Isuzu Trooper 3.0 TDi DOHC

I bought my trooper about a year ago its a 2002 and I have to say she was some buy I have put up 20,000 miles in that year and pulled some massive loads and she has never let me down . don't talk to me about the landcruiser they wouldnt pull half the load and they are a animal on fuel

the troopers off road ability is second to none even with a load behind I will keep her till she stops going would never sell her and I have had many a lad ask me for an 02 she is beautiful

Bought it off a mate of mine 3 years ago to tow my caravan, after he'd had the engine self destruct and therefore replaced along with the turbo in the Isuzu recall. He'd bought an Insignia and left this one sat on his drive for 18 months, and I had a Terrano at the time which was totally gut less. It's been solid and reliable, if a bit dated in design. I tried out a TD5 Disco last year as a possible replacement for it, the TD5 had been re-mapped and was gorgeous to drive solo, but when I stuck my caravan on the back it was frighteningly unstable, and lacked power compared to my Trooper. I've seen so many threads where people s**g the Trooper off, but there are bad and good with any make of car, at least it never came out with design faults like the Freelander (was it 14 known faults???). Ok, I've got a little problem with it now, I think it's either a blocked fuel filter or an injector playing up, but I've used this for towing my twin axle caravan around Europe and all over the south west of this country without problem for three years, not many cars work without problems for that length of time. A bit of tlc and it'll be fine.

In 2000 I bought a 3L TDI having test driven the 3.1 and finding it slow. I did more than 140k miles on motorways. I towed a caravan at 80miles an hour (always in a hurry) and it never missed a beat. The only time it broke down was when I was on the phone and drove past a petrol station and it ran out of fuel. I never treated it well and only serviced it once a year.. Too busy for all that 6k miles servicing. It never lost oil, leaked, smoked or anything. Always started first time every time!

I got rid of it when a garage fried the electrics (it was like that when we got it mate). It sat on my drive for a year and a half on a tricle charger. I was reluctant to get rid of it but did not have the money to replace the fried loom. Someone offered to buy it, and when they came to collect it, it started first time. After a year and a half of just sitting there. First turn over it burst into life. ... I was gutted to see it go.

I am stunned to hear of all the problems others have had, but mine was a wonderful old girl. X433 NGP. If the loom had not been wrecked or I had the money to fix it I would still have it now!! Best car I have ever had. Proper mans car with proper power. Pull anything anywhere. Pulled other peoples Vans and 4x4 out of mud.... Love her and very sad to have lost her :(.

LOVE my trooper even though it needed the recall work , cant complain though as that was free , I use it as its supposed to be used as my farm truck but hav also driven it 12 hours continuos with a horse trailer on from wiltshire to newcastle an back in one day , didnt miss a note , the towing power is phenominal , which is what its all about , not wether its comfortable on the motorway ! mine is so basic , no electric windows , air con nothing , but it does what its supposed to on the farm and tows a trailer with 2 horses in up the steepest of hills without losing power . only thing is iwish id known about the factory fault with the engine before hand as it was a bit unnerving when the injectors blew whilst overtaking a caravan ! Lisa xxxx

First Isuzu trooper. 1998 3.0D SWB Trooper had a complete engine rebuild under warranty a year before we bought it. 95k on the clock and the ECU has failed. (£1200 approx to replace)

Would never buy an Isuzu again.

It's a love/hate relationship.

A couple of months ago I decided to get rid of my old (but reliable) 3.1TD Trooper and buy a 3.0TD. Although I was aware of the reliability/recall issues I figured buying a well-cared for model with a reasonably low mileage, regularly serviced, with all the recall work done and masses of paperwork, I would be on to a winner.

So far it's been in the garage 3 times; once for a failed injector (out of Isuzus' warranty) once for a new alternator and once again for the injector. It is a pity that Isuzus' legendary reliability was literally shot to pieces with this engine and it doesn't matter what people might say about it being 'ground breaking' technology (for the time) because it also has to get up and go every day.

Inside it's spacious for all my needs and tows our caravan with complete ease and confidence (though not that much confidence in the actual engine).

I look at the reliability and I hate it. I get in it to drive and I just adore it; it is certainly a marriage that will go the distance though, it seems, we will always have our differences.

I had my Isuzu Trooper 3.0 TDi DOHC for a short time, but it is nice, strong, practical, got ok power but it is not wow. So far, I like it, it got 130k KM on it, no leaks whatever, shifts fair. It is not like the Rodeo (Gas) ride & power, but better off-road and room. I think for the price it is a good deal.

Diesel on long trips is super nice, in town with AC it can get costly. One last thing always keep an eye on oil pressure, when u see low while stopping with AC on, put in neutral and gas a little, it will go back to normal, it happened once with me and was strange, do not know why?

I think for a 2002, it drives great.

I have owned trooopers for at least 18 Years and slowly but surely worked up until purchasing the LWB Auto Insignia.

The petrol motor was excellent but costly. changed for the 3.0L DT LBW Auto.Turbo Diesel. Worst thing I have ever done.

This vehicle is a total let down, a disappointment, an insult to the normal qualities produced by Japanese manufacturers, problems have been non-stop. It ' s a 2001 I got it approx 2 half yrs ago, in first year it was in garage no less than 6 times with engine light well and truly lit. Each repair was a minimum of £300.00 ranging right up to £650.00, its had recalls on it since then and it has just gone down with engine failure again. Its unstable on the motorway with wind. Structurally it ' s great, power is great, interior is comfy for a commercial total shame about the rest, Isuzu r no-go for me now!

Super comfortable on long journeys. Very good reliability (it is japanese after all). Lovely cruiser. Comfy and solid. Had mine for 3 years and used it for long commutes as well as farming. Pulled the disco out of the mud more than once. Got very few moans about it.

Overall: bought 2002 citation model for 7k in 2006-have done 50k miles in it without any probs.