It may seem strange, but trucks like the Isuzu Trooper are becoming mildly collectible. Some of you may recall, I had a 1986 Isuzu Trooper project that was profiled on these pages a few times, but I ended up selling it last summer. This 1996 Trooper is a later model, and it’s equipped with the preferred 5-speed manual. Surprisingly, it’s said to have been parked due to transmission issues, which is a fault more typically associated with the troublesome automatic from this era of Trooper. The seller notes the Isuzu has been parked for 10 years, and the 3.2L V6 / 5-speed combo is the one most enthusiasts are looking for. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,000 in Canandaigua, NY.
I still own a Trooper, albeit a slightly later one than the ’86 I found in north Georgia: it’s a 1989 RS, which is a one-of-800 short-wheelbase model that’s not entirely different from my old one except for having a later fuel-injected 2.6L engine. It’s also not that different from this 1996 model in terms of how long it was sitting before I picked it up. The seller’s Trooper has relatively low miles for a ’96 with just over 118,000 miles, and I’m honestly curious if the transmission is actually “bad.” The GM-sourced 4L30E automatic transmission is notorious for failure and needing rebuilds (and still failing even after a rebuild), but the manual gearbox is generally stout. Is the seller saying the clutch is bad, or the slave cylinder? Who knows. But with clean body panels and otherwise a desirable spec, it’s worth checking out.
The tires are said to be in good shape and it comes with clean title. For $1,000, you could easily part this out and make your money back (and then some), but I’d absolutely try and decipher first whether the manual gearbox has actually perished. The seller acknowledges he doesn’t know much about it, and given that there are very few shops left that will even work on an Isuzu due to a perceived lack of parts and factory support, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was parked with a relatively simple issue. For $1,000, it’s worth checking out if you live anywhere near the seller, which truthfully may be the biggest hindrance to selling due to its remote location. I bet, however, if you made the trip and offered $700, it could be on your trailer in a heartbeat.
I have a soft spot for Troopers as well. My HS friend had a 1990 I believe that I used to service for him. I know his made it to 300K with the Chevy 2.8 and a 5-speed. Regular oil changes and keeping an eye on the intake manifold gaskets is the key to engine longevity. Yea, I would be surprised the 5-speed has an issue unless a leak caused it to run low on fluid. 2 things that bring caution to the Trooper party for this one. One is being driven on NY winter roads for more than 10 years. 2 check on parts availability. Last one I had Rock Auto was coming up short for common repair stuff.
Inasmuch as this is a decent Trooper at a okay price, I’d much rather take a long hard look at what looks like a nice ‘66ish Chevy Apache sitting with it!!
I’d gladly take the Chevy pick-up for $1000.
3 minutes to remove items on roof & hood,
45 seconds to roll the tool cart 4’ away, 3 minutes to run a broom over the vehicle, result = decent pictures. Always confused by this.
Forget the broom, run a leaf blower over it. FB is notorious for lazy sellers. Here’s the car selling hierarchy:
1. Bring a Trailer – Everything must be detailed plus videos and you have to interact with commenters.
2. Barn Finds/Hemming’s – Decent pics, no video, and interaction with commenters.
3. E-Bay – Cars must see the light of day and most obstructions removed.
4. Craig’s List – Sellers must lift at least one finger to take pics and write a description.
5. Facebook Marketplace – Two brain cells to rub together is not a requirement. Knowledge of how a camera works is not a requirement. Not knowing anything about the item for sale is acceptable. Forming of one coherent sentence optional. Price is determined by feelings and not reality.
OMG, you made me LOL!
If I’m not mistaken, this is the Honda 3.2 found in Acura? Great motors.
Pretty sure the Isuzu 3.2 is a different animal. They’re known for their appetite for oil. I dated a girl about 12 years ago that had one that was in beautiful condition but I had to dump a quart in about every 500 miles.
Our ’02 Rodeo has a 3.2L DOHC direct injected Isuzu motor, and while Honda did rebadge Isuzu SUVs I don’t think Honda ever provided drivetrains.
I’m sorry, the day a Tropooper becomes the next collectible “flash in the pan”, I’m taking up knitting. Great trucks,,,new, but “throw away” 4×4’s, and at 118K, something sidelined it, usually the driveline or electrical issues. Sorry, it’s “grinder time” for the Tropooper,,
I had a ‘98 with a 3.5 automatic. Was still a great rig at 175k miles. Probably should’ve held onto it. They are kind of a Land Cruiser for the rest of us.
My brother had 2 Troopers, an outstanding package with tons of room and a budget Land Cruiser feel. Weak spot was the cam belt, change them with the tensioner regularly or the motor goes boom. They were fine in by a lousy dealer network who typically sold Isuzu’s as a loss leader for the Pontiac’s, Mercury’s or whatever other mainstream mid-line vehicle whose sales they needed to bolster. The final mail in the coffin came courtesy of Consumer Reports who deemed the Trooper “Not Acceptable” after their testing shows a proclivity to roll over in an evasive maneuver. Too bad, Isuzu made some decent and sturdy cars and trucks and had a great “Joe Isuzu” ad campaign but could not overcome their bad dealers and bad press.
I had two troopers, the first was an 86 in the standard burgandy/champagne with the 4cyl 5speed [i always wanted to 4.3 swap it]
i was 26 and used it for many hunting trips and all the foul weather WV could throw at it, but it was rusting in the rear floor and a guy made me an offer i couldn’t refuse.
the second one was a 93 i bought from a high school friend that wanted rid of it due to a bad ticking noise …..a new timing belt and tensioner and it was a sweet ride, i loved the newer body style over my 86.
loaned that one to my little brother so he could go to a high school buddy’s wedding and he never brought it back, he wanted to keep it and talked my mom and dad into buying it for him [lucky for me i had just recently picked up a 1996 FZJ80 Landcruiser], but the 93 Trooper was a 5speed which i liked very much, but in the end the frame rusted out, and my two brothers scrapped it :-(
Had a ’94 3.2l 5 speed for 12 years, loved that thing except for the price of parts. Ignore certain people talking out of their back ends, these were very well-built 4×4’s and mine never let me down, and it would go almost anywhere. As wjtinfwb noted above, the dealer network was weak to begin with and mostly disappeared by the mid 2000’s, mine eventually became too expensive to maintain and it had to go.
I still miss that thing.
I concur
I had the biggest mud tires that would fit with no lift
It had a very nice look and was capable of getting me where i wanted to go for bad weather and hunting season