To be fair a 1st gen Sorento is a classic BOF/solid rear axle SUV with a part time transfer case. Actually fairly under-the radar and affordable offroaders.

It’s obviously a 2WD Chevy truck, that or his front end did not engage for some mechanical-failure reason. On top of that, that is some really shallow sand FWIW.

Somewhat of a fair assessment, the guy was saying he let off for just a second and once he stopped moving forward he was done. But further in things would have only gotten dicier. Not enough clearance, not enough power transfer/torque manipulation, simple as that.

This particular ramp on this day was legitimately challenging to some of the SUVs/trucks, a few hot days really took the moisture out and everyone wheeling through really made it deep. I’d say the guy was lucky he got stranded closer out to where everyone is driving by. With how deep the sand got further in, I have…

Actually all seasons are perfectly good for sand, preferable to more aggressive mud terrains (or even most all terrains I’ll argue). The goal is to float on top of the sand, aggressive tread will just dig you down into it further. All about airing down. No it wasn’t the tires that did this Subie in. Just not…

“Almost” is right

Had to yank this guy out a few weeks ago. He had aired down and everything, that Subaru AWD just couldn’t hack it in the soft and deep sand in OBX. He made it maybe 20 yards off the hardpack before bogging down and then smoking his clutch.

Let me get this straight: You drive a fairly purpose-built offroader on oversized all terrain tires on the road and complain about how bad it is on the road, then go out of your way to state that you have no idea how it does offroad because you never took it there.

Great review man, real informative.

Worth mentioning that before you said you’d feel bad for anyone driving a 20 year old Toyota... whilst driving an even older Voyager of all things. This is pure gold. Keep resisting the Toyota-conspiracy and driving that Voyager, godspeed.

Yeah it’s worth mentioning that even with balooning XJ prices, 3rd gen 4Runners depending on the locale and configuration (5spds and ones with lockers) really get into the stratosphere. I guess I had the older pre-facelifted 4Runners (‘96-’98 without the “fat lip”) in mind. I paid $6300 for my mint e-locked ‘96…

Okey dokey, I think we’re done here. A man driving old Caravans knows better than the consensus of the American buying public, car designers, automotive journalists, mechanics, etc, etc.

“Blown by how crappy the inside felt, blown by how unimpressive it was to drive, blown by how unrefined the drivetrain felt, that was when they were new.”

“I can appreciate a difference in effort and quality, I just can’t appreciate an overhyped, unimpressive tin can.

Well it sounds like your scope was limited to your GMs then. Spending some time driving and especially poking around underneath or under the hood or inside one of those 1990s Camries would have really blown your mind, particularly how well they’ve held up on average two decades later. If you can’t appreciate the…

I get why people like XJs in terms of their rough and tumble nature, solid front axle, and what used to be affordability. But now that cleaner ones are climbing quite a bit in value, what virtues does it have over say a 3rd gen 4Runner? The latter is much better built, is a more rugged and durable vehicle in terms…

“has a reputation for going over 300,000 miles on the stock powertrain.”

Also has a reputation in this year range to crack the head at around the 100k mark, fwiw. 

Dude the cars you yourself posted proved the rust thing: aside from that totally banged up green one, the Camries are almost entirely rust free. When they do finally start, it’s just small cosmetic patches near the rear quarter panel by the rear bumper interface and down the dog-leg. The subframes remain structurally…

superior interiors or engines or bodies

A resounding yes to all three. More rust resistant sheetmetal and undercarriage (subframes, etc), more durable and ergonomic and better assembled interiors, smoother, more reliable, and more powerful engines and vastly better and more reliable transmissions.

Comparing the…

“while holding up just as well/better”

Funny how you cherry picked sub-100k mile Cieras (understandable, primarily old-folks driven) as well as Luminas with no more than 108k miles (notice the rotted out rocker panel already), while the Camries have 160k plus miles, and a few are close to 200k. I recently sold a 209k…

Let me know what that Lumina/Ciera interior is looking like these days, falling down headliner and creaking plastics and all. Don’t get me wrong, I love the old school velour in red or blue, and the metal belt buckles. But for actual high quality, well assembled ergonomic interiors, you’ve got to be joking to even…

If you consider a ‘96 Lumina or Cutlass Ciera to have “the same” padded vinyl and overall quality of assembly as a ‘96 Camry (or Accord, or Altima/Maxima), I don’t know what to tell you. 

You’er over-dramatizing the timing belt job big time IMO. The factory interval is 75k miles, the service position is frankly not that hard to set up (30 mins or so), and once it is there the t-belt job is a total cake-walk with excellent access. I agree in full on the timing chain woes. Give me an old iron-block 12…