Aside from the Skyroof feature, Trooper owners have long admired the dependability and functionality of the Isuzu SUV, particularly in terms of engine performance and suspension reliability.
After all, Isuzu vehicles are known as "ride and drive" vehicles with low maintenance.
But 57,000 kilometers of traveled roads could spell a big difference. After the warranty coverage has lapsed at 50,000 kilometers or two years from the date of purchase (which ever comes first), many may think that the Isuzu Trooper Skyroof will lose its aura after taking the beating of various road conditions.
The Trooper I drove particularly took not only various road conditions but also a variety of drivers. It is afterall the IPC test drive unit used by motoring media for endurance drives around the country. From the rough roads of Bontoc to the long paved stretches of Ilocos Norte, the Trooper Skyroof had traversed them all.
Rain or shine, typhoon signals included, a journey with the Isuzu Trooper Skyroof was never called off. Both the driver assigned to it, and IPC, were confident it could take the terrain.
Recently, we had a "reunion" with the satin silver Trooper Skyroof 2003 when the Cruising Team covered the famous Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, Camarines Sur. The 900-kilometer travel from Manila to Naga City and back, again tested the dependability of this Trooper.
Likewise, it was a reunion for us – myself, Cruising Magazine editor Pinky Colmenares, and Cruising photojournalist and food columnist Anjo Perez. Our guest for the drive was Myrna Gonzales, assistant department manager-IPC marketing and sales department.
Initially, I felt a little depressed when I boarded the Trooper. It looked old and used up inside. I noticed the fading leather portions on the steering wheel, a missing button on the overhead map reading lights and a malfunctioning odometer-trip meter. But the wood grain panels on the dash board and door sidings were intact while the leather seats remained flawless.
The body paint appeared less glossy but that’s entirely understandable. It just showed that the Trooper never slept, always on the go in the face of dust and dirt.
The door fittings, despite being subjected to abuse of occasional off-roading situations, was still very much intact. The door hinges had not loosened which usually happens when a vehicle is long exposed to severely-damaged provincial roads.
The Skyroof was functioning well and it was perfect for a taste of authentic Bicol breeze.
I must admit that motoring journalists usually don’t take extra care to avoid road ruts. The Trooper Skyroof had endured that pounding, yet its suspension remained sturdy. With four adults as passengers, I don’t recall any situation of bottoming out on the shock absorbers.
During the day of the highlight fluvial procession, three more passengers joined our group. We drove around the city and the Trooper Skyroof remained very stable.
To top it all, the pulling power of the Trooper’s 4JX1-TC 3.0-liter diesel intercooler turbo was always at its best. It’s the same impressive pulling power that I experienced when I first encountered the same unit during a postlaunch test drive to Banawe Rice Terraces in Ifugao Province two years ago.
After so much adventure, I can imagine that the 160 horses packed under the hood are well and healthy. And the braking feel (from the front/rear ventilated discs with ABS) never felt so good.
After almost a decade of being exposed to the motoring beat, I have known Isuzu as among the few auto manufacturers who do not dispose of their test drive vehicles after a few months of use. From test drive units, Isuzu vehicles later become staff cars that are still occasionally made available for test drives.
What can be a better testimony of the Isuzu Trooper’s reliability?
