AN Omega for him, a Cartier for her—classics. Shakey’s thin crust pizza, Aristocrat BBQ with java rice—comfort food.
A Lancer box type, a Corolla SR—retro collectibles. And the Isuzu Gemini, the Isuzu Trooper—faves of mine and of so many others, which still beget smiles and happy memories when seen on the road.
Close but no cigar
My hidden-away, guilty pleasure back in the late 70s and early 80s was to own and drive a taxi-yellow Gemini diesel with gold and silver Rota mags, Momo steering wheel and Recaro seats. But the closest I came to that young adult dream was when my sister- in-law bought a pre-loved powder blue Gemini two-door (but gas-fed). I can still picture the blue upholstery and feel the smooth clutch, shifter and responsive engine. My last memory of that fine car was during the 1989 coup attempt by the RAM. At the time we were living in Horseshoe Village, Q.C., not far from Camp Crame. One afternoon, as the children went out to play, we noticed the clear indentation of a bullet on the chrome bumper of the Gemini and heard sporadic gunfire. We hurriedly herded the kids back indoors. We didn’t bother looking for the stray bullet casing.
Shortly after that episode, my sister-in-law migrated to Canada, but not before making sure her beloved Gemini went to a carefully vetted-car-caring buyer. My next close encounter with an Isuzu was through a family friend’s Trooper in the early 2000s—my first real taste of the emerging SUV class—riding high in the spacious middle row, feeling the road imperfections but not in an unpleasant way as the powerful three-liter diesel gobbled up the city streets…quite an experience. And what a looker! The Patrol looked too daunting, the Pajero too ubiquitous…the Trooper slotted in right between those two competitors as the most balanced optics- and performance-wise.
Boon and bane
Save for a nip and tuck here and there, Isuzus bring longevity to the Philippine driving and riding public. The venerable Hilander/Crosswind went thru more iterations than Spiderman over its 21-year lifespan. I still fondly recall the pleasant and comfortable ride of a rented tan-colored Crosswind as my sidekick and I wended our way from Laoag to Vigan and Candon, thence to Santiago and Cauayan.
The Trooper, for its part, had a seven-year run, but is still very much around. So too the Alterra that has been with us for almost a decade and which brings us to the D-Max. It burst onto the local scene in 2003 and gave way to its second generation in 2008. This in turn ran until 2013. And so our current D-Max is going on seven years and growing its fan base as it gains added tech and even more fuel economy with its Blue Power engines and more masculine stylistic cues outside, creature comforts inside. Think Tim Duncan, the Big Fundamental of the NBA. Or Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay in professional tennis or Pele, who played soccer for over two decades. Classic and steady, reliable and sturdy. Durable as all get out with just as lasting an appeal whether as a daily drive or weekend warrior.
This is personal
So maybe you’re among the horde of Isuzu faithful hungry for images on YouTube and amateur reviews on social media of that latest version launched in Thailand. And then you pause…only to realize and admit to yourself that not much has changed. My D-Max still holds its own, and is far from outdated, compared to its youngest sibling.
And then you heave a sigh of relief and give thanks to the automotive gods for letting Isuzus stay the course and hold their value even as rivals scramble for upgrade and model changes to the point of over-spec’d foppery and polarizing faddism.
I should know. I got myself titanium silver D-Max RZ4E LS from Gencars a fortnight ago and quickly got attached to its intuitive controls, smooth shifter, quiet cabin, great visibility, and equal parts rugged and civilized aesthetic. This ex-Toyota, Mitsubishi and Honda patron is now an Isuzu convert. Now I understand why there are so many Isuzu loyalists and evangelists. I can’t quite put my finger on it; maybe it’s the fit and finish, the rocksteady feel, the comfort akin to a classic Eames chair as opposed to a La-Z-Boy. Whatever that visceral connection may be, I know I’ve got it…with my two-week old D-Max.
Get in on it too. You will recall that the excise tax had the least cost impact on pick-up trucks, present D-Max company included. And now Isuzu Philippines and Gencars are offering hefty discounts on all variants to celebrate the milestone of 300K units sold in the country. This is such great value for money. But promo prices are good only while supply lasts. So call Gencars Sales right now at 8893 1674 and 8893 8913. Or e-mail them at isuzugencarsmakati@gmail.com/sales@isuzu-gencars.com.ph or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. And if you’re outside the Metro, Gencars has half a dozen branches to serve you.
Are you one of those who need to be among the first to buy a flatscreen TV, from LCD to Plasma to HD to OLED? Not me…I wait for the technology to settle and for the price to drop. Neither am I a fan of the latest iPhone or Android device. If it ain’t broke…why replace it?
And so with nary a sideways glance at a spy photo or YouTube vid of its kid bro, I got myself a brand spanking new D-Max with its DNA of durability and dependability. Forget the mad scramble for the latest this, the latest that. Many years from now, I will decide…to pass on my D-Max to my son or to cash in on its high resale value…for the end in view of treating myself to another Isuzu.
Hmm…maybe the mu-X next time around.