If you've looked in the classifieds, you'll see I'm selling my much-loved FJ62 Land Cruiser. It's time for something new.
I stumbled upon something I've never considered, a 1989 Isuzu Trooper. 156k on the body, 15k on the engine and transmission. A stack of maintenance records, and no rust. Great GRM sages, what's something like this worth? He's asking $3800, KBB as useless as it is sometimes says $1800, but what's fair?
A young man with the last name of "Suddard" just bought that truck's twin (with an automatic IIRC) for just over $2k. Similar condition, lower mileage, original engine.
I'd be in for somewhere around 2500...2800 if I fell in love. (Which is very possible.)
Though thought to be "Red Neck", the consensus was that it is not.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/i-finally-got-a-redneck-truck/39780/page1/
Depends. What motor is in it? I've owned 2 troopers and have a brother with a junk yard full of them... There were some sorta gray market imports too came from a diffrent country factory. Those rusted faster then the mother land units. 2.6lt was good as was the v6 the 2.2 (i think its been banished from my mind) was a head gasket blowing POS and weak kneed too
In reply to 44Dwarf:
I'd say its a $2500 car because of its exceptional condition. This assumes the tires are in good shape. Its not in high demand, but prime examples like this are few and far between. Is this the 4cyl or 6?
if it has the 3.2? liter ohc motor its OK, if it has the GM sourced 2.8, stay away.
down here they were going for around 1500-2000, but i haven't seen one that nice come up, like ever
If it looks as good under three hood as it does elsewhere, Tom and I are in consensus.
I looked at your classified ad. For near even money, I am not sure that I would trade out of a Land Cruiser to replace it with a Trooper. The build quality of the Trooper is not nearly as high as the Cruiser. I would also expect that this Trooper has the 2.8L Chevy V6, same as used in many Blazer and S-10's of similar vintage.
My brother had one and loved it, but it was a lot rougher than this one. The head gasket went on it at one point, and he had to get the head machined. But he put a ton of miles on it with not much else in the way of maintenance. I don't remember what motor it was, but seem to recall it having an aluminum head.
Edit: Oh, and that one is beautiful! I haven't seen one in that condition, like, ever.
The four cylnder had a reputation of blowing head gaskets too. IIRC there is a head produced in Europe (Spain maybe) that was the replacement to buy.
i personally like the isuzu 2.6 a lot.
but i wouldn't trade my land cruiser for this.
jrw1621 wrote: I looked at your classified ad. For near even money, I am not sure that I would trade out of a Land Cruiser to replace it with a Trooper. The build quality of the Trooper is not nearly as high as the Cruiser. I would also expect that this Trooper has the 2.8L Chevy V6, same as used in many Blazer and S-10's of similar vintage.
Not to damage my classified ad or anything, but... This appears to be a damn time-capsule from 1989. The Land Cruiser has been nothing but "What the berkeley, previous owner?" It's not what I'm looking for in a vehicle that's going to be soon called upon to handle more year-round, weather isn't good enough to ride, driving.
I'd love to stay with a Cruiser, and will own one again, but there's such a huge premium to pay.
It has the 2.6L four cylinder, actually, the V6s of that vintage came with automatics.
mind rebuilding carbs?
belteshazzar wrote: mind rebuilding carbs?
Yeah, they're no problem, especially when I could drive the fuel injected Trooper to the store to buy more Berryman Chem-Dip. 
2.6 is the best 4cyl they used. They had head gasket ishues too but no where near the others. i'd offer him $2200 and see what he come back with.
never had a fuel injected one. that'd be all right.
I agree that it's worth in the high 2s, although starting at 3800 might make it tough to get him below 3k. I would not scoff at ~3200 for that thing, in any case.
Shot him an email offer for $2600. If he rage/quits over that and doesn't want to play ball, well, there's always the $6000 FZJ80 calling my name. Though twice the price for 200,000 miles... Why to I lust after such ridiculously priced vehicles?
$2500 or so should be right in the ballpark. Troopers, while tough old rigs, just are not collector vehicles even though that one is very nice.
Be prepared to be underwhelmed by the power, or lack therof. I always wondered about using a motor from a turbo Impulse in a Trooper, but then again I am weird that way.
I had a '90 with the 2.6L and 5spd. The connector for the fuel pump can be troublesome. I got sick of berkeleying with it and hard-wired it. The head gasket blew for the PO at 70K miles. I got rid of it when it blew again for me, but I don't remember how many miles were on it (somewhere around 160K, I think). Those were the only issues I had with it other than being slooooooow. For being here in the rust-belt, it really didn't rust much at all.
Oh yeah, as far as price, mine was nearly as nice as that one and I paid $2500 for it...in 1998. I would pay no more than $2500 for that one, now.
Well he didn't play ball. Not even a counter offer. Damn, I kinda love that little thing.
Buy it, then immediately buy a starter for it. That keeps up the demand for those gear reduction starters, which are virtually a direct swap into my MG Midget. A continuing demand will ensure a continuing supply, which means I can always get a replacement.
And, yes, it is always about me. 
Osterkraut wrote: Well he didn't play ball. Not even a counter offer. Damn, I kinda love that little thing.
Was your email price offer your first interaction with the seller?
As a seller, I too reject all price change offers made without the buyer seeing the car first.
Especially an unseen offer that attempts to take over 30% off the price like yours
jrw1621 wrote:Osterkraut wrote: Well he didn't play ball. Not even a counter offer. Damn, I kinda love that little thing.Was your email price offer your first interaction with the seller? As a seller, I too reject all price change offers made without the buyer seeing the car first. Especially an unseen offer that attempts to take over 30% off the price like yours
No, I called him the other day and shot the E36 M3 over it for like half an hour. Unfortunately, it's about 4 hours away, so getting a look at it and then having negotiations is less than convenient.
It's been up for a month, maybe he'll come down a bit if it dangles out there longer.
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