I think this is a car that you can find any number of things that shoulda woulda coulda.
Like I've said before it was never a secret that this car was a short run and essentially a prototype that was pushed to a short labored manufacturing run.
I previously owned a Trooper and an original model Amigo, every single Isuzu I have ever owned or ridden in had a certain "truth" about it for lack of a better term. They are robust and well built but there isn't much of an attempt made to mask every vibration, noise and such and there is always a certain lack of detail when it came to nonessential things such as window tracks.
I obviously can't drive the particular vehicle you are interviewing, but even if it did have an issue that can be remedied I can tell you at some point there will be another one. There is a passion for this vehicle that has to be had. I went into it knowing about the engine issues, the window issues, etc, but I also knew I had never seen anything I had wanted so badly and that it used a standard Isuzu powerplant for the most part. I resolved myself to the fact I was going to own this car forever and that if the engine goes that I would, in fact, replace it. Yes, I take it in and try to find resolve to some issues, but for others, it runs like a beast and I love driving it. It's loud, it's rough, but that's what I bought.
I just think that if you are already finding issues every which way you should either not settle with this particular VX if it's really an abnormal vibration, or it's possible that you may just not want to get a VX. There are features and characteristics that have been mulled over and over and over again on these forums.
Like you said, one man's vibration is another man's backrub, but I really honestly think that these "issues" (all relative right?) are standard on this model.
You are right, you couldn't sell the roughness of this engine today. Of course, you probably couldn't work on an engine in most of the cars today in your average garage either. But this car isn't being sold today, it was being sold 11 years ago and it was never a Honda Civic or Ford Ranger. There are less than 10,000 of these unicorns. They were hand assembled and it is essentially a short run prototype.
You may prove me wrong, but you aren't going to find a perfect VX. They are only perfect to the people who love them above and beyond all the little bits and annoyances.
Just my two cents, again, hahaha. I really do hope you get in one, it's exciting to still have the VehiCross getting people riled up, but it isn't for everyone. I can tell you now, if you do decide to stick with one, I have NEVER encountered a better support group and honest group of mutual fanatics as those here on this site.
Cheers.
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