“the new generation of car people, who grew up arguing VW vs Ford ST... and aspiring to euro up-market cars... are the only shoppers left.”

LOL you can’t be this delusional. Try walking away from the computer and Jalopnik for a few days, or heck while you’re at your computer look up some sales statistics. You’re…

So to be enthusiast I must acquire a car that goes 0-60 in 5 seconds? Strange...

I kind of did the same thing, used to have a 2012 Civic as a commuter, got bored with it, and also had bought a house and was getting heavily into some DIY projects. Ended up with a cheap Ranger I bought for $2000. RWD, 4cyl, 5spd, reg cab, 7 foot bed. 106k miles and in turn-key shape with minimal rust but a few “old…

To all of that I say: why do you care? You worried about your friend’s finances? Maybe his family really likes this new vehicle and how it drives. How is it negatively impacting you exactly?

Do you always use all 5 seats? Do you always have a full trunk? Why not drive a Smartcar or Prius C? You don’t use more than 20% of that power at a steady state cruise, why do you need 185hp?

Do you see how ridiculous your argument is yet?

“ I have absolutely zero need for an SUV.” Great, and that should have absolutely…

You don’t NEED more than 100hp in your current car. You don’t NEED air conditioning in it either. You WANT those things. Why aren’t you giving all the guys in sports cars that use them to commute a hard time when they’re just trundling along in traffic? Man the automakers really laughed their way to the bank on that…

If that were explicitly the point, the author could have talked about plenty of legendary and awesome 4 door SUVs (FJ60, Grand Wagoneer come to mind). No he emphasized that anyone whose intent was to use a real capable SUV in a dual role capacity with the practical addition of rear doors was some kind of shmuck that…

This guy gets it.

I helped do a WRX engine swap with a come along winch, a harbor freight tow strap, and an old discarded tow hitch. There seems to be a theme forming in WRX wrenching lol

Yep. resorted to PB Blaster->torch plus more Pb Blaster->air hammer->cut off wheel plus air hammer plus torch to finally get a frozen bolt to budge in a control arm bushing. A steady hand and oxyacetylene torch can really work magic in the road-salt belt.

I think for a lot of us it was financial necessity, and continued stinginess and hating to pay mechanics later on in life. Admittedly sometimes it ISN’T fun, but needs to be done. I had my beater Pilot laid up in the driveway for a week waiting on a control arm that I then spent 2 days figuring out to burn and chisel…

Worth noting: when our buddy Dr H isn’t posting snide comments about SUVs and their owners, he’s telling people to “shut your white ass up” and other gems. Starts to really paint a picture.

You’re digging yourself into an ever deeper hole, and it’d not looking good for whatever strange argument you’re trying to make. 2 door SUVs are neat and I like them and wish they were still around as an option. But I definitely appreciate the functionality and added utility of 4 door SUVs. My 3rd gen 4Runner’s…

I’m curious, what exactly do you count as an “SUVs I’ve seen most on the roads?” Are you talking about FWD based crossovers? You’re in over your head my friend. The whole point of an SUV is being able to travel long distances with a load of passengers+things in comfort to destinations inaccessible by lesser vehicles…

Don’t try to sneak out on a technicality, you understand exactly what I’m saying. “car guys” like you love to be sanctimonious towards what you consider are others driving “excessive” SUVs/4wds/trucks that they don’t “need.”

Yeah I did a bit of price shopping and the rear air springs are remarkable in how NOT expensive they are, even for OEM stuff. But yeah the variable damping shocks look to be in the $450 range for new OEM, I’m seeing some refurbished units for $215 a pop, who knows how they hold up. That’s where the slightly more…

Forgot to ask earlier, are you documenting your repairs or plans for the GX anywhere? I’m actually starting to look at some again, maybe scoop one up towards the winter. Specifically curious about GX-specific and potentially pricey bits like adjustable-stiffness air shocks and such.

The guy had aired down to 18PSI so that was great, but the sand that day was especially dry/loose/deep, the poor Subie just lost momentum and then didn’t have enough torque/gearing in 1st. Dude smoked his clutch pretty bad, we smelled it before we even saw the car. I actually wonder if a CVT one would have done a bit…

Very much this. My 4runner on 265/70R16 4 ply all terrains makes a mockery of all but the biggest potholes. Take a look at what people drive in countries with under-developed infrastructure (Africa, Russia, etc): it’s Toyota 4wds and other sturdy SUVs. With the direction that things are headed infrastructure wise in…

So should I put the Roxor on a trailer behind my minivan then when I take long road trips where the end-destination has offroading? There are definitely people that do that sort of thing, except with a 3/4 ton pickup doing the towing, and some ATVs or side-by-side, or an old CJ on a trailer. I’m all for that approach,…