FJ62 as daily driver

[efjay6tee]

Drive it. If the motor blows put a v8 in it. If the body starts to rust fix it. You’ll still have less in it than a new f150 and it will be worth more than you paid for it in ten years.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I use mine as a go to driver. I can walk or ride my bike to work, but for everything else, I use my FJ62. It's a great daily driver. Gonna buy a real car this year and I'll miss driving the 62.

 

[88Retired62]

Most people use a daily driver to get from Point A to Point B. I’ve always been a “Brute for Punishment” but always considered my 55 year driving history as a “Labor of Love” by depending upon a need to be self sufficient and enjoying a ride that believe-it-or-not heightened the senses!

The Daily Driver Labors of Love in ascending order included-
1946 two door flat-head V-8 Sedan 1963-1971 (Absolutely beautiful with porta-sidewalls and dished 52’ Mercury 15” rims. Other than Farmall, Case and Massey Ferguson tractors, my first introduction to SAE!)
1961 Austin Healy 3000 1971-73 (Top-down fast and stunningly BRUTISH! My first introduction to metric.)
1971 Triumph TR-6 1973-1983 (Clean, straight lines and a throaty, rasping, dual Stebro exhaust tone. Removal of the medieval environmental controls was the first order of business. My first triple decker rolling tool chest and the beginning of an extensive SK / Sherman-Klove tool horde.)
1974 Triumph TR-6 1983-1988 (DITTO!)
1988 Land Cruiser FJ-62 1988-Present (A thing of utility and beauty! Still love my time under the hood and just driving for no apparent reason. Never knew they existed until I saw an 86FJ60 owned by my girlfriend’s former boyfriend in Dallas. I now, also own a mini Gold mine of OEM/NOS/NLA parts.)

I sense you may have that rare and unique desire to not only own but drive, maintain and experience a vehicle that is truly a reflection of your passion and independence.

Try it...I think you’ll like it, well, at least until you get married!

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

DD my 84 60. I know @cornboy and @Yackster DD their 62s also. I average 150-200 miles a week.
Smiles per miles fellers..

 

[Yackster]

DD my 84 60. I know @cornboy and @Yackster DD their 62s also. I average 150-200 miles a week.
Smiles per miles fellers..

Yep DD 198,000 Mi. We've been as far as Fayetteville Ar. to Ouray Co. Not bit of trouble. Will be driving it back to the SAS2 (Solid Axel Summit 2) in Ouray Co. in August.

 

[88Retired62]

Yackster...beautiful DD. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Code Red]

I DD my '89 in Atlanta traffic every day. I bought it because I like driving it. ACC put an H55 in it for me and now I like driving it even better. If it breaks, I'll fix it. I get 10.5 mpg no matter what I do. I got the 38-Gallon tank, and I just don't look at the pump when I fill up.

I like it better every time I get in it.

 

[FJ Silver]

I DD mine as well and it's the only car I own... I love working on/maintaining it, which is probably a requirement for being able to do so.

This 62 has been well maintained all of it's life which of course makes a huge difference in reliability. I take care of it, it takes care of my family.

 

[johnnyshaner]

I daily drive mine, but my round trip commute is only eight miles. If something breaks on the Cruiser though, I've got my second vehicle. It's a bit older though.

 

[Nostradamus]

I daily drive mine, but my round trip commute is only eight miles. If something breaks on the Cruiser though, I've got my second vehicle. It's a bit older though.

View attachment 1629544

What year is that Ford? My 15 year old daughter wants "an old Ford pickup truck - with a stick shift" when she turns 16 next year. I tried talking her into an FJ60, but no dice. I DD my 85 FJ60, and thought having another one in the driveway, but guess it'll be an old Ford. Could be worse.

At least with an old stick shift truck I don't have to worry about her hauling a bunch of friends around, or being on the phone while driving

 

[johnnyshaner]

It's a 1968 F250.

 

[rrv333]

Good looking F250

 

[MACFJ60]

I DD my FJ60 all winter, but have a relatively short commute (14 miles round trip). If you keep them properly maintained they are extremely reliable. Eventually you get accustomed to the thumbs up and compliments from total strangers.

 

[Kleatus]

Been DD’ing my now 398k mile FJ62 for several years now. I do about 30 miles a day currently.. it once left me stranded at work (water pump).

I do however have other vehicles to drive should I need to work on it, which has happened.. I think it’s almost necessary to have another vehicle, so you’re not stressed out about repairs as they become necessary - but I’d say this about any 30 year old vehicle. Making your livelihood depend on your hobby can be a trying situation...That said, my reliable backup is even older (by 23 years), but has way less to possibly go wrong with it...

 

[Joe T]

Sell your current truck for $10k and put it towards a $30k commuter vehicle. The gas savings over the 62 would almost pay the note on it; plus you aren’t just throwing away the money.

You can get a lower end F150 new even with a 5.0 around that price.

Do the math, 175k miles in 7 years or less is a lot of fuel. 10mpg vs 18mpg