Need to vent!!

[Ramblin Fever]

You know, I've looked at probably 15 different Rodeo's averaging between the 94-97 model years, and 10 different Trooper's, the 94-98 model years in the last few weeks.

I'm aiming to get another Isuzu as a daily driver, and I love those particular years, plus they're affordable; but holy schmokorooni's, I've never seen so many unkept vehicles in my life. Most of these vehicles have roughly 75K - 110K miles, so I can see some wear/tear showing, i.e scratches in the paint, tires a little worn if on the 1st (rare) or 2nd set, etc.

These vehicles for the most part, looked excellent internally as well as externally, however, pop the hood and jee wiss, can we say NEGLECT. Oil on the dipstick looks like mud, antifreeze in the radiator has major particles, hoses on some of these trucks were way past worn, probably leeking at pressure I'm sure; and worst of all, 10 of the Rodeo's I looked at, the transmission fluid on the dipstick was BLACK.

ARRGHGH! Why do people pay on average, even back in 1994, $15K-$30K (which IS what the limited Troopers in 1995 were going for) for a vehicle (half of these owners were 1st time, some 2nd time owners) and not take care of it?

Isuzu's are good vehicles, and they will run for a LONG time, at least 95% of them - there are some flukes out there, but every manufactor has that.

I just can't fathom not maintaining my vehicles, I may get behind on some things, but it gets done.

I'm just appalled and disgusted that people would treat a good Isuzu like crap - and then wonder why you're not interested in buying their truck.

[Tonupboy]

Dude, I hear ya man. It saddens me to see good machines die early because the owners don't even bother to change the vital fluids....its that easy! I mean, my own Dad almost decided to DONATE my 93 Rodeo 4WD because there was an oil leak and the the engine smokes!! LOL...I saved it and now the truck runs better than before.

However, this is a good thing. Because you can buy a cheap Isuzu and just fix it!!

[marcre]

I feel your pain, when I bought my rodeo last year I was a little worried about the previous owner. First question I asked was if it burned oil. He said not a drop. Of course it did, I check it all the time, and it burns 1 qt/3000 miles. I hope he lied to me and checked it instead of not kepping it full.


I always wonder what a persons reasoning is to sell. I wish I could buy new, but I can't get what I want for what I can afford. Every car I looked at last year had issues, and the owners were real anxious to sell. That scares me. Maintaining a car is easy and it will treat you better if it is maintained. People do not do it though.

I love my rodeo, but I am now seeing the neglect it went through. Not too bad, but it should not be this way.

Marc

[tomlcollins]

Originally Posted by marcre

I feel your pain, when I bought my rodeo last year I was a little worried about the previous owner. First question I asked was if it burned oil. He said not a drop. Of course it did, I check it all the time, and it burns 1 qt/3000 miles. I hope he lied to me and checked it instead of not kepping it full.
Marc

Believe it or not, Isuzu maintains the claim that burning a quart every 3000 miles is "normal". While this is pretty ridiculous, the previous owner technically wasn't lying to you in about anything other than "normal" consumption.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by tomlcollins

Believe it or not, Isuzu maintains the claim that burning a quart every 3000 miles is "normal". While this is pretty ridiculous, the previous owner technically wasn't lying to you in about anything other than "normal" consumption.

Actually it's a quart every 1000 miles!

G/luck
Joel

[marcre]

Originally Posted by tomlcollins

Believe it or not, Isuzu maintains the claim that burning a quart every 3000 miles is "normal". While this is pretty ridiculous, the previous owner technically wasn't lying to you in about anything other than "normal" consumption.

Tom,

I understand it is normal and I expected it to burn oil when I bought it. Really doesn't bother me much. I was worried that the previous owner never payed attention to it. I do find it unacceptable for a veheicle to burn oil, but I don't mind kepping an eye on it. Not really a problem. My last few cars were dreams(99 civic/99 eclipse) as far as maintainance. Never burned a drop and never a problem. The civic never had a problem in the 3 years I had it. I still love my rodeo, and it is probably my favorite vehicle ever. The point I was trying to make was when buying used you never know what the previous owner did or did not do.

[ibew595]

With 133k on my V6 bought new the thing never burned oil. Just has the nasty tick once in awhile. I wouldn't say I have taken great care of the thing or even maintained it well but the engine is clean and fluids checked.
Never had the brakes done either!! Wow! Lots left on those things too.