The good:
1) It's a vehicross, you can dunk on trooper/bronco/jeep retards (unless it's the Turbo-diesel Trooper, sorry), because it's a vehicross
2) It's a vehicross, you can dunk on trooper/bronco/jeep retards, because it's a vehicross
3) You can dunk on trooper/bronco/jeep retards, because it's a vehicross
4) Drives like the best of a Miata and a offroader
5) Non interference engine so no catastrophic damage (common isuzu L) if the timing belt slips, this one isn't high enough (usually goes ~125k) to have a timing belt slip.
6) 4L30E with a transmission cooler will tow decently (well above the GVWR lmao)
7) You can park in a small spot compared to the gigantic modern day brodozers
8 ) 4L30E is common with GM shitboxes and ironically is plenty (Keep the vehicross 4L30E because there's some special parts)
9) When it dies you can sell it for parts and jew everyone just like they jewed you
The bad:
1) 3.5L burns a fuck ton of oil, worse than Miata at times and can't be solved without a rebuild (piston issue).
2) ABS module likes to die because its shit
3) It also needs a new coat of paint from what I can tell.
4) Leather work is meh.
5) There's a common "wet carpet" issue caused by a gromet in the firewall falling out. Since it's in a rust bucket shithole state, check the wiring gromets in the firewall, if its fell through consider running (rust on the above ground floorboard issues)
6) EGR likes to die and its a $250 part. Consider bypassing if you don't live in CARB testing shithole
7) Keep track of tire wear per axles, if the wheel on an axle is out of whack it will cause TOD activation and extra strain on system
8 ) Steering rack plastic wears and is a pain to rebuild
9 ) It's not one of the 86(!) Ironmans in the USA
The ugly:
1) The vehicross metal body is a modified Isuzu Trooper body. Good luck finding one.
2) Plastic parts (eg; fenders) are OOS and were made in limited numbers so expect up to $500+ for something like that. The headlight is also impossible to find (needs to regrind from the pic).
3) Bumper brace is metal and likes to rust. Check if its gone because again impossible to find.
4) You feel like you need to baby it because these were rare.
The todo if you buy:
1) Change fluids
2) Change timing belt
3) Clean the PCV/EGR
4) Flush the fluid 4L30E if you can, the trans weak and prone to dying (less on the vehicross then on the trooper), try not to push it too hard like a real truck.
5) Add a real tow hitch lmao.
Todo if you want it to last (more extensive)
1) Rebuild engine with the 10 hole piston to stop oil burning (original was 6).
1B) Swap to a 4JJ1-TC(X) and gain ~4hp... But
diesel.
2) Rebuild 4L30E
3) Tear down the upholstry/carpet, check for rust issues
4) Fix any rust issues
5)Repaint the exterior
6) Add Aussie ARB lockers and/or LSD diff (You can swap it with the G80 rear axle tag on an old Trooper lmao, check the gear ratio though)
