Thanks for appreciating the gist of what I was trying to communicate VT Maverick, Triathlete and other empathetic folks. I've owned several examples of the VX, including purchasing my first one off the showroom floor of the Isuzu dealer in Aurora, CO in 1999 so I definitely understand what it is you guys love about the VX. What really won me over though was a monster snowstorm in New Jersey in 2003. Without drifts, the depth had to be 3 1/2 feet. EVERYTHING was getting stuck. But not me. I just stuck my VX in 4L and plowed through, over and sometimes under the muck. A bit scary but mostly way FUNNNNN!! Also, now that I live in the Northeast, I have new appreciation and respect for potholes. There are holes in the road here that look like they are the result of either giant asphalt eating rats or very small asteroids. Either way, they tend to DESTROY the suspension of most 4 wheeled conveyances. But not a Vehicross. For a period of time my wife drove our VX from NJ into NYC every day. She loved the way the thing just shrugged off expansion joints, potholes, dead mafioso dumped on the parkway, or what have you...Originally Posted by vt_maverick
That's a bit harsh don't you think? Personally I think it's a pretty reasonable concern for a new owner - regardless of how "hardcore" you are about owning a VX and finding parts, the ugly truth is that it can be downright expensive, and likely to only get worse over time. Don't relegate the guy to a Camry just because he's doing diligent research.
FWIW, I say take the plunge. As others have pointed out, the mechanicals are more or less readily available, and I can attest from endless eBay searches that body panels and cladding are available if you're patient.
GO FOR IT!!!
And no, I'm not a wimp afraid to dig a little, work a little, pay a bit more and improvise when necessary. However, I did think it sensible to gauge the scope and breadth of the challenges I might face as a VX owner in 2010. If there are several key pieces that regularly break that are almost impossible to find, I thought that might be a good thing for me to know up front. I'm relieved to read that this does not appear to be the case, so thank you for helping me understand that. I'll touch base when I acquire my VX and hope to provide useful input as well as camaraderie to the group. Until then, enjoy your awesome toys and I hope to join you soon.
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