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An expert makes it look easy. I have always been in awe around those who know how to fish. It looks easy. Take a pole, some sting, and cast a lure into the water. Some bring up a trophy bass I bring up a wet lure. Now I may look like a fisherman. I have my fishing hat, and to most people I look like I ought to know how to catch fish. Unfortunately it takes more than looking good to reel in the big ones. Building a really good SUV is similar. Some automakers take a pickup truck and replace the bed with a passenger box and they have an instant SUV. It looks like it can get the job done but many of these companies simply don't have the experience to build an outstanding off road people hauling vehicle. Isuzu actually knows how to build an SUV. They have had the fun Rodeo for some time but when it came time to build a large seven passenger SUV that can handle a large boat, they decided to go fishing with their partners at General Motors. After all, the Chevrolet Suburban has been the standard in whale sized people haulers since the beginning of SUV time. Using their experience, they have a successful Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL platform to share with the new Isuzu Ascender. Recently Shane Voyles and I hooked up to tow a Skeeter Bass Boat with the 2003 Isuzu Ascender from Jack Miller Isuzu Marine. Now Shane looks like a fisherman because as a professional bass fisherman his Isuzu Ascender and bass boat is wrapped in graphics advertising his sponsors Price Chopper, Jack Miller Marine, Dannon Yogurt, Yahama and Pure Fishing. The Boat, a 21ft Skeeter powered by a 250 HP Yamaha can skim the water at 85 MPH and made me feel like I was at the racetrack. So we had the look and the equipment, but could we catch the fish? Our journey started at Jack Miller Isuzu Marine in North Kansas City where headed to Smithville Lake. The 2003 Isuzu Ascender is a well-refined large SUV capable of hauling a family of seven to the grocery store or a weekend fishing trip. With 7,200 pounds towing capacity it handled our 21-foot boat and equipment like it wasn't behind us. This Limited version of the Ascender had it all including heated leather seats with separate back heating controls. Because I was busy putting pressure on Shane by telling him that if we didn't catch big fish, not to worry, I would just tell everyone on the radio show and everybody here in the paper that he couldn't catch fish, we really did not crank up the Premium Bose audio system. This Isuzu not only looks the part of a well-equipped SUV with room for everything and every body, it has a heart and soul that has been tested off road. The four-wheel drive system is well protected by skid plates protecting the transfer case, differential, steering linkage and fuel tank, so this baby travels wherever you point it. In addition to the basic 3/50 bumper-to-bumper warranty, power train and roadside assistance is extended to seven years or seventy five thousand miles. Of course because the basic structure is similar to the experienced General Motors models you can be assured that this is a well-tested platform. As Shane and I tested the waters in Parkville I was reminded that it is nice to look good but looks are no substitute for experience and ability. In less than two hours we caught the big ones including one over five pounds. As Shane pulled in the first of many trophy sized bass I stood in awe of how important skill and experience really is even in a sport like fishing. Shane has over twenty thousand trouble free miles on his sponsorship six cylinder Isuzu Ascender and while it does the trick even in the hills of Arkansas, he was pleased with the power of the big 5.3 V8 that we took on this trip. Together we agreed that the 2003 Isuzu Ascender Limited 4x4 is a "keeper". The styling, power, refinement, and equipment all will make you look like an expert working in this vehicle. But whether you use it for a work truck, recreation, or as a daily family driver this will make it look easy. It's up to you to be the expert.
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©2003 - Stan Risener