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Stock 84 FJ60, 236K miles, not a DD. It is my Home Depot / Surf / Labrador mobile <g>. I just bought it and am draining the bank acount little by little ....

"Honey? What is this charge for SOR?? ....." "
"Oh.. that? That's a donation to Save Our Rainforests ..."

I love the 60 and have wanted one for a long time.

- Marc

:D
 
I've had a Cruiser as a DD since 1982 when I bought my first brand new FJ40. I 've since transitioned to a 1984 FJ60. I ride my bike to work so my 60 is for every other needs that reqires a vehicle.
devo
 
We've had or '82 since '89 and had an '84 BJ60 for a daily driver/work truck. NO complaints at all other than a lack of power in the mountains with the non-turbo '84. The BJ60 down here in Central America has a bit of an intimidating factor for those with smaller cars, the big winch bumper of the front helps. Unfortunately it does not work with the buses or trucks.
 
Working to make my 88 FJ 62 a DD

I've owned my 88 FJ62 for about two months now. Still working on the maintenance items the original owner was too cheap to do - seals, shocks, radiator, 4WD solenoid, master cylinder, tires. I also want to change out the worn chrome trim parts.

I'm currently driving a 1997 40th Anniversary FZJ80 model but as soon as I get the other items fixed I will switch to the FJ62 for my 18 mile commute (1/2 35-45 MPH and 1/2 65+MPH). Gas mileage is equally bad on either cruiser but the old one is neater.

I have probably had 10 people come up to me since I bought the 62 and start conversations like "I used to have one of these - wish I had never sold it!"
 
Sob....

I was hoping you guys/gals would make my decision easier. All you've done is make me reconsider buying a commuter car.
I have a company sponsored vehicle, and the company currently picks up the gas cost.

Realistically - I drive 85 miles per day, all highway. If I bought a 60, my annual fuel cost would be approximately $5500, given 13mpg, and $1.80/gal. That's a lot of dough.

I will likely purchase an older 'Benz diesel for commuting. The fuel cost drops to $1260/year. At that rate, I could buy the '60 I want in two years!! Ahh, but the patience is gone.

Now, speaking strictly from the heart, I want the '60 and don't care about the fuel economy. HELP ME!! Keep in mind that my better 2/3rds will likely also need to be convinced.

-Uberhahn
 
I drive my 82 60 around 24 miles round trip daily and in the fall depending on where I am hunting anywhere from 40 to 200 miles. I love this truck. I recently put lifted springs and she rides as high as most full size trucks. I get about 12 mpg. I figure the extra money I spend in gas is my car payment. A big plus is that there is always something I can fab or add to her. I get more comments on her than any other vehicle I have had. It would take a great deal for me to part with this old girl. Great thread. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.
 
Look, I I don't want to start a huge political debate,but the fact is that we as humans are getting close to the point where the demand for gas will exceed the the supply for the frst time in history. Not in the way that OPEC controls supply, but the actual supply. As far as I'm concerned if you drive more than 25 miles each way the responsible thing is to buy a more fuel effecient vehicle. The good news is Toyota is the world leader in fuel efficient vehicles, so you have lots of great choices. I think driving a gas hog is more justifiable for pleasure and recreation as long as your not like the EXXON Valdez in the driveway. Most air pollution caused by everyday citizens is caused by their cars. If we want clean air someone has to pay to clean it up, guess who that will be. So driving a Corolla will not only save you money personally, it will also lessen the tax burden when it comes time to do some cleanup, not to mention lessen our reliance on those "Friendly Saudis". I am sure I will get blacklisted for this post, but I think we (the SUV public) could stand a little prudence.
 
I dd my 88 62. I drive about 10 -15 miles/ day. It gets 10 intown 15 hwy. I wish I drove it more. Careful with that thing , you'll get addicted to it. Mine is as we speek getting OME Dakkar susp on it and some other stuff, so Im driving a heep. It has already left me stranded.
 
ah ha

you know how we get off foreign oil is to drill here in alaska ... don't listen to the sierra club crap , drilling on the north slope is safe and done the right way ..in fact caribou population have been booming along the pipeline trail for years .... I get so fed up with liberal environmentalists , they talk about ANWR and Alaska drilling and have never been here ... Place is either one of 2 things where they want to drill ,,, frozen tundra 9 months a year and the worlds largest mosquito breeding ground 3 months a year
 
POLISHX, I am not a member of the Sierra Club and i understand your point. My question is how much is even there? From what I've read we could expect a six month supply from ANWAR if we relied on it alone at current demand. If this is even close to true it makes conservation all the more appealing. I think you are right about the environmental impacts but that is not really the Big Picture if you ask me. I am a realist and i can tell you that if we run out of gas too soon we will be up s*** creek, think about it.
 
89 fj62 DD, only about 10 miles, 62 with 5in. lift, 35 M/T's, converted to H55f 5 sp. with 4.56 gear, Lockright in the rear, GAS milage --WHO CARES its a CRUISER :D
 
I agree with Mattlock and while I drive my BJ60 as a daily driver, I'd be hard pressed to find something large enough that uses less fuel!! As a work truck, which is what I used the '84 for, 25-30 mpg is pretty good. You won't find a gas guzzling V8 in my driveway even as an occasional use vehicle.
 
I have to chime in hear regarding our thirst for oil. While I'm no stark raving tree hugger, I am a part time realist who understands that us humans need to get our heads out of the sand and wake up at some point. Not only does our dependence on petrolium back us into some tight corners politically and economically, but it might one day cause our way of life to drastically change when we start running out of oil which will have even more grave economic results. This is course only true if we believe the experts who are forcasting the remaining supply. We're already beginning to see an adaption of alternative fuels to replace or assist our petrolium dependence. For example, hybrid vehicles, bio-diesel, the emergence of hydrogen fuel cells, and solar technologies.
I'd like to believe that for the short term, we could produce more oil domestically while we develop alternative sources of fuel, however being a native coastal Californian, I absolutely abhor oil platforms off the coast - such as in Santa Barbara.
Sounds like Alaska might be viable if they won't leave a trace as they say they wouldn't. Of course I don't totally believe them, however if the impact is minimal, the good may easily outweigh the bad.
My second vehicle is a KLR650 motorcyle, so between the fj60 and the klr650 if figure I get decent enough gas milage combined. (38-43 mpg on the bike).
I'd love to cruise up to Alaska with a bunch of ya'll and check it out for someday soon....and perhaps walk to work once and awhile....damn, wish I wasn't so lazy.
Mean while I'll daily drive during the rainy season and feel good about being in my cruiser safe and smiling.
 
When we run out of fuel, we'll all be driving hydrogen powered cars anyway. Don't think that we don't have the technology and ability to do it, cause it's already been done. Do you think that anyone who makes any money off oil fuel powered vehicles wants a hydrogen powered car? Don't think so. It ain't gonna happen until we all run out...then we'll find another way.
 
Daily Driver

I thought that I had the oddest previous car-FJ60 transition with my previous Subaru WRX (Great ride by the way), but I've wanted a 60 since I was 16.

Mine is a 87 with a emu 2" lift, 31"s and a H55F 5 spd. It is my only car and I drive it 10-15 mi per day in Northern VA/DC.

Loves:
Driving a classic
All the comments
All the room
Watching women have to hop to get in the passenger seat
NO ONE cuts you off in traffic and everyone lets you in during bad traffic if you show some initiative

Not loves:
$40 to fill up in DC
Makes parking difficult, (note to caddy driver who boxed me in in Georgetown and must have returned to see what an aftermarket rear bumper does to a sedan's front end).
Long drives with passenge make it hard to have stereo on and carry on a conversation (sometimes when chicas can get annoying on drives, this can be a good thing)

I'm in the Foreign Service, so if I go to a longer (more than 1yr) assignment, gov't picks it up and stores it and will ship it to a longer duration post. I love this truck and plan on keeping if for a long time, at least until the new cruisers with the 5 spd/turbo diesels I drove in Afghanistan are available in the US! :idea:

Regarding fossil fuels, I still wonder how bad on the environment it is for the other 1987 vehicles that are taking up space in the junkyard while I'm still rolling in my cruiser.

Best Holiday wishes to all,
DS
 
I'm not sure if I count or not. My 60 is my DD, but I work from home. Hmmm. Use it for errands, client meetings and runs - even used it for a photo shoot or two (it's actually on one of my client's packages! mot much of it, but still)

Terrible milage, harsh ride, etc. But I don't mind that. I don't trust it for long hauls though. It left me stranded when I first got it in Memphis. My rear main and one of my axle seals is blown, and the AC is out, so long trips are out until I get all of that taken care of. The Avalon gets 30 MPG or better on the highway, and a comfy leather interior, so that's the trip taker for the whole famn damily. If it's around town, regardless of weather or milage, I like to take the 60. I like the big, slow moving wall in traffic. And like I was telling someone today, in traffic, if anyone hits me, they loose and I win. I also mentioned the photo that Pimp has of the 80 that was hit from behind (the 80 was at a stop, the hitter was going around 50, methinks?) Ass end is cratered in, but the guys still drove it home...that's how I feel the 60 would hold up, and I like that.

Also, when my son and I run errands or go anywhere, he seems to prefer the 60 to the Avalon as well. He likes being up high, the windows aren't tinted so he gets to look around and see the world. And I like the idea of him having great memories of him, his dad and the big blue truck. I have memories like that of me, my grand dad and his old Levis edition CJ5. you just can't beat that sort of stuff. :D
 
"Found" this old thread and thought I'd revive as I now DD a 60.....

I love the bare-bones utility of it. The seat is a little springy, and leaf springs at all 4 corners takes some getting used to, as well as the carb instead of FI.....

Feels remarkably like my bare bones 94 Toy 4X4 did......

Since I don't drive it far, max speed is only about 45mph, which is a good thing....(Not sure if I'd want to interstate it long distance everyday)...

And it gets way more attention than my 80.....

I'm sure others have gotten one for a DD in the past 6 months, so please continue...
 
I daily drive my 62 and I can't stand it. Don't get me wrong, it is very easy to drive on the interstate even with it being sprung over, but the stock gears with 35's leave a lot to be desired. My 70 mile roundtrip commute every day kills me at the pump. It was cool for the first 9 years but lately I have been envious of those with sports sedans. I know, put me out to pasture even though I am only 28.
 
I don't understand the logic of lifting without re-gearing. Not a flame, but if you are going to put that big of a tire on, why not re-gear? These things are slugs enough as it is without adding further pain.......
 
I DD my almost stock '87. Used to have a 2001 Tacoma, sold it to the guy I bought my cruiser from(he included a nice check as well). Its been a year and love it. Don't know if I will go back.

Gas milage - Dont pay attention to it all that much. I know I use about a half a tank a week and my work is a 20 minute commute. Heavy on the gas.. could be 3/4 tank. Thats the variable, IMO.... do you want to try and go faster or just cruise. LOVE IT!! 33's, 3-4" Dakar lift, and 62 3rd members (moves you to 4.11... really cheap!) coming soon!
 
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