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We now have a minivan too, so we're not in the market for a 3rd row Trooper seat.
What's the AUS/US exchange rate? Just curious to know how much $770AUS is in U.S. $.
I've heard a few folks mention similar problems on this forum. Considering the relatively small number of folks who post here, I'd say it's probably a fairly common problem.
hey, did you misspell "trooper" in your user name on purpose?
-mike
A local Isuzu dealer was kind enough to lend me a used 2001 Trooper overnight for a 300 miles test drive. He knows what I am looking for and understood that, since it lacked a sunroof, the particular example I drove wouldn't be one I'd buy. I was particularly interested in long-distance comfort/mpg and so took it to Burlington, VT and back. Overall it was as comfortable as my Suburban and got 17 mpg @72-75 mph. I do a lot of driving so I can't pretend for a minute that I'll stay to 60 mph on the interstate. It does make me think that with backroad driving at 50 mph, the mileage would likely stay at 17 which is a decent number all things considered. I brought it back to the dealer this morning nice and clean with a full tank of gas.
The Toyota dealer lent me a 1998 4runner (w/o sunroof) for last weekend and it got 19 mpg on a similar trip. I have no idea why I am getting so lucky with dealers. In both cases, I offered to pay a "rental charge" for these long test drives and both dealers refused.
The Suburban would do 14-15 mpg on the same kind of trip. I'd like 25, but 17 is workable.
Sean
Tires will be next later this year. Can't stand much more of the Bridgestones. BTW, vehicle is a 2wd '00 Trooper LS.
In case anyone else has the problem ordering, I called the following # under customer service: (877) 474-4821 (Internet)
-mike
Isuzu Considers Recasting Lafayette, Ind.-Made Sport Utility Vehicles
Steve
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I borrowed an "S" model and those seats gave me lots of headroom. Today, I took a Limited for a short test drive and discovered that those seats (even set to their lowest position) put my head up against the sunroof frame. Headroom was one of the things I liked so much about the Trooper. I'm really hoping that that the LS model's seats don't put me so high up because if they do, it's as a bad a problem as the 4runner and I'm back to square one. So, I'll need to find an LS to "test sit" real soon. Thanks for the info.
- Sean
-mike
Thanks,
Sean
http://www.prnewswire.com/micro/BWA
Look at the December 22, 1997 date, about 3/4 of the way down.
-mike
In other words, they must introduce the diesel as a low cost of ownership, smart car buyer's choice. And emphasize Isuzu's diesel experience.
Please tell Joe Isuzu that 4cyl 179hp diesel is not as he calls Isuzu's "sexy". Instead say that the Rodeo has an Isuzu Duramax High Torque High MPG engine. The number of cylinders and low Hp numbers should be left in the background as information not to advertise.
The Rodeo can be advertised as the most environmentally friendly SUV with probably 30MPG.
I just hope they can stay alive as an SUV company and this opportunity to become extremely popular in the US with traditionally anti SUV because of MPG people is not waisted.
-mike
The Rodeo 3L duramax for $15000 33 greenSUV MPG
The Isuzu Silhouette 3L duramax minivan 40MPG
The Isuzu Safari 4L duramax medium van 30MPG
The Isuzu Full size van with Duramax 4L and 6L 24MPG
The Isuzu Full size camper chassis with Duramax
Isuzu can direct sales efforts at fleets for lower cost of ownership through better MPG and longer life.
Isuzu would synonomous with diesel.
-mike
I think the diesel should be as economical to buy as it can be and the 3L 4cyl will be plenty of power for a midsize SUV. Add some hybrid boost and it will be overkill on power and very economical to own. So I think they should avoid a V6 diesel untill they gain acceptance of diesels and become known for incredibly good MPG and durability.
-mike
I think it will be available later this year.
-mike
-mike
I remember a couple winters about a decade ago when I regularily helped a VW Rabbit diesel get moving after it got too cold to start.
Those are all problems of ancient diesels. Modern diesels are far more user friendly. The Isuzu 4 cylinder diesel is what those small cab-over box truck use. They have plenty of power even for that big parachute of a box truck. The 3L 4cyl turbo diesel that lurks under the hood of most Troopers in the rest of the world has 250 ftlb of torque at only 1900 RPM, that's more torque than the 3.5L V6 gasoline engine. The only reason diesels have a low Hp rating is they have a lower redline RPM and Hp is nealy linearly related to RPM because each cylinder firing adds a little more power and the quicker you have more cylinder firings the more power per unit time which is what hp is.
I guess I am dreaming of getting the Trooper factory to crank out some diesel Troopers to US specs quickly before the factory is entirely shifted to medium size trucks.
Maybe if Isuzu becomes really big in terms of making money on diesels they will come out with a new Isuzu Trooper say in 6 years or so. Our Troopers will last that long so they have time to get a new Trooper model.
Don't let the 90 HP fool you. The TDI Golf drives like a sports car.
Have a read of these links to get an idea of the diesel's capabilities-
http: //www.fishingmonthly.com.au/4wd/holden/jackaroo-se/Holden-Jackaroo-SE.html
http: //drive.fairfax.com.au/content/19990611/reviews/review1.html
The fact that diesels generally don't have as much power as petrol always clouds the issue that power is not the most important thing in an SUV. It's torque that is important, and generally diesels have bucket loads of it.
Also, the 3.0L 4cyl TDI is not co-designed by GM. So it may not be a real Duramax. It has a Caterpillar designed high pressure injection system (and cylinder head, I think). The rest is rock-solid pure Isuzu.
Isuzu's strengths have always been in trucks and diesels. And points such as this should not be lost when marketing this stuff. In the early 70's, Land Rover were assembling vehicles in Australia and instead of using their own diesel engines, they were installing Isuzu engines. These days, those vehicles with the Isuzu engines are sought after and have higher resale values than even some 80's Land Rovers.
I don't believe it is emissions that are the problem in the US. Quite simply, an auto transmission option wasn't available until very recently on this motor. This would be a marketing issue in the US, for sure.
The 3.0 Jackaroo doesn't accelerate as quickly as the petrol 3.5. It is only a second slower to 60mph, though. But the petrol 3.5 doesn't tow anywhere near as well as the 3.0 TDI. Also, once the TDI has its speed up, it will cruise along up and down hills all day with fewer gear changes than a petrol.
The Monterey (or Trooper LS) has been released with the diesel only in the last year or so, when the auto became available.
One thing to be aware of with diesels. They are extremely susceptible to fuel quality, and diesel fuel itself is susceptible to algae and other contamination.
1.Lots of heavy towing
2.Lots of long on and off-road trips (with big distances between fuel stops)
- I would then go with the diesel. It is far more robust and reliable than the V6 for the heavier duty work. Has way more torque low down and the improved mileage is always a bonus.
In Australia it is sometimes easier to get diesel than petrol in remote areas. The reason for this is that petrol that is in storage for more than a month or so, starts to break down and produces some damaging compounds. Diesel itself does not breakdown so readily, but as I mentioned in an earlier posting, has its own problems. These can normally be overcome with additional filtering at the fuel station or on the vehicle. The petrol problems can only be solved by ensuring a quick turnaround in storage.
For around town, with the occasional trip away, I'd stick with the V6.
I have put in free leftover kerosene before and sometimes pour a quart of transmission fluid in the fuel to keep the injectors clean. You can even run some diesels on used cooking oil. Check out www.greasel.com
Seriously though, I have heard some amazing stories as to what people do with their diesels and get away with.
The one absolute no-no that I know of is not to use any solvent based fluids in the fuel, such as petrol. A lot of components just will not stand up to solvents and will fall apart very quickly.
Also, I have heard that the Isuzu 3.0l is particularly sensitive to fuel quality. So it may not be as "abuse-able" as some other engines.
Some days ago someone was writing about a place in Oz that will do the third row for about AU$700. What's the place? I'll check it out for you.
Ya gotta wonder if it could even maintain 60 mph up a hill...
The only diesel would have to be a direct-injection system with loads of torque to have a chance to compete in the U.S. market due to the "typical" american driver - passing, freeway entrances, etc.
As a previous FJ40(petrol) and Mercedes 300SD(Diesel) owner, I understand totally the desire for a torque-bearing, fuel-efficient vehicle. I just don't see an Isuzu diesel making it to commuter applications(yes, they do have the commercial trucks with them, but emissions standards are way more lenient).
What the Trooper needs is either a better performing V6 or a compact V8 similiar to the Tundra. Although, since the next Trooper (Ascender) will be nothing more than a TrailBlazer, it's a dead topic in MY opinion.
Later mates
Sad, but true.
I haven't driven the latest 3.0 liter turbo intercooled diesel with the common rail injection. From the spec, it should work wonders.
Unbelievable that they would make a diesel. Ford also made a diesel escort. You had to replace the head every 3 months or 3000 miles cause it cracked that often.
I am trying to install the Hidden Hitch on my 2001 Trooper. I've taken the 3 bolts available on the frame (2 14mm's, and 1 17mm) but still need 2 more 17mm bolts. Did everyone just go buy their own? or was this supposed to come in the kit. I ordered from JC Whitney, and it came with nothing but the frame, not even directions, which I don't really need, but makes me feel like I have an incomplete order?
Thanks for any tips,
Also, 4 wire or 6 or 7? What do they mean, I bought the 4 wire electrical connection, and hope I won't need the 6 or 7 wire. What's the difference?
-Kevin
Sean
I've missed something in this stream about diesels. The 3.0l tdi engined Jackaroo takes about 11 seconds to get to 100km/h (60mph), only a second slower than the V6. (In Australia, anyway).
Finally found the article related to the 3.0TDi performance. The auto version took 17.1 sec to reach 100 kph.