Ooooo. They could shorten it to “Ford FU”. The warranty dept. would love that!

It’s sounds like everyone has beat you to it.

It’s a thing to put the word “anal” in front of Ford names. It works most of the time and is hilarious. Strangely it really only works for Ford.

All aluminum V8 yeah! It may actually improve handling over the straight six since less engine will be in front of the front wheels.

If it doesn’t decimate its own rear end first.

“...as you seem to love doing.” By “you”, I assume you mean Britons?

Yup. it’s appeals to the self-sufficiency part of my brain. I do understand it’s currently (hah!) impractical.

I love the sound of internal combustion. But I think would like trail riding in near silence.

I figured as much. But the idea made me warm and fuzzy inside. maybe some day

yup

Compare to an ICON.

Well if scaled up for production, that could come down. That being said, for actual off road ability, tires will require some magic. All of the things that make tires great off road are exactly what you don’t want in an efficient vehicle. (My Xterra dropped 3 mpg just going from street to tires to AT’s!)

Speaking as a fellow Jeeper, there is some appeal to a more bear resistant design.

Bring solar cells and enough provisions to wait for it to charge. I’m actually being serious although I haven’t put much thought in to how much time that would take. I think its cool.

That has way more to do with how much America cares ($$) about Native Americans and veterans than it is a reflection of a government ability. All large organizations, public and private, struggle with waste.

This. But the sad truth is that any large (and even a minimal US govt would be large) human organization has mind bending waste and bureaucracy. I work for one of the most valuable companies in the world and every day it has moments where I feel like I’m working for the DMV. Until people figure out how to create…

Ease up there dude. The same hobby that bonds people as friends might also work with parent and child. Go-kart? I’ll argue that is a bigger money pit than a cheap old car used for weekend fun.

Given your DD, I’ll stick with my original suggestion. Subaru, not necessarily a WRX, but any old Legacy or Impreza. Soo cheap, very easy to work on, aftermarket is great, plus there is so much interchange with all of their other models, the possibilities are endless.

Probably not going to race a CJ5. While I’d love to take mine to autox, its not legal. Now ice racing could be a possibility....

Subaru. Don’t belive me? Then I refer to how much fun the MCM guys have.