User Reviews

3.2i V6 Auto Diamond 5dr (1996)

M Scriven

Overall Rating

Have owned my Vauxhall Monterey (Trooper) for over 6 years. Bought at 30k miles for the wife and now has 80k, the car has been 100% reliable. The best car bar none we have ever owned. Other than standard service items + tyres every 30-35K (Michelins are great on- and off-road; £100 each but worth it), nothing has been replaced. Plenty of elbow room unlike in the Disco. Driver electric window is a little slow but others all still work well. Leather seats are very comfortable and excellent quality and wipe clean, especially when the kids bring in/up anything (unlike the fake inferior quality door trim wood panelling which really sucks). Interior is a bit tacky/plasticky for a top of the range model though, but the two kids have not wrecked it yet. Full size 7 seats are great. Loadspace seems unbeatable in its class. Traction off-road is superb; select 4x4 and Low ratio and you feel like you can tackle alomost anything, a rival to any badge-conscious LR driver. Handling on road is sound but the Disco handles better with its permanent 4x4. Suffers occasional top end rattle but this does not affect running of the vehicle. Flush engine oil regularly and problem solved. Excellent motorway cruiser and will give a wallet busting 25mpg on a run! Average 22mpg. 0-60mph in about 10 seconds. Not bad for something that weighs about 2 tons. Regular oil changes are a must (at 6k to 7.5k for petrol engine) to keep the oilways clean. Air con just about handles the average British summer, stuggles at temps over 82F/28C. A car for those who can't afford a Disco or Range Rover, people say? I don't think so: it's the thinking man's/woman's Land Rover. It just keeps on going! Superb value for money. Good visibility, easy to park (you can see all the corners, but turning circle could be better). All the kit you need -6 CD player, e/w, ABS, a/c, etc etc. If you are after a relaible 4x4 my advice, go out and buy a Trooper or Vauxhall Monterey (not Frontera) today, and you won't regret it. Residual values are really poor so you can get a great car for little money. IMPORTANT - DO NOT BUY THE 3.0 DIESEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES from 1998 onward in the new shape, there appears to be a design fault with the engine + fuel system that can cause catastrophic engine failure. Mega bucks to fix! Dealers are NO HELP! and even though it should be fixed free of charge under warrenty, the dealers don't want to know! The older 3.1 TD however is VERY RELIABLE but requires oil chages every 4.5k miles. My next car will probably be a Trooper or BIGHORN 3.1 Diesel.