Anybody had any experience with an Isuzu Rodeo?

Growing up, my parents always owned station wagons. There is no way to be cool cruising the strip in a '73 Pontiac Bonneville Grand Safari. I swore that, when I purchased my own car I would never own a station wagon.

Fast forward about 10 years and the '92 Rodeo was my first new-ish car. I thought it looked totally bad-ass, with those meaty GoodYear Wilderness A/Ts on it. I proudly drove it up to visit my parents and show it off. When my dad saw it, the first thing he said was, "It's a station wagon on big tires."

And he was right.

Regardless, I drove the snot out of that thing, retiring it at 180,000 miles when the oil pan rusted through and the cost of repairing it wasn't worth keeping the car. I sold it -- to a Hispanic guy, come to think of it -- and still kind of miss it.

I replaced it with a Subaru Outback...a REAL station wagon. My high school self would so totally kick my ass.

 

I have 02 I bought back in 04. Still in house driven every day. It was wife's car until daughter got license and we gave it to her. Never had issue with it. It will stay with us until it falls apart.

 

I had a 94 Passport I purchased new and passed on to my kid in 04 with 170k on it. She put another 30k on it before we sold it to a hispanic guy (daveK is right, N.Va) down the street who saw the for sale sign I stuck in the window after it sat for a year. I still see him tooling around in it. The ticking sound is normal. I heard it in every Passport/Rodeo I came across. It was a solid vehicle.

 

I just sold a "99 Passport...same as the Rodeo. It was very solid. Ran great, 4x4 was really good too. It shifted a bit late for my taste but that wont matter to you since yours is a manual.

 

i could of sworn the rodeo used a rear differential sensor for the speedo and not the transmission. that would account for the miles.

 

Did your grandparents drive the cars from them?