Although the Isuzu may not have the image of the better known off-roaders, a Trooper has masses of real off-road credibility and, most important, ability.On and off the tarmac, it performs strongly and confidently. The diesel engines are very strong, and the petrol V6 is certainly very nippy. In practical terms, it is hard to fault because there is definitely more room inside a Trooper than, say, an old-model Discovery. OK, so it may not be as pretty as the shapely Shogun, but it ought to be a lot more affordable. Even so, the Trooper has always held its value well and has not been subject to the recent fashion fluctuations in the 4×4 market.While it is not the cheapest new 4×4 option, a well-looked-after Trooper is always the wise buy. Running costs are a tad higher than for similar sized 4×4s, but that might just explain why a properly maintained Trooper is all but indestructible.A brick shaped Trooper from the early 1990s will cost about £5,000, while an X-registered example is £14,995.A car for the heartThere’s no shortage of basic but well-equipped off-roaders from the Far and the Near East.

The cost of the vehicle alone, once the rand exchange-rate had been calculated, was more than £20,000.However, Intercar (020-8203 3399)‚ which has been in the business of bringing unusual Japanese cars to the UK for more than 20 years, could do better. All these problems can be overcome (there are specialist insurers, and there are warranty companies who will offer cover for unique vehicles), but they will raise costs.In South Africa, I found a company willing to sell a Condor. Simon Lerner had never been asked for a Condor before, but reckoned he could supply it for about £14,000 plus taxes. In the UK, we have the smallish RAV4 and the largeish Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Condor would fit somewhere in between.

Toyota UK were interested to learn from us that the Condor existed, but confirmed that there are no plans to import it.The problem with such an unusual import is that there won’t be a manufacturer’s warranty, insurance will be higher and servicing parts may be difficult to find. Jenny Jewell has just returned from a holiday in South Africa, where she had a great time driving a Toyota Condor. She found this 4×4 to be just the right size, at seven seats, and liked its no-nonsense Tonka Toy styling and remarkably clear dashboard. Indeed, Jenny liked it so much that she wonders whether it would be possible to import one into the UK. If not, what are the alternatives?
Outside South Africa – or Indonesia, where it is built – few people have heard of the Condor.