Faults:

This is all what I found after a trip to the mechanics after I purchased it for...$400!

Suspension shot.

Front end steering shot.

Leaf spring shackles blown.

Rust Rust Rust.

Bad oil leak.

Power steering pump is about to explode.

Air filter was wrong size.

Oil filter was wrong size.

No oil cap.

Rear dif has a leak.

Front dif sounds like a school bus.

Seats are worn down bad.

Smells like rubber, pee, and beer.

Front bumper has serious impact damage.

Front dome light doesn't work (prob no bulb)

Rear dome light works manually, won't turn on when you open the door.

Rear seat belts are un trustworthy.

Tires bald.

Axle bolt for the wheel has been broken off on driver's front, so it only has 5 out of six lugs.

Clutch catches real high.

4x4 high pops out when you begin to accelerate (prob bad fork)

Has no power up hills except in 4x4.

No highway power.

Brakes are very soft and front rotors and pads are glazed.

General Comments:

But...

The 4x4 works great and low gear is amazing.

When I get on the highway it gets to 75 but any kind of hill and it decelerates quickly. I'm hoping my recent tune up will help.

Adding 31' tires to 15x8 wheels.

A home made roof rack will appear soon also.

Its not a bad ride despite the complete loss of suspension, rocks and bumps throw you out of yer seat though.

The last Trooper I had was covered in rust and on the first off road adventure I busted the frame. I still drove it's listing hulk around for a year, but after the brakes went I sadly junked it. I love that little truck so much I cried when I walked away...seriously.

But now I have another one and something to work with, the rust isn't as bad and almost everything works!

These little guys are surprising gas guzlers! For such a small engine and standard transmission I would expect better, but maybe 10-12 miles to the gallon. Plus it has a 20 gallon tank.

If you are looking for a cheap rig or something to play around in get one of these! If you need a decent work truck get one of these! If you need something that will run all the time no matter what happens to it (maybe you're in college?) get one of these!

Faults:

Radiator just went bad in August 2003 at 129,000 miles.

Blown gasket in late winter of 2002 at 125,000 miles.

Engine hesitation started at 120,000 miles.

On Original clutch.

Second set of tires.

Stained and worn seats.

Exhaust replacement at 115,000 miles in 2000.

Heater core went bad along with the defroster at around 100,000 miles and was switched at about 125,000 miles.

Squealling sound when first started in a day.

Rear differential is bad and clunks, but the rear axle will be replaced after this vehicle hits 130,000 miles.

Brake pads on front have been switched 3 times since purchased and rear have been done twice.

It has been in at least four reported accidents.

General Comments:

Disk brakes on the front and drums on the rear.

Four door.

This is not a quick car and it is not the prettiest vehichle in the world, but I would definetly want to keep it until it is at the point where it cannot be fixed.

I grew up in this car.

My father actually bought it in 1986 and gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday two years ago.

I try to go off roading with this vehichle as often as possible, but there are not too many places to go off roading around where I live.

I love this car and will do whatever I can to keep it running.