Holden Rodeos

[rollaholic]

boo, hiss! yeah, the old man is looking at buying a late model one. 2007, manual, 3.0 diesel, 2WD.

anyone working on them? anyone got any horror stories? rumors? opinion? lay it on me!

TS needs a special forum for this i reckon.

[Mr Revhead]

We have several 4wd versions here.
Actualy don't seem too bad considering the weight we put on them and the roads they drive on. They are used as field service utes for forestry equipment.

[Bling]

Used to drive a 2wd 2005 rodeo on occasion, went niiiiiice Have driven a few 4wd's and it was the smoothest to drive. Mate just sold his, pretty sure he had no problems 150k on the clock.

I'd own one for sure.

/all based on opinion / couple thou k of driving one.

[Emz]

The most important issue here is how do you choose to pronouce Rodeo?
"Ro De Oh" or "Ro Day Oh"
lol

[sergei]

They are Isuzu, before 2003 they were built in Japan so quality wise should be a bit better than anything else sold by holden.
After 2003 they were built in Thailand, should not be an issue, but my assumption the built quality would be worse (but not as bad as "genuine" holden).

[Bomis]

Only complaint most ppl have is how loud the motors are, not sure if thats an issue with the newer ones. I have a 2002 as a work ute, never had any probs with it really.

[sergei]

Only complaint most ppl have is how loud the motors are, not sure if thats an issue with the newer ones. I have a 2002 as a work ute, never had any probs with it really.

Any common rail diesel will be louder than convention mechanical pump diesel, so loudness is normal.

They are fine, but a bit gutless compared to 1KZTE.
Well my long drive experience was towing race car behind one (3.1L V6), and Prado did a lot better job.

[S T E A L T H]

We have a few in the fleet, a couple of the old RA model (2005-2006) and a pair of 2008's (same shape as the current model Isuzu D-Max)

The RA isn't common rail and its VERY noisy especially when cold, though they're reasonably comfortable to drive. I'm pretty certain the Rodeo was the last ute on the market to go to a common rail motor.

The common rail one is a world of difference, much much quiter, fuel economy is about 25% better (based on the fuel bills for the ones we have), much nicer interior, more stable at high speeds (the RA's tend to get blown around a bit at high speeds) they are also 120kw vs the old one which I think is about 90kw.

They are pretty reliable, havent had a lot go wrong with them at all. If you can afford one definately get the newer common rail model (07 onwards I think), theyre mechanically identical to the newer Colorado , and look the business with some chrome nudge bars and rear sport bars.

I've been told the next model Colorado will be designed by GM America and built in Brazil, hence why Isuzu have launched the Dmax side by side with the existing Colorado which is it's mechanical twin

[GDII]

My Dad has a 2004 Flat deck 3.0 4WD. The front mount intercooler cracked so it had an epic boost leak. Was a common problem for that model. Also somehow the fuel pickup mounting rods bent almost 45 degrees inside the fuel tank. These were 2 8mm stainless steel rods. Not sure how it happened as the fuel tank hadn't been hit.

It had epic turbo lag but it think the new model has a different engine now. Apart from that it would pull really well at speed and when in 4WD it was great on gravel roads. So much grip for a large vehicle. It's really good at hauling around 1 ton of sugar.

[Babz]

Here at Reece NZ we use them as delivery vehicles and they seem to be alright. Havent had any breakdown. The earlier model seems to be a bit more responsive on the throttle. We have all 2wd ones and they can get loose in the rain.

[Burning Angel]

My Dad has a 2004 Flat deck 3.0 4WD. The front mount intercooler cracked so it had an epic boost leak. Was a common problem for that model. Also somehow the fuel pickup mounting rods bent almost 45 degrees inside the fuel tank. These were 2 8mm stainless steel rods. Not sure how it happened as the fuel tank hadn't been hit.

It had epic turbo lag but it think the new model has a different engine now. Apart from that it would pull really well at speed and when in 4WD it was great on gravel roads. So much grip for a large vehicle. It's really good at hauling around 1 ton of sugar.

was driving it in the weekend, going up to wanaka into the wind i had my foot flat in 5th to go 100km/h, he really needs to get a new common rail one 'cuz I'm used to driving the hiluxs at work which go bloody well(had a wee bit of sustained loss of traction outside the stadium today )

[ee904age]

We've got an 05 2WD LX model at work. Goes pretty well, the onlt thing I dont like is the ride height, which is the same as a 4WD, and it has the same wheels/tyres as a 4WD(maybe bigger) which makes it a bit floaty at speed. Ours had some electrical/immobiliser issue twice in the last 12 months which cost about $400 each time to fix, and new front shocks at 90000 km but other than that we've had no issues.

[rollaholic]

ah yep, the one he is looking at has mags and radials so hopefully will be a bit nicer in that dept. and cheaper tyres too!

sounds like they are a pretty solid unit so far.

[GDII]

My Dad has a 2004 Flat deck 3.0 4WD. The front mount intercooler cracked so it had an epic boost leak. Was a common problem for that model. Also somehow the fuel pickup mounting rods bent almost 45 degrees inside the fuel tank. These were 2 8mm stainless steel rods. Not sure how it happened as the fuel tank hadn't been hit.

It had epic turbo lag but it think the new model has a different engine now. Apart from that it would pull really well at speed and when in 4WD it was great on gravel roads. So much grip for a large vehicle. It's really good at hauling around 1 ton of sugar.

was driving it in the weekend, going up to wanaka into the wind i had my foot flat in 5th to go 100km/h, he really needs to get a new common rail one 'cuz I'm used to driving the hiluxs at work which go bloody well(had a wee bit of sustained loss of traction outside the stadium today )

I didn't think it was that slow. It's nothing special in terms of performance but it's good for heavy loads and goes off road pretty well. Just has a terrible turnig circle in 4WD.

[h8wrxs]

i have a 2005 rodeo turbo diesel, its gutless as all f**k but aparently the newer models have much bigger turbos and go alot better

used to have a 2005 3.5v6 petrol one as well, went good, good skids, lsd etc still a shit ute and terrible on fuel

none of our company cars have been too bad, generally pretty reliable etc

i wouldnt buy one with my own money though, wudnt buy any model of rodeo... or holden for that matter

[escortman]

the new shaper like 07 arent common rail and still noisy as hell we called my workute 4x4 rodeo knocky, but the new version with topmount intercooler are way gruntier

[fuel]

The Rodeo is a popular seller but I think the Hilux, Navara, Triton, Ranger and Bounty/BT50 are better still. I found the interiors of the Rodeo, Hilux, Ranger/Bounty/BT50 have quite a plasticky interior compared to the Navara and Triton.

[h8wrxs]

if i was buying a ute id be going for a ford ranger/ mazda bt50, but thats just me

[fangsport]

all you do to them is oil/filters. don't seem to have the weak gearbox issue the ford/mazda has.
reliable but gutless down low, but utes are for practicality, not performance.
junk interior, but most utes are like that now.
strong bodyshell, rolled one 4-5 times on seal and doors still opened and roof wasn't too badly crushed!!!
would take one over an most '05+ utes.

[samlloyd]

reliable but gutless down low, but utes are for practicality, not performance

These days, id say performance is a huge thing to consider in a ute.