Purchase it or pass?

Hello folks. I have been in the car market looking for a nice pre owned SUV mainly looking at 2000-2002 Ford Explorers & 1998-2000 Toyota 4Runners when I happened to stumble on a 2000 Honda Passport LX/EX 4 X 4 2 tone Blk/Gold with about 60K miles. Asking price is about 10,000 but I am pretty sure I can get it for around 9K. But I am reluctant because of some of the nightmarish stuff I have read about this vehicle not to mention that its not even made by Honda. The disappearing oil, the defective fuel pump or switch that causes it to shut down. Has anyone ever heard of these issues and are they true? And what can you tell me about the reliabilty of this vehicle? Should I go for it or should I pass and stick with the two vehicles above?:banghead:

The oil issue is not so much an issue in the Rodeo's, but it is with the Troopers.

The fuel gauge issue is a 40 dollar part, which doesn't happen on all rodeos (I have a 2000 and don't have an issue with it).

Dollar for dollar isuzu is probably one of the best buys on the market.

If you do buy it (or the exploder) make sure you spend the money to have all the filters and fluids switched out, so you start out fresh....

Personally, I'd take the Honda Passport/Isuzu Rodeo any day over the Ford Explorer - can we say transmission troubles, horrible gas mileage.

Sorry, it's just every Ford owner I've known has had transmission issues, and or many more issues then I've ever heard of an Isuzu Rodeo (honda passport) owner having.

I have had the luxury of owning two Rodeo's; a '91 and a '97; granted the '91 had the 3.1L V6 GM engine, but the '97 has the 3.2L V6 engine - both were/have been excellent trucks. Both shared the same 4L30-E GM automatic transmission, when, if taken care of with consistent fluid changes, will last a long time.

The 93-97 3.2L SOHC engine is a bit different then the 3.2L dohc engines of the 98+yrs; and have less potential of using oil as fast. However, I've heard/read that the oil burning issue primarily effected the 98-99yrs - see if the 2000 was built in mid-2000 or late '99.

Agree with Amigo-2K, get all your fluids changed irregardless whether you choose the Honda, Toyota or Exploder.

my wife and i have owned a 2000 rodeo since new. here is a list of things we have replaced. keep in mind this does not include the prevenative main.

3 sets intake gaskets all before 47,000 miles ( done by dealer)
one starter 38,000 miles (done by me)
n.s.s or range selector 29,000 miles (done by me)
new egr valve 30,000 ( done by me) don't let it crud up too much or ya gota go new
fuel sender bad (fuel pump included) 35,000 miles (done by dealer)
front wheel bearings repack because front wheels loose 25,000 miles (done by me)
and yes i do burn oil on the highway. manufacture date 10-99

sloshing water behind dash (no fix yet)

and finally my front half shaft boots are showing cracks right now.

all and all i think it is a 6 on scale of 10 reliable wise. no major components involved so far. i will say izusu needs to revamp there intake manifold gasket design but probably will not. (cough cough recall?)

the 93-97 rodeo's seem more reliable.

other than the i.m.g. and the burning oil i am happy with it. just check your oil. and make sure you keep up on your maintenance. mike

p.s. also keep in mine 3rd gen 4runners have problems with rear axle seals going and taking the whole rear end down with them. cha ching and there rear springs sag premature.
but i will say i have seen both explorers and 4 runners with lots of miles 150,000 + on them. like any car take care of it and don't drive like ya stole it!

also you can not touch a 60k 2000 4runner for any where near 9k. more like 15k, but resale is also higher.

Just my opinion - but even 9K is on the high side for a 7 year old New England vehicle. They can be found for 5 to 7 without too much trouble.

As an example to the thread above....check out E-Bay item # 140025613545.
link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=140025613545&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT)

i forgot 1 coil pack at 6000 miles (done by dealer)

and the intermittant wipers took a dump. long time ago

I bought my 99 last year at 88k miles. I'm the 4th owner and previous owners did not believe in maintenance (trans, xfer, and both axles still had original gear oil in them). Since mine is a manual I dont expect any tranny problems. Pretty much everything I have replaced has been the result of lack of previous maintenance or normal wear and tear.

1 starter
cat back exhaust system (I bent mine while off roading)
shocks (still had badly worn factory ones)
brake pads all the way around
flushed all fluids
lower control arm bushings
sway bar bushings
sway bar end links
all ball joints (thought they were the source of the noise caused by control arm bushings)
outer cv boots
front wheel bearings and hub nuts
tires
fuel gauge sending unit

dealer who sold it to me replaced
clutch (was burned out)
timing belt and idler
water pump
windsheild

I have had no problem with manifold gaskets and dont see any evidence of them being replaced. I burn a little less then 1 qt of oil in 3k miles.

I paid $5500 for mine