Vauxhall Monterey reviews please

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muffinino

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I posted on here a few days ago about the Isuzu Trooper and it got rave reviews so I've been trying to find one, though for some reason all the decent ones seem to be up north, lol. I've just lost out on what looked to be a good one on ebay (stupid laptop took aaaaaaaages to bring up the confirm button and I missed it - why do they always do that?!) and am now trying to find another. Having googled the name, I've found out that the Monterey is supposed to be pretty much the same vehicle, just under a different badge due to the takeover of the company.

So, question is, are they the Trooper in name only or do they perform the same as far as reliability and towing is concerned? If so, are there any common problems that make them a big no no? I've found one very local at a dealer's that's an S reg (1998), 3.1, LWB version - are these generally good examples?

Any help much appreciated!
 
they are the same as a trooper,or bighorn just a re badging and some minor trim differnces,
General Motors have a shareholding in Isuzu hence rebadged isuzus and isuzu engines in vauxhall diesel cars/ vans .. so the same comments about the trooper apply....
 
We bought a Monterey 2-3 years ago at the start of Winter and NEVER again, even in 4 wheel drive it was absolutely rubbish at holding the road, in snow, ice etc and terrified the living daylights out of me. Mind you it was the long wheel base type so a bit of a monster. The Shogun we have now despite being long wheel base too is fantastic and hasn't stuttered all Winter through all the bad weather on the roads even pulling round bales on a trailer through ice and snow.

Other folks may have had a better experience than us though! But I would never look at one again.
 
Thanks both. I had a look at the reasons why the Monterey and the Trooper are the same, I was just worried there was some hidden difference between them that I hadn't found, lol.

Tormenta - that's a very honest pov, thanks. Apart from the ice & snow, what was it like in general for driving and towing? I've heard nothing but good reviews so it's interesting to see someone who didn't like it. What year was your car? I've heard the newer Troopers are a lot worse than the older ones, so if yours was a new one I could understand. I wanted a Shogun (or Pajero) originally but I cannot find a decent one anywhere around here!
 
Well ours was okay in normal weather conditions and for towing in normal weather but any Wintry conditions you were just as well leaving her at home, ours was an R reg. She very kindly sided us and kept on going almost into the path of an oncoming car when the road conditions were a bit icy, hubby is an experienced driver (Does it for a living) and was travelling slowly, there was nothing he could do and thankfully oncoming car managed to verge and avoid us. In snow forget it! She was terrible. As I said though that was just our experience. We bought the Monterey because my Father used to have a Trooper and it was a tough little 4x4 lasted him years!
 
Thanks for that, I appreciate you taking the time to answer and was looking for all opinions, good or bad, so it's given something to think about. I think I'll have a look at the one by me and see what it's like to drive, but plan to leave it at home when it snows, lol! Hopefully that won't be too much of a problem as it generally only snows badly 1-2 times a year, so if it's ok 99% of the time then I don't mind too much. It's really hilly around here (South Wales) so I don't think I'd have the guts to venture out too much in the snow anyway!
 
Tormenta said:
Well ours was okay in normal weather conditions and for towing in normal weather but any Wintry conditions you were just as well leaving her at home, ours was an R reg. She very kindly sided us and kept on going almost into the path of an oncoming car when the road conditions were a bit icy, hubby is an experienced driver (Does it for a living) and was travelling slowly, there was nothing he could do and thankfully oncoming car managed to verge and avoid us. In snow forget it! She was terrible. As I said though that was just our experience. We bought the Monterey because my Father used to have a Trooper and it was a tough little 4x4 lasted him years!
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My guess is it had maintanace problem,!!! troopers are one of the better 4x4s to drive.. The thing that make most difference is odd or cheap tyres and or worn shock absorbers also have a big effect on how something feels especily when towing .. a matching set of tyres and new shock absorbers makes a huge improvement on a older vehicle...
 
well I have only just parted with my 1994 vauxhall monteray ( which is technically a badged Isuzu Trooper) having owned it for 9 years and to be honest I wish I still had it. It was the most reliable 4 x 4 I have ever owned. Great for towing a trailer and a decent honest workhorse of a car. Mine didn't owe me a penny but I did keep it well maintained and my husband used to do an oil change on it every 4000 miles. As with any vehicle, if you look after them then you should have any problems.

Mine was a 3.1 TD called Ruby. She had 189000 miles on the clock 109000 of them with me. Wish I still had her but I know she is for sale on autotrader with the dealer who p/exed her from me ( or rather my husband as he's the one who decided I needed a change). If you get one that has been looked after you can't go wrong, honestly.
 
TicTac said:
well I have only just parted with my 1994 vauxhall monteray ( which is technically a badged Isuzu Trooper) having owned it for 9 years and to be honest I wish I still had it. It was the most reliable 4 x 4 I have ever owned. Great for towing a trailer and a decent honest workhorse of a car. Mine didn't owe me a penny but I did keep it well maintained and my husband used to do an oil change on it every 4000 miles. As with any vehicle, if you look after them then you should have any problems.

Mine was a 3.1 TD called Ruby. She had 189000 miles on the clock 109000 of them with me. Wish I still had her but I know she is for sale on autotrader with the dealer who p/exed her from me ( or rather my husband as he's the one who decided I needed a change). If you get one that has been looked after you can't go wrong, honestly.
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That's good news. This one is 1998 with 112k on her (not sure if that's miles or kilometres, but I think probably miles) and is red (Ruby II, lol). It has a brand new MOT and service history, so looks to be well maintained. I'll let you know how it goes ;)
 
The electrics and engine are made by Vauxhall and are not japanese like the Isuzi, therefore not the same quality and reliability. I've been told this by a reliable source so beware and take care before you part with your cash.
 
mine is n reg 60,000 miles full history 3.1 diesel and fabulous.had a fourtrak before and this tows as well but is more comfortable.i tow regularly at least weekly sometimes more and it is great in all weathers,snow,ice,mud.i had never heard of them but once i researched them read nothing but good.steer clear of the 3 litre ones though.
 
Ours is P reg, and it's fab. It has towed my husbands STUCK 42ton articulated tipper lorry out of the mud a few times.
Makes me laugh, because the glass in the windows is badged 'ISUZU'
 
Why steer clear of the 3.0 ones? They're a newer design and much more powerful than the 3.1. I'm not in the market for one at the moment, but my father-in-law has a 3.0 one and he likes it very much, and I would have considered buying it off him when he sells. Is it likely to go bang?
 
Am surprised that someone had a problem with a Trooper/Monterey in the snow! My Mum's LWB R reg is awesome in any weather and any conditions! It off roads at least twice a week in the winter through some very deep mud (and this year snow!), it tows my horse a 200 mile round trip several times a year, it has pulled the trailer through a boggy show site when no one else was getting off and is generally a real workhorse.
 
xena_wales said:
Why steer clear of the 3.0 ones? They're a newer design and much more powerful than the 3.1. I'm not in the market for one at the moment, but my father-in-law has a 3.0 one and he likes it very much, and I would have considered buying it off him when he sells. Is it likely to go bang?
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Some of the 3Ls have an issue (exactly what I have no idea, just no that they do) that can make them go bang.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I went to see it tonight and it's fab, no rust and drove very nicely for a big car - was a lot lighter than my OH's Fiesta, lol! Long story short, I bought it and am picking it up in the morning :) Just need a trailer now, lol ;)
 
Izzwizz said:
The electrics and engine are made by Vauxhall and are not japanese like the Isuzi, therefore not the same quality and reliability. I've been told this by a reliable source so beware and take care before you part with your cash.
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sorry but someone is pulling your leg they are japanese built or maybe your confusing it with a frontera which translates to anglo japanese heap of manure!!!! some had an opel diesel engines which were truly dire and some had the old carlton petrol engine in them!!!! LOL hope they all have gone to the crusher!! what a nasty piece of junk no wonder GM are in finacial trouble ......
 
kirstyhen said:
Some of the 3Ls have an issue (exactly what I have no idea, just no that they do) that can make them go bang.
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they had injector troubles head problems and oil feed issues they are compicated and not easy to work on, the parts are pricey and most people in the trade avoid them !!!!!! however you can get a kit to retro fit the old type 3.1 engine which is cheaper than fixing a FUBAR'ed 3 liter!!!!!
 
muffinino said:
Thanks for the replies everyone. I went to see it tonight and it's fab, no rust and drove very nicely for a big car - was a lot lighter than my OH's Fiesta, lol! Long story short, I bought it and am picking it up in the morning :) Just need a trailer now, lol ;)
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Thats great glad you got fixed up.... happy motoring .....
 
perfect11s said:
they had injector troubles head problems and oil feed issues they are compicated and not easy to work on, the parts are pricey and most people in the trade avoid them !!!!!! however you can get a kit to retro fit the old type 3.1 engine which is cheaper than fixing a FUBAR'ed 3 liter!!!!!
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Handy to know - thanks!

OP - congrats on your purchase!
 
perfect11s said:
My guess is it had maintanace problem,!!! troopers are one of the better 4x4s to drive.. The thing that make most difference is odd or cheap tyres and or worn shock absorbers also have a big effect on how something feels especily when towing .. a matching set of tyres and new shock absorbers makes a huge improvement on a older vehicle...
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Could have been! I'm not the car person, my husband is and we only kept her for two months as by that time I hated her. As I said my Father had a Trooper and it was reliable and tough. We maybe got a rogue Monterey lol.

Anyway, good luck with your new car! :)
 
I have a Monty, it is a trooper exactly the same but with a vauxhall badge. It tows beautifully, doesn't know the trailer is there. Goodluck finding one.
 
muffinino said:
Thanks both. I had a look at the reasons why the Monterey and the Trooper are the same, I was just worried there was some hidden difference between them that I hadn't found, lol.

Tormenta - that's a very honest pov, thanks. Apart from the ice & snow, what was it like in general for driving and towing? I've heard nothing but good reviews so it's interesting to see someone who didn't like it. What year was your car? I've heard the newer Troopers are a lot worse than the older ones, so if yours was a new one I could understand. I wanted a Shogun (or Pajero) originally but I cannot find a decent one anywhere around here!
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Horseman4golf--I have had the Monterey 3.2 diamond version for the past 13yrs it has been a superb vehicle- I regularly tow 2 horses to shows etc and every week tow a 8 x 4 trailer of muck to an allotment to dispose of, I have towed a lorry out of a ditch in winter-in 4 wheel drive would tow the Titanic - rated at 3.5 tonnes tow capacity there are not many other vehicles on the road that can do that. I am now reluctantly selling as it has an electrical issue I cant resolve and the body is getting very tatty only 98,000 true miles (thats another story) suffice to say a great equestrian vehicle.
 
I had a Trooper - biggest pile of most unreliable crap I have ever owned....never, ever again!! I always had Daihatsu Fourtracks before that which were brilliant and capable tow vehicles. This time I have gone for something completely different - A Jeep Cherokee so far it has been a pleasent surprise!
 
I LOVED my Monterey. Bought it at 8 years old, with 100k on the clock and finally retired it a couple of years ago at 16 with 215k. Yes, it needed a few things keeping on top of, but it was recalled by Vauxhall at the age of 10 for an injector upgrade. I towed an IW trailer with a big horse in all over the country including into Wales (hills!!), harrowed the fields, drove it down the motorway many times and when I finally traded it in because it was showing signs of degrading underneath I felt like I was taking a family dog to be PTS. :( It was my ideal car - worked like a Land Rover but drove like a car.
Replaced with a Terrano, apart from the fact that it was something of a lemon, all issues have been dealt with and it is almost as good as the Monterey now - better on the motorway, but it doesn't have the character of the Monterey.
 
Troopers had a problem with fuel injector seals and some engine wiring. Just Google the recalls. Not 100% it's the same with Vaux version? They are still doing the recall work free of charge after all this time.

The problem in the snow as some are mentioning is normal for 4X4s if you don't use diff lock. It's simply the wheels losing traction. Then wheels on the same axle spinning at a different speed, causing the car to veer off line. 200 and 300tdi Land rovers and Discoveries are no different.
 
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