Episode 36

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Published on:

26th Jan 2023

2nd Generation Isuzu Trooper – A Cheap and Nearly Perfect SUV

00:00 - OPEN

This SUV is cheaper than it should be because a lot of people forgot about it, or never knew what it was in the first place. If you find the right example, it makes a nearly perfect personal or family commute-to-work, haul-your-kids, haul-your-stuff and go-on-a-getaway vehicle that's really affordable.   

01:20 - INTRO - 2nd Gen Isuzu Trooper – A Cheap and Nearly Perfect SUV

Sold from 1992 to 2002, the Isuzu Trooper offers used car buyers tremendous value, and it easily fills the desire many have for a nearly perfect, yet affordable used 4x4 SUV.

05:20 - Why You Might Want One

  • You want a competent, off-road capable family truckster or personal adventure vehicle, but you’re cheap, like me, and you don’t want to pay a lot of money
  • You like to keep things neat, so you store them in a box.  And the Trooper is basically a box, which makes it perfect for carrying you people and all your stuff to your next adventure
  • You like old-school 4x4s, but you’re shocked at the high prices for high-mileage vehicles
  • You like the idea of finding and driving a 'hidden gem' like the Trooper

07:10 - What Makes The Trooper So Great?

  • Isuzu SUVs were good quality vehicles.   
  • Sturdy body-on-frame 4x4 chassis
  • Enough ground clearance for your outdoor adventures
  • Part-time 4-wheel drive with hi/low transfer case
  • Limited slip rear differential
  • Boxy shape offers plenty of space to haul people and stuff
  • Large windows make it easy to see outside
  • No excuses/adventure ready/worry-free
  • Good examples are still very affordable

09:55 - What's Not So Great?

  • Isuzu passenger vehicles are no longer sold in the US
  • No Isuzu dealerships for parts and service
  • The newest Trooper is more than 20-years old.
  • You ego may not be able to handle driving an old SUV

12:15 - Notable Model Year Changes Over Time

  • 1992 was the first model year for the 2nd Gen Trooper
  • A 2-door RS version joined the line up for 1993
  • 4-wheel ABS - optional on S and RS models and standard on LS
  • Dual airbags were added to all Trooper trim levels in 1995
  • A shift-on-the-fly 4WD system was standard on all 1996 Troopers
  • In 1996, all trim levels had a 3.2-liter V6 that made 190-hp
  • 1996 was also the first year of the Trooper-based Acura SLX SUV
  • 4-wheel ABS became standard on all Trim levels in 1997
  • 1998 and later Troopers got a face lift and a larger 3.5-liter V6 that made 215-hp and 230-lb.ft. of torque
  • Torque On Demand (TOD) 4WD system became standard on all automatic-equipped Troopers in 1998
  • In 2000, rear-drive only models were offered for the first time

18:00 - Which Features Are Most Important

  • For safety, dual airbags and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes
  • For convenience, the addition of shift-on-the-fly 4WD
  • For power, the 1998 and later 3.5-liter V6 with 215-hp
  • I personally prefer the manual transmission over the automatic

20:15 - What Else Should You Look For When Searching For a 2nd Gen Trooper?

  • Vehicle condition is most important
  • Minimal owners (preferably 1 or 2)
  • Maintenance and repair records
  • No accidents/No salvage or rebuilt title
  • Vet the car at least 3 times (when you first see the ad, when you call and talk to the owner and finally in person)
  • Slow down and take your time when viewing in person
  • Get a Carfax if necessary
  • Have a pre-purchase inspection done by a Trooper mechanic

24:10 - What Should You Expect To Pay?

  • $12,000 to $14,000 for the best examples from an auction site
  • $8,000 to $10,000 good quality, low-mile private party examples
  • $5,000 to $7,000 for solid driver-quality Troopers
  • $Below $5000 - Good quality Troopers, but you have to work at it and look in a wider area to find good examples for a low price.
  • The best/lowest priced Troopers will sell very quickly

30:00 - CLOSE

The 2nd Generation Isuzu Trooper just might be the best old-school body-on-frame 4x4 SUV to meet your need for an affordably priced, yet perfectly capable SUV that can confidently and reliably haul you, your family and all your gear on an adventure to the mountains or the mall in all types of weather without complaint.   

Related Links:

Motorweek Retro Review Video of the 1992 Isuzu Trooper LS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3IwQqG3-RY&t=18s

Motorweek Retro Review Video of the Isuzu Trooper RS and Rodeo LS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_XLy8ONz0E&t=312s

Motorweek Retro Review Video of the 1998 Isuzu Trooper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY4QsE-PpFA


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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!