Damn, I know what my next car will be.

My sister lives in the Appalachians and drove a 1979 Land Cruiser for years.  (I LOVE that name.)  It was a big no-frills monster, and a true off-road vehicle--come to think of it, that's the only real off-road vehicle I've ever been in--and you'd bounce around in it like a marble in a helmet.  Although we never tried it, I am morally certain that thing could have climbed a tree.

George Orr wrote:

My sister lives in the Appalachians and drove a 1979 Land Cruiser for years.  (I LOVE that name.)  It was a big no-frills monster, and a true off-road vehicle--come to think of it, that's the only real off-road vehicle I've ever been in--and you'd bounce around in it like a marble in a helmet.  Although we never tried it, I am morally certain that thing could have climbed a tree.

Land Rovers CAN climb trees.

I feel compelled to say; that sure sounds like some group's [fill in the blank] rhetoric, fnord.

First new vehicle I bought was a 1974 Hilux. Rode it hard and put it away wet for 9 years. Still had the original clutch!

fortinbras wrote:

Damn, I know what my next car will be.

Yeah but where in the States can I get a diesel version?

And Square, nothing on heaven and earth will ever make a GM produced car worthwhile. Those things are hopeless I just rented a Chevy blazer and it was the worst car bar none I have driven since the mid 1980s.

I just pulled my mid 1990s Toyota 4 runner out of a 8 year mothball and have started driving it again. The thing didn't even need a tuneup. Even the gas in the tank ran good. Body on Frame sure works well for durability. In fact I think I will have it repainted. It only lacks an airbag. I wonder if I can retrofit it with one in a new  steering wheel?

Last edited by Johnny_Rotten (2010-10-17 21:37:24)

SilverSmythe wrote:

When I went to Destert Storm, the Saudi government gave my unit several Range Rovers and Land Cruisers.

Force multiplying + field expediency

Doing your job.

Johnny_Rotten wrote:

I just pulled my mid 1990s Toyota 4 runner out of a 8 year mothball and have started driving it again. The thing didn't even need a tuneup. Even the gas in the tank ran good. Body on Frame sure works well for durability. In fact I think I will have it repainted. It only lacks an airbag. I wonder if I can retrofit it with one in a new  steering wheel?

Hopefully that is a post 1996 version.  Otherwise watch out for a cracked head.  Those early 90's V6's weren't up to the task of hauling the bodies around.

My first car was a 1992 4Runner.  Had two heads go bad in it and then finally the old man traded it for a 1997 that had the upgraded engine in it.

ack, y'all are brainwashed.

It's all generational; pre-1980 Japan produced nothing but trash.  Post 2000 you should have bought a Hyundai or a Ford.  In between it was Toyo and Honda all the way.

Generations are obliged to become fanatical about brands - regardless of the value or quality.  So todays dominant generation is in love with Jap cars regardless of how shitty they have become; just as their parents loved Detroit.

Fact in point; the new Caddy Coupe is the best Luxury coupe on the road regardless of perspective.  Still it won't get any love from this generation.

I love my diesel 1998 VW Jetta. I get an average of 48 mpg, can haul 4 adults and a ton of baggage, cruise along at 75 and the seats are very comfortable. It has just passed 280k miles and is looking like it will need it's first clutch and motor mounts.

It's the rules on visible smoke that kill the diesel in the US. NO visible smoke is the rule and diesels will always generate a small amount when operating efficiently. A gas car can put out 10 times as much noxious gasses, but they are all clear, and therefore don't piss off voters. But the new turbo direct injection motors are very efficient and burn very clean, even if they don't get as good a mileage due to the emissions restrictions.

I drove one of those 70's Landcruisers when I was living in Spain in the late 80's. It was unstoppable but you had to wear earplugs when driving it because it was like being rolled down a hill in a steel drum. The clutch was also very finicky, often requiring double clutching to go 2-3 because the synchros never really caught up.

Tall Paul wrote:

Most people in Japan trade in cars every ten years because of the strict safety inspection regime. Although the law has loosened up a bit recently, and hard economic times make folks want to squeeze a few more years out of their wheels, cars are no built to last very long over here.

True and the fun irony is that there is a large sub-culture of American youth that worship all things JDM.

Where are you anyway?

ほんとうに ?

I've never been to Osaka, however I have lived in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Okinawa.


What the fuck are you doing in the land of "Great Prejudice and Racism"?