Thread: 110 Isuzu County Buyers Check List?

I'm not sure there is a specific list. I'd look at the following:-

1. Rust. Particularly bulkhead, chassis and doors. Look for signs of water leaks from the windscreen hinges and rust in the footwells.
2. Modifications - if any (includes wheels and tyres, fitting of an Isuzu to a V8) are they well done and do they have appropriate engineering certification if needed
3. Engine - should start immediately without glow plugs. Severe vibration when idling, particularly cold, is normal, but should be smooth in normal driving. Oil blown out the breather is pretty normal. Oil leaks are not uncommon, but some may cost a bit to fix.

3. Driving - should drive well - watch for wandering, strange noises on bumps, these indicate suspension woes which while fixable fairly easily can add up. Check steering for free play - no more than 50mm on steering wheel rim. If more, see where it is! If steering box is leaking, take $1000 off the price.

4. Gearbox should be smooth, not dead quiet, but certainly not noisy. Should not jump out of any gears, same for high/low (check it works). Ensure diff lock works.

5. Brakes - should work well. Check condition of discs and pads on front. Handbrake should work well.

6. Crawl under - check for damage. Rock vehicle in gear and handbrake on, see what moves, looking at suspension bushes. Check U-joints and sliding joints for free play. Look for oil leaks, but don't get too concerned except for steering box. Check for signs of leaking fuel tank - if it is take off at least $400.

7. Have a look at tyres - check for uneven wear, which indicates suspension or steering problems. Try to rock front wheels vertically, using plenty of muscle (or jack up and try them) any movement take another $500 off.

8. Airconditioning. If it has factory air, if it does not work, it is going to be expensive. Ensure the heater works.

9. Electrical. Make sure everything works, including any extra lights etc.

10. Interior. Look at the upholstery, condition of seat cushions etc. It can all be fixed, but it adds up - look at around $100 per cushion. Look at the conditon of the door liners etc - hard to find and expensive. Make sure all winders work - if they don't, probably the channel - which is expensive and fiddly to replace. Check carpet condition.

Hope this helps - I've probably missed a few things, but someone else will add them.
John

check everything.

this is one of those questions (IMHO) that means you either need to be a budding mechanic to appreciate the answers OR you need to take a mechanic with you.

Dont take me, I'll fault the vehicle so hard you wont want it, the Dealer will cut the price and then I'll buy it out from under you.

Thanks John and Dave , especially John ( no offence Dave That isdseaxactly the sort of info I'm after. I am taking a mate who is prtetty good mechanically and also happens to have his own Isuzu County. Thanks again

Pete

none taken, best of luck with it.

Originally Posted by land864

.......... I am taking a mate who is pretty good mechanically and also happens to have his own Isuzu County. Thanks again

Pete

That sounds like the best move!

John

Thanks again John and Dave.

Closing in on one now.

Went for a look and a drive yesterday with my mate , the County owner
We both drove it.
Everything mechanical seems okay.
Steers good and doesn't wander.
No noises in the suspension.
Brakes okay.
You were right John , on initial start up and idle its as rough as bug...ry.
Then again it is a truck motor and I had just hopped out of the TD5 Disco.
When warm it seemed to be better.
I had trouble getting used to upshifting earlier to use the bottom end of the power( )/torque curve. It seems to be steep at the start and flatens out at pretty quickly at about 2000? RPM.
Again a bit hard after just driving the TD5.
The previous owner has spent quite a bit of money in the last 12 months repairing/replacing alternators , fuel tank , a/c , etc.
It appears to be okay mechanically but looks a bit tatty on the outside and inside.
I am happy to carry out internal trim repairs / tidy up and have a contact for a tidy up and respray.
It comes with a front bar , roof rack , cargo barrier and spare good cond LT 95 gearbox ( it also has one fitted)
I may do a resto on it to tidy it up.
What do you think about a price of $ 6000?

If it just needs a bit of a tidy up and it is mechanically sound, then $6000 sounds pretty reasonable. No harm haggling though

6 K, dam good buying