4x4 Headache

Bluefoam

I'm currently living in the desert & drive a Toyota FJ Cruiser with a 2.5" lift, big tyres & Lightbar on the roof... Its a bit of fun, coz occassionally we do bring our cars into the sand for a bit of dune bashing...


I went into the Ford Dealer at lunch today & saw this guy... 2012 (new), €25,000, free one years insurance, 3 years free servicing, 5 year warranty, with 6" suspension kit... 5 ltr engine & locking diff...


How do I stop myself... I swore my next car wouldn't happen till 2015!

ba_barabus

You'll look like a hillbilly

Bluefoam

ba_barabus wrote: »

You'll look like a hillbilly

Exactly... Can't take yourself too seriously out here

wesf

Jeez that thing is hideous

mfceiling

Have you no larger pictures OP?

Supergurrier

Go for it.

wexie

Bluefoam wrote: »

How do I stop myself... I swore my next car wouldn't happen till 2015!

Easy, just remind yourself it's Ford....

Yawlboy

If you can afford it then do it, you only live once. :cool:

Bluefoam

I just realised, you don't get the scale of this thing in the photos... I'm 6'3" & the bonnet is up to my shoulder.

wexie

Bluefoam wrote: »

I just realised, you don't get the scale of this thing in the photos... I'm 6'3" & the bonnet is up to my shoulder.

:eek:

What size tires are on it?

It looks big in the pictures but the bonnet at your shoulder?!!!

Bluefoam

Didn't check the size of the tyres, but they are knobbly mud tyres probably 315x17x315

Max Power1

I want one.


Like, seriously.

.....

(I think I may have been a deep south resident in a past life)

_Kaiser_

I like it to be honest .. you only live once and at least you'll be able to enjoy it out there by the sound of it.

Get a different colour and you can pretend you're this guy...




Even more impressive as well is the package being offered with it - free year's insurance, 5 year warranty, 3 year free servicing.... we can only dream of getting that sort of back-up here

Bluefoam

Colt Seavers, my childhood hero!

_Kaiser_

Bluefoam wrote: »

Colt Seavers, my childhood hero!

Decision made so!

Bigus

If Egypt keeps goin the way it is you might need the money for a flight home to get away from Middle East , stick, to the toyota.

Bluefoam

visual

You will not get a lot of love from general motorist for lifted 4x4s

I be more inclined to lift your toyota higher bigger tires etc... to make it more capable.

Bluefoam

visual wrote: »

You will not get a lot of love from general motorist for lifted 4x4s

Thanks for the input visual, however, you have to realise that where I am living there are much different requirements from a car than back home in Ireland.

1. Drivers are crazy and many lack basic driving skills - you buy a big car to protect yourself from others
2. Your car here is a big part of your entertainment, as it can reach 56 degrees, so outdoor pursuits are limited
3. Petrol & Tax are cheap, it is possible to run a car like this for comparatively little

A car like this may not get a lot of love from general motorists, but it will interest many car enthusiasts (such as you would find on boards motors section), remember, it wont be long before cars like this are a thing of the past & while they don't make sense for Irish roads, they still make some sense here... It is something I have embraced and enjoy the novelty of driving ridiculous cars... because its fun & I'm taking the opportunity while its there!

I have considered trying to get my hands on an Alfa 4C, but I'm not sure I'd get as much fun out of it here as I would on the twisties back home & the cost of it would be too much...

pete4130

I'd stick with the Cruiser. The other thing will be so big and heavy on sand/dunes that it might struggle compared to how the FJ will handle things. I know the big 4x4 outguns the FJ with power and ride height but the thing must be so long compared to the FJ. I can see it getting stuck on the top of dunes with its poor ramping angle.

Scortho

Bluefoam wrote: »

I just realised, you don't get the scale of this thing in the photos... I'm 6'3" & the bonnet is up to my shoulder.

How long is your bloody neck. Jesus that thingust be massive.
Chap near me goes across the Sahara every Christmas in a modified land rover defender (or used to until the Arab spring) and the thing is like a tank.

I'd buy it. What's the resale value like on it, would it make more sense to buy one second hand and put the rest towards an alfa 4c?

Anan1

Bluefoam wrote: »

A car like this may not get a lot of love from general motorists, but it will interest many car enthusiasts (such as you would find on boards motors section)

I don't think so. The handling is too poor for that to be of interest to anyone but off-road enthusiasts.

Scortho

Anan1 wrote: »

I don't think so. The handling is too poor for that to be of interest to anyone but off-road enthusiasts.

Which is what he'll be using it for.
More sense than the mammies buying an SUV for the school run. :pac:

If I had a big desert beside me, I'd be very tempted to buy one of these.

Anan1

Scortho wrote: »

Which is what he'll be using it for.
More sense than the mammies buying an SUV for the school run. :pac:

If I had a big desert beside me, I'd be very tempted to buy one of these.

My point is that he'd be better off posting in the off-road subforum.

Bluefoam

pete4130 wrote: »

I'd stick with the Cruiser. The other thing will be so big and heavy on sand/dunes that it might struggle compared to how the FJ will handle things. I know the big 4x4 outguns the FJ with power and ride height but the thing must be so long compared to the FJ. I can see it getting stuck on the top of dunes with its poor ramping angle.

You are dead right... The FJ is king of the dunnes - even in standard kit. You have to drive the bollox out of an F150 in the sand, but it just adds to the fun. It takes a different type of mentality, coz in Ireland you grow up with the attitude that cars a precious and should be looked after and coddled... Out here we take them into the dunes and drive them like we stole them - it freaks me out still!

Bluefoam

Anan1 wrote: »

My point is that he'd be better off posting in the off-road subforum.

But its my commuter...

You may not like it, but I'm enjoying getting feedback from fellow car people back home. You continue to enjoy your prius.

wexie

I'm with Pete on this one, the Ford is a lovely truck and looks like it'll be heaps of fun.But the FJ just seems more practical in many ways. Even if it's just cause you might want to carry passengers sometime. (or go on an extended trip, one of my cousins used to drive down to Oman for camping trips, but he had an old beatup and modified Patrol for it,long range tanks, water tank etc.)

If you're not happy with the FJ's performance offroad I'd say there are any number of places near you that would just be delighted to solve that for you.

Either way, tis not a bad dilemma to have . Even if you could find trucks like that here they'd be far too expensive to run and there really aren't any places you could have quite so much fun with them. But I'm sure you know all that so enjoy it while you're there

Scortho

Anan1 wrote: »

My point is that he'd be better off posting in the off-road subforum.

Ah right apologies.
That would make more sense alright.

Bluefoam

wexie wrote: »

I'm with Pete on this one, the Ford is a lovely truck and looks like it'll be heaps of fun.But the FJ just seems more practical in many ways. Even if it's just cause you might want to carry passengers sometime. (or go on an extended trip, one of my cousins used to drive down to Oman for camping trips, but he had an old beatup and modified Patrol for it,long range tanks, water tank etc.)

If you're not happy with the FJ's performance offroad I'd say there are any number of places near you that would just be delighted to solve that for you.

Either way, tis not a bad dilemma to have . Even if you could find trucks like that here they'd be far too expensive to run and there really aren't any places you could have quite so much fun with them. But I'm sure you know all that so enjoy it while you're there

I do the odd camping trip to Oman, great fun. Planning a big road-trip, that requires going off-road for the last 20km or so... up to a coastal area... bring snorkels, some booze and chill on the beach for a couple of days...

Anan1

Bluefoam wrote: »

But its my commuter...

It's still a truck.

Bluefoam wrote: »

You may not like it, but I'm enjoying getting feedback from fellow car people back home. You continue to enjoy your prius.

I couldn't care less either way, I just thought that you might get more informed advice in the off-road forum. Where did you get the idea that I drive a Prius?

wexie

Bluefoam wrote: »

I do the odd camping trip to Oman, great fun. Planning a big road-trip, that requires going off-road for the last 20km or so... up to a coastal area... bring snorkels, some booze and chill on the beach for a couple of days...

ooooh nice, I turned out a job out there last year, seriously starting to rethink it these days. Would hate to get rid of the dog though and he definitely wouldn't do well out there. When we had our 'heatwave' he wasn't great. 50 degrees would just murder the poor fecker.

Bluefoam

Anan1 wrote: »

It's still a truck.

I couldn't care less either way, I just thought that you might get more informed advice in the off-road forum.

Thanks Anan1, I'm not really looking for advice, just having an ould chat about cars... trucks whatever.

Anan1 wrote: »

Where did you get the idea that I drive a Prius?

Just winding you up, cheers, I appreciate your feedback.

I think I've talked myself down from buying the F150 anyway... My real goal is to get through the next two years, then pick up the new Alfa Spider if its worth while... I do miss drivers cars, but there's not much fun in them on the highways here.

Bluefoam

wexie wrote: »

ooooh nice, I turned out a job out there last year, seriously starting to rethink it these days.

There's pluses & minuses like all things in life. It's definitely worth the experience... The big question is how long you'd want to stay... and what car you want to drive

Delta Kilo

I lived in America for a while.

Lots of friends there had massive trucks, Dodge Rams, Ford F250s, Silverados etc. I initially thought they were just obnoxious, impractical beasts of things. THe bonnet was above my head on most of them. (One had to turn off the engine at Drive throughs because all the person on the other end could hear was the engine)

But when you see it from their perspective, you understand it more. Why not have a big truck? It makes them happy, it is their choice. I drove one of them, it is quite phenomenal, the power, the ride height etc, very impressive. Yes they spent a fortune on gas and the repair bill was excessive too. But they can afford it, they worked hard to earn their money so they enjoy it. Just like some people buy a nice expensive watch that they never wear.

I think the person who stated that he should stick with the Toyota because of the issue in Egypt and may need the money for flights sums up the attitude that a majority of irish seem to have regarding cars. Largely ill-informed and ignorant. Not everyone wants a motor that will give them 100MPG and taxed for peanuts, some people use their car for satisfaction.

My 2 cents, your money OP, your decision. Go for it.

Bluefoam

Delta Kilo wrote: »

I lived in America for a while.

Lots of friends there had massive trucks, Dodge Rams, Ford F250s, Silverados etc. I initially thought they were just obnoxious, impractical beasts of things. THe bonnet was above my head on most of them. (One had to turn off the engine at Drive throughs because all the person on the other end could hear was the engine)

But when you see it from their perspective, you understand it more. Why not have a big truck? It makes them happy, it is their choice. I drove one of them, it is quite phenomenal, the power, the ride height etc, very impressive. Yes they spent a fortune on gas and the repair bill was excessive too. But they can afford it, they worked hard to earn their money so they enjoy it. Just like some people buy a nice expensive watch that they never wear.

I think the person who stated that he should stick with the Toyota because of the issue in Egypt and may need the money for flights sums up the attitude that a majority of irish seem to have regarding cars. Largely ill-informed and ignorant. Not everyone wants a motor that will give them 100MPG and taxed for peanuts, some people use their car for satisfaction.

My 2 cents, your money OP, your decision. Go for it.

Thanks, well put, but the point is that these cars cost about the same as a well spec'ed Ford Focus in Ireland and probably cost less to run. They are very accessible, good fun & just suit my needs.

_Kaiser_

Ignore the begrudgers Bluefoam and just go for it - like I said before you only live once

Trying to compare this truck and the environment it'll be used in (geographical and cost-wise) to life here where the 2L-or-less "cheap" tax diesel is king is like trying to compare apples and oranges.

Sounds like a good deal to me with what is being included and great fun to be had as well. It's like me buying a "big" 3L A6 on the old tax system doesn't "make sense" either, but it still brings a smile to my face every time I put the foot down

Go for it man! But respray it like the Fall Guy truck! :P

Eric Cartman

as an f150 enthusiast I have to say it seems like your only option at this point, it wont stop haunting your mind until you buy it. I think you know what to do.

Renegade Mechanic

Why cant we have things like that over here...:(

Eric Cartman

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Why cant we have things like that over here...:(

I dont know, Id buy an F150 Platinum with the 5 litre V8 in the morning if I could, run it on LPG, for some reason no manufacturer thinks we need pickups that large, when in reality we do.

wexie

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Why cant we have things like that over here...:(

cause petrol /diesel is very expensive, road tax would be a killer, you'd have to re-mortgage the house for insurance and sell a kidney every time you need new tires.

And parking.....

(which reminds me, why is there no crying smiley on boards?)

Renegade Mechanic

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I dont know, Id buy an F150 Platinum with the 5 litre V8 in the morning if I could, run it on LPG, for some reason no manufacturer thinks we need pickups that large, when in reality we do.

We really do! Think of how safe we would be if we all had one!

wexie

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I dont know, Id buy an F150 Platinum with the 5 litre V8 in the morning if I could, run it on LPG, for some reason no manufacturer thinks we need pickups that large, when in reality we do.

Need?

Having said that, my toy is a 3.5td vintage Range Rover, which, while not a F150 of FJ cruiser is still lots of fun. And for Irish taxes etc somewhat more practical.

Couldn't say I NEED it though....(don't tell the missus I said that she thinks we're in terrible danger up being snowed in or flooded)

But I guess sometimes it's not about what you need, but what you want