1989 Isuzu Trooper

**bisoy** · June 5th, 2006 08:33 AM

i have been trying to find feedbacks re this ride and i just cant find any. i guess it's about time i start a thread about this.

i am about to retire my trustworthy 1991 isuzu LS 4x2 pick up since i need a 4x4 for the farm. since budget is a real concern, the only ride i have come acrossed without adding much cash is this 1989 Isuzu trooper. i know little about this ride's reviews so i hope someone can share his/her experience. kahit yung mga "narinig nyo lang" from other people's experience are welcome.

ito sana yung hinahanap ko sa isang sasakyan:
1) a real 4x4 at hindi yung pa-cute lang coz it's no joke getting stuck in the mountains.

2) the engine is a 4jb1 so parts and maintenance is no problem since it's the same engine as the 4x4 pick ups. and concern ko are the suspension and brake parts at kung anu ano pa dyan. pareho rin ba ng 4x4 pick ups?

3) how about body parts? what if i bust a headlight or a rear light or kahit signal light. may nabibili ba? does it share the same lights as other models? or first gen trooper only ito?

4) how's the performance of this ride? engine, suspension, maintenance, etc etc etc..... i need all sorts of feedbacks... the good, the bad and the ugly.

5) mileage is 150k kms ata. owner selling it at 250k + 20K freight. so lalabas at least 270k kung wala akong ipapagawa. is it worth it? from the pictures pala, interior is still fresh. paint is a little faded pero original pa rin lahat. this one has the bubble top rear end kaya mataas head room. front row seats are individual. second row seats are bench type without headrests. third row is jump seat type (yung magka harap) parang revo? tama ba?

6) i noticed aircon is not dual type. would this be sufficient to cool the cabin on lunchtime?

7) fuel consumption sana of this ride or any ride with the 4jb1 engine.

i need a real 4x4 talaga to have that peace of mind when i go up to the farm. i only go to the farm once a week at the most. so mostly city use ito. i want a mix of comfort and performance sana. i hope i can hear from you guys. thanks.

**v22** · June 5th, 2006 09:16 AM

i would'nt make a decision on pictures alone... basing from your description,bubble top, i guess its an import.. you still have to take into consideration the conversion work..

for the 250k budget, why noy get a local boxtype pajero or the old patrol instead?

**4JGtootsie** · June 5th, 2006 09:20 AM

Bro,

1) Body parts for this unit will be a bit difficult.
2) Engine is ok.
3) Most of the 89trooper are government use. Inspect papers and condition.
4) Mainit kung walang aircon sa likod especially kung puno.

My suggestion is buy a 97 ISUZU pick up 4WD. Nothing beats the functionality and tibay of this vehicle.

**Syuryuken** · June 5th, 2006 09:26 AM

Sir try www.carsurvey.org lahat ng modelo ng sasakyan may reviews dyan.

**bisoy** · June 5th, 2006 09:42 AM

v22, yes it used to be from the govt. im not sure if it''s an import pero orig LHD ito. this wasnt converted at all. well initially, im basing it on the pictures. if everything seems ok (and price) ill ask a friend to check it out thoroughly.

just a question..... since i have no experience on the old patrols and pajero box types, are you saying these 2 units are better than the trooper? i remember riding on a nissan patrol but that was more than 15 yrs ago. all i can remember is the aircon was good. from what i heard, engine is also good and strong. can i get more feedbacks on these 2 vehicles please? someone mentioned that the body parts of the old trooper may be a concern. how about for the old patrol and pajero? hindi ba ito mahirap i-source?

4jgtootsie, i have asked for the papers and had a friend, who does all my LTO papers, to check it out. they seem to be all in order. yan din ang concern ko eh.... body parts. how about the old pajero and patrol? mahirap ba body parts nito? i believe the gen 1 pajero isnt dual aircon also. so mainit din ito sa likod? ang first gen patrol dual na ata? magkano ba ang ongoing price ng 97 4x4 isuzu pick up? high 300k pa ata the very least noh?

syuryuken, i checked that site na. they have reviews but most are the gas engines. wala pa akong nabasang review na 4jb1 ang makina ng trooper.

thanks for the inputs. please keep them coming.

**v22** · June 5th, 2006 01:50 PM

i'm really not very familiar with the troopers parts availability... but with regards to pajero, parts are VERY abundant... the pajero's engine is often times described as underpowered, but i find it to be adequate for my use... better get the turbo equipped one though... what is the terrain in which you will be using it in?? baka naman mudy, unpaved roads lang and inclines are not too steep?? i guess the pajero can handle em..
with regards to the patrol.. it certainly has the bigger engine and solid front axles that a lot of offroaders seem to love, but i find em to have a stiffer ride... another plus side for the patrol is, it was sold locally... so i think parts availabililty is'nt a problem...

**OTEP** · June 5th, 2006 11:46 PM

We used to have one of those. AFAIK, that is the GEN I Trooper. Ours was a local unit, orig-LHD, medium(?) wheelbase, 2 side doors and the 70/30 tailgate. It was a 9 seater owing to the troop carrier jump seats in the luggage compartment.

1) Yes, this is not a cute ute. Dual range 4wd system. Most had manual locking front hubs.

2) A lot of the parts do interchange with other Isuzu models. But most shops are unfamiliar already and you usually have to bring in the part to be replaced as 'sample'.

3) Ours still had generic sealed beams. Sorry, never broke any body part for the duration of its stay. We did have to buy seatbelts (inalis kasi ng former owner) and was able to acquire a surplus set.

4) It has acceptable refinement considering its age. It was not as slow as say an '89 Pajero. We never had much problems with it. Only had to be sold to give way to the GEN I Pajero. We needed the 5-door convenience.

5) Ours did not have the kick-up roof. I'm not sure if its a custom job but I've seen a few similar orig-LHD Troopies with the kick-up roof.

6) Aircon has no problems with rows 1 and 2. Ibili mo ng pamaypay yung nasa row 3. hehehe. Or you can have dual a/c fitted at your favorite a/c shop.

Nissan Patrols are relatively better supported than old Troopers. Nissan Patrols are more hardcore than Troopers especially the early models (the MQ models) which were nothing more than commercial models jazzed up with some accessories. Engine is the SD33 turbo diesel. Front and rear axles are solid and suspended by leaf springs. I got a chance to ride one a long time ago. The ride was acceptable, everything about the truck felt crude and trucky but it was likeable (in a battle axe sort of way).

**garyq** · June 6th, 2006 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by bisoy

i have been trying to find feedbacks re this ride and i just cant find any. i guess it's about time i start a thread about this.

i am about to retire my trustworthy 1991 isuzu LS 4x2 pick up since i need a 4x4 for the farm. since budget is a real concern, the only ride i have come acrossed without adding much cash is this 1989 Isuzu trooper. i know little about this ride's reviews so i hope someone can share his/her experience. kahit yung mga "narinig nyo lang" from other people's experience are welcome.

ito sana yung hinahanap ko sa isang sasakyan:
1) a real 4x4 at hindi yung pa-cute lang coz it's no joke getting stuck in the mountains.

2) the engine is a 4jb1 so parts and maintenance is no problem since it's the same engine as the 4x4 pick ups. and concern ko are the suspension and brake parts at kung anu ano pa dyan. pareho rin ba ng 4x4 pick ups?

DAMI PARTS FOR THIS MOTOR.

3) how about body parts? what if i bust a headlight or a rear light or kahit signal light. may nabibili ba? does it share the same lights as other models? or first gen trooper only ito?

MAHIRAP PARTS NG MARK1 NA TROOPER.

4) how's the performance of this ride? engine, suspension, maintenance, etc etc etc..... i need all sorts of feedbacks... the good, the bad and the ugly.

THIS ENGINE IS BULLET PROOF. D.I ITO I BELIEVE SO MATIPID AND MALAKAS HATAK.

5) mileage is 150k kms ata. owner selling it at 250k + 20K freight. so lalabas at least 270k kung wala akong ipapagawa. is it worth it? from the pictures pala, interior is still fresh. paint is a little faded pero original pa rin lahat. this one has the bubble top rear end kaya mataas head room. front row seats are individual. second row seats are bench type without headrests. third row is jump seat type (yung magka harap) parang revo? tama ba?

AT 150K YOU HAVE TO ASK KUNG NAPALITAN NA TIMING BELT, TENSIONER,ETC.

6) i noticed aircon is not dual type. would this be sufficient to cool the cabin on lunchtime?

NO. PAG PUNO HINDI KAYA

7) fuel consumption sana of this ride or any ride with the 4jb1 engine.

I WOULD EXPECT 8-10 KM/LTR SA CITY.

i need a real 4x4 talaga to have that peace of mind when i go up to the farm. i only go to the farm once a week at the most. so mostly city use ito. i want a mix of comfort and performance sana. i hope i can hear from you guys. thanks.

GET A PICK UP FOR YOUR BUDGET.

**bisoy** · June 6th, 2006 08:33 AM

v22, thanks for your inputs.

otep, i guess you are the right person to give advise re the first gen trooper and the mk/mq patrols being able to ride both vehicles. kung sakali yung trooper nyo ay 5 doors and it is to be compared to the mk/mq patrols, which one would you choose and why? please take into consideration body parts. thanks. by the way, whats the difference between the MK and MQ models?

garyq, timing belt? im not very familiar with 4jb1 engines but i have an isuzu pick up with a 4ja1 engine at timing chain naman sya. i supposed this lasts a lifetime? i havent changed my chain yet and it is running around 200k kms already. still very reliable pero 4x2 lang nga. i would like to get a 4x4 pick up pero walang magkasya sa budget ko.

terrain is..... well it's not cemented. it's considered "smooth" since may gravel. pero hindi naman kasi lahat ng road may gravel. there are long stretches na naka paved lang sya. it rains almost every afternoon in bukidnon. when it rains, it gets muddy at nawawala ang daan minsan. i wouldnt want to get stuck in bukidnon with my family. kaya para sa akin, ill have a peace of mind if i drive a 4x4 since i know it can get me to the farm and back.

please help me decide. thanks.

**drey** · June 6th, 2006 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by v22

i'm really not very familiar with the troopers parts availability... but with regards to pajero, parts are VERY abundant... the pajero's engine is often times described as underpowered, but i find it to be adequate for my use... better get the turbo equipped one though... what is the terrain in which you will be using it in?? baka naman mudy, unpaved roads lang and inclines are not too steep?? i guess the pajero can handle em..
with regards to the patrol.. it certainly has the bigger engine and solid front axles that a lot of offroaders seem to love, but i find em to have a stiffer ride... another plus side for the patrol is, it was sold locally... so i think parts availabililty is'nt a problem...

To tell you something, a lot of people admired the Gen 1 Pajero because of its power & torque. A member from Pocuk.com told us that when he was a kid, his father owned a Gen 1 Pajero and use it to haul their "boat". He didnt care a thing about that before, but one time, when another fisherman with a Patrol wanted to haul his boat, the patrol have no strenght to pull it of shore. His father gave him a free haul with his Paj! The kid was very very happy of what he saw!

Pajero is Bulletproof! Sir, if nasa bukidnon ka! Our pastors in Valencia used a Pajero for Ministry work in the mountains! 4D56!!! It really looks kawawa na because of the beating! But still the engine fires up for work! It has been with the ministry for 12+ years now.