1998-2003 Isuzu Amigo/Rodeo Sport - The Wrangler 4x4 Alternative

00:00 - Show Open - 1998 to 2003 Isuzu Amigo/Rodeo Sport

If you're a fan of boxy, short-wheelbase, fun-to-drive SUVs, then you will love the vehicle that is the focus of today's episode of Better Than New

01:05 - Brief recap of Notable Isuzu Cars, Trucks and SUVs sold in the US

While Isuzu hasn't sold passenger vehicles in the US since 2009, they are still one of largest manufacturers of commercial diesel engines, trucks and buses globally, and they still sell passenger vehicles in other markets outside the US.

However, when Isuzu did sell passenger vehicles here, they offered some notable models, including the Impulse Coupe (originally penned by famed Italian Designer Giorgetto Guigiaro), the boxy Trooper family SUV and the cool, but short-lived 2-door Vehicross available here from 1999-2001. PS - I was wrong about the number of Vehicross SUVs sold in the US. I thought it was around 4,500, but it was lower at 4,153

02:20 - Today's Focus Used SUV: The 1998-2003 Isuzu Amigo/Rodeo Sport

Today's focus used car is the second generation Isuzu Amigo, sold from 1998 to 2000, which was later renamed the Rodeo Sport from 2001 to 2003. These boxy SUV identical twins are short-wheelbase versions of the Rodeo SUV, one of Isuzu's most successful vehicles sold in the US.

04:00 - Engine Options

• Base Engine is a 2.2-liter inline 4-cylinder with 130-hp and 144 lb.ft of torque
• Optional Engine is a 3.2-liter Dual Overhead Cam 24-valve 6-cylinder with 205-hp and 214 lb. ft of torque

04:35 - Drive train and Transmission Options

• Sold in 2WD and 4WD Configurations
• Dash-mounted switch on 4WD models to engage 4WD on-the-fly
• Separate gear lever to switch from Hi-range to low-range gearing on 4WD models
• 5-speed transmission only on 1998 models
• An optional 4-speed automatic transmission offered from 1999 on

05:30 - Performance

• 4-cylinder models have adequate acceleration with 5-speed manual transmission
• 6-cylinder model with 5-speed manual transmission is the best combination for enthusiasts
• 6-cylinder with automatic is a little slower, but a solid option.
• Motorweek (link below) tested a 1998 Amigo with the 6-cylinder and a 5-speed manual and it was able to reach 60-mph in 8.0-seconds, which is was quick for SUVs from that era.

06:30 - Fuel Economy

• 15-mpg City/20-mpg Highway for 4-cylinder 2WD models
• 14-mpg City/18-mpg HIghway for 6-cylinder 4X4 models
• Average is probably 16-17 mpg
• You buy this for off-road capability, not fuel economy
• These do run on 'regular' fuel, so that helps... a little

06:55 - Suspension & Handling

• Rugged body-on-frame design offers solid off-road performance
• With 4WD and Hi/Low range gearing, these are much more capable than car-based SUVs like a RAV4 or a CR-V
• Short 96.9-inch wheelbase offers more nimble handling
• Independent front suspension with solid rear axle
• Approximately 8.0-inches of ground clearance
• In Motorweek's 1998 Amigo road test, they found the suspension to be on the soft side for cornering, resulting in extra lean during the slalom portion of their testing.
• The rack & pinion steering was precise though and it had a decent highway ride

08:25 - Wheel & Tire Options

• Base wheel was a 15-inch steel wheel
• Optional Wheel was a 16-inch alloy wheel
• The 16-inch Wheels became standard from model 2000 onward

08:50 - Brakes

• Disc brakes front and rear
• Front discs were ventilated
• Rear discs were solid
• Anti-lock Brake System (or ABS) was standard
• Short, 124-feet stopping distance from 60-mph during Motorweek's test of a 1998 Amigo 4x4 model with 5-speed transmission.

9:20 - Interior Features

• Supportive cloth front bucket seats with manual adjustment
• Large, easy to read speedometer, tachometer and other gauges
• Simple, easy to use knobs and buttons for Heat/Vent/AC
• Lots of legroom for rear seat passengers
• Cloth rear bench folds forward more cargo space in back
• No 50/50 or 60/40 split on rear bench seat

11:00 - Exterior Features

• Boxy, rugged, short-wheelbase SUV design
• Reminiscent of early Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Raider, 2-Door Mitsubishi Montero (or Pajero in Japan and Europe)
• Available in a soft-top version only in 1998
• Soft-top and hardtop versions were available from 1999 onward
• The soft-top covered only the rear passenger area and folded down over the rear seat roll bar.
• Standard sunroof over front seats was removable for extra airflow.
• Hardtop models had an 2nd sunroof built into the hardtop
• 1998 and 1999 Amigos had a body-colored egg crate front grill
• The front grill and headlights were revised for the 2000 Amigo and later 2001-2003 Rodeo Sport models.
• Isuzu offered some cool exterior colors, including cooper orange mica, zephyr green metallic and caprice blue metallic.

13:45 - When It Comes To Finding One Of These SUVs, What Should You Look For?

When it comes to selecting really any used vehicle, the condition of that vehicle matters more than the features and colors... for the most part.

In this case, while I would focus on finding an Amigo or Rodeo sport in good to excellent condition, there are a couple of features I personally cannot live without.

First feature I can't live without is 4WD. These were sold in both 2-wheel drive (2WD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD). The 2WD and 4WD models look basically the same. At a glance, you can't tell one from the other without a closer look. That said, If I bought one of these, I would have to have 4WD, so that narrows my selection somewhat. It will narrow your selection too if you also want 4WD, so be sure to confirm that the Amigo or Rodeo Sport you are looking at has 4WD if you want that feature.

Second, I want the added horsepower of the 6-cylinder engine. Or put another way, I wouldn't buy one of these with a 4-cylinder unless it was a crazy good deal (as in, I would flip it immediately for a profit and then put the extra cash towards a 6-cylinder model). The 4-cylinder is adequate with a 5-speed manual, but having an extra 75-hp matters to me and I think it will matter to you - and since the fuel economy isn't that great for either the 4-cylinder or the 6-cylinder engine, you might as well go with more power.

17:00 - Focus on Condition, Condition, Condition

Condition of a used vehicle is what matters most, and when it comes to the condition of any used vehicle, there are several things that you want to consider.

• Look for a vehicle with a minimal number of owners
• Check to see if it had regular maintenance
• Does the owner have service records to back up service claims
• Run a CarFax (or similar) to check repair records, number of owners and to avoid cars from the rust belt
• Look for vehicles with no major accidents
• Likewise, no rebuilt or branded title
• Go with relatively low miles (for the year)
• Make sure it hasn't had off-road abuse
• Avoid Rust/Rust-belt cars
• Have the car inspected
• Look for Straight Panel Gaps
• Don't underestimate the cost of paint and bodywork
• Be sure there are no Interior Leaks inside
• Avoid oil and fluid leaks underneath (engine, transmission, etc.)
• Check all electric features for function

26:55 - Two Caveats To Consider

First, there was a recall for rust that builds up where links from the rear suspension attach to the frame. These areas were not properly treated and are more likely to rust and fail if exposed to snow-covered roads treated with salt. This is common in many mid-west and northeastern states and these vehicles were recalled in all states (about 20 or so states at the time of the recall) that salt their roads in winter. When Isuzu inspected the recalled vehicles, those with minimal rust had an anti-rust treatment applied to the suspension and frame. For vehicles with moderate rust damage, Isuzu added additional bracing and for excessively rusted vehicles, Isuzu bought them back from owners. That said, be sure to get a look underneath to check the frame and suspension for rust on any Amigo or Rodeo Sport you are considering for purchase.

Second, they don't make or sell Isuzu's in the US anymore, so you can't run down to your local Isuzu dealer and pick up parts or schedule service. However, Isuzu did sell about 35,000 of the 1998-2003 Amigo/Rodeo Sport SUVs here in the US (plus a lot of 4-door Rodeos, which have many similar parts). Isuzu also sold a lot more 2-door versions under different brand names all over the globe, so there will be parts available... it just may take a little more time to find what you need. Also, the engines and transmissions in these can be serviced by any competent mechanic, so don't worry. Common parts for tune-ups, timing belt changes, electrical parts, cooling parts, etc. should be available from your local auto parts store. But there is the potential that some body and interior parts may take a little more time to source if you need them.

Now would either of these potential issues stop me from buying an Amigo or Rodeo Sport? No. And I'm not bringing these issues up to stop you from buying one of these vehicles, but you should be aware that these potential problem areas exist so you can make an informed choice and perform any due diligence necessary before you buy.

29:15 - Pricing - What Should You Expect To Pay?

Pricing is always difficult to predict in the current car market. New cars are available in limited quantities, which drives up prices. That in turn impacts used car prices. The average new car price in the US is now more than $48,000 and the average used car price in the US, according to a recent July 22nd, 2022 article in Autoweek magazine, is more than $33,000. So... that brings out the crazy in people selling cars.

Even private owners with older used cars that shouldn't really be impacted by the price gouging start getting "inflation fever" and some will set their asking price higher when they try to sell them.

There may be some of that thinking when pricing cars like the Amigo and Rodeo Sport, but I believe there is something else pushing these vehicles up in value. Most Boxy, 4WD, short-wheelbase SUVs on the used market are in demand and people have discovered that these Isuzu's are a decent alternative to an early Ford Bronco or a Jeep Wrangler. But in spite of that, plus the overall inflated used car market, prices on these Isuzu's from across the US (at least what I have been seeing) haven't gone crazy, so that's some good news.

For an experiment, I ran a recent price search on Kelly Blue Book for a 2001 Rodeo Sport, 4x4 with 5-speed and 135,000 miles in excellent condition and the average price for a private party sale was $3000 with a $3500 maximum.

Out in the real world, I guess it's possible to find an Amigo or Rodeo Sport for sale in that price range, but it won't last long if you do. The following prices are more realistic based on what I have been seeing in the market place over the last few months:

• A Decent Driver-Quality Amigo/Rodeo Sport that's in good condition, but maybe not perfect - $4K to $6K
• High Quality Examples that really need nothing - $7K to $9K
• The Best Examples with low miles, one or two owners, with a V6 and 5-speed manual, plus the best colors & features - $10K to $12K

33:20 - Other Options

When I search for a particular used vehicle, such as the Amigo/Rodeo Sport, I typically have a few similar used vehicles in mind that I look for at the same time. In this case, I would look at the following boxy, short-wheelbase SUV as an option.

First, the TJ series of the Jeep Wrangler, sold from 1997 to 2006 is a great option. I love Jeeps and the TJ is probably my favorite, for its combination of styling, capability and price. It's the quintessential Jeep. My preferred combination of features would be a 6-cylinder model with a hardtop. The hardtop can be removed and you can easily add a soft top or bikini top if you want later, but I prefer the security of a hardtop.

Another great option is the Dodge Raider or the equivalent 2-door Mitsubishi Montero. With the optional 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual, these little 4x4s can go just about anywhere. The Raider/2-door Montero was only available up until model year 1989, so it will be harder to find one for sale, but these do come up from time to time in good condition, so it is worth keeping an eye out for one as you search for an Amigo/Rodeo Sport.

Looking for something smaller and more funky? How about the Suzuki Samurai, a Geo Tracker or for a real unicorn, the Daihatsu Rocky. Not much horsepower with these, but all are body-on-frame SUVs with some back road chops, so possibly something to consider while you search for that Amigo or Rodeo Sport.

36:45 - Wrap

Hopefully this episode on Amigo/Rodeo Sport has made an impression on you. I think these are a great used SUV option (in good condition, of course) and I believe you will feel the same way after some time behind the wheel, so check one out if you are a fan of rugged, boxy 4x4s.