STOCK POWER! 205hp from a 3.2 (now,conservativly at 215hp with my exhaust and K&N filter mods)
ENGINE & PARTS RELIABILITY: I hammer it! It uses NO OIL (must be the air in Calif) NO Mechanical parts replaced. 90% left on front pads after 37k.
OFFROAD ABILITY: I go ANYPLACE a simarily equipped J**p goes...sometimes I tow them back out (because they break & I don't).
LOOKS: Doesn't look likes mommies grocery getter.
ITS USEABLE: Doesn't have silly leather interior or fake wood allover.
QUIET: It's much quieter in the back than the 1st generation Amigo & WAY quieter than a ragtop J**p.

REAR VISIBILITY: But i've learned to live with it.
LACK OF SUPPORT FROM ISUZU: Ad campaign goes from none to rediculous. They sponsor bicycle and running events, instead of Offroad or Rally events. We have sold more Amigos from our praise on the internet than their ads.
PARTS COST/AVAILIBILITY: 5-7 days for routine parts like belts & at least twice what you'd expect to pay. FORTUNATELY, it doesn't break (yet)
HARD TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT: I don't really care, I ride in the front & my kid had his own Amigo.
NOT FACTORY RATED AS TOWABLE: The stick shift should be qualified to tow behind a motorhome.

Sure, as a couple raters complained, its had some recalls... Sure, it's a pain to get in the back seat. But, lets be realistic here, I don't recall any of the recalls being very serious...NO shreding tires killing you. NO brake lines rusting off or throttles sticking wide open. And did you not get in the backseat before you purchased? hmmmmm?
I can't explain the oil use complained of. I can truely say I continually hammer this engine. I rev to over 5k all the time while shifting (except when childred are walking in school zones) and I leave it idling for 20 or 30 minutes on steep grades while spotting numerous J**ps over rocks that I just powered over(I have a 5" suspension lift) It pulls a 20'inboard boat.
I have towed it 75-80 mph behind my motorhome. Its been to Moab and the Duesy-Ershim Trail.... what more can I say? It blows the doors off the battery bunny... it just keeps running & running. Thanks giving weekend I pulled a stuck J**p Cherokee AND its 23 ft trailercoach out of sand!
Unless your're looking for a leather clad behemoth to impress the people on your block OR your 2 kids are 6'2" basketball players...this is the one!
For what it costs and what you get, the only better deals I know of are in BANGKOK!

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1995 Sportage: The Kia 4 banger was underpowered & noisy.
1997 Cherokee: Great power & offroadability BUT I want a real frame.
1985 F150: GREAT reliability, 145k on engine & trans. BUT too big to off road where I go.

It looks cool. That's it!

It should be called the Isuzu Recall. I've had 9 recalls on this vehicle since I purchased it new in 1998. It bounces up into the air if you hit a pebble. The back seat is impossible/embarrasing to try to get into. I had the top down twice before it started to unravel and then was accused by Isuzu of putting the top down with the windows left in because they didn't want to fix the top.

WARNING!!! If you have to deal with the Isuzu company they are hateful, rude and will treat you like dirt. DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE CARS.
The sunroof cover fell off while I was driving and almost made me have a wreck (recalled). The seatbelts did not work (recalled). The dome light would go off and on intermittly while you where driving (recall). The strange rattle that made me take the car in several times was the cross bar on the suspension that kept falling off (recall)... Need I say more?

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Escort Wagon. Loved it, had it for 6 years without a problem

It's a HOT looking SUV!!! The V6 is very peppy for an SUV. It also does well in 4WD. I've had it offroad in the woods of central Maine, and plowing through the blizzard of '99 (24 inches) with no problems.

Six, count them, SIX recalls!!! The worse thing is that my two year old $23K vehicle burns oil at an alarming rate, and Isuzu says this is "normal". (you are NOT the only one Tom from NY) I am NOT happy about this at all. I have heard from other Isuzu owners that they have the same problem with their V6's. Not a good sign. I also have problems with wheel vibration and rattling, and my catalytic converter has gone up twice in two years. Oh, and the gas mileage aint so great.

I paid $23K in 1998. The best thing about this vehicle is its looks. But beauty is only skin deep. I must say it is a fun vehicle, but even though it is a soft top you don't get a true convertible feel unless you are riding in the back seat, and getting back there is quite a feet. (you have to be pretty limber) Based on the 6 recalls and the oil consumption, I am not very confident about the overall quality and longevity of this vehicle. I think Isuzu was in a rush to get the new model on the market and didn't pay close enough attention to quality. I have owned an Amigo since 1992, but I will be getting rid of mine soon and looking elsewhere. Anyone want to buy an Amigo??

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1992 Amigo - I had my old Amigo for 6 years and I loved it. I guess I should have kept it. I had no problems with '92 Amigo and I had 145K miles on it when I got rid of it to get the new model in '98. The '92 never burned oil, not even when it was over 100K. I am very disappointed in the '98 Amigo.

This vehicle has tons of power and with a few inexpensive mods you can really feel the power. Larger wheels and lower profile tires are needed if you get a 2wd. It makes for an impressive little speed demon. The sound system is quite impressive if you replace the head unit.

It takes a DOUBLE JOINTED person to get into the back seat.

I got mine in 2000 so I recieved a $3000.00 rebate. Really good buy!!!

If your young and want a fun ride and impressive horse power this is the one for you.

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Jeep Wangler, It kicks the Jeeps butt in hp and torque.

Serious off-road capability, Convertible top, Look / Image, Hauling capacity with rear seat down, value for dollare

Back seat access, LOUD (see "convertible" in "strenghts"), rides like a truck : bouncy. Poor on long trips.

I bought my 1993 Amigo S 4WD new in March 1993 and just recently traded it in. My ownership experience was very good with this vehicle. This vehicle is AWESOME on the beach. I took it out on the beach at the Outer Banks, NC, North of Corrolla and drove right through the deep stuff like in "Rat Patrol". It handled it perfectly.

I also have taken the Amigo out on some fairly serious 4x4 trails in the George Washington National Forest in VA. It pressed on where there was ample evidence that everyone else has turned back. This is a farily serious off-road 4x4 machine, which impressed me a great deal.

I also used my Amigo numerous times for hauling. With the seat down the little mini-pickup truck bed is very ample. I hauled boxes for moving, guitars & amps, household stuff, etc. etc.

I got tired of the noise though, the truck is very loud. Also, the ride onthe highway is unpleasent. And forget trying to get in the back seat unless you're a contortionist. It's the worst.

If you're looking for a fun used convertible 4x4, the Amigo is a great choice! The convertible top on mine only ever leaked a handful of times, in -very- heavy rain.

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none.

Endless Power
Great Off-Road
Slick Drop-Top
Great Gearing
Powerful V6
Plenty of Room for 5
Easily Modified
Did I mention the Horsepower? :)

Poor Rear Visibility (overcome easily with blind-spot mirrors)
Getting in the back seat is an Olympic sport

Paid approx. $21,000, with every conceivable option. Well worth every penny -- the value-to-dollar ratio is VERY high on this truck.

Many of the other reviews mentioned lack of ground clearance and the fact that this vehicle is better suited to moderate off-road use. However, with a 2 - 4 inch suspension lift, and 32" tires, there is almost nowhere this truck can't go. It can easily keep up with modified Wrangler TJs, and can go places other SUVs can only dream of going... This has been proven in Moab, Utah as well as in many other more extreme off-road destinations. Meanwhile, back on the road, it hugs the curves (even with the lift) and can outrun most sports cars, let alone any other SUV on the road.

For more information on the lift and many other performance modifications, please visit 4x4Wire.Com's Isuzu Pages:
http://www.4x4wire.com/isuzu

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1997 Jeep Wrangler -- Amigo has similar off-road prowess, but with better cargo room and on-road manners
1993 Jeep Wrangler -- Amigo is much better on the street AND trail -- no comparison
1990 Isuzu Amigo -- The 1998+ models share only a name and the basic shape, but are much more refined and better all around performers
1986 Isuzu Trooper -- Amigo has GOBS more power, better ride, better on-road comfort, better trail performance

Looks, V6 power, price (loaded less than $20K). Small exterior to parallel park in the city, big interior (real rear seat OR big cargo area), simple interior layout (a sport-ute shouldn't have leather ... it should be utilitarian, and the Amigo is). FUN to drive!

Parts cost (although I haven't had problems yet), rear view (much better after I removed the rear seat headrest), no cruise control, Isuzu's reliability reputation (not nearly as good as Honda/Toyota), Isuzu dealership scarcity, no roof rack, ride quality (as a young single guy, I would describe it as "character" ... but it is certainly a truck, not a car). Also, I hate to buy from a company that's suing Consumer Reports (over their reporting of roll-over risks in the Isuzu Trooper).

If you're looking for a small car for the city, and want an SUV, then your choices are limited. The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are underpowered, and the Subaru Forrester, etc. look like toys. The Amigo is priced right, has much more cargo/rear seat room then the typical coupe (Prelude, Celica, etc.), is very cool, and has the off-road power to get you across the beach or over Donner Summit no matter what the weather.

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VehiCross (Isuzu) has unacceptably poor rear visibility. American 2 door SUV's are too big and expensive and unreliable.

I can't speak for the newer models, but my `94 has been very good to me. It's held up well on very long road trips, and through a lot of abuse. The gas mileage is decent for a vehicle of its class and size. Good legroom once you get in the backseat.

If you need a part replaced, forget it! You might as well buy a new vehicle for what you pay for new parts. Expect to be charged at least 3 times more than what you would expect to pay for parts. Also, it's good for minor off-roading and bad weather conditions, but I don't recommend it for hardcore offroad use. Also, if the front seats could slide another couple of inches forward, it would be a lot easier to get into the backseat, and watch out for that bar above your head when ya go across bumps! And for those who are spoiled on V8 (or better) power, you'll be disappointed with the Amigos.

I paid about $18k for mine, and it rarely needs any maintenance (outside of the usual oil changes). So, it's a great value when you own it the first 100k miles. But as soon as you need to buy parts for it, you think a little less of its value. And finding used parts for these vehicles aren't as easy as you'd think. Also remember that everything is in metric/odd sizes, so finding the right size (such as for tires) may be a little more difficult and a little more expensive than for domestic vehicles (if you live in the US). The Amigos are really great for people who wants something to get them around in bad weather, and don't wanna pay more than $20k for that.

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I owned a `91 Geo Tracker before my Amigo, and there's quite a bit of difference. It's easier to get into a Tracker's backseats, but the Amigo offers more legroom in the backseat. The Tracker has better gas mileage, but the Amigo has better power. You can park the Tracker in tighter places than you could the Amigo, since the Amigo is a little bigger. You can feel every little bump in the road with both vehicles, a common factor with most SUVs. Overall, I can't say which I liked better, but I do wish I could combine the two together to make a better vehicle. You'll also be amazed at what both of these SUVs can pull! However, if you're into speed, stay away from both of these. They both have decent acceleration, but lack in top end, especially the Tracker. On a good day, the Tracker might reach 95 MPH and the Amigo may reach up to 110 MPH, but I doubt it.

Strong, smooth V6 engine. Quiet, civilized compared to Wrangler. A/c keeps up with 100 degree days and heater handles 20 below weather.

Not enough ground clearance to get over rocks on 4x4 trails. Lack of aftermarket parts to get more clearance.

I have had the Amigo for more than 1 year now and have used it like many will end up doing: 50 weeks of interstate and in-town driving and 2 weeks of off-road driving.

The Amigo handles the 50 week stuff with ease. It bounces a bit more than a passenger car, but it never causes the in-dash CD to skip. I consistently get 20 MPG. It is fun to take off the top and let the wind and sun in.

The two weeks I had it off-road were a delight. We go to SW Colorado to trails that at times verge on hard-core (the kind that cause body damage and winches are required). The Amigo took it all and the engine never missed a beat. I always felt in control and the ONLY complaint I have is that the Amigo needs more ground-clearance.

Read more at my Amigo web site: www.bucshockey.org/about/sbendy/amigo.html.

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S-10 Blazer, Scouts.

205HP/214 ft-lb V6 with decent gas milage
Shift-on-the-fly 4WD and low gear
Very much Off-road ready in stock form
Practical, no-nonsense interior

Practical, no-nonsense interior not as refined as Integra GSR (Duh!)

This car has plenty of power, enough cargo space, and is ready to go off road. If you want a small SUV to handle rain, snow, and occasional dirt road, get a Forester. If you need to carry more than one passenger/pet and have more than $30K to spend, get a 4Runner. Everyone in between but wants bigger HP/torque than BOTH should get the Amigo. The 205HP V6 is pretty good, as well as the handling. This is quite some compliment considering that I used to drive a GS-R. I think the Amigo handles better on freeway ramp than the Intrepid and Taurus I rented!
All the interior layout are straight forward and logical. The in-dash cd changer is a plus, too.