Anyone here have an off-roader as a fun second car?

[AstroManLuca]

I bought a new car this summer, a Honda Fit. I had been considering a number of cars, some of which would have been lots of fun (Miata, RX-8, anything else reasonably fast) but I eventually got a boring car anyway because it just made more sense. I was nervous about taking on a big loan for a possibly unreliable sports car, and I probably would have gotten a much higher interest rate, not to mention insurance costs. And since I needed a daily driver but I live in Minnesota, I was nervous about getting a RWD car that I'd rather not drive in the snow anyway.

However, I'm still interested in getting a "fun" car or other vehicle at some point. Something that I could drive recreationally in the summer without having to rely on it. If it doesn't have to be a daily driver then I won't need to spend much money on getting a super reliable car, so that helps.

I probably won't get anything until next summer. But I'm wondering, if you have a second car for fun, what is it? How do you like it? I've been thinking of getting something like an old Jeep Wrangler, Suzuki Samurai, or Toyota 4Runner, all of which have removable roofs. There's also the two-wheeled option... I could look for a scooter or motorcycle, though I'm concerned about safety.

 

[Saga]

For speed, I got a bike.

For fun, I built a truck.

For driving, I pilot a WRX.

 

[joesmoke]

For car needs I have the boring civic

For speed (acceleration at least) and fun offroad I have a yz450f (dirtbike).

 

[JulesMaximus]

For my car needs I have a 2003 Nissan Maxima SE (which is paid off) and my wife drives a 2006 Lexus IS (which is half paid off).

I also have a bike (motorcycle) that I've been commuting a lot on this summer because it's fun and it gets 48mpg. I guess you could say that the bike is for fun but since I've been riding it to work nearly every day since I bought it that it kind of makes the car into a second vehicle.

There are no off-road vehicles in my household.

 

[Bignate603]

My second vehicle is a '71 Jeep CJ5. It's a blast as long as you don't need to rely on it. It's a blast to drive around when it's running. For a 37 year old vehicle that gets abused I knew it was going to constantly need a bit of love to keep running. If I didn't like working on it I would have got something newer.

Personally, I'd go with a jeep (I'll admit I'm a bit partial) for this because of the ages in involved and parts availability. They haven't made samurais or 4runners with removable tops in a while, and there are just more wranglers around to scrounge parts off of.

If you aren't too worried about ride quality YJ wrangler (square headlights) has leaf springs. This makes the suspension quite strong, it makes modifications simple and parts cheap. However, age tends to make those springs sag a bit so you may need to swap out those. You can get stock height springs cheap and after market springs for more height or more flex offroad aren't much more expensive. For reliability there are two choices... First, the 4 banger in YJ wranglers is reliable but very weak on power. It's not as big of an issue if you'll be offroading it in low gear but on the highway that little engine will feel quite weak. Don't plan on driving on the highway with air conditioning. The 4.0 straight six is a solid engine. There are some older wranglers using a 4.2 which is related, but stay away from it. It's weaker and less reliable. The 4.0 is probably the better choice because it will make the vehicle more fun IMHO. For transmissions, get a stick. The wrangler never got the AW-4 which was in the cherokees and was the only really stout automatic to make it into older jeeps of the time period you're considering. If you're looking at a 4 banger, the automatic will make it feel even more like a dog.

 

[Auric]

Ja, Golf TDI for utility und CJ for teh lulz.

Sure, one can imagine having a sports car for same, but realistically it tends to be annoying not being able to use it as intended when limited to public roads (and potentially congested at that). Off-road, there is great freedom. FREEEDOOM!

 

[Throckmorton]

I have an XJ but it's also my daily driver. Planning to find a job that I can live in walking distance of, and it will be used only for fun and errands

2" lift and 31" tires

http://smg.photobucket.com/alb...rent=frontlefttiny.jpg

 

[thedarkwolf]

My daily is a 94 mazda miata turbo and my fun car is an 89 dodge caravan turbo. Which is which changes daily .

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
My daily is a 94 mazda miata turbo and my fun car is an 89 dodge caravan turbo. Which is which changes daily .

If I were to have a separate daily driver car it would be a Miata.

Jeep Cherokee with two solid axles and good cargo capacity + Miata with RWD and no roof = all bases covered by two underappreciated vehicles.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

2004 Ford Expedition for daily driver and 1995 Ford Bronco for secondary vehicles. The Bronco is lots of fun offroad.

Surprisingly it only gets about half the mileage the Expedition does.

 

[Budmantom]

I recently bought this truck and it's been fun but getting it up to speed is getting a bit expensive even thought it was in good condition when I bought it.

I also have this bike and it is stricly for fun.

 

[dug777]

Better half's old man has an awesome old FJ that I just manage to avoid making an offer for everytime we stay with them

I will resist :|

 

[coolroyboy2]

Not for off road and not good on gas but American Iron. I only drive about 500 mi a season. Not a high dollar car but fun to cruise and easy to work on.

1972 Plymouth Scamp(A body)
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...est/scamp051008001.jpg

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: dug777
Better half's old man has an awesome old FJ that I just manage to avoid making an offer for everytime we stay with them

I will resist :|

Why resist? Hoping to get it for free when he kicks the bucket?

 

[Imported]

I might pick up a early 90s Miata and turn it into a Spec Miata car. Both NASA and SCCA have the same rules it seems.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Daily Driver is a BMW 645, I have a 99 Sahara Wrangler that I like to beat up. It's a helluva a lot of fun...have the doors and top off right now. It's lifted on 33" MT's and I try to break it on as many trails as I can as often as I can. If you want something you can take the top off and hit the trails with then the Wrangler is the only way to go. The only warning I would give is that JEEP really does stand for Just Empty Every Pocket and if you are going to get aggressive and modify the ride it becomes addictive and you will be spending money like crazy. Also, given the general nature of beating up an older vehicle you have to realize that things will fail. I have a very common exhaust manifold leak right now and it's going to cost a few hundred bucks to fix easily. Plan on learning to fix things yourself (there are guides for just about everything on the net) or put a mechanics kid through college. Find a local jeep clubs website and just starting reading or go to jeepforums.com.

 

[theblackbox]

for fun i have a 66 mustang.
for my wife i have a 71 bug with 45k miles (and it is flawless)
for the mountains and everywhere else, i have a 78 cj7 (78-79 are the two best years for the CJ. The word saginaw says it all)
for a house i have a 27' class C
for towing behind the house i have a wrangler sahara TJ. The tj is by far a superior jeep. The articulation of the suspension far surpasses the CJ and YJ, making a much more formidable off road demon.

The funny thing is that when we finish our RV travelling, i will buy a new house, and then pull the motor and trans from the motor home (460 w/ automatic overdrive) and put it in the mustang after rebuilding it for performance. The 289 from the jeep will land in the CJ (the ford mounts matches the AMC bellhousing bolt for bolt to replace the 304 it has in it.)

i love both the jeeps, and would recommend anyone wanting something for off road use, get a jeep. tj, cj, yj, it doesn't matter. if you plan on using it to drive more, please get a cherokee, cause i can't stand all the poor jeeps that only get highway and commuting duties, what a waste of a jeep.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: dug777
Better half's old man has an awesome old FJ that I just manage to avoid making an offer for everytime we stay with them

I will resist :|

Why resist? Hoping to get it for free when he kicks the bucket?

It'll last that long easy

Nice little SWB with a 4litre I6 Ford Falcon motor (carbied) dropped in.

 

[mooseracing]

I have a v8 car for a DD, as I need something fun to drive, not the boring crap on the roads.

I have an 85 F150, with a F250 ext cab on it, small bl lift, tube bed, 37's.....it is my DD in the winter and my rock rig. I would drive it more often if tires weren't so expesive.

Then I also have a 79 Yammy that is also my DD.

OP, don't worry about saftey. I nearly get hit every day, and when I finally do there is no way in hell that is going to keep me off a bike, as I have been on one since I was born.

 

[OdiN]

97 Maxima for DD.

04 Xterra for off-road fun

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: theblackbox
for fun i have a 66 mustang.
for my wife i have a 71 bug with 45k miles (and it is flawless)
for the mountains and everywhere else, i have a 78 cj7 (78-79 are the two best years for the CJ. The word saginaw says it all)
for a house i have a 27' class C
for towing behind the house i have a wrangler sahara TJ. The tj is by far a superior jeep. The articulation of the suspension far surpasses the CJ and YJ, making a much more formidable off road demon.

The funny thing is that when we finish our RV travelling, i will buy a new house, and then pull the motor and trans from the motor home (460 w/ automatic overdrive) and put it in the mustang after rebuilding it for performance. The 289 from the jeep will land in the CJ (the ford mounts matches the AMC bellhousing bolt for bolt to replace the 304 it has in it.)

i love both the jeeps, and would recommend anyone wanting something for off road use, get a jeep. tj, cj, yj, it doesn't matter. if you plan on using it to drive more, please get a cherokee, cause i can't stand all the poor jeeps that only get highway and commuting duties, what a waste of a jeep.

I'd rather see a TJ go to waste than a Cherokee, just because TJs are a dime a dozen while Cherokees are disappearing slowly. Everyone already "knows" the Wrangler is an offroad vehicle, American icon, etc etc... hence the top 10 resale value, high school girls nutting over it, etc.
But most have no clue about the Cherokee.

The poor XJ's greatest enemy was and is underappreciation.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: theblackbox
for fun i have a 66 mustang.
for my wife i have a 71 bug with 45k miles (and it is flawless)
for the mountains and everywhere else, i have a 78 cj7 (78-79 are the two best years for the CJ. The word saginaw says it all)
for a house i have a 27' class C
for towing behind the house i have a wrangler sahara TJ. The tj is by far a superior jeep. The articulation of the suspension far surpasses the CJ and YJ, making a much more formidable off road demon.

The funny thing is that when we finish our RV travelling, i will buy a new house, and then pull the motor and trans from the motor home (460 w/ automatic overdrive) and put it in the mustang after rebuilding it for performance. The 289 from the jeep will land in the CJ (the ford mounts matches the AMC bellhousing bolt for bolt to replace the 304 it has in it.)

i love both the jeeps, and would recommend anyone wanting something for off road use, get a jeep. tj, cj, yj, it doesn't matter. if you plan on using it to drive more, please get a cherokee, cause i can't stand all the poor jeeps that only get highway and commuting duties, what a waste of a jeep.

I'd rather see a TJ go to waste than a Cherokee, just because TJs are a dime a dozen while Cherokees are disappearing slowly. Everyone already "knows" the Wrangler is an offroad vehicle, American icon, etc etc... hence the top 10 resale value, high school girls nutting over it, etc.
But most have no clue about the Cherokee.

The poor XJ's greatest enemy was and is underappreciation.

I disagree, they have continued to hold their value well, comparitively. There are dozens of Libertys that are cheaper in my area.

OP, offroading is EXPENSIVE, both in upgrades and in repairs.

 

[Arkaign]

I want to get a late 70's Grand Wagoneer

 

[funboy6942]

88 astro with a V8 350 and dual exhaust. Get a lot of people to stare as like wtf, and when I pop the hood and see a fuel injected V8 out of a camero under the hood they go WTF again.
Tons of fun to drive and faaaaaaaaast.
Gets 19mpg on the hwy too

 

[Throckmorton]

Whoa, 19 mpg from a van???