I am looking to buy a VX here in the UK, has anyone seen one available and would recommend.
Printable View
I am looking to buy a VX here in the UK, has anyone seen one available and would recommend.
i found a few http://cars.oodle.co.uk/isuzu-vehicross/ what do you think?
The "Vehiross" (the first one) is now not listed..... so i am down to 2.....1997 or 1999???
What year should i really be going for? as i am worried on getting parts here in the UK?
Any suggestions?
The first thing you need to do is relax. Maybe you don't mean it that way, but it sounds like you think the three (now two) VX's you mentioned are the only ones that will ever be available in the UK. Be patient, take some time to do a little perusing here, learn to love the search engine, and wait for some of your fellow countrymen to weigh in.
Thanks for your reply, i know that it looks like i am rushing this, but my current car has recently broken down and will cost to much to get fixed. So i need to get a new car ASAP for work and for my family. I suppose i can wait until have finished my 6 month tour. But it is just so frustrating not having a car available.
But i think i will have to just keep looking around until i go... then i will have to buy one when i get back unless something jumps out at me.
Thanks again
It's tough I know, but rarely does a good car buying experience happen when you feel under the gun. When do you leave for your tour? Or are you on it now?
I leave in 2 weeks for 6 months, so i am wondering if i should sort everything out before i go or just hold of until i get back, either way i will need to get a new car sorted for when i get back.......as i hate trains and public transport lol.
But the way things are looking it would probably be easier to wait until i get back. so i am taking my time now to price up parts and to see what are the common problems people have been having.... so i can get a good idea on what it would cost me to get fixed.... also i have been trying to find out where people have been taking there cars for servicing etc.
Click here for a list of UK members sorted by the last time they visited. Maybe you could contact someone close to one of VXs you found to see if they could check it out and give a review.
I just got my VX and it took me about 5 months of shopping before I found one I felt comfortable with - it was the 5th one I saw. Three were simply awful and one was so showroom perfect that it was out of my budget. I also didn't bother looking a several more due to bad reviews from other members here.
BEST OF LUCK to you!
Hey I'm number one! :yeso:
Sounds to me Clark that you'd be better off waiting for your return. In the meantime you can see what comes available and see what sort of prices they fetch. I paid £2500 for min but I was lucky. Most seem to go for nearer £5k but you'll occasionally get a bargain like I did.
Waiting will also give you time to trawl through here as see all there good and bad points.
Where are you? If local, I'm happy to go shopping with you on our return :)
Cheers
Nick
Thanks for your replies.....
I think i will do that Nick, i will wait until i get back to see what is available. i have noticed that they are going around the 5k mark..... so i will keep my eyes open for a bargain.
I am from Northampton, but i am based in Salisbury so i am up and down the country most weekends.
Thanks
Sean
Hi Clark607, I'm also a UK owner and for the past couple of years I've been keeping am eye on the UK market. There are about 35 VXs in the UK, most good (owned by fans) but a few not so good (not owned by fans). What you really have to do is look at a few so you can get a feel for the good and bad. Get to know the features and problems of the VX so you a spot them. If you buy a bad one for 5000 rather then a good one for 3000 (and that can happen because it such a rarity and the market is all over the place because buyers and sellers really don't have a fixed idea) then rather then becoming a life long fan you will feel its an expensive millstone. Buy in haste regret in leisure.
PS the ones you have seen selling for 5000 are the ones that haven't sold for 5000 (for example the one with all the white stickers is generally consider not great having changed hands every few months). VXs do periodically appear on Ebay and occasionally on AutoTrader but you really have to bide you time and talk to the owners.
I can't do anything but agree with Kirk and Alterastro.
I'm the closest to Northampton (I live in Corby) and I'd be glad to meet you somewhere so you can at least have a try of one and see if you like it or not. I'm away this weekend but I'm working from home on Thursday if that suits.
Send me a PM on here and we'll see if we can sort something out.
Kirk probably remembers the pages and pages of e-mail that passed between us when he was wringing his hands over buying one!
Let me know,
Alan
Thanks Kirk....
I have been looking around and made some calls. I have found 3 vx's 1 is a 99 plate (P966XWS) but when i called he said it was a 97 plate confused. But he said that it had a new cambelt in September, and has been serviced and new tyres.
The other 2 are a 97 plate (£4995) and 98 (£5495 ebay) plate both have not yet been registered.
The 97 plate will require new tyres and he was not sure if any work has been carried out but i was told any work would be carried out once registered and any faults/problems would be carried out if picked up on MOT. but will come with full MOT and 6 months TAX.
The 98 plate has a large central radio installed (Standard), the bloke said he does not now if it was a Satnav or reverse camera. But he said he thinks it is just a radio? But will have Full MOT and 6 months Tax after it has been registered.
I have been wondering if it be worth me buying one that has not yet been registered here in the UK, but the problem is, if i do then i will not know any history of the vehicle and just have to make sure that there is warranty and cambelt and full service before i consider it.
So the search continues.......lol
Ahhh - you've found the rub... People selling often haven't a clue what it is they're actually selling they just know that its "a bit odd".
The standard radio (Clarion) is a reversing camera, Minidisc player, CD-changer and radio, but I don't believe its a satnav. Once you've tried to manoeuvre in a tight space without the reversing camera you'll understand how important it is. The stanard radio will only be able to pick up Radio 2 unless it has a band expander fitted.
I believe the cambelt's not that big a deal and I've had mine checked and it was done not so long before I bought it.
I hope that's a bit more help,
Alan
(work's boring this afternoon...)
So i take it that the Double Din is with the reverse camera, as the the guys seem to think it is just a radio?Quote:
Originally Posted by alanbradley
http://pistonheads.com/sales/largepi...rv=1¤t=8
Hi Clark, Im another regular UK member.
The standard was the clarion which is a double DIN and screen. The screen should show the picture from the reversing camera when put into reverse. Mine did come with an OEM sat nav but as it was all in japanese i couldnt iunderstand it and it kept telling me i was 7000k from my destination all the time :D Anyway i ripped it all out and put in my flip up ripspead screen and it all works perfectly, i put it in reverse and it comes up on the screen as it did with the standard one. Only thing you have to do is run an rca video cable to an already existing output in the boot and hook up the switch wire from your headunit to the reverse light.....................but i think im getting ahead of myself as you dont have one yet!!
What are you looking for, an off roader? or 100% on road ??
Thanks for the info, as at this stage that is what i really need, so i know what things to look for.
There is no need to worry about getting mechanical parts for it, it shares its chassis / engine / drivetrain with the 3.2 + 3.5 SWB Trooper and the Vaxhaul Frontera B. The problem is body work which would be a struggle to find. Mine had a cracked windscreen and the dealer replaced it before i bought it.........cost him nearly a grand!!! (so get windscreen cover ;) )
Thanks again for the advice, that was what i needed to hear. i was worried about parts and prices. As at the moment my current car i was quoted £2800 for a new fuel pump to be fitted!!
So i have now decided to buy 2 cars, 1 for me, to get to and from work and for the wife to learn to drive. Then i will buy a VX for myself.......as you do.
^That's a good plan. Put it like this, I have a Mazda RX8 as my sensible, everyday, economy car. Compared to the Vehicross it is!
The offer to meet up and let you have a shotty of mine still stands.
A
Dont be offended or put off VX's for life when you see Alans by the way :D
Oh, and i've always said if someone offered me the right price i'd sell mine ;) ................. just putting it out there! ................... dont tell anyone on here though!
lol........interested:winky:Quote:
Originally Posted by crotchrocket
Thanks for the offer, but i currently have no transport at the moment. But will be good to see your's and get some advice i.e where to get parts/serviced etcQuote:
Originally Posted by alanbradley
As Alan B correctly reminded me he was very helpful when I was looking for my VX. Not only was he able to answer specific technical questions but he also gave me the necessary push to buy one (a decision I do not regret) even though filling the beast up can cause initial concern.
But overall it's the only car I've really been really fond of. I was also very lucky to find the (I believe) the only 175 limited edition VX in the UK (but I wouldn't be surprised if there are others - but not to my knowledge)
I'm in Manchester I visited it in Sussex to look at it after it had recently been privately imported. I subsequently flew down to pick it up (then drove it back) but other UK owners have purchased from Spain and then drove back over 2000 miles.
History is a problem with any private import so it's best to take your time, know the problems, talk to the owners on the forum and take a few for test rides before purchasing.
The one you've mentioned p966, I believe, has been on the market for a long time so perhaps the trader would drop the price by quite a bit.
As you've mention the original double din hifi unit is interesting. On mine it is used as the reserving camera display (I recently had the camera refurbished at Clarion UK), as a radio (but it's limited unless you fit a band expander), and as a cassette player (though with an adapter tape I've connected a ipod). I don't know why people mention that it had a CD player (except the American version it quite different to the JDM VX with only a single DIN unit and no reversing camera). So if the reversing camera fails I can understand owners replacing the original Clarion (ADDZEST) with a European market unit. And a few UK VXs have done just that.
Thanks for you reply....
The P966 is up for sale for £4995.00 and when i talk to him he said he loved it and has been driving it and added approx. 1000 miles on the clock.
still looking and very please for all the people here giving me advice.
Thanks everyone!
98 plate on ebay has now dropped in price to £4995.00, but i am still looking around. I will wait until i get back to buy a VX. I am still reading up on them, and what parts costs etc so i know what to look for when i go on a car hunt when i get back.
I also had some luck today.....
My Zafira (Fuel Pump Problem) started first time?? So the Fuel pump is definitely ok. My guess is the EGR Valve. But the garage obviously went for the most expensive fault for repair without checking for other possibilities.....
£200 for EGR Valve
£2800 for Fuel Pump
A bit of a difference lol
Could be a small as just needing a new fuel filter to be honest? Can you hear the fuel pump 'prime' when you turn the ignition on? if so then its definately working. Are you in a position to do a pressure test on the fuel pump? I presume the garage did? maybe worth asking them how they came to the assumption that the pump was dead.
Can a faulty EGR valve stop the car working entirely? i know it can make it run badly but not sure if it can stop it from starting, all it does it put a percentage of exhaust gas into the air intake, i would of thought even if it was stuck open there would be enough air/fuel mix to start with.
Not sure what else to suggest, accept the usual things of checking all connctions to the coil packs etc, which again i presume the garage did?
Quote:
Originally Posted by clark607
I would suggest getting a second opinion.
Yeah, just a bit... I have a mate that's a mobile mechanic based in Kettering if you'd like me to give you his number. he's an MOT tester by day and, amazingly, has no agenda. I use him for all my VX stuff and he finds working on it a bit different from hammering at his collection of moudly old Range Rovers. Anyway, he's one of these people that is a natural mechanic so the offer's there.Quote:
Originally Posted by clark607
A
Hi Clarke607, just a heads up to say there is a very nice VX just put onto ebay UK. It doesn't have the original seats but have very nice red recaros. That probably means that the owner has looked after it. The bad new is it located in Bodmin Cornwall so a bit of travelling if you want to see it. I have encountered this VX virtually before and the current owner, I believe, tried to sell it more than a year ago but I don't think it made the reserve so he kept it. It is an unusual blue (mid night blue) so it could possible be a limited edition (although that isn't stated in the listing) however I can't see the red door panels of a limited so then again it may not be. But all the same I feel its a good one and certainly worth a looking at. It also has some features that are unusual for a VX eg the minidisc, chrome wing mirrors, and the fog-light bar, saying that it seems to be missing it grill 'fangs'
Hi,thats my vehicross-and I'm certain those ARE original seats-the rear seats are the same colour;as I said I believe this one had all the optional extras available-(special order?)
Door panels are carbon fibre/grey
I have NOT tried to sell it before...I have mentioned to colleagues (I'm in the garage trade-mostly gas welding) it could be for sale, but thats all.
It's not missing its fangs either,they're plain black(no sign of faded silver at all)
It also has a full set of vehicross mats
It came in the country in 2007,had a new belt then...3 mot's with nothing needed...
Had the usual problem with the heater(lack of use) fixed that
Window clamps are both good
Minidisc is a 6 disc multichanger!
FYI it has IMHO a reasonable reserve...saying that ,Im not trying to sell it here, just supplying correct info:)
ps I have the wing passenger mirror also
Thank you Kirk/Frogg
I appriciate the help, but i will have to wait now until i get back from my tour to buy one (Jan) asi leave very soon.
But on a good note i have now sold my car, and will definatley be going car shopping when i get back. I am looking forward to being able to get around alot easyier, i hate walking lol.
Good look with your sale Frogg.
I stand corrected Frogg, you are of course correct I first saw this VX on this very web site about a year ago and just assumed it had been advertised - sorry. It really looks a good one and I hope you get what's it worth and to someone who will really appreciate it. It is a bit of an oddity I can understand that you have all the extra but I didn't appreciate that non limited edition VXs could have special factory paint jobs, certainly explains a brown VX we saw earlier this year. As to the seats the fact that you've got a matching rear bench seat does suggest that the red recaros are factory fitted (which are very nice by the way) but I have not seen their like before on any VX.
Nice VX Froggg !!
i am still here and still looking...lol although i am miles and miles away.
Hope your playing safe out there man!!
Come back craig (or was it clive?) in hove. All may be forgiven! Seriously there was a silver vx being tended for at a local workshop recently and for sale, don't know where it ended up. Maybe dorset which is close.
Mike
Hi everyone!
I am still here, playing it safe. I have still been seaching, looking forward to going car shopping when i get back. :bgwb:
I've seen a few JDM 97 VXs on Japanese auction sites and they sold very cheap, like $3k each if that. It costs approx $1k more to cover all Japanese fees and freight to UK. How hard is it to import a car from Japan to UK? I remember seeing a lot of the imports when living in Ireland.