the WEb?
2. ALong the same line, does anyone know if Aftermarket parts for late model Rodeos will generally fit the Axiom?
3. Has anyone tried aftermarket air filter kits such as the K&N Filter (www.4filters.com I think) or others to see if they improve the mileage?
4. I would love to get an oval chrome nerf bar for the sides of the vehicle, which I think would look awesome. I emailed Westin Mfg, one of the makers and they stated that they do not make parts for this car? Again, I have to wonder if the Rodeo aftermarket parts would line up with the same bolt holes? I saw a Rodeo today and its undercarriage looked identical to the Axiom, and I understand that the Axiom is based on the Rodeo's parts.
Any ideas anyone?
BTW, someone has a fully-loaded beige Axiom for sale on Ebay. It has a mere 7K miles on it if someone is looking for a deal and can tolerate beige. Check it out.
Not sure what you mean by "compatibility", but I did a quick check at yakima.com and their fitment guide shows racks available for the '02 Axiom. Probably similar story with thule.com. Lots of outdoor stores (like REI) and truck canopy dealers stock these (and probably some less well-known brands), and they shouldn't run much over $300, depending on whether you just want some bars and towers or more accessories.
Steve
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Jim
Sbcooke makes a good point - I got my Yak racks at a truck accessory dealer, but went to REI to find the right clips. Pays to shop around, especially on these "yuppie" items (I really much prefer Quik 'n Easy racks, but you have to have real rain gutters to use them).
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
The prices are more in line with reality.
Sbcooke: The dealership is installing my accessories without cost to me. (or maybe without additional cost!)
Has anyone questioned the stated cargo space in their Axiom? Can 85 cubic feet be correct? Comparing the exterior size of other vehicles to my axiom makes me wonder. The Ford Explorer has 5 more feet but is a behemoth when next to my Ax. I can almost believe it when next to a Toyota Highlander. Any thoughts on this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1831781388&r=0&t=0
Looks like a heck of a good deal if your planning any road trips this summer.
-Ryan
Engine-drivetrain wise, anything that bolts onto the Trooper will work on the Axiom. I have a K&N panel filter and it is nice cause it stopped all water that has gotten into my air-box from passing, also it's re-usable.
-mike
-mike
-mike
http://www.partscheap.com/axioma.htm
I bought mine from St. Charles, IIRC it was a little more but they offer free shipping, and they are FAST! Fed Ex'ed to my house in two days. They offer a 15% discount on online purchases so make sure you mention it if you call.
I emailed Partscheap and St. Charles both a few questions about the kit, St. Charles got back to me the same day, Partscheap took a week and they charge for shipping so in the end, its a wash. But for me, speed counts. St. Charles will get my business every time.
Not too many aftermarket parts around. I think we covered most of the popular stuff here (roof rack, hitch, lights, bug shield). As for grill guards and side step/nerf bars, nothing I can remember.
No mention here on the K&N air filter but there is a board in Aftermarket & Accessories, something about "Bolt-on Power" if your interested. If you do decide to get one make sure you let us know how it turns out.
I did find www.partscheap.com to have most of the items I was looking for at reasonable prices:
1. roof rack (yes I went with the factory one - so I can hopefully install it myself.)
2. mudflaps
3. body side moulding kit
4. fog lamp kit (one of you mentioned it was easy to install)
...and I even took a chance on the nerf tube step bars for the Rodeo. I will try them on and let all of you know if they work or not. If so, it is a standard part on partscheap.com.
Ironically, I also bought the nose mask (bra) that someone mentioned was listed on Ebay. Sounds like I am going hog wild here, but I feel the vehicle needs these accessories, and the nose mask was essential in Florida where the darn love bugs have become thick this summer.
Installing the nose mask was a bit of a challenge with no instructions included, but we managed.
Still enjoying this vehicle very much. Went to the mall the other day and after we got about 100 yards away from the Axiom, I looked back and saw someone run up to my vehicle and start looking in the window. For a second there, I thought he was going to try to steal it, then realized he was just gawking.
Thanks again for all your suggestions. I only lack one item now, which some other Axiomer posted a question about, and that is who makes the 6 disc changer magazine. I would like to get a 2nd one two. I suspect, based on my own research that it is the Clarion CAA-355, which is 29.95 at Crutchfield.com, but I would have to buy one to prove it. Does anyone have any idea if Clarion OEM'd the CD changer? Please advise if you know, or if you have found the CD magazine that works for this car.
I next went to Radio Shack (which is listed on the Homelink Web site) to get a lamp module for programming in sync with my Homelink transmitter receiver in my Axiom.
To make a long story short, I was unable to get either the garage door opener or the RS Lamp module to work with the Homelink system. The GDO has rolling code feature, but even following the instructions from the Homelink Web site and using trial-and-error variances, we were unsuccessful in getting these 3 buttons to do anything useful.
I would like to know if anyone else had similar problems? If so, is there an undocumented trick to this? BTW, I even bought 2 new batteries for the remotes, which made no difference whatsoever.
I am totally frustrated with this gadget and have a good 3.5 hours invested in trying to make it WORK!!!
My Homelink just won't 'phone home'...
Advice anyone???
-mike
Greg
http://www.carstereohelp.com/strisuzu.htm
After looking for a mid size SUV and getting outrageous price quotes, I had a client tell me about his test driving an Ax, and how much he loved it. Said it would be his next purchase after his Rodeo lease expires. I decided to go test drive one myself. Very impressed. All the options and thousands less than the competition. Then to mention the 0% for 5 years and the warranty, and I was HAD! I had looked at Troopers the week before and didn't want to pay 38K for the limited I fell in love with, so the salesman told me I should consider the Ax. I only wanted the Trooper and didn't hardly look at the Axioms across the lot. I did notice they had at least 8 or 10 to choose from, but didn't pay much attention after I decided the yellow orange/tan interior was too wild for me.
When I went back the following week, it was April 30, the last day of the 0%/60 month incentive. There were no Axioms on the lot (well, only one that was most likely sold the salesman said), and nearly 10 the week before! My dealer said they just got a rare one in and it hadn't been cleaned or inspected yet, but we could look at it. It was beautiful. Black with grey leather interior. I was sold right then. I test drove the other which was the base model and loved it. It felt totally different from my 99 Jeep GC. I liked the power and all the bells and whistles. I got the XS model. I went back later that day and it was cleaned and ready.
I need to get ready for work, but will at least tell of my local sightings here in North Carolina. I have seen 5 to date. The funny thing is that there is a white one in my parking lot at work, and a black one a few houses down from me!! I don't know if my neighbor had his black one first or not, but he probably hates me if he did. Not sure what color his interior is. His is always in his garage with the door closed and one day I thought I saw a black Ax in there. I drove around the block again to verify, and sure enough it was!!
Anyway, I love this vehicle more each day. I will write more later when I have time.
I have now seen 5 other Axioms other than mine. The last one I saw today on the way to work and was essentially just like mine mine (green 4x4 XS) but without 4wd. I would have pulled up next to it and waved if I was in mine, but I was driving my other car since the Axiom is loaded with truck parts for my current restoration project.
It does seem like Axioms are finally selling, the local dealers seem to be out unlike 6 months ago when they couldn't give these things away. I think our secret has been discovered.
I have nearly hit my head on the lifted rear door several times. I am too tall to clear it completely when it is raised.
However, being there is NO perfect car, I have to say there are many things I do like.
1. I love the look of the car and the fact that it is still unique and doesn't look like every other SUV around.
2. I love the power of this car.
3. I love the way the car seems to handle on the road. I feel like I have a lot more control on the road than in my Jeep. The Jeep felt like it was all over the road, especially on the highway.
4. The A/C seems to work very well.
5. I like the display panel. Yes, like someone else said, it is very distracting while driving to find a particular button, but once you learn it, it is easy to find the right buttons with no problem.
I like sooooo much about this vehicle. I did add on a silver pin stripe which I really like.
I would love to see some pics of an Axiom with a roof rack installed, especially a black one. Any pics available anywhere?
I wish there was a rear spoiler available, like on the Highlander.
Are there any pics available with side rails?
Axiomlover, I have about 1,300 miles so far. It gets an average of 15.7 miles per gallon. I drive about 15 miles to work and half are highway miles. I will be glad to take it on a trip. I am going to the beach next week, so I will see how it does then.
More later....
I have also found that the Axiom Homelink is very directional. Sometimes it will work properly from a long distance but not at all from a shorter distance. For example, if I back the car into the garage it will not work when I leave the garage in the morning. My wife's Chrysler LHS Homelink does not have this problem.
Later, they claimed that they got it working and got it to take my Craftsman GDO remote's code, but when I got home the HL transmitter still did not work. It would not open the GDO. What a waste of time and energy!
I did go to Radio Shack and buy the lamp module and mini remote transmitter kit(it's on sale now for $5, regularly 24.99 -get one while supplies last), and was able to get the Homelink button #3 programmed after several tries and could turn on the lamp module, IF AND ONLY IF it was plugged into the AC receptacle in my garage directly in front of my vehicle. (6 FEET AWAY).
When I move the lamp module into the living room, I was mostly not successful getting it to turn on from the Homelink mirror, but the Radio Shack $5 remote worked every time. Of course this is 15 feet away at a slight 45 deg angle and thru a bay window, but it should work, shouldn't it??
Also, is this weird? It will only TURN ON the lamp module. It does not turn it OFF. Is this how it should work? I would have guessed that the first press turned on the lamp module and the 2nd press turned it OFF... Am I expecting too much here?
What a fancy piece of junk this thing is! $30K vehicle should have better functioning gadgetry, especially since it is going to be featured in the SPY KIDS 2 movie later this year! Isuzu are you listening?????
Also, I have never been successful in getting my newer model Craftsman GDO to work with this unit. I know the GDO has rolling codes, but how difficult should this be anyway? I am beginning to suspect that this particular HL unit is half-functional and half-defective, and that is why the constant battle to get this *@#& thing working.
Any comments from other Axiomers out there?
Yes, it is identical to the factory unit in all respects and it is now in use in my player. The only difference is that the factory OEM unit has the Clarion label removed from it. Clever.
Anyway, I am very happy about that. Also, it is really cool to be able to add on accessories to customize the vehicle to my own specs. I love this aspect of my vehicle!
Hope this helps others who crave 12 disc access.
Actually, this happened over the weekend, and I have now become obsessed with finding a 3rd party skid plate (this item is usually made of hard rubber) to not only cover over the new scratch, but to prevent others from happening.
But, this task is going to be a real challenge, I can tell, and it appears that this is a real oversight on Isuzu's part. Hey ISUZU, what we you thinking? This is supposed to be an SUV! The Rodeos have an integral skid plate1 Have you auto engineers not noticed that practically every SUV on the market, and most mini-vans, have some sort of hard rubber skid plate on the upper edge of the rear bumper? How did you guys overlook this?
OK, enough sniveling. I intend to do Isuzu's job for them and research this and find a hard rubber skid plate from another vehicle that will work as an add-on part. The skid plate on the 98 Windstar looked good at first, but on measuring it up close it is too wide (46"). I have seen skid plates on other vehicles that I need to get a closer look at, including:
Acura MDX, Mitsubishi Sport, and the Honda Odyssey, but I have not measured each one. Also, the skid plate would have to be available as a replacement part. This may not be the case for some of these.
I will continue to look into this and post any findings on possible add-on skid plates for the rear bumper.
Any input from other Axiomers with scratches on their rear bumpers??
Skid plates are items that are placed under the vehicle for protecting key components. They are mad of steel. Your Axiom has 3 of them (front, T-case, and Gas tank)
As for bumper guards, my Trooper doesn't have them either. But if you have a hitch, you can get a rear bumper protector. See the one I have on http://isuzu-suvs.com there should be a link on the top page. It's great for protecting my rear bumper.
-mike
Skid plates go under the vehicle, if you have them anywhere else, you really do have a problem!
If you are trying to protect the TOP of your bumper, you might want to consider traction tape. Most decent auto parts or 4wheel drive shops should carry it. Comes in a roll so you can cut and shape any size you want. Usually used to make a no-slip area for side step bars but it's definitely strong enough to prevent scratches from getting thru. It's also thin, like tape, so it won't interfere with anything. Just an idea. Good luck.
There are some places to find aftermarket parts out there if you know where to look. Try these:
www.spoilers4less.com (look under specialty truck>truck/suv/vans>suv/minivans>isuzu)
www.wooddashfactory.com (they have dash kits with wood,carbon fiber,brushed alum. etc, about a dozen different kits for the Axiom)
www.grill-tech.com (they don't have a grill-kit for the Ax yet but it's listed as in development. Someone else was looking for this awhile back.)
There isn't a lot out there for the Axiom yet but as with any new/cult/niche vehicle there will be more.
Does anyone know the diffence between production numbers on the Axiom vs. the Vehicross? I'm just curious.
I got a call from the Toyota Dealership I checked out a Highlander at. They had one with cloth if I was interested. I stopped there on Sunday when I could compare unaccosted by a salesman. While it was a nice car and loaded up about the same as my Ax, it was $4000 more! And they had no choices in color. I am impressed with the fit and finish and it's a great vehicle if you can get through the bull. One thing I didn't care for when shopping for Toyotas was that they felt they were doing me a favor by showing me their cars. On the other hand my local dealership treated Isuzu like the proverbial "red-headed step child" and threw 8-9 trucks into a back corner on the lot. They were too busy pushing the Acuras and Kias on the lot. They even had the used section displayed in front the Isuzus. Fortunately I have 3 other Isuzu dealerships within a couple hours drive.
Sorry about the rant (esp. if you are a "red-headed step child").
-mike
I guess one could get a custom-cut piece of chromed diamond plate, but this seems a bit much to protect the finish on the top side of the rear bumper.
-mike
There's even a type that goes around the outside edges of your windshield to stop cracks from rock impacts.
Heres a site where you can get it pre-cut for a vehicle, as well as in bulk:
www.xpel.com
Needless to say, we are very pleased with our purchase although we wish the actual purchase had gone much better than it did. It's a long story (for another post perhaps) but lets just say for now that Isuzu's VIP program needs some TLC. It took us nearly 3 months and alot of hassle to get the vehicle we wanted...XS 4X4 blue exterior w/ the new gray interior.
The extras you get with this vehicle (for the price you can get it for) make it one hell of good deal. In addition to the Axiom, we test drove the buick rendezvous, jeep liberty, nissan pathfinder, dodge durango, mitsubishi montero sport, isuzu rodeo, and took a close look at the olds bravada, gmc envoy, mazda tribute, and the land rover freelander. (whew!) All of these vehicles had the good and the bad but the Axiom was the only one that we agreed on in every area of concern...looks, power, comfort...etc. All the others were either uncomfortable, overpriced, and/or had no/low power.
I'm not saying the Axiom is perfect...there are a few complaints:
1) wish that driver’s seat would go back just one more inch. I like to stretch out my legs when driving. However, my wife has no problems with the seat and since this is her car after all....
2) what's with the illumination on the MID? Has 5 levels of brightness but should really only be 2...really dark and really bright...the settings in-between are all really bright. this is only a concern at nite when i wish there was another level of brightness that was a bit brighter than the darkest setting.
3) we have found that some of the freeways in southern Cal make for a really bouncy ride right around 80 mph. The strange thing is that it actually improves when you set the ride to the stiffer "sport" mode. Weird.
4) there really needs to be more storage space in the cockpit area. The CD changer takes what little you have in the center console. We are always looking for places to tuck things away and can't do so.
5) i'm also having problems with the homelink but i have not had much time to mess with it yet...i hope that i can solve that problem soon.
That's about it (for now). I will post if more problems arise but I have a feeling they will be few and far between.
I love the canal blue and although i personally didn't mind the tan/black interior, the gray/black is far superior. This thing gets up and moves when you punch it...many of the other vehicles we drove just didn't have that (Dodge Durango RT w/ the 5.9L @ 40k excluded but that's over 10k more than what we paid). I enjoy the looks and stares that i get. People are actually coming up to me asking me what it is. However, it is a bit hard to get used to people stopping to look at your car (in whatever parking lot you are at) and peering inside the cockpit to check it out. I hardly see these on the road but funny thing is, the Monday after we bought our axiom, I was driving to work and I saw 3! (2 anthracites and a black for those of you counting). That makes a total of 9 i've seen since Feb.
Well, sorry for the long post. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents. We really love this SUV. It already has over 1000 miles (just went drivin' for the heck of it when we got it). Even took it off road the first weekend and used the 4 wheel drive...nothing too extreme but still had fun. That's what it's all about isn't it?
Thanks once again for all the informative posts.
Don
-Ryan
-mike
Greg