Against better judgment, against my will, and somehow against the will of the higher-ups (DT knows where I live and that concerns me), I’m back. And we’re here to talk shitboxes again. So let’s get into it! I’m really excited for today’s because, believe it or not, I’ve actually found a really nice C6 Corvette for y’all to peruse and – what’s that? I’ve been advised that I still can’t talk Corvettes around here or risk my head and livelihood? (See previous comments about DT knowing where I live).
Alright, that’s fine I guess. We can just settle for some other options for y’all today, but first, we need to talk about yesterday’s results.
As a reminder, we had a 2007 Honda Element with a price approaching 11 large and a clapped-out CR-V less than a quarter of the price at 2.5K — both stickshift and AWD. Let’s see what y’all voted for:
I don’t know how else to say this but part of me is supremely disappointed in y’all. I’m fully aware that a difference of nearly eight grand is nothing to scoff at, but the Element’s un-alive doors and general strength of not being that piece of junk CR-V meant nothing to you? You all make me sick. (In truth, I respect the budget-ballin’. I’m just a little surprised the handsome Element didn’t win you over).
Screw it, nothing matters. Let’s talk about today I guess.
1991 Isuzu Trooper LS Sport Utility – $4,800
Engine/drivetrain: 2.8-liter V6 OHV, 5-speed manual, 4wd
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Odometer reading: 272,000
Operational status: “Runs, but has No working A/C, Heater bypassed.”
Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my. I think I’m in love with this thing. I haven’t even really read the specs yet, but I’m absolutely fawning over this thing and I don’t think I’m gonna apologize for it either. It’s like if Japan decided they were bored and wanted to make a Range Rover (shut up Land Cruiser, this isn’t your time to shine) and I’m really obsessed with it.
This Trooper LS seems like it’s been loved, and I’m not mad at it at all. It’s clocking in at 272k on the odo, but looks clean by every conceivable metric that my eyes can suss out. If you couldn’t tell via ocular pat-down, this is definitely an off-road build, and that’s further reinforced by the fact that it’s got “front lockers” and some chunky 33s on its axles. [Ed Note: I have no idea what “front lockers” are. Does it have a front locker? If so, why front and not rear? Is it a lunchbox-style locker or an electronic/pneumatic unit? I have questions. -DT].
The description is also kind enough to let us know that the car has a roof rack, CB radio, and fog lights, all valuable when it comes to packing in/out of a location, communicating with authorities or friends while on the trail, and seeing ahead while you’re carving up trails at night.
Obviously, we’re loving the fact that it’s stick, but I’m more impressed that the interior isn’t total crap. Yes, the seats have been covered, but I’m not seeing much in terms of cracked plastics on the dash either. Also, the driver’s door is clearly showing signs of powered everything — we’re talking locks, we’re talking windows, we’re talking other things that need power (mirrors?). These power functions are a win or lose, depending on your perspective. I think this owner really treated this thing well, and it’s showing. Actually, I know they’ve babied it because they listed some recent repairs. “Recently Replaced: Starter, Fuel Filter, Battery, Hoses and Stereo.” Rad!
So why the hell the owner is getting rid of it? According to the listing, it’s actually quite simple. It was a project vehicle, but they recently got their hands on their dad’s 1970s GMC pick-up and the owner’s attention shifted away. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty safe bet to me in terms of buyer’s confidence.
For boring but important stats: Edmunds says it has 120 hp with 150 lb-ft of torque and gets 15 MPG moving a curb weight of 3,755 lbs. More importantly:
LOOK AT THIS THING!
The seats can lay down and turn into a full-on bed and those lights? This is gonna be hard to beat. Let’s see what we can do.
1987 Nissan Pathfinder – $5,999
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0-liter single overhead cam V6, 5-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Yucca Valley, CA
Odometer reading: 282,209
Operational status: “in good running / driving condition”
I think it’s hard for me to remove my bias while doing this, and for that, I truly apologize. That being said, this Nissan is still a pretty good get I think. What draws me to this listing is that the owner is very forward about the car’s shortcomings, so let’s lead with those before we talk about some of the good!
There’s some rust on it, and it’s got less than pretty window seals. Additionally, it comes with a salvage title, but the current owner isn’t sure what all the damage was because it was “long before [they] owned.”
That being said, they appear to be keeping it real with us! “No major damage interior or exterior. Needs some minor TLC,” adding that they have all the receipts of recent work done by the dealership. So while there’s a bit of a deficit up front with the car due to that title and minor rust, it’s at least been maintained under the current owner’s watch. What work has been done?
“New clutch, transmission, drive shaft, gaskets, 4 new BFG Ko2s on Lego wheels.” Okay, I’m liking this owner. They’re working on getting it to pass smog, too, but it “runs like a champ, just a little rich at the moment.” I’m listening…
Let’s look at some more pictures.
Its interior looks pretty clean; maybe not as cute as the Trooper’s, but those seats! It also looks like we’re dealing with power locks and windows so the creature comforts still exist here! Is its center stack inspiring? Not exactly, it looks like it’s perfectly preserved in its 1987 form, but we can see it’s got a manual transmission and low-range transfer case ready to go off-roading.
On the rear, there’s nothing much worth looking at, but I just wanna say that I’m a sucker for alternative trunks. While there’s nothing too fancy about a trunk that opens up to the sky, the tire carrier swinging to the side makes me smile like a ‘lil dummy.
The stats: 138 ponies with 167 lb-ft torque for a body that weighs 3,860 lbs., all getting you 16 miles per gallon.
Now here’s how it’s looking for me: I love me some color. That Pathfinder was doing a good job at winning me over, mainly on account of the transparency about its shortcomings and the care it’s received from the current owner, but everything about that Trooper speaks to me. A cool interior (though it does have seat covers, so it’s not clear what shape those seats are in), clean paint job, and no damage reported by the owner? I dunno, that sounds like a done deal to me. Then again, that Nissan’s blue cabin is awesome, too…
Look, I’m also the guy who picked the Element over the CRV yesterday and clearly lost that fight, so you tell me: Which are we picking here? The Trooper, a Pathfinder, or a Corvet – *transmission ended*
VG30 and Legos for me. You know those motors have an integrated main cap girdle and can handle some significant power on a stock bottom end?
Love that package.
Ok, I voted Trooper because I have driven one and liked it. That said, the Pathfinder is a winner too. It’s solid as it is, but should the engine go, a 3.3 will fit in there, as potentially will a VG30DE.
The Isuzu is the smarter choice, but I have to have the Pathfinder – those wheels alone are worth the price. It’s nearly impossible to find those with the center caps.
The heater in my truck doesn’t work and it suuuuuuucks on the rare occasions I drive it in a Michigan winter. Give me the pre-rusted Pathfinder with working heat.
I love those 2 door pathfinders so it is an easy vote for me.
I want the Izuzu more but the Nissan is likely going to be less trouble. But in this category, “trouble” might be a feature. The Izuzu wins.
The Trooper is pretty, but the lack of a functional heater core and the sketchy front seats give me pause. I’ve always been a fan of those first-gen Hardbody Pathfinders, especially in two-door form, and I appreciate its “honest” condition. Plus, those seats are MINT. We’ll take the Nissan and try to talk bro down.
As the previous owner of a 1990 Trooper, I can say with some authority that I would rather own virtually anything else besides that heap. Bought mine in college at 65k miles, similar spec to this one and in the 2 years I owned it virtually everything failed in some way or another. Oil pressure issues, failed fuel pump, failed water pump, brake issues, head gasket, even the HVAC controls managed to break and get stuck on vents so no defrosters in January in New England. I hated that truck. Also when wrenching, it had the infuriating habit of bolts being seized and snapping, turning a 2 hour project into 8 hours.
Add into that the fact that it was top heavy, absolutely dog slow, had to drop to 3rd gear on the highway to climb even a moderate grade and dangerously under braked.
Good luck to whoever buys that POS.
I’d take the Trooper if the heat worked. But it doesn’t!
I feel like the Isuzu would be harder to get parts for than the Nissan so I’m going with the Pathfinder. I also like a nice 80s blue interior.
No AC in Arizona, and no heater in Prescott? I still like the Trooper though
Never buy some else’s project. Already see on hack. Why take the risk.
If a gun was to my head Nissan. Though my real answer is neither.
I’ll always pick the one with working AC. “You could get it fixed for the price difference!” But would I?
My first car was a similar spec to the Trooper above. It was a giant POS, but out of nostalgia, that gets my vote.
I always get hard for a Hardbody, but the Trooper is just in way better condition, with less mileage, AND cheaper.
That’s a trifecta that’ll have me storming the Trooper’s estate.
Trooper for an easy win. Despite the lack of functioning AC and bypassed heater core (will likely require a dash out repair) it’s clearly been loved. The Pathfinder is fine but is priced way too high for a salvage titled car that’s closing in on 40 years old. If both had clean titles it would be closer but Trooper for me.
I had in-op AC and a clogged heater core on my 99 XJ, so no heat or AC. Didn’t care about the lack of AC so I hooked the heater hoses up to the AC ports on the firewall and now I have plenty of heat using the AC heat exchanger! Will need to install a gate valve to shut off the flow for the warmer months but at least it’s driveable in the winter now.
I was halfway waiting for you to tell me the Pathfinder had $5k in unmarked, non-sequential bills in the trunk.
Easy one today. That Trooper is badass, rare, and enthusiast-owned/kept. Great color, too.
You could buy the Trooper and fix the heat/AC with the $1,200 extra that the Pathfinder costs, and end up with a better looking, cooler vehichle that most importantly doesn’t have a salvage title. Easy choice today, Iron Man spec Trooper please.
Can you still get the Trooper parts to fix the AC though?
A quick Google search shows that most parts are still available. Unsure what exactly is wrong with it but the major components appear to be readily available.
You may have to overnight them from Japan, but I know a guy
Seriously though yes, these have a good amount of support in a lot of places, and you should be able to either find one that works, new-old stock maybe, or fit something that was never designed for it from one of those classic truck companies that makes them for old trucks. Where I live no AC is a killer, there are some folks aound here that get pretty creative when it comes to fitting round pegs into square engine bays
Rockauto doesn’t list a heater core. (Usually they are bypassed because it’s leaking) You could locate one of the dwindling number of artisans who actually repair these or somebody on a forum has probably identified one that can be used with modifications.
Trooper. Leaving wear and tear aside, both are pretty decent machines — and differences in mileage hardly matter at this point.
But the Trooper’s issues seem more fixable than the Nissan’s, and it’s less rusty. Nicer cosmetically, too, though photos can hide a lot.
At the price, both are close to “Just no” territory, really. As-is, they’d cost about the same after you got the Isuzu’s A/C and heater working. I’d haggle. But I’d haggle harder for the Trooper.
C6 Vette for me too over both of these tired, overpriced rigs.
The correct vote
A C6 that costs $5k? No thank you. C4 maybe.
The Isuzu has 4 doors, seems to be in better shape, costs less, and is a cooler color.
Also, barn doors need to make a comeback. Swing-out rear doors are better than a hatchback in many cases.
I voted for the red one.
Both look like fun knock about rigs, the Trooper (minus the heat) is in better shape and is cheaper.
While writing this I remebered back when I was a teenager we had a family friend who had a Trooper, that also had no heat….. wonder if that’s a thing with these? Too late I already voted with my money.
Sadly I wasn’t able to string this into my chain of shitbox projects, the Lincoln to Mustang train ended there, and the Element was getting sacrificed to my 4 door Civic to make an Evo killer, neither of these have contributions to those causes…. maybe next week.
Un-alive doors? Come on man, you’re better than that
I wish I could say I am better than that but I’d be lying to you, ChefCJ. I’m no gentleman nor a scholar, but a scoundrel and a fool.
Aren’t we all?
I’ll take the trooper and just expect to spend a crap ton of money getting the HVAC sorted out and working again.
Probably worth it.
No, I take that back. I know it’s worth it.
The Trooper looks to be in pretty good shape, the 2-door Nissan is pretty cool but looks pretty beat-up. Both are cool, went with the Trooper.