Should I buy a 2004 Rodeo?

[MrMGA]

I currently have a '95 Rodeo 3.2L 4WD with 104K miles on it. I have owned it for 5 years. I really enjoy it, but maintenance is costing about $1,000 per year. And the work never gets done right (see my previous posts.) I'm leaning towards buying something much newer. My first choice is a 2003 or 2004 4Runner, but I found out I can get a 2004 Rodeo for about half the price. In particular, I'm interested in a 2004 Rodeo with the 3.5L engine. My concern is reliability. Consumer Reports puts '99-'02 Rodeos (the last years for which they have sufficient data) on their "Used Cars to Avoid" list! In particular, those years get big black marks for engine and transmission reliability. Are the 2004 Rodeos any better? Is the 3.5L model different and better than the others?

[Ramblin Fever]

If you can get the 3.5L Rodeo with the Aisan Werner transmission (Auto) - DO IT! That's a fine truck with a reputable tough tranny.

However, sounds like you need to locate an IMPORT mechanic who knows how to work on Isuzu's, though I can't remember all of the issues you have with your '95. I can tell you though, if you can find someone to fix that '95 right, that's still got a lot of life left at only 100k.

I don't know why the 99-'02's transmission marks are black, as those years have the same transmission my '91 & current '97 Rodeo's do - and as long as you maintain their fluid, and don't beat them to death, they'll last a long time. Had over 150k on my '91 Rodeo, and currently have 163k on this Rodeo, both automatics that've had a rough, towing 4x4 life and have never skipped a beat.

The 99-02's engines were the cause of a couple issues, the '98'-99's were known for cracking in cylinder #1 (IIRC) defect from the factory, I presume. And the '00-'02's were oil burners, again another defect.

But the '03-'04's are good trucks, the only concern I would have is whether or not you have a dealership that would provide warranty. In Colorado, there's only two Isuzu dealerships left, and neither one are close.

I also just purchased an '04 Tacoma that I believe has the same engine/transmission as an '04 Runner - and I can tell you I LOVE it, it's a fine truck in power, quality, etc. But, then I also have to say, if Isuzu had still been producing their small ISUZU trucks - like the kind in the late 80's -early 90's - I'd have bought one of those without a 2nd guess.

We almost bought one, some 16yrs ago, when we bought our '85 Toyota p/up, but the guy we were going to buy it from, changed his mind and we couldn't pass the deal on that Toyota.

[Ramblin Fever]

MrMGA - forgot to add, if my maintenance cost over $1k per year, I'd part with it too.

Thus the reason we had to finally let our '85 Toyota go, we'd put in about $3K this year alone, finally said enough was enough, and at 260K+ miles, we were tired of getting beat to death!

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

MrMGA - forgot to add, if my maintenance cost over $1k per year, I'd part with it too.

I could live with the $1k per year maintenance cost. What drives me nuts is that I usually have to take the Rodeo back two or three times to get it done right. Granted, I go the "cheap" route. For example, I went to Sears Auto to get my CV boots replaced. Their price was around $400 compared to $900 for everybody else. It's a long story, but I had to take it back 2 times to get the job done right. I have several similar experiences. That's why I want something newer and under warranty.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

If you can get the 3.5L Rodeo with the Aisan Werner transmission (Auto) - DO IT! That's a fine truck with a reputable tough tranny.

Here's the deal I'm considering: 2004 Rodeo 2WD automatic with the 3.5L engine and the "Excessive Red" color package. Only 21,000 original miles and it looks like new. A local Buick dealer took it in on a trade. He wants $13,800 for it. Deal or No Deal?

P.S. I can live without 4WD; haven't used it on my '95 in 4 years.

[Ramblin Fever]

Are you trading your '95 Rodeo? What are they going to give you for that?

Also, how long is the remaining factory warranty for?

It's been too long since I bought mine, but if I remember right, I had 5/50k standard bumper/bumper or was it 3/50k? I can't remember.

My powertrain was only covered for 6/60k; but your's may be 10/100k

But, I'd see if they can't do at least $3,500 or so for your '95 and do a KBB check on the value of the 2004.

Personally, I've had both the 4x4 and 4x2 Rodeo's, have never felt shorted or more confident in either one over the other - with the exception that the 4x2 had a much bigger engine. I also never experienced any more maintenance issues with the 4x4 versus the 4x2.

But, if I was in your situation where a warranty was worth having a car-payment, I would do it. Like I said, that's what we had to do with our '85 Toyota, otherwise, it was in need of a whole new engine rebuild for a 2nd time.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Are you trading your '95 Rodeo? What are they going to give you for that?

Also, how long is the remaining factory warranty for?

I may trade in the '95, but I won't tell the dealer that until I get his final cash price on the 2004. That way I'll flush out the true value of each. I expect he'll offer around $2,000 for the '95 and try to sell it for $3,500. I might do a little better if I fix the exhaust leak that popped up when I recently had the starter motor replaced. Yes, I took it back a second time and they didn't completely eliminate it. I gave up after that. (Like I said, I have many stories like that.)

The basic warranty on the 2004 is only 3 yrs/50K but the drivetrain warranty is 7 yrs/75K. That sounds good to me.

[Ramblin Fever]

Either that, or keep the '95 as back-up for whenever you need a 2nd vehicle. I've come across that issue many times this last year when both the Rodeo and the old toyota were having issues and at times where in the shop at the same time.

Well a warranty WILL cover certain parts, but not the normal wear/tear items, in which, it would still be nice if you could find someone you trust.

I've never been to a Sear's automotive center, my one and only time of taking my Rodeo to someone other then a mechanic friend I've known for 20-some years, was when we lived in Las Vegas. The timing belt, waterpump was due for preventative maintenance at 60k, and I didn't know whether or not then, if it was an interference engine or not.

So, we opted to have it done at 59k to be safe - long story short, we had it done at Goodyear. They did the timing belt and the waterpump correctly; however, they forced the fan clutch, radiator and fan shroud back in at such an angle that they were grinding against the driving belts.

Let's just say that about 1yrs worth of headache - found other damage later in the year, and roughly $1k worth of damage had been done.

Goodyear fixed the majority of it at their cost - new belts, all new hoses (as the fan blade edges broke off sending hard plastic everywhere), new OEM radiator, new shroud and obviously new fan clutch.

Close to a year later, we found out the power steering pump had taken a beating and had to be replaced. By then we were already back in Colorado, and my mechanic had to cut out the power steering pump along with it's bracket - in his words, it had been mangled so badly he thought the front end of the truck had been smashed at one time.

We had to have the new bracket welded onto the truck and a new pump, all to the tune of $600.

Keep me posted and post a pic of the new rig.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Keep me posted and post a pic of the new rig.

Sure - if I buy it. The dealer will have to come way down from the $13.8K he's asking. After all, the 2004s were only selling for $16K-$17K when they were brand new according to other posts on this forum. Two and a half years and 21,000 miles later, I'm thinking $12K is a reasonable offer.

P.S. - Your Goodyear story tops any of my horror stories, including the fiasco that ensued when I had Pep Boys replace the alternator. Or when Econo Lube overfilled the crankcase by 2 quarts of oil. Etc., etc.

[Ramblin Fever]

Needless, to say, this truck will NEVER return to anyone but my mechanic.

What's the KBB for the 2004? $13 doesn't sound bad, personally.

Not when I paid $23k for my '97 Rodeo back in March of '98, it barely had 11k miles and they threw in a few accessories, rotated/balanced the tires and did free oil changes for a year - course, there's not much talking down prices with the dealerships in Nevada.

Just paid $19k for my 2004 Tacoma with 25k miles - they were asking $24 for it, but I showed them the KBB value - that helped more then I thought it would.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

What's the KBB for the 2004? $13 doesn't sound bad, personally.

KBB's "Suggested Retail Value" for the 2004 is $14,600, which is ridiculous and confirms in my mind that KBB is a mouthpiece for the dealers' association. More impartial sources (Edmunds, Consumer Reports) give a dealer retail value in the low to mid-$13K range, so I may have unrealistic expectations. However, KBB lists by far the lowest trade-in value at $10,700 (again, because they favor the dealers.) I'll use that in my negotiations with the dealer, who already threw the KBB retail value at me. Since they rely on KBB, they must have a cost basis of around $10,700 in it, right? So if I offer $12K, they're making a very reasonable profit of $1,300. Anyway, that will be my approach when I talk to them this afternoon. I'll be interested in their explanation of why KBB is so authoritative on the retail side but full of crap on the trade-in (i.e., cost/wholesale) side.

The bottom line is, I'll probably have to ante up around $13K to get the 2004. At that price, I have to consider the alternatives (e.g., slightly older 4Runners and Pathfinders.) It also occurs to me that the people who bought brand new 2004s in the $16K range (according to posts on this forum) got a damned good deal.

[Gizmo42]

Most dealers (and banks) use the NADA blue book. According to that one that '04 rodeo has a trade in value of $12.5k and retail value of $15k. Thats for the area I live in. It will vary by area. Also depends on how bad they want to get rid of it.

According to Isuzu's monthly dealer inventory (dont remember where I found it) there are still 8 brand new rodeos out there somewhere. Could probably get one for a good price if you could find it since its costing them money to sit on the lot. They have to make payments to Isuzu on them until they sell.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Gizmo42

According to Isuzu's monthly dealer inventory (dont remember where I found it) there are still 8 brand new rodeos out there somewhere.

Now that's a good piece of information. Those would have to be 2004s, right? I'll call the local Isuzu dealer about that tomorrow.

[Gizmo42]

I found it!

Here is the inventory list for september that was put out oct 3rd.

PICKUP: 2,355
RODEO: 8
AXIOM: 19
ASCENDER: 2,359
TROOPER: 0

http://www.isuzunewsbureau.com/press.php?category=16

[amigo-2k]

http://www.isuzudealers.com/

looks like there are still about 20 or so New rodeo's available in CA.