Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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The Toyota salesman and the "Bandidos"
On my way home from dropping off my Jeep for repairs, my wife and I stopped at the Toyota dealership to look at a slightly used 4 door Rubicon for
sale. Immediately, I was asked if I planned on "Off Roading" the "car" and I told him "yes". So, he asked me, "Where do you plan on taking it?". I
told him, "The desert, Baja, the mountains..". He sounded concerned when I mentioned Baja. I told him that I have been going to Baja, "For years". He
said, "Have you ever been held up by Bandidos?" I told him that it never happened to me. He said that he was on a desolate highway with nobody
around. Then a van pulled up beside him and his friend. The other vehicle passenger pulled out a handgun and demanded that their vehicle be pulled
over. The guys only had $16 and gave it to the Bandidos and they "drove off.". I told him that with the police presence there now, it would never
happen.
He probably thought that I would go into some fear mongering, but I shook my head and pointed at my "Baja Grande 2007" t-shirt and I told him, "I set
up events in Baja. So, I go all the time!! ". I told him that my friend bought his Rubicon brand new for $33K. The Toyota man was asking $42K for a
used 2017. He asked me if I was interested in any of the Tacoma's on the lot, and while they looked big and spacious, they aren't my style, and with
my fridge and camping gear, I'd like to keep my stuff out of the weather.
End of story, folks..
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64848
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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End of story indeed.
So, somebody traded a Rubicon for a Toyota?
You should have told that salesman if Baja is dangerous why does Toyota build their Tacomas there? Oh, and test and race them there... oh, and how did
Ivan Stewart develop the TRD without years of Baja racing... oh, and he lives there part time too... With a final, "Since Baja is dangerous, I guess I
don't need to buy a Toyota"!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Thanks for the warning! I will beware of banditos hang around Toyota dealerships.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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How about a $10k markup on a used Jeep?!?
@DavidK, What good is a Baja TRD if it's not tested in the silt beds? Those trucks had Baja all over them from the 'Baja Champions' BFG tires to the
BAJA themed body cladding, everyone tells me how dangerous Baja actually is, until I tell them about my trips further south into Colombia and that
only confused them more.
On a separate note, if the Toyotas were sold with the straight axles and winches and snorkles standard, I would have definitely taken a second look!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64848
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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They are, just not in America... Those models are called Hilux!
Somehow I can't picture you driving in water deep enough to need a snorkel... Winches are for vehicles that get stuck, so not on a Tacoma (lol)! As
for solid front axles... well, I understand but have yet to go anywhere IFS was a problem, and how nice I can drive at 70+ mph makes up for any minor
issue IFS may ever have.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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The salesman may have been robbed on hwy 5 along the Laguna Salada area. Back in the early 90s there were a bunch of robberies along that section just
as the salesman described. The cops finally caught the guys.
They were all late at night, after midnight.
[Edited on 9-25-2017 by TMW]
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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The $42k stock 2017 Rubicon is still on the lot - marked up $12k over value.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3074
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Offline
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Ken,
Use the Internet and get a one or two year old one that has all the necessary off road stuff for less cost than a new one. It will make you happy to
get stuff you want/need for bargain price. Lots to choose from, but travel is required to pick the best choice.
I had to go over 400 miles to get mine with 10K of aftermarket stuff.
Your experience will be different.
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