Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

Not allowed or stolen?

Not allowed.
Diesel is a subsidized fuel (actually the cheapest one) and therefore only for commercial and utilitarian vehicles, so I can't buy a hatchback, or a sedan or an estate with a diesel engine, but nothing is stopping me from daily driving a pickup or a Jeep since SUVs are Sport Utility Vehicles, they get a pass...:rolleyes:
 
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After having driven in Texas with both the Fairlane (Power?) and a 1995 Chevy G20 van (no power) I think I'm pretty comfortable in saying that there are places were 300+ horsepower or more (depending on vehicle weight) is absolutely necessary.


Obviously, I survived driving that POS van, but rarely have I been more scared in a vehicle then when I had to pull out into Texas traffic driving that shamefully slow excuse of a v8. (van probably had the 200 hp L05, and weighed too much)
 
Actually, this reminds me - I was in Montana a few weeks ago and the house I stayed at was on a small dead end dirt road. The main road has a speed limit of 60mph so everyone drives 70mph on it and it's one lane in each direction. Imagine having to turn onto that road from a stop sign - cars are gaining on you very fast and there's no lane for them to pass. I had to floor the 300hp rental Explorer every time and always cursed it for being too slow.
 
How do you merge in front of a semi-truck that's doing 75mph with no power?

They're legislatively limited to 80km/h and can do 90km/h at best against the limiter. And I've done my share of short ramp merges.
 
Actually, this reminds me - I was in Montana a few weeks ago and the house I stayed at was on a small dead end dirt road. The main road has a speed limit of 60mph so everyone drives 70mph on it and it's one lane in each direction. Imagine having to turn onto that road from a stop sign - cars are gaining on you very fast and there's no lane for them to pass. I had to floor the 300hp rental Explorer every time and always cursed it for being too slow.

You mean all 5 cars that exist in Montana :p
 
I'm starting to get more and more worried about my Jeep making it through the winter. I don't know why, but over the last few weeks, the rust has increased tenfold and I haven't even been driving it. Its not just the rust spreading from known issue areas either (like the rockers), but its starting to pop up all over under the paint. I have some above my doors, on my quarter panels, roof line, pillars and a bunch of other places that didn't seem to have a problem just a few weeks ago. Not sure why all of a sudden this started happening. My wheels also just started rusting at the weld seem, and of course they're 4ish months out of warranty. Combined with the findings Rick is making on his XJ, I'm thinking I should dump the thing sooner than later too. I did check various suspension mount points and at least they still look and feel solid.

Question becomes, what do I replace it with?

A buddy of mine just bought himself a 2nd gen Lexus IS as a winter beater (after considering E46 M3s, E9x 328/335s, W203 C55s, W211 E55s and a bunch of others). At first I made fun of him a bunch for it, but then it got me thinking that at least temporarily, it might not be the dumbest thing in the world. I started searching for them on my local CL, but a few of these came up so I changed gear because I didn't think I could get them so cheap.....


https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/1999-lexus-lx-470-california/6340899125.html
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2000-lexus-lx-470-4wd-1-owner/6337988958.html

LCG did mention to me that the V8s had crummy timing belts, but this 6s had a chain. This is the only 6 I could find locally though :(
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/d/97-lexus-lx450-suv-truck/6344931075.html


This one would be the best (obviously... minus the sticker on the hood), but its out of my hypothetical price range
https://saginaw.craigslist.org/cto/d/1996-lexus-lx450-landcruiser/6339318625.html

EDIT: Just found this one. Would love to have that setup, but that mileage is scaring me off
https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fj/6304627817.html
 
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How about an RX for it to be slightly closer to the XJ?
 
How about an RX for it to be slightly closer to the XJ?

Being close to the XJ is not a worry of mine. I'd rather have something I want but drastically different then something similar but meh. And the RX is meh in my book.

That and Land Cruisers are fucking awesome.
 
I'm starting to get more and more worried about my Jeep making it through the winter. I don't know why, but over the last few weeks, the rust has increased tenfold and I haven't even been driving it. Its not just the rust spreading from known issue areas either (like the rockers), but its starting to pop up all over under the paint. I have some above my doors, on my quarter panels, roof line, pillars and a bunch of other places that didn't seem to have a problem just a few weeks ago. Not sure why all of a sudden this started happening. My wheels also just started rusting at the weld seem, and of course they're 4ish months out of warranty. Combined with the findings Rick is making on his XJ, I'm thinking I should dump the thing sooner than later too. I did check various suspension mount points and at least they still look and feel solid.

Question becomes, what do I replace it with?

A buddy of mine just bought himself a 2nd gen Lexus IS as a winter beater (after considering E46 M3s, E9x 328/335s, W203 C55s, W211 E55s and a bunch of others). At first I made fun of him a bunch for it, but then it got me thinking that at least temporarily, it might not be the dumbest thing in the world. I started searching for them on my local CL, but a few of these came up so I changed gear because I didn't think I could get them so cheap.....


https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/1999-lexus-lx-470-california/6340899125.html
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2000-lexus-lx-470-4wd-1-owner/6337988958.html

LCG did mention to me that the V8s had crummy timing belts, but this 6s had a chain. This is the only 6 I could find locally though :(
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/d/97-lexus-lx450-suv-truck/6344931075.html


This one would be the best (obviously... minus the sticker on the hood), but its out of my hypothetical price range
https://saginaw.craigslist.org/cto/d/1996-lexus-lx450-landcruiser/6339318625.html

EDIT: Just found this one. Would love to have that setup, but that mileage is scaring me off
https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fj/6304627817.html

Look at the Nissan side of this perhaps? They tend to be cheaper because they don't have same rep.
 
Does it have to be an SUV? What about the bug eye Impreza?
 
They?re not that bad!

- every Subaru owner I?ve talked to.
 
They?re not that bad!

- every Subaru owner I?ve talked to.

They have a point! $80ish for a gasket set with bolts and seals! Totally not too bad.

Now install it........

I doubt you'll find anything interesting and reliable that's AWD/4WD. Is FWD off the table?

How is a Land Cruiser/LX450 not interesting or reliable?

The IS my buddy got is RWD. Wouldn't be against that given good snow tires.
 
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I doubt you'll find anything interesting and reliable that's AWD/4WD. Is FWD off the table?

Xterras are quite fun ;) (and reliable)

- - - Updated - - -

They have a point! $80ish for a gasket set with bolts and seals! Totally not too bad.

Now install it........



How is a Land Cruiser/LX450 not interesting or reliable?

The IS my buddy got is RWD. Wouldn't be against that given good snow tires.
What about a pick up from your employer?
 

Go away


A coworker has one of those with 280k miles. Still don't want to deal with the head gaskets.


Needs more VK45DE.


Scammy and lacks a VK45DE.


Sweet photo brah.


The goal is to get something less shitty than the XJ.


I was thinking about 4Runners and Lexus GXs. But Land Cruisers are more badass.



Yo dawg, I heard you hate having green in your wallet.



Needs more LS2


No


No


No

(I ran out of witticisms on those last 3)
 
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