Isuzu Trooper Citation 3.2 Opinions

I have just recently purchased an Isuzu Trooper 3.2 Citation and have
decided to take it for an early MOT as a means of checking it out. I
am not very good with cars and all I want them to do is run and not
cost the earth. I have a small family (wife, baby and Belgian Shepherd
pup) and like the room that the Isuzu gives us. Its an excellent drive
and feels like the best vehicle I have ever owned (competing with
Mini, Triumph Spitfire, Ford Escort Mark 2, 3 and 4, Rover Vitesse,
Vauxhall Cavalier, etc).

The problem is that my local garage (more a bodywork place) failed the
Isuzu on its MOT and had a quiet word with me to the effect of "sell
it fast whilst it still has an MOT".

The MOT test they gave it failed on rusted brake lines, offside top
ball joint,tyres, corrosion on sill needing welding, exhaust pipe
blow. I think they quoted something like £500 to fix all this.

The garage also told me that it would need new suspension soon enough
(for the next MOT in about a year). They gave me a cost of about £300
for this also.

I spent £1800 on this car and figured that I'd done well at the time.
I still feel like it is worth the investment (and money still to be
spent), provided that the body isn't going to fall apart within 5
years. After all, since I know nothing about cars I will probably end
up in the same situation with the next car I buy. But I know I like
this car and I know I feel a lot safer driving it than our last car
(we were rearended by someone when bringing our newborn baby home from
the hospital and my wife is still recovering).

I think I have answered my own question in writing this posting. I am
taking it to another garage on Monday for a sort of second opinion
(they are doing an oil change and timing belt change). I'll ask what
they think about the remaining life of the vehicle.

Incidentally, if anyone reading this is an Isuzu fan and is in the
Edinburgh area I'd be grateful if you'd have a quick look at it to
tell me what you think.

All replies welcome.

Raymond

"Raymond Fairgrieve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have just recently purchased an Isuzu Trooper 3.2 Citation and
have
> decided to take it for an early MOT as a means of checking it out. I
> am not very good with cars and all I want them to do is run and not
> cost the earth. I have a small family (wife, baby and Belgian
Shepherd
> pup) and like the room that the Isuzu gives us. Its an excellent
drive
> and feels like the best vehicle I have ever owned (competing with
> Mini, Triumph Spitfire, Ford Escort Mark 2, 3 and 4, Rover Vitesse,
> Vauxhall Cavalier, etc).
>
> The problem is that my local garage (more a bodywork place) failed
the
> Isuzu on its MOT and had a quiet word with me to the effect of "sell
> it fast whilst it still has an MOT".
>
> The MOT test they gave it failed on rusted brake lines, offside top
> ball joint,tyres, corrosion on sill needing welding, exhaust pipe
> blow. I think they quoted something like £500 to fix all this.
>
> The garage also told me that it would need new suspension soon
enough
> (for the next MOT in about a year). They gave me a cost of about
£300
> for this also.
>
> I spent £1800 on this car and figured that I'd done well at the
time.
> I still feel like it is worth the investment (and money still to be
> spent), provided that the body isn't going to fall apart within 5
> years.

Cosidering the present state of it and the probably sound advice to
get rid, coupled with what you paid for it, take your very considerate
garage's advice and get rid of the heap quickly, no matter how
reluctantly. It will likely be a bottomless money pit.




After all, since I know nothing about cars I will probably end
> up in the same situation with the next car I buy. But I know I like
> this car and I know I feel a lot safer driving it than our last car
> (we were rearended by someone when bringing our newborn baby home
from
> the hospital and my wife is still recovering).

No crumple zones on this heap I'm afraid, so any collision is likely
to transfer violently into the passenger compartment unless the rusty
chassis crumbles into dust on impact. The increased safety is an
illusion, unless your previous car was also an old heap.



>
> I think I have answered my own question in writing this posting. I
am
> taking it to another garage on Monday for a sort of second opinion
> (they are doing an oil change and timing belt change). I'll ask what
> they think about the remaining life of the vehicle.

Why not ask for an inspection *before* spending hard earned money on
it? Please make sure that you do not give the impression that you want
questions answered in a certain way, because garages are adept at
saying what the customer *wants* to hear. It is a way of keeping a
customer satisfied and coming back again and again to spend more
money.
I really would listen to the first garage as it does not appear they
have an axe to grind and were looking after your interest.


>
> Incidentally, if anyone reading this is an Isuzu fan and is in the
> Edinburgh area I'd be grateful if you'd have a quick look at it to
> tell me what you think.
>

Too far away, but I do actually own an Isuzu Trooper. The chassis is
prone to rust badly. The body is very good unless badly repaired after
an accident.

Huw
> All replies welcome.
>
> Raymond


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"Raymond Fairgrieve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have just recently purchased an Isuzu Trooper 3.2 Citation and
have
> decided to take it for an early MOT as a means of checking it out. I
> am not very good with cars and all I want them to do is run and not
> cost the earth. I have a small family (wife, baby and Belgian
Shepherd
> pup) and like the room that the Isuzu gives us. Its an excellent
drive
> and feels like the best vehicle I have ever owned (competing with
> Mini, Triumph Spitfire, Ford Escort Mark 2, 3 and 4, Rover Vitesse,
> Vauxhall Cavalier, etc).
>
> The problem is that my local garage (more a bodywork place) failed
the
> Isuzu on its MOT and had a quiet word with me to the effect of "sell
> it fast whilst it still has an MOT".
>
> The MOT test they gave it failed on rusted brake lines, offside top
> ball joint,tyres, corrosion on sill needing welding, exhaust pipe
> blow. I think they quoted something like £500 to fix all this.
>
> The garage also told me that it would need new suspension soon
enough
> (for the next MOT in about a year). They gave me a cost of about
£300
> for this also.
>
> I spent £1800 on this car and figured that I'd done well at the
time.
> I still feel like it is worth the investment (and money still to be
> spent), provided that the body isn't going to fall apart within 5
> years.

Cosidering the present state of it and the probably sound advice to
get rid, coupled with what you paid for it, take your very considerate
garage's advice and get rid of the heap quickly, no matter how
reluctantly. It will likely be a bottomless money pit.




After all, since I know nothing about cars I will probably end
> up in the same situation with the next car I buy. But I know I like
> this car and I know I feel a lot safer driving it than our last car
> (we were rearended by someone when bringing our newborn baby home
from
> the hospital and my wife is still recovering).

No crumple zones on this heap I'm afraid, so any collision is likely
to transfer violently into the passenger compartment unless the rusty
chassis crumbles into dust on impact. The increased safety is an
illusion, unless your previous car was also an old heap.



>
> I think I have answered my own question in writing this posting. I
am
> taking it to another garage on Monday for a sort of second opinion
> (they are doing an oil change and timing belt change). I'll ask what
> they think about the remaining life of the vehicle.

Why not ask for an inspection *before* spending hard earned money on
it? Please make sure that you do not give the impression that you want
questions answered in a certain way, because garages are adept at
saying what the customer *wants* to hear. It is a way of keeping a
customer satisfied and coming back again and again to spend more
money.
I really would listen to the first garage as it does not appear they
have an axe to grind and were looking after your interest.


>
> Incidentally, if anyone reading this is an Isuzu fan and is in the
> Edinburgh area I'd be grateful if you'd have a quick look at it to
> tell me what you think.
>

Too far away, but I do actually own an Isuzu Trooper. The chassis is
prone to rust badly. The body is very good unless badly repaired after
an accident.

Huw
> All replies welcome.
>
> Raymond


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