The RIse & Fall of a JDM ICON: ISUZU
Вставка
- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
- This video is brought to you by Aura. You can try Aura free for two weeks using my link. Go to my sponsor www.aura.com/Craig to get a 14 day free trial and see if your personal information has been leaked online
In this episode, I tell the story of a JDM icon who had high aspirations and great ideas.
🎥 Follow Me On Other Social Media 🎥
✅ GET MY MERCHANDISE HERE: bit.ly/3udbSV4
✅ FOLLOW ME ON IG: @CraigLieberman_42
✅ My Website: fastandfuriousfacts.com/ - Авто та транспорт
I had the privilege of owning an 89 I-Mark RS. Fun car! It had the DOHC 1.6 with the two stage intake manifold, and Lotus tuned suspension.
My co-worker had one back in the day. Great car!! A lot of fun to drive.
That was my first car, too.
I personally prefer Suzuki, but Isuzu is a respectable competitor to them.
For what the are, Suzuki are absolutely phenomenal wee cars.
Especially the Swift Sport 1600
Suzuki and Isuzu went wildly different ways in their car products nowadays. Suzuki still mostly held true to smaller cars that are comparatively underpowered for their engine size, but great reliability since they're never under too much stress. Not only that, they also do well with their bigger cars, and even has their own AWD/4WD system that can shame cars from other more luxurious brands in difficult terrain situations, for half or even a fraction of the price.
Isuzu meanwhile went the deep end it seems of barely touching cars now, only mostly doing pickups and large trucks. Course, they're good at it (D-Max, for one), but portfolio for their normal road cars isn't as impressive as back then. Being GM's underling for a while doesn't seem to bode well for them.
I'm 55 as I write this. I was a kid during the 1st "Joe Isuzu" campaign and absolutely loved those commercials. I remember the Isuzu Impulse Turbo. I thought it was a great looking car. In mid 1995, I bought a brand new left over 1994 Isuzu Rodeo. It was a great SUV. Drove it for over 230K miles before I sold it. FYI Craig, you forgot to mention the Rodeo, the Amigo and the Axiom.
I remember my aunt owning a turbo impulse and a friend owning a late 90's isuzu 4dr with handling by lotus badge on it😅. In thailand the isuzu dmax is king there. My dad had a friend during the 80's that owned a LUV😂.
In 82 my parents bought new a 5spd Chevette with a isuzu diesel 4 cylinder, that motor lived forever. Wish Isuzu was still around, bet they would have some pretty cool cars and some awesome collabs with other companies😎
In Canada, we also got the Isuzu Impulse branded as the Asuna Sunfire
A very underrated Brand! I own a Pick-Up and they are the Best! 💪🏻
Thank you for the history lesson! I recently purchased a 1998 rodeo and it has quickly become one of my most favorite vehicles in just a short time. It's nice to hear the history and relive my childhood/teen years hearing about the 80s and 90s!
My first car was a Rodeo, we bought it new in ‘99 and it was my first car in ‘14. Taught me a lot about driving and maintenance, Isuzu will forever hold a special place in my heart. Even if comparatively they weren’t actually that great
Craig Sir fabulous work here on the Isuzu story !
Our family had two Isuzu actually three.
My dad had to pick up truck about at 88 model
My mom had an '82 gold colored I-mark diesel - same car you had but with even less horsepower yet better mileage per gallon.
We used to joke that glaciers moved faster than her I-mark but at least it got 50 miles per gallon to make up for the rather leisurely acceleration.
As I recall it had 48 horsepower and even more if dropped off a cliff lol.
But once I got a respectable job I earned enough money to buy an 1983 impulse it was the exact red one you show several times during this video.
The styling was amazing the interior was fabulous everything you said is correct. It just wasn't a very thrilling performer because they never really put a great engine in it - it was decent but didn't match the go fast exterior !
By the way funny coincidence between us prior to my impulse I had driven and modified street prepared Datsun 510's which had the same 4 cylinder version of the 6 cylinder you had in your 240/260 z cars.
It sounds like you may have even grown up in Southern California
I think we're about the same age I'm 59 & class in 1982 in high school.
I did all this car mod stuff in San Diego.
But it's funny we subscribe to all the same magazines - only I never labored under the illusion my dad was going to buy me a BMW 318i no chance of that lol !
When I sold my impulse I actually traded it to my mom she bought the wedding ring for my wife and give me $1,000 in trade for the impulse.
She was a 55-year-old elementary school teacher showing up in a blood red impulse she said it made her feel pretty sporty among all the other teachers rocking Buicks or Accords in the grade school teachers lot.
But yeah I had actually wanted to own a Trooper, never did.
The overall experience was great with Isuzu our beloved I-Mark Diesel sedan bounced around the family driven by several members, then sat for 5 years cuz it had a short we couldn't locate.
I gave it for free to a Baptist church group for the deacon to drive and he had been an amazing troubleshooter he immediately located the short fixed the car.
Last I heard (maybe a decade ago) it was still running around Tennessee with umpteen miles on it and still getting 50 miles per gallon !
I'm sure if you have to find parts it's definitely an eBay experience.
So appreciate the work Craig you're a great storyteller and present things very well
God bless you.
isuzu’s pick up here in asia are really strong and powerful
Isuzu made some decent little pickups back in the day.
Isuzu is very successful here as a truck/lorry manufacturer. Their vehicles are indestructible AF and runs forever
My brother had a Rodeo and he loved it! he said it was one of the best vehicles he ever owned.
Isuzu has one of the best 4x4 vehicles
We still have Isuzu in Australia. Most popular models are the d-max and the mux
I had a 1982 I-Mark diesel the car was a tank, it literally could not be stop. I sold it to a kid going to college with 613, 472 miles for five hundred dollars and he used it for six years getting his degree. I would buy a brand new in a moment if Isuzu still was in the USA!
Great info! My first new car back in 1986 was a Turbo Impulse. Drove it three years, then got a 300ZX Turbo. A couple years ago, I came across an 86 Turbo Impulse that had not been driven in 20 years. I got it, and spent a couple years getting it drivable, and now enjoy it as my weekend car. Great memories for sure!
My older brother who lived inOrlando had a late 80s Isuzu hatchback all sorts of modified in and out. He drove it up to PA to visit summer of 1996. I still remember to this day him dropping me off at a 4th of July celebration in town. Bass bumping so hard it was hard to breathe. It was lime I was getting out of a limousine with the attention it got. There was no forign car scene whatsoever around us at the time. I felt like a celebrity. Oh to be 16 again.
Respectfully disagree with your opinion of the Impulse/Stylus/Storm. That twin cam engine you showed is terribly underrated and I’d pit it against a Toyota 4AGE or Honda B-series from the era all day without hesitation.
don't forget the Isuzu Rodeo of the early 90s
I'm saving that for a video just on the Evolution of SUVS.
GM has a Ph.D in partnering with other car brands, and then killing them.
Exactly true
That’s crazy 😅 I bought the car in the thumbnail in Gran Turismo four earlier today before I even saw this video!
My father had a 1988 Chevy Spectrum, first car I've ever rode in. Later he bought a 1987 Honda Civic DX hatch and then a 1989 Toyota Camry LE. Last year I just bought my first car and I still have it, a 2004 Lexus ES 330.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the history. My stepdad had an Isuzu Rodeo.
I am hesitant to call Isuzu a JDM icon but I can safely say, Joe Isuzu was a National Treasure
Where is the picture of the ISUZU Shark Edition 😂
Was always a fan of the Impulse RS turbo with the AWD. A friend of mine, who only drove huge GM land yachts from the 80s, picked one up bc he wanted to "give a front wheel drive four banger a try". He had no idea what it was, just that it was dirt cheap, so he didn't communicate to me what it was. My jaw hit the floor when I pulled up to the guy's house. I was like, "neither one of y'all know what this thing is, do you...". All I got were stupid looks from the both of them.
Here in east Malaysia, Isuzu D max is everywhere. It's was a mid size pick up truck.
I still drive two first gen Isuzu Rodeo's both five speed v6's, one four wheel drive the other two wheel drive.
Isuzu Impulse looks rad! wonder how many are around to even retrofit
Heh, no mention of Asüna? Canada only 'brand' made up of two models pulled from the Isuzu/GM Canada deal.... Remember in high school, someone had an Sunfire (not the rebadged cavalier, the cool one) and it was pretty sweet...
I had a chance to buy a 3.5 vehicross. Only Isuzu for me I regret not grabbing.
Doug Demuro did a great review on one!
didnt even talk about the amigo😢
I always had a soft spot for the Vehicross since Test Drive Off Road 3 for PS1.
I remember thinking "ISUZU? Why is it even quick? It's cool!" and showing my dad this concept car looking SUV from a manufacture we both thought was just cheap throwaway stuff.
I also had a place for the Geo Storm GSI which is just an Impulse RS without the AWD.
"A cheap car for the poor who want to at least pretend they're a sports car? Cooler looking than a Civic I guess." That's how I thought about it. I planned it as one of my potential first vehicles. The sole manual option so I wouldn't feel bad about ruining the clutch 😅
The impulse had the same chassis as your iMark..which was also used under the chevette.
Used the isuzu pup engine.
Awesome Video, Thanks for share some Info of Isuzu. I work many cars but I love Isuzu because it has an exclusive design and Strong Cars.
I own a 1989 I-Mark RS, 99 Vehicross, 89 Amigo and 92 Rodeo, I just like them and they are fun to drive.
Isuzu Rodeo. My Aunt had a couple of them
Isuzu is such an interesting company. A majority of their products are pretty great, their ideas are interesting and their diesel engines are legendary. Sad that they're not in the US market but they're well and truly alive here in Australia. The D-Max is by far and away the best new ute on the market overall at the moment.
Now you see those g16 and g18 powered geminis make some impressive power
Owned a ‘86 Impulse turbo 5 speed. Mine was a money pit. Starting with the transmission, broke 3rd gear and had other drive line issues too. Then the oil cooler split, a few bad injectors, sent radio out for repair twice, power window motor died plus a host of other things. Handling wasn’t very good either. Under steer was severe and experienced lift off oversteer more than once. It did feel fast but mostly due to massive turbo lag. Sold it in ‘89.God, I miss that car.
I also love the Isuzu impulse when I was getting my driver's license at 16 and the early 90s that was one of the cars I always wanted but of course my budget couldn't afford it. I did find one that needed some work that the guy was trying to sell but he ended up keeping it.i ended up with a 87 ford escort GT.awesome video Craig.
I have an Isuzu but not the car. It's a 2017 Isuzu MU-X 2.5L LSA with a manual transmission. It basically look like the 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8L (the mid-size SUV) BUT with a different front and rear design and different exterior door panels.
Isuzu is still strong here in the Philippines. Among the other manufacturers (Toyota, Nissaan, Mitsubishi, Ford) of mid-size SUV, Isuzu is the cheapest. It's just sad that compare to the other brands, Isuzu doesn't have cars in thee line-up. But it would be nice if they produce cars again.
Isuzus are known to be "bulletproof" (well sort-of). Older Isuzu trucks are still running on most roads of the Philippines. Most jeepneys - derived from the jeeps that were left behind during the end of WW2 (you can Google it to see) - that rule the streets as Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) uses ISUZU ENGINES. Parts for older Isuzus are still available. That is how strong Isuzu is here in Asia - especially in the Philippines.
Still have my Australian turbo Piazza. Love it, and turns heads more the older she gets. Pity I can’t share a pic here😢
Nothing could beat those cool Handling by Lotus badges. The i- mark rs in all white was superrr cool to me at least.
For $700/mo, relative to inflation, the old man should have just sold it or turned the lease in at the end of the term. You could have bought something a lot cooler for a couple of months worth of payments on the I-Mark. Dad screwed you, man lol
Over here in Australia the imark was called a Holden Gemini and the impulse was the Holden Piazza. I had a few Geminis. You could get abit of power out of them with a bit of head and cam work. Not V8 power but some power never the less. The Piazza was ahead of its time. It had power everything (windows etc) which wasn't a common thing here at the time.
about 20 years ago I had a supercharged 88 MR2, but needed something with a backseat. I drove 2 hours to Pennsylvania to look at an 89 turbo awd Impulse. super rare and this one had low miles. he had the stock rims I wanted too. and while not a brute the engine was still fresh and launched hard. original paint, all straight and no accidents. problem was, even though it was low miles and mechanically sound, everything was on the dirty side feeling a bit junky. he had 2 other guys interested - one driving down from Canada and one from Chicago. I had the money with me because he was selling it cheap but I bailed. kinda regret it to this day.
Hey Mr Lieberman. I'm probably the only other person in the US whose first car was also an '81 I-Mark. I had a 2-dr LS 5 speed Diesel. White with the gray to black rocker stripes and the factory mesh wheels. Slow as hell and put out black soot but I loved it.
The Tragedy you referredto as a 1991 Isuzu Impulse XS Hatchback was my first car. It was a brand new '91 at the end of '92 as no one bought them off the lot.
I really liked my Izuzu Rodeo 4x4 5spd. That was fun to drive
Found a piazza in NZ on FB and i wasnt even looking for one!😅
A friend of mine had 1 of those rear drive turbo impulses. It was neat. It was also a terrible car. Super hard to get parts for
talk about VINFAST and INEOS grenadier cars
I loved the Impulse. I had a 1983 non turbo Impulse (blue), a 1987.5 RS Turbo Impulse (white) and a 1989 turbo Impulse (white). Even better was my wife at the time had a 1985 non turbo (black with waffle wheels) Impulse and a 1989 non Turbo Impulse (blue).
Philippines, Thailand, aus love them
I had the boxy Trooper with a 2.3 and 5 speed
asia loves them isuzu is king of trucks
If you find one and buy it make some videos working on him, that would be good.
The 91 Impulse RS 160HP, AWD is a night and day difference from the base model. Craig you need to find someone and drive it!!!!!!
There's a video game called Tokyo street race 3 and one of the starter cars is a Isuzu Piazza turbo 😅 it's kind like a hachi roku only the body style is a little better
Heaps of these for sale in NZ if you dont m8nd RHD...
My 95 Rodeo was bullet proof
0:49 and it’s still going on today as you can see recently. 😢
I am 98% sure that's a rebadged Opel Kadett. Down to the rear pillar grill that doubled as a gas tank lid
Rebadged holden Gemini and open kadett. Was widely used
There was a time when nearly all taxis in the Philippines were Isuzu Geminis. I beleive there was even a diesel version
the philippine taxis were gemini diesel
talk about Chinese cars manufacturers international expansion
they should return to America
The impulse is an ok car. Modifying it made it marginally better. A real pain in the ass to work on also.
No, it wasn't I owned 2. GEO Storm and Impulse RS.
I remember having a Hotwheels version of the Pikes Peak Suzuki racecar. It had a bunch of aero on it and was like nothing I had ever seen. I also had a Hotwheels version of the Opel Calibra racecar. I always thought those cars were super awesome!
It was a pikes peak celica your thinking of with all the aero on it..i still have the one i bought as a kid myself
@@jimmysuperduty1484 Negative. I remember the car specifically.
I remember it so well because I had never heard of an Opel. I live in the States, and we don't have those here.
Your red isuzu doesn’t look that bad
DMax DMax not Colorado
This old man must've realized him shouting at the clouds for entertainment isn't very good for views so now he's doing down the documentary video path lmao
😊❤
Gas did not go up because of the current guy in the seat, it went up because we buy gas from Russia and they then went to war with Ukraine and now we (government) decided to stop buying from them when this happened.
Your so handsome Craig
Liberman...
Can you shout me in next video craig
1st of all NO President dictates gas prices & secondly gas prices are at a 4 year low currently...
Biden has nothing to do with gas prices going up tho--silly thing to mention Craig. Do better.
pretty much no president has control over gas price.. we really need to get over blaming presidents for something so obviously not under their control.
EXCEPT....
Federal governments set the rules and negotiate trade deals for various raw materials and/or completed goods. They select the people who develop their economic policies, which in turn is reflected in the costs associated, across the board.
AS WELL, As the leader (much like CEO's), their behaviour is a MAJOR factor in whether investors are will to spend their money in the local (federal level) economy. If they are open to raw materials and are willing to negotiate; prices go down, local resources can be developed (as technological advances can be brought in) AND shortages can be supplemented by other countries. If they aren't, costs for resources goes WAY up, technological advances get delayed which ALSO hampers development, AND investors stadt reducing their spending, because the ROI starts to RAPIDLY decrease.
There is WAY more to than just those things, but yes, Biden (and almost every federal leader) does impact pricing indirectly.
@@Blue84Stang No. US gov doesn't control OPEC. However, US consumers will always get hosed on gas prices due to few new refineries being built and Feds not doing much at all about useless high-fuel consumption SUVS/trucks. So Biden is to blame but not the way Craig is intoning here.
Biden has everything to do with the cost of fuel going up. He killed the pipeline and the per barrel cost almost tripled over night.
You can deny that fact all you want, but it 8s still the fact.
You very misinformed on things. Biden has nothing to do with gas prices. Notice the rest of the world is paying the same high prices. Unsubscribed now
Well he might have something to do with it in the US.
It’s true though, Europe has high gas prices as well, so I don’t know…
Later dude. I hated Trump but have to agree that since Biden has become president, gas prices have gone unreasonably high in California. The U.S. has oil reserves, but because Biden is pushing EV so hard, he will not dip into the reserves. Newsome, California's governor, has his head up his @ss and is only making things worse in California.
Biden 2024
This reported just this month: In an aggressive move that angered Republicans, the Biden administration canceled the seven remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, overturning sales held in the Trump administration’s waning days, and proposed stronger protections against development on vast swaths of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Had Biden’s EPA allowed the Virgin Island refinery to expand, the owners would have poured nearly $3 billion into retrofitting the plant so it produced gasoline and other products more cleanly, while significantly increasing production at the same time.
In truth, there are many things Biden could have done, and still should do, to lower energy prices. He could invoke the National Defense Act to accelerate the rate of oil and gas permits. He could set a floor of $80/barrel for re-filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which would be a powerful incentive for the industry, because it would prevent prices from falling to unprofitable levels. Biden could announce trade agreements with American allies to supply them with liquified natural gas, which would incentivize more natural gas production and lower prices.
So you're wrong. Remember this : when the orange man was in office, gas was $2.20 Now it's triple the price. No matter what party you favor, ask yourself if you are doing better with the child sniffer or the mean tweet guy in office.
@@craiglieberman haha ya got em Mr Lieberman👍
i currently daily a 93 isuzu pick p done in 90s-00s mini truck style