Who are we?(what's the demographic of this group?)

[peebles24]

27, associate operator at Applied Extruson Technologies, BFE Indiana, Bought my cruiser (also my first Toyota) because I wanted a Toyota for thhier reliability. I wanted a 4X4 family hauler that I could play off road with and the kind people ere said a cruiser would take me anywhere I wanted to go. So far I've put a 1000 miles on it and I'm nt at all dissapointed, although I am ready to start with the mods, I've been working a ton of overtime to start buying parts with.

 

[sixsracing]

38, Telecom Analyst at ProInfoNet (independent telecommunications consultant). I ran parts stores and dealership parts dept.'s for about 20 years. Certified VW and Subaru tech., as well as Honda M/C's and Weber/Holley carbs.

Married for almost 20 years, 4 kids and a miniature Dachsund.

I never gave L/C's a thought until I walked into a Toyota repair shop and saw an 80 off it's frame with a new frame rail being inserted after an accident bent the original. I looked pretty close at the design and was hooked from that day forward. Tokk me about 6 or 7 years to finally buy one.

 

[Kaderabek]

40
Married way up (17 years this week), not sure what she was thinking
Two kids who are the absolute delight of my life
Managing editor for a book publishing company by day
Moonlight w/ a magazine you may have heard of by night
Yea Sewanee's right
Live in Asheville, NC, with the freaks and the rednecks (you figure it out)
Why would I drive anything else?

TJK

 

[schum4]

37 today (thanks for the birthday email guys)

Married 1 year, Research Tech for Intercat (fuel catalyst manufacturing). I got my '97 one year ago to replace the POS Explorer that I was using to pull my 21' boat. I always liked the looks of the 80's and after doing some research decided that the reliability, capability, and longevity made it the best choice for me.

 

[ryanjl]

In looking at the replies, it looks like I may be a little different demographic than most of you,

.......

I am a lurker, but really love this web site, it is entertaining and educational. It has proven to be a valuable resource for learning about my cruiser. To everybody I say thanks for their input and comments.

Was good to meet you yesterday! If you ever have any questions, be sure to PM me here as I've done pretty much all the standard maintenance stuff on these (birfs, PHH, starter contacts, etc.)

 

[tarbe]

47 and married 21 years to my first wife. Two great kids 13 and 15. I've worked for the same large petrochemical company for 20 years - Transportation/Logistics, Customer Service, Lab Manager, Sales Manager...jack of all trades, master of none. Chemistry and Business degree, but rarely use the esoteric stuff. Mostly just common sense. Before that, 4 years USMC grunt.

I am on my third Cruiser and I hope I've learned my lesson and hang on to this one

 

[Fly Rod]

43 year old, I think, yes my wife just reminded me, excuse me I need to reattach my teeth.
Recovering accountant, Finance manager.
Current, winter = guest relations @ local ski area. Spring-Summer train labs, Fall guide fly fishermen. Begining next Jan. stay at home dad with twins.
Addicted to hunting waterfowl over fantastic dogs.
First jones for an LC was when I was @25 for an FJ40.
Bought the FZJ80 when my jeep xj started acting up @ 200,000 miles.
I wnated a "respectable" guide rig that can handle any off road situation with clients. Also needed a good kid rig.

Fly Rod

Edit: How could I forget my four great labs, Dulce, Luna, Slam and Dillon(trainee). I could easily forget our three cats!

 

[clownmidget]

39, married, 4yr old daughter, dog, cat & mortgage.
evolutionary/physiological ecologist (mostly amphibians & reptiles)
living in southern CA

I drive a Land Cruiser because of Daktari. And a little bit of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. I grew up watching those shows and dreamed of being a real biologist out in the bush in either a Rover or Cruiser. Of course it didn't take long for me to figure out that Rovers and tight budgets or dependability don't go together. Bought my first 1976 FJ-40 out of a barn in Buffalo, NY with 36K on it but rusted like swiss cheese when I turned 19. Eventually replaced that with a 1978 FJ-40, then on to a 1985 Xtra cab PU, then on to a 1990 4Runner, then a 1982 FJ-60. I thought I had finished when I had the 60 but with a wife and kid it wasn't quite what any of us had in mind in terms of comfort. I saw my first 80 highly modified and on a serious trail in CO in 2000 and was hooked. Got a 1997 40th w/ lockers and 75K miles on it in the spring of 2001 and haven't looked back. Nothing is even available to replace it in NA - that's why I keep it.
Mike R.

 

[elmariachi]

I'm 41...but I feel like I'm 61 when I wake up and 31 when I go to bed. I have a fiancee and three kids between us. I am on my 8th Cruiser...especially fond of FJ-80s. I figure I have spent about 400,000 miles in 6 FJ-80s (and done 20+ birf jobs and OME lift kits). Sold my dream truck to Todd Kaderabek last year in a fit of stupidity and am slowly building its replacement. Grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma....background in business development and marketing. Presently heading up my 3rd start-up company in a combat zone...Houston, Texas. Co-founded Lone Star Land Cruisers in 1997....the greatest bunch of guys alive.

 

[Kaderabek]

Did you produce your avatar?

TJK

 

[elmariachi]

Did you produce your avatar?

TJK

Its a rip-off of my favorite music group.

 

[e9999]

Bwahahaha!
not a single person olde... -errrr- more experienced than I am on this page!
Feels good, even though I gotta hang around with dang kids at meets all the time...
Oh well...

 

[Bob_Garrett]

Bwahahaha!
not a single person olde... -errrr- more experienced than I am on this page!

Don't be so sure of yourself old man! You're not the only old fart on here ya know.

50+

Married
18 yr old son
Spent 4 yrs in the USAF including a year in Vietnam
Worked in Cable TV for 20 years.
Currently working as an RF Engineer for Sprint PCS in KC.
The 80 is my first Land Cruiser (hell, it may even be the last, the way these things last). I bought it over 6 years ago, partially because my son and his friends all thought the 3rd row seats were really cool. The wife used to drive it fairly often, but doesn't like it much now because it's too hard to get into (4" lift + 35s) and too noisy (35" MTRs) and too many people stare at it (snorkel + ARB bumper and winch).

And if you think most 80s owners are younger than you, try owning a mini-truck. Heck, most of those guys are around the age of my son, so I am really the old man in that group. Age doesn't matter when you share the same interests, though.

Bob

 

[Kaderabek]

Its a rip-off of my favorite music group.

Being?

TJK

 

[Kaderabek]

Age doesn't matter when you share the same interests, though.

Not until about midnight anyway.


TJK

 

[elmariachi]

Being?

TJK

That Little Ole Band From Texas.

 

[Kaderabek]

Oh yeah, these guys.

TJK

 

[cruiserdan]

You know you are getting old when it takes you all night long to do what you used to do all night long.

 

[Houston FZJ80]

34, Work for Boeing NASA Systems in Business Development here in Houston.

Bought the 80 after riding in one on our honeymoon in Costa Rica... it was a diesel that had over 200K KM on it and was in awesome shape. I had recently moved from Detroit working for DaimlerChrysler. Drove Jeep Grand Cherokees for 5 years. Before that it was Pathfinders (3). I actually rented a 2000 pathfinder in Costa Rica to see how the newer ones were... hated it. They definately had cheapened it up. After riding in the 80, there was no question what I was going to get here in Houston.

I like the fact that I can pretty much go anywhere in it and that it is a pretty safe land tank... everyone here drives huge pick-ups... I like the idea of my 14 month old riding in the middle of the back seat.

Not too worried about getting around during any floods down here either.

 

[OZCAL]

34, Work for Boeing NASA Systems in Business Development here in Houston.

Originally Posted By NorCalDoug:
<beavis voice> heh heh heheh...Rocket Scientist...heheh heh heh Cool heheh heh heh </beavis voice>