how many are left?

[Vendetta]

...You can't assume the majority of original purchasers were VX "enthusiasts" because there by definition couldn't have been any when they came out.

Can't speak about the majority, but I was most definitely an "enthusiast" when I purchased. And I've got a file full of the pre-launch marketing materials to show for it. I'd be surprised if I were the only one.

-V

[blacksambo]

I've been saying book quite some time now. We have the knowlege, just need the muscle to "Git R Done". Then the world will know what we've got. There was a book in Japan, a long time ago. Does any body have a copy we could translate?

I write when I have time, and I have been looking for a topic. I have written auto articles before for a couple places, and some other piddling stuff (nothing that made any money or got any recognition). And here I have the most well informed resources possible.

You guys think I should take a crack at a VX book? Is anyone else going to? I would need help setting up the theme/format (story format, reference format, chronological or topical, etc)...then I'd have to find the time to crank out a draft that you lot can proceed to rip to pieces.

Regarding how many are left though, I would think close to half have fallen by the wayside just because of location (i.e. rust in coastal areas), lack of care for non-enthusiasts, and the typical life of a car on American roads. You can't assume the majority of original purchasers were VX "enthusiasts" because there by definition couldn't have been any when they came out. Sure people bought them because they appealed to them at the time, but they wouldn't all have been seen as future collectibles or rarities by most purchasers. And in 2001 not many people could or would have looked up that only 4150 of them were imported to the US. That's a luxury of information we have at our fingertips now.

I guess the research for a book might give us the whole story.

[evillecutter]

apparently the main designer of the vx also designed quite a few other popular vehicles - i think when most people that hear that the vx was produced in low numbers they automatically assume that is because it was flawed or useless or just didnt sell well, but if people knew the true story of why they were limited and that it was done on purpose it might enlighten a few more auto enthusiasts to join our cause - or if nothing else it might raise the percentage of people who know what they are from 3% to 4% - either way its a book i would buy - and has anyone ever tried writing a letter or email to a car show like gears or something about the vehicross? might be able to get someone like that to do a lot of the research for you - and imagine what could happen to a vx if someone had that type of budget to put towards the mods...

[rsteinmetz70112]

Given how few there were it would not be impossible to build a database to try to capture all all of them. (Google Docs or something?)

As to the numbers built I'm pretty sure if it had taken of Isuzu, would have made more.

[evillecutter]

Given how few there were it would not be impossible to build a database to try to capture all all of them. (Google Docs or something?)

As to the numbers built I'm pretty sure if it had taken of Isuzu, would have made more.

from what ive heard isuzu couldnt make more because the molds were hand carved and then the dies then made of ceramic - ceramic is only good for a limited number of impressions before it wears out - so unless the artist who carved the original body could reproduce the exact carvings again (unlikely) they could never ever be the exactly the same as the vx we all know and love - on top of that there was so much spent on r&d they couldnt possibly have make the dies out of steel and still sell the vx new for anything close to affordable - also heard another rumor about the reason isuzu made the vx was to get people into the showroom so they would be impressed by isuzu's technology but then end up buying one of the more inexpensive models like a trooper or rodeo - like a promotional item of sorts
--but of course i have no way for sure of knowing if any of these are true

[circmand]

from what ive heard isuzu couldnt make more because the molds were hand carved and then the dies then made of ceramic - ceramic is only good for a limited number of impressions before it wears out - so unless the artist who carved the original body could reproduce the exact carvings again (unlikely) they could never ever be the exactly the same as the vx we all know and love - on top of that there was so much spent on r&d they couldnt possibly have make the dies out of steel and still sell the vx new for anything close to affordable - also heard another rumor about the reason isuzu made the vx was to get people into the showroom so they would be impressed by isuzu's technology but then end up buying one of the more inexpensive models like a trooper or rodeo - like a promotional item of sorts
--but of course i have no way for sure of knowing if any of these are true

You wouldn't need a new carving. You could make a reverse mold of the mold then recreate the mold itself from the reverse. And even if they werent the same it could be explained away by claiming a new look after 3 years. However given that the VX didn't sell that great (I bought my 2001 VX in June 2002) That means there were still new VXs for sale (Ifound 60 when looking for $23,995) when the 2003 models were coming out. So sitting on a lot for 2 years before selling is not want a dealer expects.

[VXR]

from what ive heard isuzu couldnt make more because the molds were hand carved and then the dies then made of ceramic - ceramic is only good for a limited number of impressions before it wears out - so unless the artist who carved the original body could reproduce the exact carvings again (unlikely) they could never ever be the exactly the same as the vx we all know and love - on top of that there was so much spent on r&d they couldnt possibly have make the dies out of steel and still sell the vx new for anything close to affordable - also heard another rumor about the reason isuzu made the vx was to get people into the showroom so they would be impressed by isuzu's technology but then end up buying one of the more inexpensive models like a trooper or rodeo - like a promotional item of sorts
--but of course i have no way for sure of knowing if any of these are true

Most (if not all) of that is true

[Vendetta]

"Cars, prepare for extinction" read Isuzu's intimidating introduction to the VehiCROSS.

And evolution may indeed have favored the SUV over the last decade. But the VX, our beautiful mutation that arguably started the trend of aggressively-styled production sport utes, was itself, "deselected."

If it sold well enough, it would not have been discontinued. Period. Regardless of stamping materials or technology or whathaveyou, Isuzu would have figured out a way to not sunset a successful model.

For my part, I'm glad they were a limited run. I've gone literally YEARS without seeing another on the road. Makes me appreciate not only what I've got, but also the people who share my pride in owning a rarity like ours.

Cheers, people.
-V

[Y33TREKker]

Wasn't original MSRP sticker price somewhere around $35k too? That couldn't have helped much at the time when it came to high sales numbers.

These days it would probably be a different story when relatively run of the mill vehicles can be in that same ballpark, so seeing as how I found a very nice example when I did for what I considered a fair price given it's condition, my thought is to just chalk it all up to the VX stars aligning in my favor at the right time.

Should the stars align again in the future positively affecting the value of my VX even better, but for now I'm satisfied with the way things have turned out.

[evillecutter]

i was talking to the janitor at my daughter's school a few weeks ago and he said he actually worked at an isuzu dealership when they first came out and people went crazy over them but didnt want to buy one because they were around 35k and everyone was worried the cladding would look like crap after a few years - he even said at his dealership they priced it above msrp because they liked having it in the showroom to draw people in - didnt think to ask where that dealership was but he did say it was silver and he only remembers them having one and noone bought it while he worked there

[JoFotoz]

Well said...X2

For my part, I'm glad they were a limited run. I've gone literally YEARS without seeing another on the road. Makes me appreciate not only what I've got, but also the people who share my pride in owning a rarity like ours.

Never was a mass produced mustang/taurus/camry/explorer type

Gimme something a bit unique every time......


jo

[Y33TREKker]

i was talking to the janitor at my daughter's school a few weeks ago and he said he actually worked at an isuzu dealership when they first came out and people went crazy over them but didnt want to buy one because they were around 35k and everyone was worried the cladding would look like crap after a few years - he even said at his dealership they priced it above msrp because they liked having it in the showroom to draw people in - didnt think to ask where that dealership was but he did say it was silver and he only remembers them having one and noone bought it while he worked there

Was that an Evansville Isuzu dealership? If so, it would have to be the one where a girl I knew from high school bought her '01 Proton. She was actually trying to sell it when I was in the market for a VX, but I obviously ended up going with an Ebony.

[evillecutter]

i'll ask next time i see him but i do remember him saying it was silver - i didnt talk to him long but it sure seemed to put a smile on his face seeing mine and remembering that one

[VXR]

it would not have been discontinued

it was not discontinued

they made as many as they initially intended to

[Vendetta]

Of course, it's called hedging a bet. Despite all their marketing bluster about cars becoming extinct and the VX taking over the world (not happening with 6,000 or so units), they said officially it was a proof of concept for a new manufacturing method using cheaper but shorter-lived ceramic stamps.

But if it flew off the dealers' lots, as opposed to languishing there for years in some cases, you can be certain they would have "intended" to make more of them.

-V