He went over the deep end

[Gregg]

Guys, and Jairus, I went it did it.

Back in 2003 I saw the concept car from Toyota in many of the 27 magazines I subscribe too.

The new FJ Cruiser is one of the few cars that really got to me.

The last one I can remember doing this to me was the Dodge Dakota R/T from `97 or so.

Well, when I when I was up on the mainland with Jairus covering the IPMS Nationals (no comment on that!) and the Goodguys Pleasanton show (thanks Mikee and Stan!), I swaggered into the Toyota dealership in Salem looking to see what I could drain my checking account on.

I settled on a VooDoo Blue Cruiser 4x4, fully loaded, and was ready to sign the papers.

But, this little menehune in the back of my head would stop hitting me, so I said I would go home (Mr. Watson's house actually), and think about it.

So, I thought

and thought

and thought, then took an Asprin cause it hurt so much to think

Anyway, I said, HEH STUPID! see what they have at home in Hawaii

So, I called the dealer here, and they had what I was looking for, in 4x2

Come on, who needs a four by in Hawaii?

I go to the beach, yeah, but to run and look at women in thongs, not to four wheel over sacred lands :-)

So, a deal was struck, and I called back the Oregon dealer and said thanks, but no thanks.

(If anyone is in the Salem/Oregon area and want a great deal and service, please check out Capital Toyota and ask for Mario). Seriously, I don't plug places or businesses, but these guys went out of their way to help me.

I landed back home and took a taxi to the Toyota dealership

With all my bags, I looked like quite a site getting out of the cab to buy a car.

So, I ended up with not what the deal was, but something better.

Something I hope will give Kelly and I years of fun, service, and something to be proud of.

Sorry to bother you all with my boring story

[Modelmartin]

Congrats on the new ride! Those are nice looking vee-hicles. I like the old Land Cruiser flavor they incorporated in the styling. And it's a Toyota so it will last forever, right?

[Tom Kren]

Yep ya did it! Nice car and congrats we just bought a new on after our 99 gran am engine blew Dont even get me started on that car! Bought a 07 chevy colbolt I like it and good on gas But kicking myself for not getting the HHR!

[Rob Hall]

Cool..the FJ is pretty sweet..I see a lot of them around here, they are quite popular with the off-roaders (seen many lifted, with big aftermarket wheels and tires, etc..)

[Harry P.]

A new ride is always fun. Have a ball!!!

[Gray Smith]

cool stuff Gregg, Congrats on the new ride, those FJ's realy rock, and many of the hard core off-roaders have really embraced it too...nice!

Gray

[Steve H.]

Hey, Now you have a new blue thing, so you can stop picking on my blue thing!

Congrats, nice vehicle. See what a little time spent on the mainland will do to you!

[ismaelg]

Simply, there is no better color for it. I love that color!

Hope you get years of enjoyment!

Thanks,

[MikeBoyle]

I really like the look of the FJ, I only wish they would have made it with a removable top (like the origional FJ's). Hope you enjoy your new ride!

[thomas LB808 Labanon]

Awwright. Nice ride "G". Maybe can take a spin in it when I come up there for the Hobby co. contest. LOL Take it easy. Shinjo, stopped by my house today to do a kit exchange program.

[Ariel]

Congrats Greg . You really needed a plane or submarine. You know with all the trips you make to the mainland. .

Nice choice what did you do with the shoebox XB.?

[Ariel]

Yep ya did it! Nice car and congrats we just bought a new on after our 99 gran am engine blew Dont even get me started on that car! Bought a 07 chevy colbolt I like it and good on gas But kicking myself for not getting the HHR!

Don't worry you may have made the right choice. There is the HHR SS coming out soon Turbo with 260+ hp

[Peter Lombardo]

Nice ride. My daughter-in-laws family has a Toyota franchise in PA. Point is, these FJ's do very well, and there seem to be no particular problems with that vehicle (Dah, Toyota!) anyway, drive it in good health.

[Howard Cohen]

Those Tamiya Toyota kits build up real nice! And the paint looks great! It almost looks real

Drive it in good health! The builtin quality and strong dealer network should make it last a few years.

And the always important question...how many model kits can you stash in the back?

[lordairgtar]

Yep ya did it! Nice car and congrats we just bought a new on after our 99 gran am engine blew Dont even get me started on that car! Bought a 07 chevy colbolt I like it and good on gas But kicking myself for not getting the HHR!

I have a HHR Panel, a 2007 Imperial Blue one. I love it. I like the FJ as well, but chose my North American made HHR.