I like Isuzu, and one of the places I found while researching them was these forums, which greatly influenced the purchasing of my vehicle after seeing the brand loyalty on here.

I am now of the opinion that the 1st gen Rodeos were alot more stout than the 2nd gen. You here alot of no-problem stories with the 1st gen, but I have yet to talk to a 2nd gen owner Ive met (not online) who has had an overall positive experience with the vehicle. The 2nd gen seems to have loads of electrical gremlins always causing wierd things to happen when something seemingly unrelated starts to go.

When I first showed my truck to a friends dad (who is a mechanic) he chuckled and said "Ya it looks awesome - Your going to look great standing next it on the side of the road."

When I inquired what he was talking about - he brought me into his 7 car shop with 2 2nd gen rodeos in the shop. He says they seem to come back at least every other month and to make dang sure I keep oil in it because hes had 5 people bring in their rodeos saying theyre having major engine problems and he gets in there and find the engines roasted.

I think the 1st gen vehicle was one of probably sufficient reliability, however, I think isuzu cut alot of corners to put out the 2nd gen at such a low price. I really wanted a 4runner, but a similary equipped 4runner (98 - Options & ~90k) runs about 11,500-12,000 where I paid about 8700 for my truck. Not to mention the Rodeo looks awesome, which unforunately helped influence my decision. There is a reason these rodeos depreciate like mad and 4runners dont.

Anyways I just got the rodeo out of the shop yesterday for the 5th time in 10 months. (The abs light started flickering for the first time today <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />) and I think me and my dad have decided to hold off selling it for at least a little while. We are going to see if anything else comes up and if it does its going to sit until I can afford to fix it then were going to sell it at a major loss and Ill just get a honda or something (theres no other reliable suv's in the $7500 range with enough power, ect).

I love my truck, but its not really returning the affection.

But then again I would be nowhere without these forums. At least diagnosing problems is so much easier thanks to you'all! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

EVERYONE TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

This feels like it is heating up -- let's not throw down any gauntlets, toss BS flags, or call anyone a liar. Different folks are gonna have different experiences with different vehicles, even perhaps vehicles that rolled one after the other off the same assembly line. We need to respect different opinions in this community.

Here on the 'Wire, bad comments about vehicles (not people -- we don't play that way) are as welcome as good comments, as long as they are SPECIFIC and related FIRST-HAND. I agree with Wayne that the review he referenced has neither of those things, and that it would not be welcome here, if it were posted here. Edmunds has different rules and less overall oversight. I won't state an opinion that this is better or worse -- I'll just say that it is different. My guess is that they feel that overall, the wingnuts will be averaged out. I won't say whether I agree or disagree with that, either, other than to note that the Internet really gives wingnuts a soapbox to broadcast their opinions from...

...and say that I have used this soapbox to good advantage since the mid-90s to have fun with Isuzus and meet other folks having fun with the same. Let's try to remember the **FUN** aspect of this all! :kewl

NOW, EXHALE THAT DEEP BREATH

Feel better? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Randii

Man, has this gone off-topic. Thanks for the help, but remember to focus on the cursing to get it straightened out. And remember it's the weekend and won't be fixed for a week.

I am now of the opinion that the 1st gen Rodeos were alot more stout than the 2nd gen.
I'd like to put a perspective on this one. The 1st gens that are out there are the ones that "shook loose" all the problems. The remaining ones are the tougher ones. In 5 years, all the lemon 2nd gen will be shook out.

I've seen lemons of all makes and models out there.....and I've seen cherries under all makes and models.

JD Power isn't the best spot to go for quality, as it rates INITIAL quality and is contriversial in how it's rated. For example, there have been many articles on Mercedes (see Business 2.0 or Fortune) and their initial quality problems. In Europe, they're doing fine. In America, the same cars are doing worse every year. Mercedes says it's Americans being picky and jumping on the bandwagon......sort of like that "reviewers basing Isuzu" bandwagon where they get into an Isuzu with a bad frame of mind. (My opinion). Hate to say this, but the only spot I know is Consumer Reports for long-term repair costs.

I do have a friend who just came by with his 96 Rodeo he bought for a daily driver with the intent of getting rid of it when it blew up....and it's still going.

I will definitly second the comments on informed buyers. My opinion is that people IN GENERAL buy the biggest vehicle they can get for the money, car or SUV. I have a cousin couple that bought an XTerra because it was cute, and a sister in law who bought a Dodge Durango (the big, big version) to get something bigger than the XTerra (and get some of the attention she saw the Xterra bringing). Not exactly informed purchases. "Cute" and "Big as I can get." This is your average consumer.

Gas is now $2/gallon and our Mitsu Mirage (35 mpg), motorcycle (45 mpg) and Amgio (driven when I can't ride the bike) are all still cheap to fill up.

Speaking of JD Powers.....see this article about how they survey. The reason the Hummer was rated dead last? Most of the complaints about "defects" were not rattles or mechanicle problems, but people complaining that it got low gas mileage.

They bought a Hummer, with a sticker on the door (mileage in big print) and numerous articles in print and on tv that said it gets low mileage.....then called it a "defect" equal to the engine blowing up and the wheels falling off. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

article here; good for 2 weeks. (See page 2)

To excerpt a small part of it:
One gripe: In the new car quality survey, a car's basic attributes, gas mileage, and the placement of cup holders, for example, are lumped in with problems like rattles, buzzes, and broken equipment. Carmakers believe the survey should measure only the defects. In 2003, for example, Hummer scored the lowest of any car. The main complaint was poor mileage, something that presumably would be obvious to anybody buying the massive vehicles

You wanna talk specific? I haveonly ahd my truck a year, but is has gone croos country twice!! The only problem I have had with it when the engine decided it wanted early retirement. I absolutley enjoy my rodeo. I am sorry people have had bad experiences with their zu's, but hey, like almost all vehicles have their problems. I normally drive muscle cars, or olds solid axle trucks, so this thing is like an off road mercedes....to me anyway. And anyone that has seen these electrical gremlins, pm or email me about them...just for reference...

Chase

Only problem I have ever had with mine is the clutch going out with a bang (literally it slipped then exploded in their, pics comming soon). But what do you expect with about 97,000 miles on it, the clutch was going to head South sometime anyway.

I didn't see the cursing on the review, so I guess we made a difference, or I wasn't looking in the correct area.

Edit: Nope I did find it, and yeah I sent a message regarding it.

No, still there. 4th one down.
Again, it sounds like a dealer problem and a...if I may quote..."B.S." story. If he had a problem, fine. But if he and two friends have horrible problems to the point where they curse the very name of Isuzu.....why did they recomend their 4th friend buy one?

Makes no sense. I doubt another SUV owner would take the time to come over to Isuzu (which isn't much competition to any other SUV in sales volume) and bash it so i'm willing to belive it was a guy with a problem, but the story presented is not credible and the scores are not honest--they are frustration and anger.

I am 100% sure that guy is not a real Isuzu owner.
At least, he did not tell the whole truth about the issue.

Oleg

I think the offending review has been removed. I can't seem to find it anyway while I once was able to.