Quote Originally Posted by Bieredalsace View Post
From day one look at how the VX was advertised by Isuzu.
Racing on Bonnevile Salt Flats Obviously a spoof but a reference to th VXs ability at speed and all the other ads showed it as a normal car type vehicle for everyday highway drivng. I did't see one commercial by Isuzu using the VX for rock crawling or hard off roading.
So from day one your opinion of what the VX was for was in contradiction to what Isuzu thought the VX was for.
You and others just found an extra novel use for the vehicle.
I'm on the side of those who feel the VX is a unique everyday highway driver, grocery getter and attention grabber! IMHO
Fair enough, and that is a good point indeed. However, I think we are both right and wrong; as stated in the Wikipedia article on the VX:

"The VehiCROSS was highly regarded for its cross-terrain performance. It combines a computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system for on-road driving and a locked-differential low gear four-wheel-drive system for off-road driving. Its computer controlled "Torque on Demand" system, with 12 independent sensors detecting wheel spin and redirecting power to the wheels with the most traction, gives the VehiCROSS a high level of traction on wet and icy roads. It also has a high level of performance for its height. While possessing on-road nimbleness, its body-on-frame truck construction, suspension and 4WD gearing made it very capable off-road."

I don't know the ACTUAL Isuzu thought process behind the VX, but I do believe initially it was designed to be a rally vehicle, at least structurally, while it was a HALO vehicle commercially. By the inherent nature of rally-cross, the VX needed to be good for both speed and hard off-roading. As I said before, I agree completely that the VX was never meant to be a hard-core rock crawler, but personally I cannot deny the VX's birthright to be off the pavement. IMO, It's hardly a "novelty".

Bart