Howdy

I'm looking at a 2001 Rodeo LSE. It's got 80K miles and seems to be in pretty good shape. I only intend to do light wheeling with it.

The reviews I read on line just plain SLAMMED it. Is it really that bad or could those reviews just be flukes?

So What's the skinny on this vehicle.

A TV commercial said you can only do that in a Jeep... better get one of those instead just to be safe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> Seriously, though; what are the common themes of the bad reviews? The only regular problems I've read about on here are IMG's and timing-belt tensioners... neither of which are really that big a deal to replace. High oil consumption (1 quart/1000 miles) seems fairly common as well.

I doubt you'll get really unbiased reviews here. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I have a '98 Rodeo that I love. It's proven to be a fairly reliable ride with a strong motor, decent handling (for what it is), and crappy fuel economy. But then again, you don't buy vehicles like this for economy...

Unlike a preponderance of SUV owners, I do actually use my truck for hauling and moving stuff. For example, I've used it to help a couple of friends move and a few weeks ago, I put 13 80-lb. bags of Quikrete in the back of it and drove it home. Two weeks ago, I brought home 5 bags of potting soil, three flats of flowers and three trees in the back of it. Two nights ago, I put all of my students' diplomas, caps and gowns in it - as well as five fans because it's so hot on the stage where we do graduation - and headed off to graduation. When I got there, the door where I was supposed to park to unload was up a hill, between some trees, and over a few small obstacles. Luckily, with students, teachers, and parents watching, I was able to get it backed up to that door without hitting any of the trees. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
In other words, its handled everything I've thrown at it and done a great job.

The interior is also pretty tough; my two kids, aged 3 and 6, ride around in it all the time and it looks great... outside of the crumbs from their snacks. I also haul my mtn. bike in it sometimes, as well as my friends and their stuff.

Before this, I had a 4-cylinder Trooper. I loved that truck even though it was bog slow and ugly as sin. Eventually, it got to be unreliable and I didn't want my kids riding in it, so it had to go. I moved up to the Rodeo because I was able to get a good deal ($8000 out the door for a '98) on a truck that had relatively few miles (48,000) when I bought it last summer.

To summarize, if you can get around the bad mileage (mine gets something like 14-15mpg after a lift and some 265s), you'll probably be pretty happy.

As for mods, check out Darlington Offroad and Independent4x. They're small, independent businesses who specialize in modding Isuzus, so they know their stuff. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Mainsteam reviewers used to praise the Isuzu line, until the infamous Consumers Reports and then they all started slamming them, along with your Trooper. How the same design went form wonderfully stable to unsafe on the road in just a couple of years is beyond me. (Oh, wait, sensationalism drives sales)

No, the Rodeo is not a lexus. But it doesn't cost as much, either. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

As a price per what you get, I've been quite happy with both the 93 Amigo (18x,000 miles, no major problems, only the 2nd clutch and 3rd set of tires) and the 2004 Rodeo.

I drove the Jeep Commander fully loaded in Alaska for 2 weeks; just got back. Sure did miss my rodeo. The much larger commander had 68 ft3 of space, the Rodeo has 81.5 and got better mileage. And visibility was horrible in the commander. (It did handle nice on the highway and was pretty stable on bumpy dirt roads; slow to spool up and accelerate, got stuck in 4w-low a couple times and had to rock it into high)

Some vehicles are better or worse for certain situations; you have to decide what's best for you. Stock, the Amigo has been a better wheeler than the rodeo, but that's partially due to 31" tires and a shorter wheelbase.

One advantage in fine dust--the Commander was air tight. My rodeo sucks in some fine dust from the rear seals; I need to try stretching them to get a better fit. As it is, I wipe down my rear inside every now and then with a wet cloth.

If you hard core wheel and don't want to build a tube vehicle, jeep is the way to go. If you haul some stuff and offroad occasioally, I like the comfort of the Amigo. If you take the family, I like the Rodeo. Some people prefer the 1995-2001 Mitsu series.

Try some different ones, see what fits you best. THe #1 thing is to wheel and enjoy it, it's a lot of money and time inside a vehicle over the years. #2 is to get Isuzu (that helped me with #1).

Let us know what you do.