Oh ... just humor the idiot - please

[Viggen]

I was thinking about the same thing. I was big into the offroad scene when I was in high school and college (read, had the disposable income and surely enough free time) but when I graduated, I got into cars for their ease of maneuverability, parking ease and better gas mileage and also started seriously biking. I discovered that the more I spent on a truck, the less money I had for my bikes and that was an easy equation for me to solve; eliminate the truck and save $$$. An XJ on 34's wasnt what I really needed in the first place. It was great to look at but was a pain to live with and un needed in almost all situations. I went through a few cars and then ended up grabbing an 09 Outback SE (5mt, limited slip rear, viscous locking center, heated seats, alloy wheels, Harmon/ Kardon sound, fogs, etc...) and am extremely happy with it. It hauls all my bike equipment around in the large hatch area, the Thule T2 handles my bikes perfectly and can handle getting knocked around on trails, low cost of ownership, great mpg, easy to handle around the urban/ suburban area and it really is fun to drive.

I had it out in blizzard like conditions over the Thanksgiving break and it handled it like it was nothing and got me to the trailhead, a rough two track, extremely easily. Is it perfect? Nope, not by a long shot. I would love a little more clearance, a little more AT style tire, and some skid plates for that added security. Does it fit my needs? Absolutely. I love biking and getting out in the woods to hunt/ shoot but if Im being honest with myself, its all the car that I need. The way that land closures are hitting around here, everything is trailhead parking with parks and land closed off to anything motorized. Would I love to have a roof top tent, 34's, an ARB setup with winch and air lockers, sliders, etc...? Hell yeah I would. It would give me a great feeling in the pants everytime I saw it but would it be worth it considering it would be my daily driver and get terrible mpg, not to mention the headache of having to steer it and park it around DC? Not really. My dream would be something like a diesel 4Runner or diesel XTerra (pipe dreams I know). I would keep the room/ size of the Outback, gain a little more offroad prowess and pick up some mpg. That would be a great truck but the $15k it would cost to have someone convert it for me (again, it would be my daily and the time frame for conversion is too long to be without a car and although I have the mechanical ability to do the swap myself, I dont have the time) is a lump I just cant swallow.

Like a post above me said, if you need it, keep it. If you dont and are spending money feeding it and/ or are never actually using it, sell it. For me, the middle ground between need and want is my Outback. Do I dream/ want a more capable vehicle? Absolutely. Do I need said vehicle? Not really. Could I create a need for a more capable expedition style vehicle? Yes I could but it would be a stretch and not happen nearly often enough to justify the money involved in building said vehicle. I take the amount of money that Im not spending feeding a big overbuilt gas SUV and pour it into my bikes (road and mountain that, unlike SUVs, I can take anywhere) and am starting to plan a few biking trips. I love looking at the rigs on this site and am in love with the concept of a expedition rig but on the East Coast, there really arent too many opportunities to use such a rig. I understand your conundrum. I really do. I could pick up a build 80 for not a lot of money as resale isnt that high but the reality is that I live in an apartment, surrounded by the great paved suburbs and am an hour or two+ away from any place where I could use a built rig. As an alternative, I could drive the Outback there on the paved roads, getting great gas mileage, unload the bike once I get there, ride into the woods, come out to the Outback and drive back on the same tank of gas. MPG isnt everything but it sure makes life easier and since life isnt getting any cheaper, a penny saved and all that. I would love a built 80 like yours but I just couldnt use it. You might not be able to use it either so why keep it?

 

[BIGdaddy]

Gosh that /\ was another great post...honest, pragmatic and very well written.

"Getting out there" is just simply a different focus than vehicle building, etc...If your focus is paddling, hiking, tramping, geocashing, etc...the vehicle becomes a stumbling block if it's bought for looks or emotional response...

cool.

 

[Navman]

I think we all go through this at some point in our lives. When I met my wife 12 years ago I gave standing instructions to slap me silly if I ever suggested selling my VW Westy. I get slapped every year but still have it.

I rarely use it now, but if I sold it the money would be spent immediately and I would never be able to get the rather rare (great shape for the year) vehicle back. I guess I am lucky that we still have a Land Rover and a Subaru, so my bases are covered.

Although I don't drive it much anymore, I am flooded with memories of past trips when I do drive it. Just smelling the interior on a warm day, or the burning oil, brings back memories of Key West, Vermont, Northern Michigan, Yosemite, Big Bear, waking up in Kirkwood's parking lot to a 4 ft powder day, ...

Yeah, I think I'll keep it. It needs at least a trip to Whistler and Baja yet.

 

[SVS]

So I had a lot of time to think over Thanksgiving. I came down sick as .... well something that gets really sick Tuesday night (I'm feeling much better now, thank you) and basically only got out of bed to walk my dogs or go to the bathroom until this morning. This gave me a lot of time to weigh pros and cons and this is what I've come up with;
As of now, we commute in the hybrid and there isn't much of a problem other than the dogs are a bit smushed for 3 hours a day. Soon, however, we are Hoping that I will be able to find a new job in my field in Oregon. This will presumably end the shared commute, but will hopefully increase the amount of money we have to work with. I know the job market is tough there, but the environmental field seems to have taken a little less of a hit than others, so I'm hopeful. When I land this great job that pays a real salary, I can pick up a used diesel Jetta wagon and keep the Cruiser as a toy. I don't think 80's are going to depreciate a whole lot more and if mine is usually parked, I will likely not take too bad of a hit if I sell it in a few years. If I still am on the fence about this next winter, I can re-visit the whole idea then.

Yeah, whomever said this thread belongs in Fireside Chat was probably right.

Why don't you post a picture of your Rig?????

 

[Ruffin' It]

the website is giving me grief because I am trying to post a photo that I have already posted in a previous thread. I swear the internet is going to be the death of my one way or another.

Why don't you post a picture of your Rig?????

 

[Martinjmpr]

the website is giving me grief because I am trying to post a photo that I have already posted in a previous thread. I swear the internet is going to be the death of my one way or another.

Get a photobucket account, it's much easier.

 

[sniderexciderr]

keep it, and push it harder. men need some things to keep their sanity, and over built toys might be one. my advice is budget here and there. on stuff you don't exactly need as far as everyday stuff (not just wheeler stuff) for just a few weeks, take that money fill up the tank, find deeper holes, bigger rocks, and wider water crossings. and imagine doing it in the gas saver.

 

[DuManchu]

Don't sell it in the name of gas mileage!

I sold my mildly built 1994 FZJ80 because I thought it was costing me too much in fuel. While it was spendy, I deeply regret ever getting rid of it. I replaced it with a 1998 Volvo V70XC (similar to an Outback) and while I've saved gas money, and it can haul my two greyhounds, I hate the car. I'm now looking for a 4Runner, Montero SR, or Xterra to replace it.

I should have stuck to my original plan, stick it out with the gasoline engine for a few years, then stick a 4BTA in it.

I have nightmares about not having the FZJ anymore.

(my old FZJ... )

 

[Ruffin' It]

I think it is gonna stay

Took it to Death Valley over New Years. It looks like i'm keeping it. As of now, the only reason I could see selling it would be to get a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon diesel with an AT Flip Pac camper shell.

 

[TRegasaurus]

If I had the cash I'd make you an offer.

 

[bftank]

this is something i can also relate to, and i think i can share some wisdom that hasn't been shared yet.

new vehicle = new problems. usually more expensive as well

as a conservationist myself with a different spin than the usual tree hugger. i prefer older vehicles verses new because if you buy new you are causing more power and energy to be used than if you bought something that was already there in a used fashion. when building a vehicle i prefer to use salvage yards for my beefy parts so i can recycle what has already been built. no offense intended but the 40mpg hybrid is not that impressive when it comes to conservation. i have a 97 escort that get 37 in town and 55 mpg highway. my brother has an 1982 diesel jetta that does 46+ mpg. new is not always better.

if you kept your old vehicle you already know what its weaknesses are. namely fuel mileage, from what you have said. i would suggest changing that by running a diesel as previously suggested, but instead of a 4bt look at a 6.2l gm with an nv4500 behind it. should get you to 20 mpg. if you are still feeling conservationy start making biodiesel.

i vote don't sell it. so far i haven't seen any good reasons to do so yet.

 

[gialinn]

I tell this to people all the time. you can't buy gas mileage. Case in point. I own an 89 bronco outright. gets about 15-17 mpg. My brother suggests I buy a 2000 or up ranger becouse they get about 28. So I can sell mine and by another for a difference of 5 grand with a payment of 200 all so I can save 50 bucks a month in gas with a car that won't haul all the family on trips. It never works out to buy a car to save gas. On the other hand I did sell a sweet 2002 Road star warrior becouse I can't haul the kids and the dog on it. If the truck meets your needs keep it. If not sell it. Forget about the mpg.