Car Shopping: Swank has no clue edition

I've now owned not only XJs but both 1g and 2g Monteros as well as having driven (and vaguely attempted to buy) turbo and non turbo Bajas and Vehicrosses.

Baja prices are crazy. I do think they are very cool vehicles that are mostly let down by front-end styling and goofy pricing. Mechanically i'm very favorable towards them and their factory turbo and 5spd combo is super enticing.

Vehicrosses are neat but also suffer semi-crazy pricing. I've seen a few around 5k and immediately went to check one out that i saw for ~1900 but it was pretty messed up. I think they are cool looking and have truly legit off road abilities as delivered, but the biggest thing i dont like about them is how blah their interior is other than bright-colored lazy-boy-sized Recaros. The difference from outside uniqueness to inside blah-ness is horribly incongruous.

2g Monteros are sweet! They have a strong drivetrain and can run largeish tires without much lift or the risk of snapping things, unlike a much smaller XJ. I love the interior size and the versatility of the 2nd and (if present) 3rd rows. Prices on these are actually LOW relative to what you get.

1g Monteros are objectively not as great as 2gs, but if you value their sweet 80s style inside and out, i'd put them on par in coolness. Probably the biggest downside to the 1g is carburetion vs fuel injection, but if you hold out for a later-year fuel injected 3.0 v6 you'll definitely have a cool truck. It's surprisingly larger than an XJ even though it doesn't really look it, and if you want a 2dr the 2g is ruled out anyway.

The breaking things on an XJ with big tires deal is really only an issue with the D35 rear end. I haven't had an XJ with that yet, and i wouldn't run larger than a 33 on an XJ anyways.

I'm not married to a 2dr. I just liked it because it was cool. I actually slightly prefer them to the 4dr XJ, but in other vehicles, i don't care much.

Haven't been able to find any 1g Monteros at all this time around.

Pretty sure the 70 series Land Cruiser i posted on page one is a scam. Haven't heard back from seller. Buuuuut... my interest is piqued enough by that and the article that was posted a couple months back about importing a vehicle from Canada that i think i'm going to troll around Kijiji for a couple days until i find out what sort of budget i have. I do find myself drawn to Jaynen's 3rd gen Montero, though. Checks a LOT of boxes. Every one of them, save for old school flavor.

daeman wrote: Nice one. I hear you on the reg cab though... I'm to tall for a reg cab, extra cab all the way for me. Just a shame you guys didn't get crew cabs. I've got one sitting in the garage at the moment which I'm robbing the drive train from. :p

I'm not too tall for one, but i like being able to stick a cooler back there or really anything i don't want sitting in an uncovered truck bed.

Maybe i should import a B2500 wagon and stick B2600i driveline under it?

In reply to Swank Force One:

There is a similar fj near me. The owner is asking $16k.

daeman wrote: Not even a bite on the b2600 swank?.... And here I was thinking you bled Mazda. Seriously though, good luck with the hunt.

That's actually me. Hes a diehard Toyota nerd with a garage full of mazdas, and I'm a Mazda nerd with a garage full of Toyotas. It doesn't make any sense.

Swank Force One wrote:

daeman wrote: Nice one. I hear you on the reg cab though... I'm to tall for a reg cab, extra cab all the way for me. Just a shame you guys didn't get crew cabs. I've got one sitting in the garage at the moment which I'm robbing the drive train from. :p

I'm not too tall for one, but i like being able to stick a cooler back there or really anything i don't want sitting in an uncovered truck bed. Maybe i should import a B2500 wagon and stick B2600i driveline under it?

B2500 wagon+ sf1 drive line. You know the rules. F2t all the things.

In reply to Swank Force One:

No, you should import a B wagon, and stick an F2T in it. Or just get an extended cab B locally.

Wouldn't be hard. I have a B2600i trans sitting in the garage. And an F2T or three.

Kijiji is actually a bit of a let down right now. Is it all picked clean after that Expedition Portal article? The only saving grace is that the Canadian dollar is weak right now.

All i'm finding anywhere 1990 and older is Toyotas. No old Patrols or Pajeros.

mndsm wrote:

daeman wrote: Not even a bite on the b2600 swank?.... And here I was thinking you bled Mazda. Seriously though, good luck with the hunt.

That's actually me. Hes a diehard Toyota nerd with a garage full of mazdas, and I'm a Mazda nerd with a garage full of Toyotas. It doesn't make any sense.

I like fast Toyotas, but would buy a Mazda if I weren't going for the fast version. I've always wanted a rotary, but would never be able to keep it running. Soon, I will have owned two cars with SBCs, and no Mazdas. Where does that put me?

G_Body_Man wrote:

mndsm wrote:

daeman wrote: Not even a bite on the b2600 swank?.... And here I was thinking you bled Mazda. Seriously though, good luck with the hunt.

That's actually me. Hes a diehard Toyota nerd with a garage full of mazdas, and I'm a Mazda nerd with a garage full of Toyotas. It doesn't make any sense.

I like fast Toyotas, but would buy a Mazda if I weren't going for the fast version. I've always wanted a rotary, but would never be able to keep it running. Soon, I will have owned two cars with SBCs, and no Mazdas. Where does that put me?

Still in Canada.

mndsm wrote:

G_Body_Man wrote:

mndsm wrote:

daeman wrote: Not even a bite on the b2600 swank?.... And here I was thinking you bled Mazda. Seriously though, good luck with the hunt.

That's actually me. Hes a diehard Toyota nerd with a garage full of mazdas, and I'm a Mazda nerd with a garage full of Toyotas. It doesn't make any sense.

I like fast Toyotas, but would buy a Mazda if I weren't going for the fast version. I've always wanted a rotary, but would never be able to keep it running. Soon, I will have owned two cars with SBCs, and no Mazdas. Where does that put me?

Still in Canada.

Yes, but I have one question. What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Find something ridiculously cool here: http://www.importavehicle.com/inventory/cars-for-sale

Fly and drive?

So what's the situation on that awesome LandCruiser? Why haven't you bought it already??? Better than the old Four-Runners off-road, and more comfortable as that model most likely has coil-spring suspension. It's basically a lighter-duty version of the 70 series Land Cruisers, but doesn't need the load-carrying ability of horrible leaf springs. The 5L diesel engine is a literal drop in to the same transmission. My buddy did that very swap and it was a great little car. You know you want it.

In reply to mndsm:

Man, you two kill me. Either way, your both nerds and the stuff you two know has helped me here and there.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Ahh, yeah, that's the other reason for me liking extra cabs, your stuff is a little harder to steal.

So have you seen Mazda proceed/marvie also sold as ford raider? It's like a Toyota surf... 7 seats, 4x4 Mazda b2600 driveline.

edwardh80 wrote: So what's the situation on that awesome LandCruiser? Why haven't you bought it already??? Better than the old Four-Runners off-road, and more comfortable as that model most likely has coil-spring suspension. It's basically a lighter-duty version of the 70 series Land Cruisers, but doesn't need the load-carrying ability of horrible leaf springs. The 5L diesel engine is a literal drop in to the same transmission. My buddy did that very swap and it was a great little car. You know you want it.

Seems to be a scam. The price was kindof suspect, but the seller is not responding.

That said, weak Canadian dollar right now says that i can probably land one under my budget anyways if i do a fly and drive to BC.

Considering it. Kindof jazzing on Monteros and the B2600i right now. I almost hate shopping when i have a semblance of a budget more than when i have $500. Because almost everything i've found so far would be just fine for my purposes. I'm used to just finding 1 or 2 things that will work, and they both suck.

I'll make a case for the 80 series, since no one has yet.

They're out there for well under budget if you look in the right places (Also, how important are factory lockers?) Also bottomed out in depreciation and likely to go up some day. I don't know if you have ever driven one, but its like a really comfy bank vault on wheels. Immense feeling of invincibility like no other vehicle ive experienced, to include fullsize diesel trucks. Can go anywhere in stock or lightly modified form and will last till well after you're dead if properly cared for.

You want to build an overland rig? That's the ticket.

Problem solved. Weird SUV? Check. Old school style? Check. Baller as berkeley? Double check. Your ride awaits.

daeman wrote: In reply to mndsm: Man, you two kill me. Either way, your both nerds and the stuff you two know has helped me here and there.

You should see us when we're in the same room. With beer.

Bad ideas abound!

I love me some 80 series, just havent really seen any decent ones. Havent looked outside midwest yet though. Shower me with links!

No idea how important factory lockers are. You tell me.

Don't know if this one has been posted but I remember my Dad looking at getting a Trooper, but a 4 door years ago. Never did buy it but this one looks sweet.

2 Door Trooper

If you want a 1st gen montero lmk. I have a friend with a clean 5spd 4x4 montero. $2400 is probably what I could get him to let it go for. Really nice truck. California truck too.

In reply to rustysteel:

I love that but i don't know that i could legally get that into the states.

yupididit wrote: If you want a 1st gen montero lmk. I have a friend with a clean 5spd 4x4 montero. $2400 is probably what I could get him to key it go for. Really nice truck. California truck too.

Interested in info and pics. Especially if fuel injected.

Carbed 2.6