Vehicross on Ebay

[kirk hilton]

If you're interested there is a nice green LPG Vehicross on Ebay UK item 200360838097. It has been on Autotrader for weeks recently - probably no takers at the ?4K. I've had a brief chat with the owner a few weeks ago and advised he should join the forum (but I suspected he didn't) - hopefully we'll get a new UK member very soon.

[alterastro]

Gosh thats tempting. Did you talk about the conversion? Is it a good one? High mileage - should I be worried? Has the Cambelt been done recently?

Cheers

Nick

[kirk hilton]

I did talk to the guy about the conversion but he could only give the name of the chap who serviced it - who I also spoke to. He said he didn't install it but the system was old (not a Prin (?) but something else and that it wouldn't be something he would do now as there are better system available - but I understand it has been regularly serviced). As to the Cambelt I really don't know. That reminds me I should get mine done

[crotchrocket]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Isuzu-Vehicros...3A1%7C294%3A50


This was up for sale at the beggining of the year. Looks a bargain

[kirk hilton]

I've also realized that he (Colin) has relisted the Vehicross on Autotrader again at ?3650 so I imagine the reserve on Ebay is probably around the ?3500 mark. Considering that AlterAstro recently got his for a lot less, it might be a bit steep even if when you consider it has the LPG conversion.

[mikemol]

The miles are not that high since it's kilometers. If you convert that to miles you'll get around 88K miles.

[Flintstone]

Hi folks, I joined here partly because of this car which I might be viewing in a few days. I too have spoken to the owner but forgot to ask if that's miles or kilometres. If it's miles to be honest that will put me off at pretty much any price considering that there are others out there at £5500 with less than half that on the clock. I know it's got LPG but as you've already pointed out it's not the best system.

If I do go to see it can anyone recommend anything specific to look out for?

Thanks.

[kirk hilton]

.

If I do go to see it can anyone recommend anything specific to look out for?
.

Hi Flintstone,

I suspect that Colin may be asking too much but it does seem to be looked after, and complete and the LPG does make it more attractive. As to the other VXs on Ebay and Autotrader, ?5000 is to much (even low milage) and they haven't been selling (they have been sitting there for about a year). Alterastro is the most recent forum member with a VX (if I remember correctly) he paid about ?2000 I recall he'll be able to give more recent advise

I bought my 175 VX for ?4300 about a year ago but being a very rare 175 with a slightly higher spec I was willing to pay the extra, it was also about the right price about a year ago. Although fuel cost are expensive I haven't ever been as fond of a car as I'm of my Vehicross.

As for things to look out for there are better able members than I on the forum but most are in the US who have a slightly different machine - the engine is a 3.5L and their interior is different.

There are a few things I looked for which are 'standard' problems with the Vehicross - these include things like

cracked bonnet insert
jamming/slow electric windows
reversing camera not working
head light rubber missing/loose
headlight plastic flaking
slow wiper motor
tracking misalignment
shot shocks
loose interior plastic panels (in the back mainly)
damp in drivers foot well under the mat

As the Vehicross is based on a 98 Isuzu SWB Trooper a lot of spares are cheap and relatively easy to come by, however the 'custom' parts like windscreen and body panels are very expensive, rare and difficult to come by.

there are hope that helps

[alterastro]

I paid £2500 for mine, and I though I got a real bargain until I came on here and Kirk shot me down!!!

I would have paid more and I don't think £3500 for this one is too much, but the miles do put me off.... TBH I don't think it'll be kilometers. I believe they have to be converted on import, so the the odometer reading is probably half and half. Kilometers up until it was imported and then miles from then on. So it depends on how long ago it was imported. Whatever way I still think the mileage is very high and you would have to do the cambelt at the very least. Allow up to £1000 for that if you can't do it yourself. So a £3500 car becomes £4500 straight away - quite high for that mileage. Shame, because if it was low mileage I'd be bidding for it too!

FWIW, Mine has the following faults...

Drivers window comes off track when closing. Tried widening the runner to no avail.
Headlight rubber missing on one (anyone know where to get a replacement???)
Headlight plastic starting to flake (anyone know a cure or replacement)
Bonnet insert is a bit corroded in one lower corner where water has pooled.

So not too bad really!

Nick

[kirk hilton]

It's untrue that JDM Vehicrosses have to be converted to miles when they are imported into the UK (to pass the single vehicle test I assume). Mine isn't and I've seen three others which weren't it's all about preference. My MOT test doc states the odometer reading in kilometers (127KKm). So 135KKm for the LPG VX on Ebay could be correct although a mix of miles and kilometer could also be possible as AA mentioned.

[alterastro]

OK I stand corrected.. but the eBay ad doesn't mention Km which it would do if it was! He does state 'Mileage is completely genuine', which seems strange being as it is so high!

Nick

[Flintstone]

Thanks folks. Useful pointers which I'll bear in mind when viewing. The seller confirmed that this one is miles, too high for me as I rack up a few myself so I'll continue to look around. Shame really as the LPG made it perfect for me even though it's an old system.

Kirk. When you say they've been up for sale for a while do you mean those advertised by CG Trading in Hove?

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[kirk hilton]

Yes, the Vehicrosses in Hove have been advertised for months now (possibly more than 6 months). I believe one of the other UK forum members (Alan Bradley if I remember correctly) was thinking of buying from Clive(? CG Trading) some time ago but decided against it for some reason. Clive, who sells them, is a member of this forum but I haven't seen any new posting from him since I joined over 9 months ago.

Of the two that CG is advertising the Red with the leather seats is interesting as it is probably a 175 limited edition (but I don't see that being advertised)

There is also a newly imported silver VX on Autotrader with low mileage which may be interesting but when I was looking to privately import I worked it out at about ?5K so perhaps the seller won't drop the asking too much any time soon

[Flintstone]

I saw that interior. A little more interesting than standard. I'm running in a new engine on my other car this week so rather than drive around aimlessly might nip down to Hove for a look.

[alterastro]

I've been down to Hove and had a long chat with Clive. He was very helpful and informed. He's had them for quite a while and he's in no rush to sell, hence the fairly high prices. He is willing to deal though so worth a chat.

The maroon one has only the leather seats taken from another for a client that wanted cloth seats, so it had no matching door cards or steering wheel. It has had a bash on the drivers side and had a new wing. The colour match is good, but the wing isn't sitting quite right. I think an easy fix - just needs unbolting and repositioning. I couldn't see any other evidence of the prang. When I saw it it was a bit mucky generally, but would probably clean up fine. The other major thing was that it has the overrevving problem which is down to the inlet manifold gasket. Clive was fully forthcoming with all of the faults and during discussions offered it to me for two different prices - one to fix the problems (and replace the cambelt) and one to take it as is. Needless to say if I was going to buy I'd go for the 'get it done' price.

The green one looks lovely and has no problems. It was genuine very low mileage and 1 lady owner. The only fault was that it had been garaged for a while and water had dripped onto the drivers wing, so the paint is faded a bit.

I'd just like to reiterate here that Clive was very open about the faults and I had a good chat with him. I would buy from him if they were cheaper!

Hope that helps.

Nick