Here I thought that “MT SUV” was going to be your license plate for it, showing how you are just like everyone else on the road with a full size SUV with nothing in it.
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:lol: Well why shouldn’t I haul 5000 pounds of steel with me to get to work? It’s the American way!
Blah. Something’s got to give. We’re keeping her Protege because it’s reliable, paid for, and probably not worth much with 2 accidents on its carfax.
So we need something big enough to be useful, reliable, safe, and 4 wheel drive. Sounds like MAYBE an FJ or CR-V, or something automatic.
I have taken my FJ offroad a few times, got it scratched up. But for the most part it is my DD. I feel in no way I am a “mall crawler” with it. If your looking for a used one let me know, I will keep my eyes open on the forums.
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How is it on the highway? Wind noise? Does it “wander”? How’s the back seat? Would 2 adults be cramped?
Unless she starts driving to Springville this winter and it’s really hairy, we won’t do anything till next summer. But I’ll let you know. Thanks!
Didn’t know Escapes came in 5-speeds, but I guess they do.
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Wrong wheel drive only. Besides, getting her to drive an auto would be an easier fight than getting her to drive a Ford. I can’t seem to convince her that not all Fords are the piece of crap money pits that my '92 F150 was. :lol:
Get the FJ, it will probably hold value better than anything else you can get.
You are getting an SUV for house projects its not like you are building houses for a living, you can get 2x4s at home depot and drive down the street with them hanging out. Coming from a Jetta the FJ will have plenty of room with the seat down.
And they are fucking hot. $350 gets you a skyjacker 2.5 inch suspension lift :tspry:
If you’ve never had the rear 1/2 doors before, I suggest you find a dealer who’ll let you test drive for the day. Take it shopping, and see if you can live with them. I had them in my last truck, a Ranger extended cab, and HATED them. The problem is when ever there is a car parked next to you having both doors open basically creates a cubicle, and normally there isn’t room for you and a shopping cart in that cubicle.
It’s too bad because other than that I really like the FJ. That was just a terrible design decision.
my FJ doesnt wander even though I have Mickey Thompson MTZ’s. On a trip to Maine I averaged 19mpg. I have some wind noise but thats going to happen if you have factory roof rack without an air dam. The back doors are a pain in parking lots but I hardly use them (just my wife and I, and the dog) The blind spot are there but just get the lil mirrors for the sides and the blind spots disappear.
oh and the back seat is fine once your in, again this isnt really geared for being a people carrier, although it has soo many friggin cupholders in the front and back lol. But mine also has 110V in the back =)
i believe the x runners only come 2wd, also, the fj has disgusting sub 20 mpg highway and the manual version is very notchy and harsh to drive (the tranny clunks if you put it in second too fast and i drive the brand new ones at northtown toyota every day.)
She’d might go for option 1 if it’s this. But then I’d be worried about her kicking the brake with her clutch foot in an emergency maneuver in the snow after 9 years of only driving stick.