Test Drive Isuzu Pickup 1987 - 1995

Mahan on the ranch?

We are written about this class of cars. Whether it's over the ocean! Instead of stars, stripes on the US flag could be able to portray a pickup. The Russian motorists in this matter until recently had a lot of confusion. So, for example, the VAZ-2102 or 2104 is sometimes called the Zhigul-Pickapik. And no one, as a rule, does not think about the explicit distortion of meaning in this definition.
Indeed, in fact, it is in mind the body of the universal, which was asked by a lot of collaborative synonyms: and a caravan, and Combi, and Shed. Meanwhile, the real Pick-Up, as it will seem strange, long-known sign by our motorists.
Since the time of GAZ-M-1, cars appeared, who behind the cut-off until the middle of the cabin were attached to an open cargo body. Abroad, especially in the states, pickups received the widest distribution. We have always been produced in very limited quantities. After all, in Soviet years, the class of small entrepreneurs was absent. And the pickup is needed, first of all, it is to them the owners of a small farm or a shop, who are placed on a small open platform.
A special niche is occupied by mini-trucks with a complete drive, designed, as a rule, on a common base with SUVs. There are almost all firms that are engaged in the manufacture of jeeps. And they have the main sales again in America. Unlike the variety of models in other classes, pickups, despite different origins, often so similar to each other, which can be distinguished by emblems. But they have been completed, it is definitely a large font, as a rule, with a plug-in metal in the rear folding board.
For the correct comparison, consider three Japanese production vehicles: Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 Strada and Isuzu Pickup.
This class only paves the way to the Russian market. Agree, ordinary SUVs in the Moscow stream constitute a noticeable share, but mini-trucks on their base are far less frequently. Why? The answer lies on the surface. We have a jeep luxury, and not a means of movement. It allows you to come there with a tank even on a foreign car in front, to drive in Fullies with the full light on the fields and forests after good gatherings on the kebabs, storming the snow drifts, punching them through and without slipping into the slides. There are more pleasure in all this than the proc. The real user rural resident can not always afford even used UAZ.
But still, what to do is not a poor man who wants to combine a pleasant with useful? So he chooses a Pickapchik with four leading. Moreover, DUBLE CAB. Doors four, places five, yes behind the square in the area, somewhere and a half per half, body. Single cabin did not care too much. This is a more commercial option designed mainly for shipping by the driver with the forwarder. And we give two rows of seats, where today the cheerful company rolls on nature, and a week later, the owner loads two dozen cement bags for the house under construction, and at the same time plant builders brigade.
The most interesting thing is that these cars have more in common than different.
So, the initial data: two leading bridges, four doors, a small platform from behind, enough Spartan equipment. Made in Japan. What do you choose?
Toyota offered us the most ascetic option. Low pressure turbodiesel, manual adjustments, from advancement air conditioning da painting metallic. Modest hard worker. Very similar in front of the 4-Runner eight-year old. Yes, and in general in general. Simple, easy landing, excellent review. Especially backward, through an inner mirror having a tinting of a pleasant smoky shade. In general, on these machines, unlike classic jeeps, you can use a salon mirror, since the boundaries of its review coincide with the rear glass. This is all the more convenient that the side mirrors are adjusted only from the outside manually. Truck is a truck!
The first thing is to pay attention to the giant road clearance. Like Big Foot. Inter-wheeled gearboxes on the usual height, even a distribution with a box closed with a metal casing, like a Toyota 4-Runner, is not so highly placed above the road. But thresholds! I just can not imagine what ditches should be and barriers to put Hilux on the threshold! The reverse side of the High-Luxury medal. To climb into the cabin, the leg must be done about the way it makes it a dog on a walk. Salon, by the way, is covered on the floor with an easily washed oilcloth, and all panels are made of inexpensive gray plastic. What else? Primitive appliances without a tachometer, clear inclusion of gears, a left platform next to the clutch pedal.
The dynamics is absolutely not impressive. You can only guess about turnover, but the thrust appears, according to my assumptions, somewhere from two and a half to four thousand revolutions. It stands on the Hilux road quite clearly and specifically. The steering wheel is pretty accurate, rolls are small. In short grounding ground. And off-road? Off-road he is just a champion! In the suburbs there are not so many slides, but in the Dmitrov and Yahroma area we found steep climbs. This friendship, like a stubborn bull. On the first reduced it rushing into any mountain. I was even afraid to bitch back. Finally, getting up to the top, on the spot, we find the freshly fresh pine trunks on the road. Well, everyone went back. But what if? Should we try?! Through these logs? Not! Yes! Hurry? For what? What do you want, I will win. My Toyota did not take about the village of N-I-ch - e. This is her element. You can even add gas. The body shakes, but there are almost no breakdowns in the suspension. I think the working horse is too modest assessment for Hilux. It is high-quality, reliable and at the same time a fairly simple car. And although it does not quickly accelerate, but the off-road goes canceled.
I will define an ISUZU on the second experimental machine. This pickup is made on the basis of Rodeo, which is more famous for us, like Opel Frontera, and also equipped with a Turbodiesel, however, a teaching and more powerful than Toyota.
Accordingly, ISUZU runs quite confidently and Boyko. With appropriate diesel specifics expressed in a uniform speed set. However, here driving feel more on the truck than in Toyota or Mitsubishi. Perhaps the insensitivity and coarse management. I remember that something similar was in Opel Frontera. Exacels the impression of huge thick tires of obviously swamp dimension on cast discs. In the same style, chromed arcs behind the cabin and in front of the bumper are performed. All this shine was hung with additional headlights Hella. The image of this pickup is perhaps the most hunting. ISUZU clearance is less than competitors. And in addition, here are the most powerful decorative thresholds. But this is not always a flaw. Let's say, jump into the interior easier. It concerns this, however, only the front seats. But behind ... get back (naturally, not in the body, but on the second row of seats) is extremely uncomfortable on all three subjects. Landing-disembarka is right as on the 469th UAZ, if it is familiar to you. But, justice for the sake, I will say that it's not close there, and even threesome.
But back to Isuzu. In the cabin (and we got a heavenly blue copy) immediately rushing into the eyes of the non-trim metal parts, whose kel is dramatically stands out against the background of utilitarian gray plastic. The floor is closed with a carpet. In this model, thanks to a pretty flat hood, the best overview of the forward and the least convenient slider adjustment of the stove. It seemed that noise and vibrationloads were vigorous. Too big and moves of the gearbox lever.
In general, according to our impressions, Isuzu Pickup in this configuration more than others corresponds to the image of the car for outdoor activities in nature.
The third hero of the Mitsubishi L200 Strada, and in the most modern and charged version.
First of all, it is GLS, that is, a luxury version: an electric car, velor comfortable seats, even two airbega, the front of the machine and the interior from Pajero Sport, traditional bane type of the Krenomer from Mitsubishi. And the roof with a lockable door and toned glasses on the Pickapian body of the roof. But what about the advantages of a pickup? And if you need to carry oversized cargo like a small water bike? It is very simple that this roof is screwed to the body on eight bolts, so that its disassembly, as well as installation, takes ten minutes, and access to fasteners appears only after unlocking the lifting cover. So this mini van is not uncommon.
In the body in a regular version there is already a factory overlay-chest of soft plastic, so that any like will not roll over the metal, and at the same time on the nerves of the owner.
In general, the car resembles a long jeep rather than a pickup. Neat kenguryatnik and alloy discs complement the exterior. It must be recognized that the appearance of the L200 Strada is the most expressive and finished among competitors.
From the technical features, we note the ability to move from the rear drive to full and back at speeds up to 100 km / h. At the same time it turns off the load on the front differential without any clutch clutch, mounted in the hubs. Here, only the right side can be disconnected from the differential with a cam clutch with a vacuum drive. Unusual solution!
Perhaps this is the most urban of all three car tested. Its metallic somehow sorry to scold on the bushes. But the large lack of a car is almost a complete absence of a review back through an intra-alone mirror. We will have to navigate the side or parking through the sound.
Mitsubishi halters The most mild, I would even say, too soft for such a courageous car. Moving through irregularities is also the most comfortable. Thus, on a bad road (or with the complete absence of this), it will force you to slightly reduce the speed in comparison with rigid, but oak springs and Toyota and Isuzu Torsion.
Yes, I would not be forgotten to mention that Mitsubishi got gasoline to us (from competitors of turbo code), so it is difficult to carry out a full comparison. But we note that the dynamics of this pickup is close to the dynamics of Isuzu. Why? The fact is that only four-cylinder engine is installed on the L200, the V-6 was left for Pajero. So you can not twist, quickly do not get up. But on the other hand, harsh rebuildings or races on the highway are not for our heroes. Most Pickup buyers already have another car, and this, as a rule, is purchased for very specific needs. Hunting, transportation of surfing or mini-snowmobile (open the back side, yes, the burden load is better, let them dry a little), delivery of small cargo. A large annual mileage for a pickup is uncharactertene, and the cars themselves are reliable and founded. So you make a purchase for a long-long term.
You can argue that it is better a simple double pickup, Duble Cab, which we considered today (after all, there are intermediate layouts two doors and seats 2 + 2), or a regular jeep. But we will recall once again about the universality of a bunchy pickup and about a successful ratio price quality.
Vladimir Smirnov
Driver-consultant Sh.Mukhomideev
Photo by Alexander Nosdrin
 

 

A source: Cars