What to do, what to do...

"rockingthe2" (unpredictable-swerve)
11/28/2016 at 21:52 • Filed to: None

MR2 is still broke, so there’s that, but I now have 3 vehicles and therein lies my dilemma. Quick rundown.

Car #1: 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo

Car #2: 2005 Saab 9-2x Aero (Saabaru)

Car #3: 1993 Toyota 4Runner

Those of you who are familiar with me here know my MR2 is my baby and it’s winter, to hell with driving that around here right now, and also the parking at work is terrible so I’ll more than likely never drive it to work since the Saab has picked up door dings in the double digits. I started working there in April. Awesome.

4Runner is in front of the MR2, with the safari rack on top.

Enter sandman the 4Runner. My parents moved out of the U.S. for a bit and my dad asked me to take care of his 4Runner while he was gone, I get to drive it as much as I want, but I pay for the insurance. Works for me. It’s got 284,000 miles on it and I’m going to try and get it to 300k. It’s a fairly hard to find 5spd, 4x4 model, in really good shape even though it’s underpowered.

Road trip pupper mode

So here’s my dilemma: Should I drive the Saab daily, which is more or less reliable, gets 20ish mpg, and has some power behind it and is an automatic for DC traffic, or do I daily the 4Runner in the quest to get it to 300k miles? 4Runner gets around 17-19 depending on conditions, runs great so long as oil is in it, but lacks power, has a super heavy clutch, and won’t dart through traffic like the Saab will. I also drive down to Norfolk about once a month for work, and was going to take the 4Runner just to let the wife have the “better” car while I’m gone.

Lastly, if I get some time I want to do a few things to make the truck more reliable, Dad might foot the bill to swap it to a 3.4l 5VZ-FE (Cost of a donor, I part it out later to recoup costs) and it takes about a week to do it.

Ideas? Opinions? Hate mail?

DISCUSSION (15)

S65 > rockingthe2
11/28/2016 at 21:55

doggo

rockingthe2 > S65
11/28/2016 at 21:57

woofle

Captain of the Enterprise > rockingthe2
11/28/2016 at 22:13

Saab

For Sweden > Captain of the Enterprise
11/28/2016 at 22:15

Saab

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > rockingthe2
11/28/2016 at 22:22

MR2

Leonardo DiCabriolet > rockingthe2
11/28/2016 at 23:51

Saabaru

rockingthe2 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
11/28/2016 at 23:53

Can’t, won’t, don’t want to. She’s only got 2 dings on her and I’m trying hard to keep it that way. That, and she won’t start.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > rockingthe2
11/29/2016 at 09:48

only minor inconveniences

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > rockingthe2
11/29/2016 at 19:24

The quest for 300,000-mile 4Runner gets my vote.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/29/2016 at 19:24

But as is; no swap.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > rockingthe2
11/29/2016 at 19:29

As someone who has and used to daily drive a second gen 4Runner, Saab.

rockingthe2 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/29/2016 at 21:36

These are all the safe options though, no danger, no risk, no glory

rockingthe2 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/29/2016 at 21:38

Or I could just put everything needed for the swap in the back, then swap it where it rolled past 300k.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > rockingthe2
11/29/2016 at 21:55

I just felt like something was waiting to fail, and I hate that feeling.

rockingthe2 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/30/2016 at 12:09

Something is waiting to fail, embrace the hate. I believe we have talked before about 4runners and I’ve owned and hated pretty much all of them. This is the one I don’t. And even then I want to swap it.