Isuzu Impulse RS... another obsession begins.

Recently I sold my Toyota Tundra for operation buy a house next year. It was great owning a truck but I really want a car that I can commute & track on the weekends. I recently stumbled across pictures of a Impulse RS & am starting to become hooked. Like the VX, they're very rare with less than 1000 produced. turbo charged, lotus suspension, AWD, limited slip rear.... its all sounding great. I think Bart has an earlier version of the RS but I'm not sure.

Unfortunately they are hard to find... if I come across one I may have to "impulse" buy one :)

Has anyone ever seen or driven one of these? I'm very curious how the perform.

http://www.google.com/url?source=img...WnMBeA9gbFGi9Q
http://www.google.com/url?source=img...FSzd0zEY7cmGFg
http://www.google.com/url?source=img...BdiABhJx8x9v2g
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...RS-noplate.jpg
http://www.google.com/url?source=img...tGU791XB7IMl9g

Stop now! Nothing but frustration waits for you. I test drove one from a dealer in '92 and was obsessed ever since.
I went through a phase when I really wanted one about three years ago. Lots of research, joined the forum surfed Craigslist and Autrader obsessively, and got very little traction.

If you search you will find project ones for $1-2K and realize that a lot of the parts can come from Geo Storms, but IT'S A TRAP! Most were sold up north and are rust buckets or abused.

I finally got to drive one (it is actually the blue one in your second picture) of the nicest, well kept ones in this part of the country and honestly it was a slow, rattling, dog compared to even a modern Neon. I was crushed, but it ended the obsession. Oh, by the way, the guy wanted $8K for it. (KBB is about 1-2k in primo condition last I checked)

Stop now and don't go any furthur. You will be a happier person.

I hate to say it, but Mustang is right. That said, I was warned just the same before I bought mine, and I still did it. :rolleyes:

My JR Impulse RS is quite awesome, but she has been one helluva project. The only benefit to a 2nd gen RS would be that they are a little newer and you might find some more parts.

The first step is actually finding one that isn't modded, hacked and riced out to death (and I mean death).

That's why I sprung at the opportunity to by my JR, original owner, only 65k on the clock, perfect body and interior, etc, etc. But it has still been a challenge, an ongoing challenge in fact that I am right in the middle of, 24 pages in the middle of.

http://www.isuzone.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22593

Whatever you choose, good luck.

Bart

Yikes, sounds like it may be a bad idea. I wish I could drive one & see how it feels but its almost impossible without a bunch of time/effort/$. Even if I find a "gem," I may have to fly out somewhere just to see if I like it.

...well maybe I'll get lucky & there will be one posted locally but seems like I might be disappointed. Thanks for the info guys.

Well, I don't think you would be at all disappointed with a really well kept stock Impulse RS. In fact, I think you would be thoroughly impressed with it and you would fall in love with it.

The problem is, finding one will take some time, and you will likely have to travel for it. I was lucky, VXKAT was ever so kind enough to go check out the car for me and do the deed of buying and sending me the title. I still owe her several drinks!!! (thanks again, Sue!). Then I had it shipped up from Phoenix to Reno. What I suggest, if you are serious, is be patient, have your money ready so you can travel/ship/buy when the right one pops up, and be committed to owning an obscure but awesome car.

Bart

Speaking of super crazy mods, there was one of these for sale near me in Virginia a couple years ago. The owner had painted the entire car as a waving US flag.

Seemed odd for a Japanese vehicle. :confused:

The problem is, they mostly look like this:

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/2630751225.html

Or are in a state like this:

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/2613731248.html

But there are ones like this:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/2657304065.html

That last one looks pretty nice, but it obviously has had a great deal of mods done to it. Still, looks and sounds like a potentially nice one. They are out there.

Bart

Looks like the last one has rust along the edge between the passenger fender and the front bumper though...

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Originally Posted by vt_maverick

Looks like the last one has rust along the edge between the passenger fender and the front bumper though...

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Yeah, from what I understand, the big thing with the 2nd gen Impulses is rust around the shock towers and rotting frames. And you know, i think when it comes to buying old cars, one should always try to find one that has lived out West its whole life.

Bart

Hey Bart, what did you use to find all those listings? I couldn't find any using searchtempest.

The last one could be a possibility but I would rather pay a bit more for a cherry. On the other hand, for a $1000 the RS in NM could be a nice investment because it could be a complete rebuild project & I could swap in some upgrades.

Here is the forum, but you will be sorry. Get a nice impreza or VR4 3000 and tell yourself it's an impulse. They were really cool new, but have all been rode to hell or someone wants a fortune for them. You know where there is a really pristine one, no kidding? Jay Leno's garage. It is sweet. Otherwise forget about it. Why not look for a Celica GT four while you are at it???
Happy hunting!

http://www.isuzone.org/forums/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VXorado

Hey Bart, what did you use to find all those listings? I couldn't find any using searchtempest.

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http://www.allofcraigs.com/

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Originally Posted by MustangO4

You know where there is a really pristine one, no kidding? Jay Leno's garage. It is sweet.

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Whoa, seriously? Leno has an ISUZU in his collection??

Bart

AutoTempest is way better than allofcraigs, which is basically the exact same thing as typing "vehicross site:craigslist.org" into the standard Google search engine (see the logo that says "Google Custom Search"?). Google crawls the internet to build it's search index, and since it's impossible to accomplish that in real time, the results are often "stale." Case in point, if you start clicking on the Craigslist links in allofcraigs you'll find that a high percentage of them are dead links.

AutoTempest is a bit more clunky since it opens a frame for each CL site within your search radius, but the advantage is you're seeing LIVE results because you're querying directly against each CL site's database. Another bonus is that you can enable picture previews so you don't have to click each of the links.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vt_maverick

AutoTempest is way better than allofcraigs, which is basically the exact same thing as typing "vehicross site:craigslist.org" into the standard Google search engine (see the logo that says "Google Custom Search"?). Google crawls the internet to build it's search index, and since it's impossible to accomplish that in real time, the results are often "stale." Case in point, if you start clicking on the Craigslist links in allofcraigs you'll find that a high percentage of them are dead links.

AutoTempest is a bit more clunky since it opens a frame for each CL site within your search radius, but the advantage is you're seeing LIVE results because you're querying directly against each CL site's database. Another bonus is that you can enable picture previews so you don't have to click each of the links.

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THANK YOU!!! JUST WHAT I NEED TO FIND MORE STUFF I DON'T NEED/CANNOT AFFORD!!!! :rotate:

Seriously, good info.

:) Bart

i drove one at a dealer new back in the day
and love it
parts are common to geo storm gsi? gti?
and some of the 1990s lotus elan

I'm no expert on the 2nd gens, but as far as I know, the Geo Storms of the same time period are pretty much just rebadged Isuzu Impulses. Same running gear under the hood, etc. So yeah. I think parts for the JIs are likely a lot more common than the JRs, but still, you gotta find a good starter car before you even go down the parts trail.

Bart

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nfpgasmask

The problem is, finding one will take some time, and you will likely have to travel for it. I was lucky, VXKAT was ever so kind enough to go check out the car for me and do the deed of buying and sending me the title. I still owe her several drinks!!! (thanks again, Sue!).
Bart

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Was my pleasure Bart! :thumbup:
The sellers even asked me to stay for dinner with them. :goof:
Was fun to see one again because I'd carpooled in one for a while when I lived in LA.

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF1781.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF1799.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF1788.jpg

Nice Sue, I expect ya to do the same for me :winkb: j/k

I think i'll keep my eyes peeled for a local Impulse RS to see if I like it. I know there are much better cars from the time period but I enjoy rare & possibly flawed vehicles more than the average DD.

I'll be getting another car by next summer. An impulse RS project would be great, otherwise I'll probably get an E46 BMW M3 or a Volvo S60R which cost a lot more but they're also track ready :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by VXorado

Nice Sue, I expect ya to do the same for me :winkb: j/k

I think i'll keep my eyes peeled for a local Impulse RS to see if I like it. I know there are much better cars from the time period but I enjoy rare & possibly flawed vehicles more than the average DD.

I'll be getting another car by next summer. An impulse RS project would be great, otherwise I'll probably get an E46 BMW M3 or a Volvo S60R which cost a lot more but they're also track ready :thumbup:

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Hoping to get to check out a VX in Phoenix for another member in the next week or so.

M3....Mmmm, :drool2: Dave had an '03 M3 coupe....wicked fun with paddle shifters :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by VX KAT

M3....Mmmm, :drool2: Dave had an '03 M3 coupe....wicked fun with paddle shifters :thumbup:

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They're very cool cars & I love the styling with the wide body kit. I really want one but they are around $20k and I'm not too anxious to get back into car payments. The Volvo S60R is more like $10K, 4 doors (wife likes that), 300 hp, 6 speed manual, AWD, & an active chasis with hydraulic shocks. Then the impulse RS, $2K-??, AWD & rare. I think i'll start with the cheapest and work my way up because I don't think I can resist an M3 if I take one for a test drive :winky:

What would be more reasonably obtainable and blow the doors off most stuff would be to buy ANOTHER VX, drop it, put sports car suspension on it, chop off the back and make it a coupe. There's a project for you!

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Originally Posted by VXorado

I don't think I can resist an M3 if I take one for a test drive :winky:

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Exactly! We were at the BMW dealership getting an oil change on my BMW X5, and they had an internet station in the waiting area...sooooooo, somebody started surfing....DAHAM if I didn't find a mighty fine M3 with less than 10k miles at a sports car boutique type place (like 7 miles away from where we were).....mine was done, I'm pulling out of the dealership.....stop...."Dave, do you wanna go Left or Right (home)?".....:naughty:....ummmm.... LEFT!!!!!!!!! .....ummm, we drove it home a few hrs later....:rollo:...we're hopeless once behind the wheel! :thumbup:
Ahhhhh, such fond memories.....:_steering....er, um I mean.....:driver:

sorry for the t/j.....I was just drooling and reminiscing.....:mbrasd:

Ok, so I'm hooked on the Impulse now. I came looking for a thread about them here and figured I'd find some. Love the 2nd gens. That front end is sick. Why am I always attracted to old cars that are few and far between? LOL

That, my friend, is a dangerous path to go down, especially for gen2 Impulses. I think they are even rarer than gen1 Impulses. In all the years I have spent messing around with Isuzus, I have seen 5-6 really clean gen1s, but I have NEVER seen a clean, unmolested gen2 come up for sale, ever. And I agree. The front clip of the gen2 is fantastic, but the rear end....wow, it all went wrong back there.

lol - Bart

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nfpgasmask

That, my friend, is a dangerous path to go down, especially for gen2 Impulses. I think they are even rarer than gen1 Impulses. In all the years I have spent messing around with Isuzus, I have seen 5-6 really clean gen1s, but I have NEVER seen a clean, unmolested gen2 come up for sale, ever. And I agree. The front clip of the gen2 is fantastic, but the rear end....wow, it all went wrong back there.

lol - Bart

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Oh, i'm not out looking for one.....right now. LOL. Yeah, the rear is less pretty. LOL. I still like though. Were all of them 5speeds? I wonder if there are some in junkyards that could be salvaged? BTW, not a fan of the HB version IIM.

Bart, did you ever get all those gremlins sorted out or was it hopele$$?

Anybody interested in the Impulse RS, a friend of mine. (Highmileage) or Adam Barrera, (check on facebook) has a beautiful 91 RS. I believe he has two other parts cars as well, if you have any questions about them, he is the man to answer those.