Northern MI Cucklyfe: Floating Garage Edition

[dubshow]

a newer jeep is better in every way.

Link to a comparable Jeep for 16k? Cheapest jk is probably low 20s and it doesn’t quite ride as nice as the FJ, and unless the trim is rubi which brings it to 30k, the FJ performs better off road as well.

you want a 2 door or 4?

I mean $14-15k for under 100k miles. I hear you but comparing a 08 FJ to a 4-5 year newer Obviously you wouldnt get a 3.8 JK.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventory ... =257630917

I was just never impressed with the FJ and its much more expensive to fix when it bumps into a tree on trail. Id rather pay a couple thousand more for a decent spec jeep than an ancient odd toyota.

[max225]

Link to a comparable Jeep for 16k? Cheapest jk is probably low 20s and it doesn’t quite ride as nice as the FJ, and unless the trim is rubi which brings it to 30k, the FJ performs better off road as well.

you want a 2 door or 4?

I mean $14-15k for under 100k miles. I hear you but comparing a 08 FJ to a 4-5 year newer Obviously you wouldnt get a 3.8 JK.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventory ... =257630917

I was just never impressed with the FJ and its much more expensive to fix when it bumps into a tree on trail. Id rather pay a couple thousand more for a decent spec jeep than an ancient odd toyota.

Well this is where the compare gets hard. I can't really use a 2 door jeep, it is too small for my needs. So then the compare goes to a 4 door... Which is "different" from the yoder. So I don't want to fall of the deep end in that convo. Jeep is a convertible, FJ isn't as well.

I am not planning on going extreme off roading to bump into trees etc. At least for the time being, I am looking into something reliable that will last a while, not depreciate and not be expensive to work on, I think the FJs checks all those boxes.

And it stops/steers/drives a lot better than a JK, and frankly that's what matters on the daily ? and the 99% you spend getting to the trail.

[dubshow]

you want a 2 door or 4?

I mean $14-15k for under 100k miles. I hear you but comparing a 08 FJ to a 4-5 year newer Obviously you wouldnt get a 3.8 JK.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventory ... =257630917

I was just never impressed with the FJ and its much more expensive to fix when it bumps into a tree on trail. Id rather pay a couple thousand more for a decent spec jeep than an ancient odd toyota.

Well this is where the compare gets hard. I can't really use a 2 door jeep, it is too small for my needs. So then the compare goes to a 4 door... Which is "different" from the yoder. So I don't want to fall of the deep end in that convo. Jeep is a convertible, FJ isn't as well.

I am not planning on going extreme off roading to bump into trees etc. At least for the time being, I am looking into something reliable that will last a while, not depreciate and not be expensive to work on, I think the FJs checks all those boxes.

And it stops/steers/drives a lot better than a JK, and frankly that's what matters on the daily ? and the 99% you spend getting to the trail.

on those aspects. I'd have a jeep again as a toy. Its a poor daily.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

The FJ is in a party of one.

wheelbase with solid off-road performance but better driveability and livability and reliability than the

Yea I think the wheelbase is somewhere in between a 2 door and a 4 door. It has a back seat that is usable and mostly id be using it for 2 people.. the FJ trunk is significantly bigger than the JL even in 4 door trim. Which is all what I’m looking for. I can’t handle a 2 door Jeep, the FJ is perfectly sized in that respect.

Ideally I would get a 2010+ but the price moves to 25k+ which seems stupid.. sub 20k keeps it in disposable “toy” territory. And it can’t possibly drop much further than that.

The question is whether I should wait for the bronco, but that thing is still quite a bit away, solid year I’d say, 6 months for the Defender. And both will be at least double what the older fj will run.

What do y’all think

Bronco is at least a year out from being on dealer lots...even further for realistic pricing. It'll probably be a cool thing, but it'll likely be on top of Wrangler for pricing, which doesn't help the situation. Defender...I doubt they'll sell many "cheap" ones.

I actually really like the FJ idea. I've loved those things since they first came out. It's a shame Toyota never developed it much.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Well this is where the compare gets hard. I can't really use a 2 door jeep, it is too small for my needs. So then the compare goes to a 4 door... Which is "different" from the yoder. So I don't want to fall of the deep end in that convo. Jeep is a convertible, FJ isn't as well.

I am not planning on going extreme off roading to bump into trees etc. At least for the time being, I am looking into something reliable that will last a while, not depreciate and not be expensive to work on, I think the FJs checks all those boxes.

And it stops/steers/drives a lot better than a JK, and frankly that's what matters on the daily ? and the 99% you spend getting to the trail.

on those aspects. I'd have a jeep again as a toy. Its a poor daily.

JL/Ts are way easier to daily, but it's expensive. For a budget all-arounder...the FJ checks every box.

For a trail rig, a 2-door JK is unbeatable...but an older FJ that you didn't mind some battle scars on will do admirably too.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Bronco is at least a year out from being on dealer lots...even further for realistic pricing. It'll probably be a cool thing, but it'll likely be on top of Wrangler for pricing, which doesn't help the situation. Defender...I doubt they'll sell many "cheap" ones.

I actually really like the FJ idea. I've loved those things since they first came out. It's a shame Toyota never developed it much.

Suffered the same fate as the XTerra - withered on the vine and got the axe right as SUVs got red hot again. Sad!

Exactly. How a company can spend so much on launching a new vehicle only to let it languish for years with zero product updates then kill it is beyond me.

But that seems to be a Japanese thing. XTerra, FJ, Element, Baja, S2K, ...

[Irish]

May be an fj

Would be epic IMO.

I am really intrigued by these....the way I was once was with 4Runners.....

[Johnny_P]

Johnny, I've got a JLUR in stock at work right now. 2019 with the 8.4 screen and soft top.

if it's over $25k it's more than I *care to* afford, pal

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Chris how have the JT noise levels been compared to like the Cruze and all?

Which engine do you prefer? IIRC the wife has the turbo and you have the natty sixer?

JT is loud...no way around it. I don't care personally because I can still carry out conversations no problem and the base audio system sounds great. I like the long wheelbase on the JT because it tracks really straight and is easier to cruise long distances compared to a JL. Tows great.

I like the torque from the 2.0, which is in the wife's. Hers has the BSG hybrid, which I've driven 2.0s with and without and can't honestly tell a difference between the two.

The biggest issue is that both the 2.0 and the 3.6 are pretty great. They're both paired with the ZF 8-speed which allow either to shine. If I were buying a JL, I'd just buy whatever was cheaper (2.0 now). I'd take a 2.0 in my JT if it were offered...but the Pentastar has been solid as always. Little complaints with it.

[Johnny_P]

Chris how have the JT noise levels been compared to like the Cruze and all?

Which engine do you prefer? IIRC the wife has the turbo and you have the natty sixer?

JT is loud...no way around it. I don't care personally because I can still carry out conversations no problem and the base audio system sounds great. I like the long wheelbase on the JT because it tracks really straight and is easier to cruise long distances compared to a JL. Tows great.

I like the torque from the 2.0, which is in the wife's. Hers has the BSG hybrid, which I've driven 2.0s with and without and can't honestly tell a difference between the two.

The biggest issue is that both the 2.0 and the 3.6 are pretty great. They're both paired with the ZF 8-speed which allow either to shine. If I were buying a JL, I'd just buy whatever was cheaper (2.0 now). I'd take a 2.0 in my JT if it were offered...but the Pentastar has been solid as always. Little complaints with it.

Your engine notes mirror mine. They felt almost the same to me. Minor tradeoffs one or the other but both were pretty good.

[Apex]

I’m FE-curious to see if there are any estimated em pee gee numbers for a 2.0 in the JT?

I really like that motor in the JL.

[max225]

I’m FE-curious to see if there are any estimated em pee gee numbers for a 2.0 in the JT?

I really like that motor in the JL.

That engine doesn’t exist ... in the Jt

[max225]

That engine doesn’t exist ... in the Jt

Yeah, but I bet they did development testing with it.

It'd probably be overworked due to weight.

Hmm I am it seems like it should work just fine, there are plenty of other vehicles that completely tax tiny motors.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yeah, but I bet they did development testing with it.

It'd probably be overworked due to weight.

Hmm I am it seems like it should work just fine, there are plenty of other vehicles that completely tax tiny motors.

Yea, it would be fine. The problem is on paper the 3.6 and 2.0 are remarkably similar...but the 2.0 costs quite a bit more (turbros, DI, advanced materials, etc).

FE is more a function of aero than powetrain with these things, so moving to the 2.0 is a tough sell. The torque would be nice, but honestly living with the 3.6...the transmission does such a great job of keeping the engine in the powerband and it doesn't really matter.

[D Griff]

@Chris - https://www.facebook.com/82941951380427 ... /?vh=e&d=n

Get the BMW!

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Took the freedom panels off to break the law and buy some trees. I fucking love this thing...

[Apex]

Took the freedom panels off to break the law and buy some trees. I fucking love this thing...

It looks so fucking sweet.

[max225]

Ugh I see the light as well

[Tar]

Daym that's a nice truck!

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Ugh I see the light as well

It's not handy for everyone, but we do a shitload of house bullshit... completely revamping the backyard right now, and the truck bed is so handy for trees.

The JT rules because it can make something boring like driving 45 minutes to pick up trees fun with the tops off. We saw McLarens (2 orange like my truck), a Ferrari California, a Lambo Aventador, a 918, and a bunch of muscle cars out yesterday...all on a road with a Max speed limit of 55. I honestly think we were having more fun in my truck than those guys driving super cars at 1/10 of their capability.

[D Griff]

Took the freedom panels off to break the law and buy some trees. I fucking love this thing...

It looks so fucking sweet.

the and are

[ChrisoftheNorth]

It looks so fucking sweet.

the and are

Danke.

It's all coming along nicely. I need to update my house thread with the landscaping project

[wap]

the and are

Danke.

It's all coming along nicely. I need to update my house thread with the landscaping project

Yes, please.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Wellll the day of reckoning is fast approaching for me. I'm being directed to order a replacement for my Gladiator "soon".

I asked for a buy-out, and at 15k miles they want $45k for it. Um...I can buy the same truck brand new for that price with my employee discount. There's no negotiating, they claim they can send it off to auction and get that price. when Carvana offered $41k for it, but I think buying my truck is out of the question unfortunately.

So what do I do?

I really get a ton of use out of a truck bed...especially with the impending of the new place. I'd actually like a larger bed, but have zero interest in a massive truck like a Ram...just don't want it. So for me personally, I'm between nutting up for a Gladiator of some sort, just ordering another lease (I'll get to that in a moment), OR an extended Cab ZR2 to get the larger bed like...

https://www.serrachevroletakron.com/Veh ... 7833#close

The next twist is Carvana offered $38k for our JL. We paid $40k for it a year ago. We could do a corporate lease on an identical JL replacement for $100 less than a Gladiator Rubicon, and "only lose" $3k on the JL ($2k depreciation plus $1k sales tax). Then the ZR2 above would be under $38k (I can still get homie hookups from GM peeps). The ZR2 would be my wheeling and utility rig, while we'd pile miles on the JL lease since they're unlimited. was surprisingly open to the idea because she can order the JL exactly how she wants.

A twisted web that I don't really want to be involved in. I was really hoping the buyout on my truck would be about the Carvana quote so I could just buy it and be done. But damn...that extra ~$5k for nothing is a tough one.

[Desertbreh]

Wellll the day of reckoning is fast approaching for me. I'm being directed to order a replacement for my Gladiator "soon".

I asked for a buy-out, and at 15k miles they want $45k for it. Um...I can buy the same truck brand new for that price with my employee discount. There's no negotiating, they claim they can send it off to auction and get that price. when Carvana offered $41k for it, but I think buying my truck is out of the question unfortunately.

So what do I do?

I really get a ton of use out of a truck bed...especially with the impending of the new place. I'd actually like a larger bed, but have zero interest in a massive truck like a Ram...just don't want it. So for me personally, I'm between nutting up for a Gladiator of some sort, just ordering another lease (I'll get to that in a moment), OR an extended Cab ZR2 to get the larger bed like...

https://www.serrachevroletakron.com/Veh ... 7833#close

The next twist is Carvana offered $38k for our JL. We paid $40k for it a year ago. We could do a corporate lease on an identical JL replacement for $100 less than a Gladiator Rubicon, and "only lose" $3k on the JL ($2k depreciation plus $1k sales tax). Then the ZR2 above would be under $38k (I can still get homie hookups from GM peeps). The ZR2 would be my wheeling and utility rig, while we'd pile miles on the JL lease since they're unlimited. was surprisingly open to the idea because she can order the JL exactly how she wants.

A twisted web that I don't really want to be involved in. I was really hoping the buyout on my truck would be about the Carvana quote so I could just buy it and be done. But damn...that extra ~$5k for nothing is a tough one.

I know this is like asking someone "why don't you like beets?" when they fucking hate beets, but man Traverse City seems like an ideal place to have a full size CCSB.