TheProfessor47 just posted this at the Cohort. Here’s his comment: I was in West LA yesterday and stopped at a stoplight when I looked to my left and had quite a shock. Sitting right next to me was a pristine Isuzu Stylus, only the second or third one I can remember seeing in my life. Not only was it a Stylus, but it got even better: It was a Stylus XS, with a twin-cam engine and “Handling by Lotus.” I don’t know how many of these there are left in the US, but I would guess a number in the low hundreds.
Another assembled for Isuzu offering they had the suspension by Lotus on nearly everything but the rebadged Subaru legacy they sold. Or is that something actually from Isuzu coz it looks very Mitsu to me.
I’m pretty sure the Stylus was a homebrewed Isuzu (though now that you mention it, I also see a Mitsubishi influence to the design.) The Stylus also shared much with the Isuzu Impulse/Geo Storm of the same era, including engines and the dashboard.
The last JDM Isuzu Askas were rebadged Legacys.
This was Isuzu’s last attempt at a car, before deciding to switch over entirely to trucks (in the US market, anyway). It was announced, a few were sold, and then they suddenly announced that they were leaving the car market completely. I seem to remember that it wasn’t all that highly thought of. Definitely remember Consumer Reports downgrading the car rather severely.
I read that comparo too. As I recall, they complimented its handling and agility quite a bit, while ragging on the buzzy engine, noisy cabin, hard ride etc.
One of the enthusiast mags tested one too, and said that while it went like hell for its time and segment, apparently sounded like it would shake itself apart in the process.
My wife has a 1991 Isuzu Stylus XS without the Lotus Suspension and has approximately 296,845 miles and still runs great. Need help finding lens covers for tail lights and new headlight assembly even slightly used ones. is there anyone out there that can help out.
thanks
John J. Christensen
Georgetown Delaware
Go to isuzone.org mate and ask some of them. They may help you.
If she ever decides to get rid of it, let me know.
She had the 1991 with the Lotus suspension when we were dating.
I want to rebuild one for my wife for our 20th anniversary.
Thanks.
Hi ken man, actually i’m looking to get rid of i t, i bought it from y brother in law! , he had burnt out the cluctch, so i took it and had the clutch replaced,& i were driving it & came to a stop and went puff & i could’ nt get it started. A friend of mine said it was the ignition module! I am liiking to sell it, you can call me, sherri (323) 396-3240! Thanks for your feed bk.!
I’ve got one for sale it’s an Xs with the lotus handling
My wife owned a 1991 Isuzu Stylus exactly like the one pictured right down to the same paint color.
It came with the Lotus suspension on it. I remember it had the Lotus suspension name badge right on the glove box. The car itself was actually a great ride.
I am trying to find one for sale for her now so that I can get it for her, fix it up and present it as an anniversary present.
If anyone has any leads on one, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I had a friend who had a 1991 MY of one for over 10 years until he sold it off.
Although it was a bit ratty looking, it had over 170K and never really gave him any problems until the end when the trans was beginning to implode!
Had Geo kept going with the Spectrum after 1989 in their lineup , this would have been the next generation of that car.
I have either never seen one of these before, or just never cared to notice them.
This was what the Saturn was supposed to look like. GM ultimately went with a later styling proposal, one which would’ve made sense for a smaller cousin to the GM10 Cutlass Supreme, and gave the original shape to Isuzu.
Interesting that this is the B reel Saturn S series. My 1st thought when I saw this pic was that it sure has a strong resemblance to one.
A Stylus for sure. I had its brother/cousin/whatever, the Impulse in both XS and RS forms.
That 4 banger can rev all the way up to 7800 RPM (and sounds great at that) and the thing is very fun to drive.
During my mercifully short career in car sales (1990-91), the Buick-Isuzu dealer was right down the road from our Olds-Honda-GMC store. They typically would have 3 or 4 Stylii, a couple Impulses (the GEO Storm twin), a few Troopers, half a dozen pickups, and a buttload of Rodeos.
I never drove a Stylus, but thought it was a pretty nice car. I have, however, driven a few Storms. Scary. Acres of cheap-looking, smelly plastic.
I remember when we were looking for a good Civic for the daughter in about 1994. Civics were hard to find, but every car lot had one or two Geo Storms.
Its interesting how Isuzu faded from the USDM market for Cars and Light Trucks like the other B-List Japanese OEMS like Suzuki and Mitsubishi while they dominate the Commercial Low Cab Forward Truck market.
I’ve never seen one, and I never even knew these existed. I remember the GEO Storm, but even those are very rare nowadays.
That’s because I don’t think they even had a six month model year before Isuzu dropped cars.
Disappearing C-pillar …
Sold in Ireland as the Isuzu Gemini, by the Isuzu truck importer, who also sold the diesel version of the Aska ( which was the best diesel car available at the time). Maybe only diesel Geminis were sold also, as GM had control of Isuzu by then, and would not want petrol models to compete with Opel ( who had no diesel engines yet, and wouldn’t have a decent diesel engine for many years to come).
My parents still have a 91 XS in perfect condition. It looks just like the one in the picture. I never understood why they didn’t sell better at the time. For what it was it was a pretty decent and fun car.
I used to own one of these Stylus XS blue, spoiler and 5 speed manual. I used to race it spinning the motor way down to 8,000 rpm in second gear= 50 mph before shifting. Fastest I drove was 115mph on I 95 heading towards Miami. Took it with me to Chicago and it lasted me that summer before she became too unreliable to keep, so I traded her at 133,000 miles after 5 years ownership. A few weeks after, someone told me they saw it at a used car dealer, and sure enough, there she was. I started her one last time.This was the only stick shift I owned, and she was sooo much fun!!!
I’ve still got a running XS, with 245000 miles on it. Its still a blast to drive w/ lotus susp. And still gets 33mpg with the 1.6l. Not one rip in the seats, still perfect. Always garage kept. Its just to easy to maintain, just but tires for it. Mark
White XS 1991 model
I bought mine new out of the showroom and still have it. It’s got 165k on her, white stylusXS, just going to put her up for sale.