Post-apocalypse, there will be cockroaches & Toyota Hilux pickups; I don't know about you, but I'm a lot more partial to the Hilux. This episode of Top Gear has been referenced in a couple of threads, but I couldn't find any posting of the video link(s).
Top Gear Hilux Death Pt.1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3uvx93QV1U#normal)
Top Gear - killing a Toyota Pt 2 - BBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc4Ksz3nHM#normal)
Top Gear - killing a Toyota Pt 3 - BBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZDtC9kjVk#normal)
I love that show.
I love that episode.
And I love that truck.
Saw you post that on FB - great episode. Those trucks are absolutely bullet proof.
They still have that truck in the Top Gear studios... probably still runs even after years of sitting.
[thumbsup]
The Hilux is a great truck! I just wish you could buy a diesel version here in the US.
Quote from: SA_S2R on March 03, 2010, 02:30:27 PM
The Hilux is a great truck! I just wish you could buy a diesel version here in the US.
+1 or the diesel FJ's you can buy in just about any country other than this one......
Quote from: angler on March 03, 2010, 02:38:10 PM
+1 or the diesel FJ's you can buy in just about any country other than this one......
The Diesel landcruisers were the BJ series (Insert jokes here)
I'd rather have a bj anyway......
I've got the diesel hilux, 3 litre turbo (supplied by my employer) surprising that it isn't available in the U.S.of A. And yep pretty well bullet proof.
^^^^^^
If you ever want to visit DC, hide one in your luggage and I'll let you stay at my house....
I'm not positive on this, but it is the bumper height and other "safety" laws that keep late model real 4x4's from being made or imported into the US. That is why we don't see Defender D90's, FJs or BJs over here. As far as I know, even before the bumper height stuff, they never imported BJs. A friend of mine bought a Toy diesel straight 6 from Japan and installed it in his FJ, but that is about as close as you're going to get here in the states. I ran into one for sale in CO two summers ago. It was left hand drive and they guy wanted a ton of money for it.
Here in Africa, I regularly drive 5spd, 4dr, diesel hiluz and 2 door diesel, 5 spd land cruisers. All are (relatively) new. Very enjoyable. Hiluxes are geared very tall. All are a blast to drive. Especially in areas with no real "roads" or road laws.
A lot of the diesel Toyotas (and other vehicles that never made it to the U.S.) are hitting 25 years of age and are starting to show up in the U.S. as legal imports, mostly from Canada. I don't know what additional regs there would be to register one in the DC area (I'm sure there are plenty!) but we've looked at a couple of legally imported trucks here in Arizona, including a lust-worthy diesel Troopie. Too bad there's no money for such things...
Man-A-Fre has also started doing some diesel conversions with motors sourced from Australia.
This, however, remains my dream ride (and even better, Ann-Marie's as well!):
http://www.overlandjournal.com/blog/?p=61 (http://www.overlandjournal.com/blog/?p=61)
An FJ60 converted with a modern diesel motor & 5 speed -- according to later blog posts at Overland Journal, they're getting an average of 25+ MPG running a fully loaded, expedition vehicle with a lot of off-road, low-range trans mileage thrown in. :o
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Now that's what I'm talking about! If funds were limitless and I lived out West where I could actually use it.......
A kayaker buddy of mine back in Maryland was making noises about selling his Cummins-diesel converted FJ60 a while back. I'd be happy to make the introductions. [evil]
These trucks would never die, since you can simply rebuild the diesel.
This show is by far the best show on TV. DVR every episode and watch them over coffee in the morning.
Quote from: triangleforge on March 04, 2010, 08:16:45 AM
A kayaker buddy of mine back in Maryland was making noises about selling his Cummins-diesel converted FJ60 a while back. I'd be happy to make the introductions. [evil]
HMMMMMMM..........
Quote from: angler on March 04, 2010, 03:01:27 AM
That is why we don't see Defender D90's, FJs or BJs over here. As far as I know, even before the bumper height stuff, they never imported BJs.
Some of that was about mandated airbags that the real Utes didn't have and were not going to be getting.